United States should free missionaries in Haiti without ransom, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on Sunday, shortly after a U.S. Christian aid organization said a group of its missionaries had been kidnapped in the Caribbean nation.
Illinois Republican told CNN that the United States must find the group and see if it can negotiate their release without paying a ransom or should use the military or police to secure their freedom.
“We need to track down where they are and see if negotiations—without paying ransom—are possible. Or do whatever we need to do, on a military front or a police front,” Kinzinger, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said.
It comes after the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries said in a message sent to several religious missions that as many as 17 American missionaries, including women and children, had been kidnapped in the Ganthier commune over the weekend while they were on their way home from building an orphanage.
“This is a special prayer alert,” said a message on WhatsApp, a screenshot of which was seen by Pezou. “Pray that the gang members would come to repentance.” message also said that women and children and some elderly people were among those kidnapped.
Haitian police inspector Frantz Champagne told Associated Press that the group was kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang, which translates to 400 “inexperienced men.” According to authorities, the gang controls the Croix-des-Bouquets area, and carries out kidnappings and carjackings.
According to accounts by other missionaries, the group’s bus was hijacked.
U.S. State Department told media outlets in a statement that it was aware of the kidnapping reports.
“ welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State,” the spokesperson said in a statement, without offering additional comment.
“We are seeking God’s direction for a resolution, and authorities are seeking ways to help,” Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement.
Kidnapping has been on the rise for months in Haiti as the impoverished country’s economy worsens, though abductions of foreigners are relatively rare. Victims generally come from the Haitian middle class—teachers, priests, civil servants, small business owners—who cannot afford bodyguards but can scrape together a ransom.
Department of State currently lists Haiti as a “do not travel” country, noting high crime, kidnappings, civil unrest, and COVID-19.
“Kidnapping is widespread and victims regularly include U.S. citizens,” the agency warns on its website. “Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked.
“Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.”
Jack Phillips and Reuters contributed to this report.
Pezou : US Should Secure Freedom of Missionaries in Haiti Without Ransom: Rep. Kinzinger