February 13, 2004
Volume 6/ Number 6
Dear Colleague:
Ten pro-life members of the Peruvian Congress have charged, based on rock-solid evidence, that USAID supported efforts in Peru to legalize surgical abortion in that country.
USAID/Peru has gone into paroxysms of denial, while USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios, who describes himself as pro-life, has thus far been silent.
It is time to appeal directly to President Bush to look into this scandal. The following group letter will be sent to the President shortly. (If you represent a group, consider joining as a signatory.)
USAID country missions must be told, in no uncertain terms, to respect the pro-life policies of this administration. Those, like USAID/Peru, who violate these policies must be disciplined.
Steven W. Mosher
President
A Letter to President Bush: Stop USAID’s Promotion of Abortion
Dear President Bush:
We are writing to express our appreciation for your institution of the Mexico City Policy, which prevents U.S. family planning funds from going to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which promote, perform, or lobby for the legalization of abortion.
At the same time, we are outraged over reports that USAID/Peru has actively supported the legalization of surgical abortion in Peru. This is a serious violation of your administration’s pro-life policy.
On January 15, 2004, a letter was sent to USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios by 10 pro-life and pro-family members of the Peruvian Congress. The congressmen pointed out that:
· USAID/Peru funded an Oct. 11, 2003 event at which the legalization of surgical abortion was promoted; · USAID/Peru supported this political lobbying event at which surgical abortion was promoted in word and in legislative text drafted to legalize abortion in Peru; · USAID/Peru later misrepresented this text to be a mere summary of international documents; this summary, however, contains explicit references to abortion nowhere found in international documents and designed to promote the legalization of abortion in Peru.(1)
These Peruvian Congressmen base their allegations on videotaped and documentary evidence, as well as the statement of an eyewitness present at the event.
To date, however, they have not received an answer from USAID. Instead, USAID/Peru continues to deny what is obvious from the evidence: that it actively supported the legalization of surgical abortion in Peru, putting at grave risk innocent human lives.
We ask that you look into this grave violation of your administration’s policies, and take action against those USAID personnel in Peru and elsewhere responsible.
Sincerely,
XXX
Endnotes
1. January 15, 2004, Letter to USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios
from Members of the Peruvian Congress, HECTOR CHAVEZ CHUCHON, GPDI; LUIS SANTA MARIA CALDERON, PAP; HIPOLITO VALDERRAMA CHAVEZ, PAP; DORA NUÃEZ DAVILA, FIM; ELVIRA DE LA PUENTE DE LA HAYA DE BESACCIA, PAP; JUDITH DE LA MATTA FERNANDEZ DE PUENTE, PAP; EMMA VARGAS DE BENAVIDES, UNIDAD NACIONAL; FABIOLA MORALES CASTILLO, UNIDAD NACIONAL; ROSA LEON FLORES, PAP; CARLOS CHAVEZ TRUJILLO, PAP.
