Will Haitian Government Actually Prosecute American Missionaries as Child Traffickers?
Posted: Tuesday, February 02, 2010
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
In the aftermath of the killer earthquake in Haiti, ten Americans (five men and five women) were turned away at Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic on Friday night, January 29, as they tried to take 33 Haitian children into the neighboring country. The Americans were stopped for not having the correct documents authorizing them to transport the children whom they said were orphaned by the January 12 earthquake. The Americans, some of whom are members of Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho, were immediately arrested and jailed in Port-au-Prince until their court hearing to face charges of illegally taking the children.
According to CNN, Pastor Clint Henry of Central Valley said, "The intention was simply to go down and try to be an aid in ministering to children that had been orphaned in the quake. It was our intention to be part of a new orphanage. The decision was made that we could house those children in the temporary sites."
Laura Silsby, who represents New Life Children's Refuge, told reporters, "We came into Haiti to help those that really had no other source of help. We are trusting the truth will be revealed, and we are praying for that."
But Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive sees the Americans' action differently. He told CNN, "From what I know until now, this is a kidnapping case... and it is more serious because it's involving children."
It appears that at least ten of the 33 children are not orphans. One of the kids, a nine-year-old girl, was heard crying loudly, saying, "I am not an orphan, I do have my parents, please call my parents."This according to Georg Willeit of SOS Children's Villages.
What are we to make of this? Prime Minister Bellerive has made his point that Haitians have laws too, even in the aftermath of their most destructive natural disaster. It was good that Prime Minister Bellerive shone the spotlight on this behavior by some Americans. Yet it is a mistake to assume that most ordinary Haitians will agree with the Prime Minister in treating these Americans as kidnappers and child traffickers.
Though not entirely innocent, IMHO the Americans are guilty of far less serious charges. Perhaps they were nave, a naivety driven by good intentions to relieve earthquake victims.
Also, the Americans' behavior resembles the usual arrogance that we Africans have come to expect of Western missionaries. It's that typical messianic complex that often envelopes missionaries as they "minister" to the less fortunate. It is that brand of imperialist Christian charity that says, "We are your messiahs, and since we've come from on high to help you poor Haitians, especially after this massive earthquake, we can help you any way we choose. If that means shipping kids out of here without the correct papers, so be it. You can't help yourselves anyway. Of what value are your immigration laws under these circumstances? Our intentions are good; we want to give you hope with a better life. Just watch us save you our way..."
Yes, that messianic superiority complex is offensive indeed. Yet Prime Minister Bellerive and his government would be ill advised not to pardon the Americans so they can return to their families. Hopefully, these Americans have learned their lesson. It is likely that other mercy workers in Haiti (and elsewhere around the world) will take time to follow both the laws and unwritten rules of the societies whose poor they seek to relieve. The targets of mercy must be shown due respect at all times, and the laws of their lands must be honored. Respect for other cultures is a matter of human dignity, not to be overshadowed by sufferers' need for assistance.
We fear that if the Haitian government insists on trying these missionaries as criminals, the whole thing may backfire, sounding a reluctant note throughout reputable charitable organizations that want to deliver more aid to Haitians. That could harm too many Haitian families who remain dependent on the generosity of this army of good Samaritans. While prosecuting these Americans will make a strong statement for Haitian sovereignty, it risks smelling like gross ingratitude for the enormous goodwill, compassion and aid that continue to benefit thousands of Haitians. Prosecuting naive or arrogant missionaries as child traffickers is an overreaction. Having made his point, the Haitian Prime Minister now needs to tune down his rhetoric and show some compassion of his own, with some gratitude, not for the detained Americans but for others who have treated suffering Haitians with dignity.
In short, "Mr. Prime Minister, the whole world has shown you and your people a whole lotta mercy. The world is now waiting for you and your government to show some mercy to these Americans."
