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A few weeks ago my mobile starts lighting up with calls from my boy in the Balkans. I’m working at the time so I cannot immediately answer the phone. I call him back a few hours later and am surprised to her him say that he is going to Asia on a field trip with his school funded by the United Nations. He wants to know if I can take a few weeks off work and meet him in Asia because for some reason he thinks Kuwait is close to Asia.

I tell him to calm down and ask him where in Asia he is going. He doesn’t know. In fact, he can’t tell me what country in Asia he is going to. WHAT? That doesn’t make any sense I tell him. He tells me that this man from the UN came to his school and offered a free trip to “Asia” to any Sprski/Bosnaski kid who lost parents during the war. Kids from surrounding villages were also involved I find out later.

I ask him how he knows this man is from the UN and he tells me because he was wearing a uniform. I tell him that it makes no sense that a single man from the UN would walk into his school and offer a UN funded trip to Asia to kids who have lost a parent(s) in the war. Not to mention “forgetting” to leave out what city and country the kids will be going to. I tell him not to go on this trip until I can look into the matter. In the meantime I tell him to go to a trusted teacher and tell him/her my concern. He does….

I sent the following email on Aug 31 to a UN representative in Sarajevo after seeking the advice of a UN friend of mine here on flickr.

Mr. Xxxxx Xxxxxx:

Good day sir! You do not know me but my name is Xxxx Xxxxx. I have an issue with a school in the village of Xxxxx and the UN (United Nations) I'd like to discuss with you. I have an adopted son residing in this village who is now XX. I am an American who worked as a civilian security contractor inside Bosnia, Srpska Republka, in the villages of Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxx and Xxxxx. I speak a good deal of Srpski/Bosanski as my boy does not speak any English.

I got a call from my boy telling me that his school is telling him that the UN has funded a trip to Asia. The problem is, no one is giving any further information to my boy like not telling him what city or even what country he is going to. Male and Female teenagers are to go on this trip. I may be a bit paranoid but, my work has made me aware of certain things in the world the average person knows little about. I know human trafficking is a big deal in the Balkan region as well as in Asia.

I'm currently in the Middle East on a security contract in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I work long days with little time to myself. I am finding it hard to verify the information my boy is being given. I find it hard to believe that the UN is providing money to a tiny village school in Xxxx for the kids of this school to go on a trip to Asia!! Something isn't adding up here. Why are Balkan teenagers being sent to Asia?

I don't know if I can stress the following more sincerely but, my boy is everything to me. I'd surely give my life for his safety and well-being. I told him not to go on this trip until I can get more information. My boy told the school what I told him and so far his school is saying they don't know where in Asia they are going. I'm not the smartest man and I know I'm a bit paranoid and over protective but, something about this whole thing is telling me that something is wrong.

I'd appreciate any information you may have on this issue.

Sincerely,

My boy called me again today scared out of his mind thanking me for telling him not to go on this UN funded fieldtrip. He tells me that a bunch of Srpski/Bosanski police arrived looking for this UN man. It turns out he gave a false name and doesn’t even work for the United Nations. I’m told that there was a long list of names of kids who had lost parents in the war who were being “processed” to go on this “Asian” fieldtrip.

I’ve been searching online for any supporting news on this but can’t find anything. It just happened, though, so maybe its not out yet. Does anyone have any connections in the Balkans regarding cases such as these? What about you, where ever you are, have you heard anything resembling this on TV or in any paper recently?

It all seems a bit “extraordinary” or, hell I don’t know…just seems, well, I don’t feel anything right now. This region of the Balkans is very poor with villagers living rough lives. Human traffickers are known to work in the area.

It is truly sad and shocking at times to know what human beings can do to fellow human beings…

A few months ago my boy asked if he could call me dad. He is an adult now himself! It felt good to have him ask that. Of course I didn't mind... I can remember going to his father's grave with him when he was young. I can only hope I did his real parents proud!