Another big kidnapping… Haiti workers go on strike because of security concerns

After the kidnapping of 17 American missionaries in Haiti, thousands of workers joined a strike to protest security insecurity.

According to the AP, AFP, and Reuters on the 18th (local time), public transport services were suspended in major cities such as Port-au-Prince and Lekaye, the capital of Haiti, and workers’ strikes and demonstrations were held, including the closure of shops and schools.

The strike was held in order to denounce criminal organizations and demand security from the state as the crimes continued, such as the recent kidnapping of 17 American missionaries.

“People can’t stand it any longer,” said a taxi driver who took part in the strike.

“The gangs are kidnapping all classes of society,” Mehu Shangje, head of the Haiti Transport Union, who led the strike, told local media that “the strike will continue until the government guarantees the safety of its citizens.”

The strike was led by the transportation industry, which was often a target for kidnapping, and has grown in size with other private sector workers joining, Reuters reported.

On the morning of the strike, some streets were blocked as barricades were installed in various parts of the city, including Port-au-Prince, by stacking tires and lighting them.

On the 16th, a Haiti gang called ‘400 Maojo’ kidnapped 17 members of a mission organization based in Ohio, USA.

Six men, six women and five children were kidnapped, including a 2-year-old infant.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also working with Haitian officials, White House press secretary Jen Saki said on Monday, while the State Department said it was in regular contact with senior Haitian officials to resolve the situation the day before.

Haiti’s Attorney General Liszt Kittel said on Tuesday that with the help of the FBI, the gang was in ongoing negotiations to release the hostages.

However, he added that he did not know the level of ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

Haiti has been in a state of political turmoil for years, and kidnappings have been taking place, rich and poor alike.

In July, then-President Jobnel Moise was assassinated by a man at his private residence.

The New York Times (NYT) estimated that about half of the violent Port-au-Prince district was controlled by gangs.

The day before, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henri, who was about to attend an event honoring independence hero Jean-Jacques Dessalines, turned away after a gun-wielding gang had already taken over the venue, the British daily The Guardian reported.

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