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)President Obama should tell (not ask) the Haitian authorities to release these missionaries immediately. The U.S. has the ability to give or withhold much needed resources to/from Haiti. Now is the time to use this power to free those missionaries. Like the old saying goes, "He who has the gold makes the rules."Please log in to respond to this comment.If someone, even we Golden Children here in the USA, decide to go into another country and break their laws we need to suffer the consequences.Your comment is evidence of the arrogant and elitist attitude that plagues our country.Please log in to respond to this comment.What was the purpose of Americans being in Haiti in the first place? Was it to rape, pillage, and plunder? This is not like Iraq, Afghanistan, or other places we've invaded to make war. If it were any of those venues, I would wholeheartedly agree with you.However, our purpose for being in Haiti is strictly to help a country that cannot help itself. If some of our people happen to go a little overboard in the process, Haitian authorities should feel obligated to quickly forgive them and move on and not make a big stink about it.Here's an illustration. If someone breaks into my house, and destroys some of my belongings in the process, I'm going make sure they pay for all of it. I'm going to make sure I get my pound of flesh, so to speak. However, if I invite someone into my home to help me with something that I need done and can't do for myself, and they end up breaking some of my stuff, I'm going to be a little more forgiving.Of course, if the Haitians don't want our help, they should say so and we'll quickly get out and leave them to their own devices. Then we'll see how long it takes for them to beg us to come back.Please log in to respond to this comment.Your arrogance and way of thinking is so absurd, it is unbelievable. Simply because a country needs help does not give people the right to go in and commit illegal acts, and expect the country to forget about it. What a shame!! I do not recall the Haitians begging anyone for help, except for that imbecile Wyclef Jean who for his own personal agenda (such as promoting his washed upo music career) proclaimed himself representing Haiti, when he went on CNN asking for help. In the future I would hope that you keep your comments to yourself. Just think due to arrogant , prejudice small minded people like yourself and your ex-president how many people lost their lives during hurricane Katrina? Just think abiut it!!Please log in to respond to this comment.Hey Rose-Marie, is there anything else you want to tell me? :-)Seriously, though, you're reading far more into my comments than is really there. Like so many other people, you read through your own prism of bias, therefore you come away with what you think someone has written, not what they actually wrote. I did not say that because a country needs help, it "gives people the right to go in and commit illegal acts." Indeed, no one has a right to commit illegal acts anywhere, under any condition. These people obviously did not intentionally do something illegal. They were simply overzealous and reckless. However, that still does not excuse their actions.But my point is that since the U.S. and other countries were there to help them, the Haitian authorities should feel obligated to be a little more forgiving and cut them a little slack when they screw up. Why not just take the kids back and send those people back home with a slap on the wrist? I know I would. I would not be so determined to throw the book at them. I would not be seeking a pound of flesh here. Now, if the roles were reversed and the Haitians were lending a hand to helpless Americans and a similar thing happened over here, would I feel the same way about it? You're darn right I would.A situation like that, however, is far from the current reality. People need to take their blinders off and stop playing their politically-correct pretend-games. In reality, the U.S. and Haiti are not a even playing field. Let's quit pretending like they are. Their relationship is unbalanced, i.e., the U.S. is far superior to Haiti. Now I didn't say that Americans are superior to Haitians. Indeed, God is no respecter of persons and all people are created equal. However, that is not the case with nations, religions, cultures, sexual orientations, etc., although modern subscribers to the conventional foolishness like to pretend as if it is. This moral equivalency stuff is boloney! Like it or not, Western culture is superior to most other cultures, Christianity is superior to all other religions, heterosexuality is superior homosexuality, etc. If you think that sounds arrogant, too bad. If you don't believe this is true, then ask some woman in any Islamic republic who has been denied her rights if her culture is the moral equivalent to Western culture.Now, going back to the U.S.-Haiti argument, let me provide another illustration. Let's talk about a hypothetical relationship between Person A and Person B. Let's suppose Person A needs Person B, but Person B doesn't really need Person A. I think you would agree that this is an unbalanced relationship. Now, in that situation, Person A would be wise to avoid nitpicking all of Person B's personal peccadilloes, lest Person B become overly frustrated and walk away, leaving Person A twisting in the wind. Wouldn't you agree?Please log in to respond to this comment.What an arrogant, typical thing to say. This is exactly the message Obama should not send the Haitians, that Americans are above their laws and better than them. How about this, send those people who think like Mr. Mitchell home, so the rest of us can provide help like we mean it.Please log in to respond to this comment.Oh, come on, Manny, quit holding back. Why don't you tell me what you really think?Please log in to respond to this comment.Shouldn't the President show some respect for Haitian immigration laws that were broken by the Americans? Thanks, Terry, for your input. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.Yes, the President should respect their immigration laws. And I didn't say that he should demand that they let those those kids come to the U.S. It's their kids and they have a right to stop Americans from taking them out.However, like I said in my response to Ken above, these Americans obviously did not intended to break anyone's laws. What was the purpose of Americans being in Haiti in the first place? Was it to rape, pillage, and plunder? No, our purpose for being in Haiti is strictly to help a country that cannot help itself. If some of our people happen to go a little overboard in the process, Haitian authorities should feel obligated to quickly forgive them and move on and not make a big stink about it.Please log in to respond to this comment."these Americans obviously did not intended to break anyone's laws"These Americans didn't give Haitian law due diligence. They took children that they didn't even know if they were orphans or not. They give the appearance of jumping to the conclusion that the children would be better off taken away from their homeland. Worst of all, they played the old "God told us" card. You have really shown Americans believe in a double standard of justice, which is how the world perceives us. If Obama should really distinguish himself from the Bush travesty, then he must allow the Haitian people to decide what is best for themselves. "Imposing democracy is an oxymoron," Madeleine AlbrightPlease log in to respond to this comment.Hey Manny, why don't you a take a timeout from your hysterical rant and read my response to Rose-Marie above. It applies to you just as much.Please log in to respond to this comment.Wow! what a load of crap!! You think he should tell the Haitian government to release these missionaries or he will stop helping. Basically, you want to give these people a free pass at breaking the law. I wonder if these children were your children if you would have the same cocky attitude? Your way of thinking is exactly the same reason why there are so many divorces and problems in this country. The US is indeed a progressive country, however; some of you are shameless.Please log in to respond to this comment.Rose-Marie, see my response to you above.Please log in to respond to this comment.
