Gunmen stopped a tourist bus near the capital Port-au-Prince in Haiti and kidnapped at least 17 people, including eight Turkish citizens, for ransom.
Eight other people abducted by the gang “400 Mawazo” (400 Stupid) are reported to be Haitian, and the bus driver is Dominican.
They were taken hostage in the same area where a Dominican diplomat was abducted last month. The diplomat was released four days later.
TURKISH EMBASSY TAKES ACTION
According to the information obtained from diplomatic sources, the Turkish Embassy in Dominica took action after the allegations that 17 people, 8 of whom were Turkish citizens, were abducted in Haiti. It has been learned that the Embassy in Dominica is in contact with the Haitian authorities.
HUMAN abduction, rape, extortion
Haitian media reported that the passengers were abducted in the Croix-des Bouquets district, dominated by the 400 Mowozo (400 Fools) gang.
Known for its cases of kidnapping, rape and extortion, 400 Mowozo is one of the most feared gangs in the country.
Haiti has seen a huge increase in kidnappings for ransom for the past two years.
More than 1,200 people were abducted from 81 different countries last year, according to the Haiti Center for Human Rights Analysis and Research.
According to the organization, these people include 17 Christian missionaries from the United States and Canada.
400 Mawozo demanded one million dollars for each of these missionaries.
The missionaries were released four months later. However, it is not known whether the ransom was paid for these people.
LIFE IN THE SHADOW OF VIOLENCE
Haitian gangs made a name for themselves with the abduction of foreigners. But Haitians have been living in the shadow of violence for years.
UNICEF, the United Nations aid organization for children, announced last week that 1700 schools were closed in and around the capital city and more than half a million children could not go to school due to the ongoing gang violence in the country.
“No child can go to school because the bullets are flying,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF’s representative in Haiti.
Haitian President Jovenel Moise was killed by mercenaries last July.
The police force is said to be very inadequate as rival groups fight to take control of the country.
(BBC Turkish-UAV)