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{{dablink|For the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album, see [[Baby 81 (album)]].}}
{{dablink|For the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album, see [[Baby 81 (album)]].}}


'''Baby 81''' (born October [[2004]]), later identified as '''Abhilasha Jeyarajah''', was a survivor of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] and the subject of widely-reported [[paternity test|parental identity dispute]] which led to the baby becoming an emblem of the effect of the disaster on the families involved.<ref name="china"/> Many of the details in reports of the events were subsequently disputed.<ref name="lanka">[http://lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=450378004&no_view=1 Baby 81: a story with nine or more lies], Lanka Business Online, [[19 February]] [[2005]]</ref><ref>[http://desicritics.org/2006/02/19/095455.php "The Big Story That Never Was"] at [[Desicritics]] [[19 February]] [[2006]]</ref><ref name="alertnet">[http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/30708/2007/05/6-161855-1.htm "The truth about Sri Lanka's Baby 81"] at [[Reuters AlertNet]] [[6 June]] [[2007]]</ref>
'''Baby 81''' (born October [[2004]]) was a survivor of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] and the subject of widely-reported [[paternity test|parental identity dispute]] which led to the baby becoming an emblem of the effect of the disaster on the families involved.<ref name="china"/> Many of the details in reports of the events were subsequently disputed.<ref name="lanka">[http://lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=450378004&no_view=1 Baby 81: a story with nine or more lies], Lanka Business Online, [[19 February]] [[2005]]</ref><ref>[http://desicritics.org/2006/02/19/095455.php "The Big Story That Never Was"] at [[Desicritics]] [[19 February]] [[2006]]</ref><ref name="alertnet">[http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/30708/2007/05/6-161855-1.htm "The truth about Sri Lanka's Baby 81"] at [[Reuters AlertNet]] [[6 June]] [[2007]]</ref>


The baby, around 2 months old, was reportedly found on the beach of the town of [[Kalmunai]] on the day of the disaster, [[26 December]], [[2004]], in the midst of debris caused by the [[tsunami]].<ref name="times">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article412993.ece "Mothers fight over baby 81"], ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', [[16 January]] [[2005]]</ref> Kalmunai is located in [[Ampara|Ampara district]] on the east coast of [[Sri Lanka]], approximately 180&nbsp;miles east of [[Colombo]]. No relatives were found in the vicinity, so he was taken to Kalmunai hospital. He was said to be the 81st victim taken to that hospital after the tsumani hit Sri Lanka, and so named ''Baby 81''.<ref name="china">[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/03/content_414671.htm "DNA test for tsunami survivor 'Baby 81'"] at China Daily, [[3 February]] [[2005]]</ref>
The baby, around 2 months old, was reportedly found on the beach of the town of [[Kalmunai]] on the day of the disaster, [[26 December]], [[2004]], in the midst of debris caused by the [[tsunami]].<ref name="times">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article412993.ece "Mothers fight over baby 81"], ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', [[16 January]] [[2005]]</ref> Kalmunai is located in [[Ampara|Ampara district]] on the east coast of [[Sri Lanka]], approximately 180&nbsp;miles east of [[Colombo]]. No relatives were found in the vicinity, so he was taken to Kalmunai hospital. He was said to be the 81st victim taken to that hospital after the tsumani hit Sri Lanka, and so named ''Baby 81''.<ref name="china">[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/03/content_414671.htm "DNA test for tsunami survivor 'Baby 81'"] at China Daily, [[3 February]] [[2005]]</ref>


After remaining unclaimed for several days, nine couples were reported to have said that the child was theirs,<ref name="times"/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4175695.stm "Nine 'mothers' claim tsunami baby"], [[BBC News]], [[9 February]] [[2005]]</ref> although this was later disputed.<ref name="lanka"/><ref name="alertnet"/> After initial attempts to take custody of the baby were blocked by the hospital, the Jeyarajah family took legal action to prove the baby's identity, claiming that he was their four-month-old son.<ref name="china"/> They described how the boy had slipped from his mother's arms when the waves hit,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/baby81.result/ "Joy as 'Baby 81' identified"], [[CNN|CNN.com]] [[19 February]] [[2005]]</ref> and how the documents of his birth, along with all their other possessions, were washed away in the disaster.<ref name="china"/>
After remaining unclaimed for several days, nine couples were reported to have said that the child was theirs,<ref name="times"/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4175695.stm "Nine 'mothers' claim tsunami baby"], [[BBC News]], [[9 February]] [[2005]]</ref> although this was later disputed.<ref name="lanka"/><ref name="alertnet"/> After initial attempts to take custody of the baby were blocked by the hospital, the infant's family took legal action to prove the baby's identity, claiming that he was their four-month-old son.<ref name="china"/> They described how the boy had slipped from his mother's arms when the waves hit,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/baby81.result/ "Joy as 'Baby 81' identified"], [[CNN|CNN.com]] [[19 February]] [[2005]]</ref> and how the documents of his birth, along with all their other possessions, were washed away in the disaster.<ref name="china"/>