"especially after this massive earthquake, we can help you any way we choose."Well said, Mogama. It is my opinion that these folks thought they could just swoop and scoop a bunch of kids because the disaster and that they were Americans.I refuse to believe in their naivety. They knew exactly what they were doing.Please log in to respond to this comment.Assuming the Americans "knew exactly what they were doing", wouldn't it still be a good thing for the Haitian government to release them as a gesture of good will? I still say the missionaries need to show respect by saying to Haitian authorities, "We're sorry." Thanks, Ken, for your comment. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
Mogama,I seriously think that if this group is found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping, the government should throw the book at them and make an example out of them. I am not trying to be mean, however; the action is very arrogant. This will not be the first the first group of people who will try to do this, there will be more cases like this one. Although I as a Haitian born appreciate the help people are offering to my country, but when it is done illegally, unethical and with the intention of making money, it is plain wrong. Who gave them the right to take these children out of the country without the proper documents? If they are found guilty, they should be jailed in Haiti, I can assure you, if they spend 2 weeks in a Haitian prison, they will never try to commit a crime in their lives again. As a matter of fact, any person found guilty of committing a crime which involves a child should be jailed in Haiti.Rose-MariePlease log in to respond to this comment.Rose-Marie,You brag about the fact that "if they spend 2 weeks in a Haitian prison, they will never try to commit a crime in their lives again." That says a lot about your country and none of it is good. Do all native Hatians denigrate their country like that? If I were a Haitian official in charge of immigration, I would never let you back into my country for slandering it like that.And why is it "any person found guilty of committing a crime which involves a child should be jailed in Haiti"? Why not also do that to a person who commits a crime against an adult? Don't tell me you buy into that conventional foolishness about children being more valuable than adults. Don't you believe in the equality of all? Don't you believe in equal protection under law? Oh, that's right - I forgot - you don't share our American values.Please log in to respond to this comment.Terry,You are making this more personal than it needs to be. Take a chill pill! I am not saying that children are more valuable than adults, but children are innocents, they are not on earth for us to make money with or abuse. I am not trying to denigrate my country; I am simply saying that if these people knew better they would have picked a different country to try to commit such crime in. Haiti does not have a good prison system like the US. I probably share the American values more than most Americans, at least you do not see me trying to suggest that the US government withhold help from a country because they are trying to prosecute 10 people who allegedly were caught trying to commit a crime. I do feel bad for those people, if they are guilty of human trafficking, they should go to jail. Hopefully, they will send them back to the US.. you should relax, the weekend is fast approaching.Please log in to respond to this comment.Rose-Marie,I think it's ironic that you telling me to chill out, when you and several others are the ones who are so upset about what these missionaries supposedly did. You are the ones demanding a pound of flesh, while I am saying that Haiti should just chill out and forget about this time. I agree with you that children "are not on earth for us to make money with or abuse." But I don't think adults are either. Do you?By the way, counties are judged by the way they treat their children, women, animals, and, yes, their prisoners. Even if it treats any three of the four well, and mistreats the other, well, you know ... And a bad prison system equals mistreated prisoners.Please log in to respond to this comment.
As usual Americans go about the world believing that the world is their playground and that everyone needs their help even if it never is asked for! How atrocious to find self serving missionaries using the name of God to fulfill their self interests! Great read!Please log in to respond to this comment.Though some Americans may view the world as "their playground", there are other Americans who see the world as nations of equals. I'm not sure which of the two groups of Americans is in the majority, though. Thanks, Vinoo, for your comment. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
Can we EVER lighten up? I support Mr. Mogama's comments. Rose-Marie, your points are well taken, but I believe, arrogant as well.Please log in to respond to this comment.We appreciate your input. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.This is a response to Gregory Lewis' comment -As a matter of fact yes Haitians did step up to help with the relief effort after Katrina, While I was down there helping and while you white Americans were at home enjoying your dogs and cats that you value more than human lives, I had the pleasure of meeting several Haitian volunteers. Lets not be too quick to judge the PM of Haiti, you cannot expect him to release these people without a fair trial. I am sure they will be release once they are found not guilty. I wonder if the missionaries were from a different country if you guys would feel differently? You probably would, based on your comment to Vino from Omar, it seems as if you think that Americans are the greatest people in the world. You sound like a prejudice jack... I think perhaps 9 of these people are innocent, however the leader is guilty, her intentions was to sale those children for money and she got caught. Do you people have any remorse? Do think it is possible that this woman's plan was to trade those kids for $$? You have no idea of what she intended to do, and you are taking her side. Is it because they are Caucasians? You are probably related to Pat Robertson.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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