The Haitian justice minister said they should be tried in Haiti, not the US.

[malaise]

<snip>

AFP - Ten American Christians were Thursday charged in quake-hit Haiti with child abduction and criminal conspiracy, but should not be sent for trial in the United States, officials said.

"It is Haitian law that has been violated," Justice Minister Paul Denis told AFP. "It is up to the Haitian authorities to hear and judge the case. I don't see any reason why they should be tried in the United States."

They were formally charged with "kidnapping minors and criminal association" on Thursday according to their lawyer Edwin Coq.

The group could now face nine years in prison on child kidnapping charges and further jail time for conspiracy.

The group has denied any ill intentions, saying they merely trying to help children orphaned and abandoned by the January 12 quake.

But amid continued chaos in the Haitian capital the head of Port-au-Prince lawyers' association, Gervais Charles, said any trial would be impossible in the country any time soon.

"It is absolutely impossible to carry out the trial for the Americans in Haiti right now. Judicial proceedings have not officially restarted in Port-au-Prince," he said.

--------------
I agree - nine years in a Haitian prison would teach them not to kidnap people's children with the intention of getting rich off of them.

[Demeter]

1. He Is Of Course Correct

Let's see if there's any justice for a poor small nation under the imperial thumb....

[Matariki]

2. That's the group of missionaries? They look kind of creepy.

[malaise]

5. They were on a mission for sure

but missionaries they were not.

[Matariki]

15. Indeed - why the Domincan Republic for their 'orphanage' and not Haiti

perhaps they were being funded by Rush Limbaugh? Ugh. It makes me sick.

[malaise]

16. Anderson Cooper and that British journalist who was investigating

them (Carl somebody?) were discussing that last night. IF they really wanted to help Haitian children, why not keep the children in Haiti and donate to an existing orphanage.

Simple - they were out to make money off these kids...fugging scumbags.

[Matariki]

19. Glad to hear the media was talking about it.

It would be sad to see these people get away with the 'naive missionary' shtick.

There are plenty of legitimate orphanages in Haiti, many run by Haitians. A friend of mine is doing a fund-raiser/auction this month for just such an orphanage located in Port-au-Prince. The building collapsed and they are raising money to rebuild it. My friends are Vodouisants, not baptists - and they really care deeply about Haitian culture.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DevonRex]

4. They tried to take advantage of the chaos. Looks like the chaos might

come back to bite them.

[malaise]

14. Sometimes justice is swift

and even adds a touch of humour

[spanone]

6. why do they call them 'ten american christians' i don't care what their religion is

[malaise]

8. Yep they should simply post their names with their background checks

Christians my ass - more criminals hide behind that slogan than I care to count.

[Bluebear]

7. Monsieur Denis is absolutely correct

[old mark]

9. There is no reason at all to try them in the US - they should face

Hatian court justice and Hatian prison if they are convicted. I am afraid they would get released immediately if they were sent here for trial and the thing would never be heard at all.

mark

[malaise]

12. They've embarrassed every decent group helping Haitians

that's why the media pandering to them early this week was so distasteful.
Thankfully some real journalists were diong background checks.

[Spike89]

10. Agreed, but I don't care about intentions

Even if they simply wanted to give these children to best possible parents and considered this a humanitarian effort...it is kidnapping and arrogance. There moral certitude does not give them the right to break the law. It is the same concept as the murder of Dr. Tiller and it is an indefensible position.

[malaise]

13. Agreed

Add O'Keefe to the same sort of group think.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. Of course they're correct.

Just like we're planning to try Abdulmutallab here. It's where the crime was committed. If these people's intentions were pure, then surely they'll be able to get that across to whoever it is that hears the case. There will be a trial eventually, correct? Or does Haiti hold people indefinitely like the US government sometimes does?

[Solly Mack]

17. There shouldn't be any question of it...that's where the crimes were committed

[Earth_First]

18. Where's the twelve year-old they have along with them?

I saw the group being escorted by Haitian authorities tonight on the news with a very young girl along with them; presumably a child of one of these 'missionaries'

Personally, the parents ought to be extradited and brought up on charges of endangering the welfare of their child bringing her along to this disaster area for their publicity stunt.

[Matariki]

20. No way. They should be tried in Haiti.

They want to arrogantly butt into Haitian culture - they'll get a real, first hand lesson in it.

[opihimoimoi]

21. So Sad these peeps attempting to cash in while the place is in Chaos...

scheming and despicable.....like really Bad Form

[Change Happens]

22. What? A trial? they should be treated like enemy combatants by Haiti, sent to unknown

places, water boarded...etc.:sarcasm: