In the spotlight: kidnapping of American missionaries in Haiti
Armed gangs have controlled the poorest neighborhoods of the Haitian capital for years.
They have extended their power to Port-au-Prince and its surroundings where they are increasing the number of villainous kidnappings.
(Illustrative image - 10/17/2021) AP - Odelyn Joseph
Text by: Stefanie Schüler Follow
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This Saturday, October 16, 16 American nationals, including several children and a Canadian were abducted in Haiti. Religious missionaries and their families visited an orphanage located in one of the most dangerous areas in the country, between the capital Port-au-Prince and the border with the Dominican Republic. The suspicions fall on the armed group of "400 Mawozo" which controls this part of the Haitian national territory for several months.
"
The kidnapping of 16 American nationals and a Canadian has propelled the serious crisis linked to insecurity in Haiti on the forefront of the international scene
," said the
Miami Herald
this morning. "
In a country where, however, neither the schoolchildren, nor the market vendors, nor the priests in full mass are safe from the gangs, this group and spectacular kidnapping shocked the Haitian and foreign authorities by its audacity
", underlines the
New York Times
. For the
Los Angeles Times
, this kidnapping also illustrates "
the danger faced by American religious missionaries in foreign countries where they are trying to find new faithful ready to convert to their faith
".
A specialist in Haiti, interviewed by the
New York Times
, underlines that "
foreigners and particularly Americans are prime targets for armed gangs in Haiti since they think they can obtain a high ransom
".
This same expert does not have “
the slightest doubt that the missionaries will be released
”.
FBI agents arrived in Port-au-Prince
For now, there is no official information on any ongoing negotiations. In contrast, the
Miami Herald
reports that "
FBI agents arrived in Port-au-Prince on a plane chartered by the US government just hours after the announcement of the kidnapping of the missionaries
." The
New York Times
quotes this Monday morning Adam Kinzinger, a Republican elected representative of the House of Representatives and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The representative said Sunday night on CNN "
that the US government will do everything possible to get the Americans back." "
We need to locate where they are and see if negotiations without paying ransoms are possible or do whatever is necessary on the military or police front
, "he said.
"
Words that cause concern in Haiti because after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July, the interim government requested the dispatch of American soldiers to improve security in Haiti.
A request to which the Biden administration had not acted, recalls the
Miami Herald
.
The Florida newspaper underlines in any case that the kidnapping of the Americans and the Canadian "
represents a new challenge for the Haitian provisional government which appears more weakened than ever
".
The Haitian Prime Minister himself in the face of "
the omnipotence of armed gangs
"
And proof, if necessary: the interim Haitian Prime Minister himself experienced this Sunday the omnipotence of armed gangs.
Ariel Henry wanted to go early this Sunday morning to Pont-Rouge, a district of Port-au-Prince, to lay a floral wreath at the foot of the Jean-Jacques Dessaline monument on the occasion of the 215th anniversary of the assassination of this founding father of the Haitian nation.
But, as
Le Nouvelliste
reminds us
, this district of Pont-Rouge has been controlled by gangs for several years.
“
Early this Sunday morning, Pont-Rouge was occupied by heavily armed individuals.
They stood in the way of the Prime Minister,
”reports the Haitian newspaper.
"
Under the crackle of automatic weapons, the caïds pushed back the delegation which left the district in haste.
The Prime Minister, members of the government, the chief of police among others have taken to the chase under the bullets of the bandits
”, tells
Le Nouvelliste
.
Unlimited public transport strike in Haiti to protest against insecurity
It is in this context that the unions of public transport and taxi drivers in Haiti began an indefinite strike on Monday to protest against insecurity and the shortage of fuel, also linked to armed gangs. This is what the Haitian agency
Alterpresse
reports on
Monday morning. Transport drivers are indeed among the first victims of armed gangs. Striking so that the Haitian authorities finally find a solution to the problem of insecurity is costing them dearly: “
It is with tight belts that the drivers stay at home. Because the day they don't go out, they don't eat. The day they don't go out, their kids don't go to school
», Explains Petrus Lerice, of the Association of owners and drivers of Haiti, interviewed by the
Miami Herald
.
“
Their workplace is the street.
And for a while now, we have been forced to risk our lives to work on the streets.
We are the first victims of insecurity.
When we are not killed, the gangs kidnap us.
When they don't kidnap us, they shoot us and they steal what we have.
"
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