Kidnappings Plague Haiti During Rara Festival
Date
3/28/2023 5:59:56 AM
(MENAFN) Nikese Toussaint, a resident of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was attending church when she received a text message from her sister. The message informed her that their brother and his wife, who live in the United States, had safely landed in Haiti to visit their ailing relatives and celebrate Rara, a colorful and lively festival that originated during the times of slavery.
However, Toussaint was unaware of the fact that her worst fears were about to materialize. She later learned from her sister, who called her after the text message went unread, that her brother, an accountant, his wife, a social worker, and another individual had been abducted from a public bus amidst an upsurge in kidnappings linked to gang violence.
The news was a harrowing reminder of a past trauma that Toussaint had experienced. Years ago, two of her cousins were also kidnapped by gangs in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Although they were eventually released, the traumatic experience had left a lasting impact on them.
In the current situation, the gang responsible for the abduction of Toussaint's brother and his companions are demanding a hefty ransom of USD200,000 for each of them. The situation is dire, and the family is left to grapple with the emotional and financial toll of this devastating event.
The incident underscores the ongoing issue of gang-related violence and kidnappings in Haiti, which has caused widespread fear and instability. Despite efforts by the government and international organizations to combat this issue, the problem persists, leaving innocent civilians vulnerable to the whims of ruthless criminal organizations.
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