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The Haitian gang leader suspected of kidnapping 17 missionary members from the United States threatened to kill the hostages if his demands were not met.
Wilson Joseph, the leader of the organization 400 Mawozo Gang, Issued an ultimatum in a video posted on social media on Thursday.
Joseph said in the video: “I swear in a thunderous way, if I don’t get what I want, I will shoot these Americans in the head.”
Earlier this week, Haitian officials said the group 1 million USD required Each paid a ransom to release the hostages.
Joseph, speaking in front of the coffin of a gang member who was apparently killed by the police, threatened Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and National Police Chief Leon Charles in the video.
“You make me cry. I cry. But I make you cry,” he said.
Al Jazeera reporter Manuel Rapallo said that Thursday’s protests against Haiti’s deteriorating security situation in the capital Port-au-Prince have lasted for the fifth day.
Haitian workers went Full strike On October 18, protests against the increasing insecurity and gang violence after the abduction of Christian missionaries.
“There are concerns now, especially after the release of this video, that tensions will continue to escalate; people are worried that street violence may worsen,” Rapallo said.
The hostages were kidnapped after leaving the orphanage outside Port-au-Prince on October 16. Sixteen of the abductees were American and one was Canadian. Five of them are children, including an eight-month-old baby.
The Christian Aid, a missionary group based in Ohio whose members were kidnapped, called for a day of fasting and prayer for the hostages on Thursday, urging people to pray for the kidnapped and the kidnappers.
“Pray for the kidnappers to let them experience Jesus’ love and turn to him. We think this is their ultimate need,” said Weston Showalter, a spokesperson for the organization.
“We also ask for prayers for government leaders and authorities involved in the case and work hard to release the hostages.”
Al Jazeera’s John Henderen reported in Millersburg, Ohio, that the kidnapping incident was “a lot of pressure” for people associated with missionary organizations.
“People we talked to expressed deep concern about these missionaries, especially after the leader of the kidnapping organization made threats,” Henderen said.
As one of the poorest countries in the world, Haiti has been suffering from periodic natural disaster, Gang violence and prolonged political crises have made the situation worse Assassinated President Jovenel Moise’s speech in July.
In the past few weeks, there has been a surge in kidnappings in the country. The Haitian NGO Center for Human Rights Analysis and Research (CARDH) said on Wednesday that after 117 cases occurred in September, at least 119 people were kidnapped by criminal gangs in Haiti in the first half of October.
“Citizens do not trust the Haitian National Police, which can cause problems because if the people do not cooperate, we cannot have an efficient police force,” CARDH director Gedeon Jean told AFP earlier this week.
The US government has pledged to cooperate with the Haitian authorities to rescue the American hostages.
“We have been relentlessly focusing on this in the government, including sending a team from the State Department to Haiti; working closely with the FBI, which is the leader in such matters; maintaining with the Haitian National Police, missionary churches, and the Haitian government Keep communicating,” Secretary of State Anthony Brinken said on Tuesday.
“We will do everything we can to help resolve this situation.”
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