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Haitian authorities identify gang behind the kidnapping of 17 American missionaries
Christian Post ^ | 10/18/2021 | Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 10/18/2021 8:56:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Authorities in Haiti say that the gang behind most abductions in the Caribbean nation between June and September is also responsible for Saturday's kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries.

Haitian police inspector Frantz Champagne told The Associated Press that the 400 Mawazoo gang based in the Ganthier area east of the capital of Port-au-Prince abducted the 17 missionaries with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, 16 of which are American and one Canadian.

"The group of sixteen U.S citizens and one Canadian citizen includes five men, seven women, and five children," the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement Sunday. "Join us in praying for those who are being held hostage, the kidnappers, and the families, friends, and churches of those affected."

The Christians were abducted from their vehicle as they were traveling to Titanyen after visiting an orphanage in the Croix des Bouquets area, CNN reported.

Local unions and other organizations were planning to launch a strike Monday to protest the country's worsening security situation, the AP said.

Wilson Joseph, who is believed to be the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, was the subject of a wanted-poster campaign launched by police last year. Joseph faces charges, including murder, kidnap, auto theft and hijacking trucks.

Wilson's nickname is "Lanmò Sanjou," which means "death doesn't know which day it's coming."

The gang was also blamed for kidnapping five priests and two nuns earlier this year.

The gang is responsible for 80% of abductions in the country between June and September, Gédéon Jean, director of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Port-au-Prince, told The Washington Post said.

"As an organization, we commit this situation to God and trust Him to see us through. May the Lord Jesus be magnified and many more people come to know His love and salvation," Christian Aid Ministries assured in a statement released Sunday, quoting Psalm 91.

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust ... For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

The group, founded in 1981 as a channel for "Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptist groups and individuals to minister to physical and spiritual needs around the world," claims to have provided service to 14 million people in 133 countries in 2020.

The impoverished Caribbean nation needs international aid as it struggles in the social and political aftermath of the assassination of President Jouvenal Moïse in July. Haiti is yet to recover from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people in August.

At least 628 kidnappings have been reported in Haiti since January, data released this month by the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights shows. Twenty-nine of those kidnapped have been foreigners.

The Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights reports that kidnappings have increased 300% between July and September, with over 221 kidnappings during that time.

The U.N.'s Integrated Office in Haiti stated in a February report that there were 234 kidnappings in the previous 12 months, an increase of 200% from the previous year.

Haiti has seen an increase in crime since last year.

Authorities in Haiti reported 1,380 killings in 2020.

According to the watchdog group Fondasyon Je Klere, over 150 gangs operate in Haiti.

In April, protesters participated in a "Mass for the freedom of Haiti" at the Church of St. Peter in Pétion-Ville following the kidnapping of the five Catholic priests, two nuns and three laypeople.

Police reportedly fired tear gas at dozens participating in the mass as crowds overflowed into the streets.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: haiti; kidnapping; missionaries
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1 posted on 10/18/2021 8:56:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Were they missionaries or child traffickers posing as missionaries? Something doesn’t add up here.


2 posted on 10/18/2021 9:08:39 AM PDT by Slingwing
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To: SeekAndFind

Haiti will always be a basket case. The only solution is to break up the country and give the whole island to the Dominican Republic. Disperse as many of the people to french-speaking countries as possible and get the OAS involved as it is a hemispheric issue. There’s room for many of them in South America as well as the US/Canada.


3 posted on 10/18/2021 9:09:58 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: SeekAndFind

My church used to regularly send teenagers on “missions” to Haiti.

I found it devolved into well-off suburban kids going to virtue-signal and take a lot of photos with black children for their instagram pages - in a place about which they had no clue, with a lot of inherent danger.

Kind of like a Christian Jurassic Park.

Anyway, I kept my mouth shut so as not to seem a cynical bastard, although I would keep our pastor updated about security concerns there.


4 posted on 10/18/2021 9:10:47 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: Slingwing

RE: Were they missionaries or child traffickers posing as missionaries?

Why would they be child traffickers? You can check with Christian Aid Ministries based on Ohio if you are a skeptic.

Here’s their website:

https://christianaidministries.org/

They were there to help orphanages in Haiti.

BTW, can you tell us what doesn’t add up?


5 posted on 10/18/2021 9:11:54 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Haiti is COMING to AMERICA!!!