On [[2 February]], [[2005]], the courts ordered [[DNA]] tests of both the baby and the couple in an attempt to resolve the case.<ref name="china"/> The judge stated that the court would reconvene with the results on [[20 April]], [[2005]], though hoped an earlier date may be set. Hearing this, the couple, along with over 70 supporters, attempted to take the child from the hospital &ndash; the pair were arrested for assault and criminal trespass.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4269453.stm "Tsunami baby under police guard"], [[BBC News]], [[3 February]] [[2005]]</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article509637.ece "Weeping couple arrested as they try to claim Baby 81"], ''[[The Times]]'', [[2 February]] [[2005]]</ref> On [[9 February]], [[2005]], escorted by nurses, police and a court official, the baby was taken to [[Colombo]] to undergo the tests.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4248681.stm "DNA test on disputed tsunami baby"], [[BBC News]], [[9 February]] [[2005]]</ref> On [[14 February]], [[2005]], the results of the tests confirmed the couple's claim, and the family were permitted to take the child home on [[16 February]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4269453.stm Tsunami 'Baby 81' goes back home], [[BBC News]], [[16 February]] [[2005]]</ref> It was later reported that only one couple had claimed the baby at the hospital, and that the press circus surrounding the baby was blamed for delaying his return to his family.<ref name="lanka"/>
On [[2 February]], [[2005]], the courts ordered [[DNA]] tests of both the baby and the couple in an attempt to resolve the case.<ref name="china"/> The judge stated that the court would reconvene with the results on [[20 April]], [[2005]], though hoped an earlier date may be set. Hearing this, the couple, along with over 70 supporters, attempted to take the child from the hospital &ndash; the pair were arrested for assault and criminal trespass.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4269453.stm "Tsunami baby under police guard"], [[BBC News]], [[3 February]] [[2005]]</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article509637.ece "Weeping couple arrested as they try to claim Baby 81"], ''[[The Times]]'', [[2 February]] [[2005]]</ref> On [[9 February]], [[2005]], escorted by nurses, police and a court official, the baby was taken to [[Colombo]] to undergo the tests.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4248681.stm "DNA test on disputed tsunami baby"], [[BBC News]], [[9 February]] [[2005]]</ref> On [[14 February]], [[2005]], the results of the tests confirmed the couple's claim, and the family were permitted to take the child home on [[16 February]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4269453.stm Tsunami 'Baby 81' goes back home], [[BBC News]], [[16 February]] [[2005]]</ref> It was later reported that only one couple had claimed the baby at the hospital, and that the press circus surrounding the baby was blamed for delaying his return to his family.<ref name="lanka"/>

Revision as of 00:54, 2 September 2007

For the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album, see Baby 81 (album).

Baby 81 (born October 2004) was a survivor of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the subject of widely-reported parental identity dispute which led to the baby becoming an emblem of the effect of the disaster on the families involved.[1] Many of the details in reports of the events were subsequently disputed.[2][3][4]

The baby, around 2 months old, was reportedly found on the beach of the town of Kalmunai on the day of the disaster, 26 December, 2004, in the midst of debris caused by the tsunami.[5] Kalmunai is located in Ampara district on the east coast of Sri Lanka, approximately 180 miles east of Colombo. No relatives were found in the vicinity, so he was taken to Kalmunai hospital. He was said to be the 81st victim taken to that hospital after the tsumani hit Sri Lanka, and so named Baby 81.[1]

After remaining unclaimed for several days, nine couples were reported to have said that the child was theirs,[5][6] although this was later disputed.[2][4] After initial attempts to take custody of the baby were blocked by the hospital, the infant's family took legal action to prove the baby's identity, claiming that he was their four-month-old son.[1] They described how the boy had slipped from his mother's arms when the waves hit,[7] and how the documents of his birth, along with all their other possessions, were washed away in the disaster.[1]

On 2 February, 2005, the courts ordered DNA tests of both the baby and the couple in an attempt to resolve the case.[1] The judge stated that the court would reconvene with the results on 20 April, 2005, though hoped an earlier date may be set. Hearing this, the couple, along with over 70 supporters, attempted to take the child from the hospital – the pair were arrested for assault and criminal trespass.[8][9] On 9 February, 2005, escorted by nurses, police and a court official, the baby was taken to Colombo to undergo the tests.[10] On 14 February, 2005, the results of the tests confirmed the couple's claim, and the family were permitted to take the child home on 16 February.[11] It was later reported that only one couple had claimed the baby at the hospital, and that the press circus surrounding the baby was blamed for delaying his return to his family.[2]

The family were flown to New York to appear on American Broadcasting Corporation's Good Morning America show in March 2005.[12] They returned to Sri Lanka, but found themselves denied local disaster relief, as many thought they had received assistance in the US.[13] They later moved to Batticaloa, capital of Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, to escape the label of being called the "tsunami family".[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "DNA test for tsunami survivor 'Baby 81'" at China Daily, 3 February 2005
  2. ^ a b c Baby 81: a story with nine or more lies, Lanka Business Online, 19 February 2005
  3. ^ "The Big Story That Never Was" at Desicritics 19 February 2006
  4. ^ a b "The truth about Sri Lanka's Baby 81" at Reuters AlertNet 6 June 2007
  5. ^ a b "Mothers fight over baby 81", The Sunday Times, 16 January 2005
  6. ^ "Nine 'mothers' claim tsunami baby", BBC News, 9 February 2005
  7. ^ "Joy as 'Baby 81' identified", CNN.com 19 February 2005
  8. ^ "Tsunami baby under police guard", BBC News, 3 February 2005
  9. ^ "Weeping couple arrested as they try to claim Baby 81", The Times, 2 February 2005
  10. ^ "DNA test on disputed tsunami baby", BBC News, 9 February 2005
  11. ^ Tsunami 'Baby 81' goes back home, BBC News, 16 February 2005
  12. ^ "Baby 81 appears on US talk show", BBC News, 2 March, 2005
  13. ^ Foreign exposure backfires on Sri Lanka's 'baby 81', Lanka Business Online, 25 December 2005
  14. ^ "Celebration day for tsunami baby's family", The Times, 21 October 2005
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