6 posted on 10/18/2021 9:15:41 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Slingwing

“Were they missionaries or child traffickers posing as missionaries?”

You are an ahole.

Christian Aid Ministries is one of the best aid groups in the world. They arrive quicker and do more than any other charity or govt group out there.


7 posted on 10/18/2021 9:16:35 AM PDT by setter
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To: Slingwing

With there being 17 of them, odds are it was traffickers.


8 posted on 10/18/2021 9:17:31 AM PDT by C210N (Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.)
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To: Slingwing

Charity Navigator-
This organization is ineligible for a rating due to having a High Concern Advisory

High Concern Advisory for:
Christian Aid Ministries

On November 5, 2019, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on the charges of improper conduct taking place at Christian Aid Ministries in an article titled, “Ohio ex-missionary sentenced to 9 years in prison in child sex abuse cases.” For this reason, we have issued a High Concern CN Advisory on Christian Aid Ministries. For more information regarding the charges reported, please see The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

Source - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/341344364


9 posted on 10/18/2021 9:18:38 AM PDT by ASOC (This space for rent)
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To: ASOC

that’s kind of damning.


10 posted on 10/18/2021 9:25:47 AM PDT by spacejunkie2001
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To: SeekAndFind

Clinton-CIA gang?


11 posted on 10/18/2021 9:40:20 AM PDT by Honest Nigerian
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To: SeekAndFind

Good insertion. Opportunity for Delta or Rangers


12 posted on 10/18/2021 9:41:52 AM PDT by wardaddy (Too many uninformed ..)
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To: Slingwing

Oh please for Gods sake....what is wrong with y’all here


13 posted on 10/18/2021 9:42:46 AM PDT by wardaddy (Too many uninformed ..)
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To: PGR88

No offense but you don’t know Haiti and missionaries

Haitians in extreme rural areas depend on them....especially mennonites

I’m very familiar with the country and it’s people

The earthquake made bad .....very very bad.

I know freeper logic is never risk

Well that make work for hipster men in today’s world who’s wife drives them around in the Prius while he prepares the baby papoose for him to wear

Not for me....you live life and if you’re drawn especially in Christ’s name to help people

Well I’m glad some folks answer the call


14 posted on 10/18/2021 9:46:13 AM PDT by wardaddy (Too many uninformed ..)
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To: setter; Pelham

No kidding

This forum has turned into a shithole of bitter sour scolding cowards who don’t leave the house except for Big Lots and their meds

Look a the Baltimore girl raped on subway thread ...

Fat nation ain’t gonna boogaloo


15 posted on 10/18/2021 9:48:06 AM PDT by wardaddy (Too many uninformed ..)
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To: SeekAndFind

The problem Haiti has is too much damn aid!

How can local farmers compete with free food dumped in by agencies? How can local doctors compete with doctors flown in from abroad, it never allows Haiti to develop their own infrastructure so that Haiti can take care of itself.


16 posted on 10/18/2021 9:48:28 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: wardaddy
Haitians in extreme rural areas depend on them....especially mennonites

Yes, I agree their dependency is off-the-charts. Haiti is a permanent "mission trip" - almost like pets. they make us feel good, and what would they do without us?

Regardless, its a not a place for teens to visit for two weeks and never return. That is a useless exercise

17 posted on 10/18/2021 9:58:17 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: PGR88

That post proved my appraisal of this joint these days

Self righteous snark


18 posted on 10/18/2021 10:06:16 AM PDT by wardaddy (Too many uninformed ..)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Authorities in Haiti say that the gang behind most abductions in the Caribbean nation between June and September is also responsible for Saturday’s kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries.”

Round up the usual suspects!


19 posted on 10/18/2021 10:08:18 AM PDT by ameribbean expat (Don't blame others for the road you're on. That's your own asphalt.)
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To: wardaddy
No offense but you don’t know Haiti and missionaries

None taken, as I truly don't give a feces about that Satanic worshipping nation.

Haitians in extreme rural areas depend on them....especially mennonites

Inner-city blacks are living in extreme poverty, why aren't these Christians helping those here and the homeless?

I’m very familiar with the country and it’s people

Maybe you should re-familiarize yourself with our nation and stop worrying about foreigners.

The earthquake made bad .....very very bad.

Obviously it wasn't strong enough.

20 posted on 10/18/2021 10:15:00 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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