The Dominican Republic “does not pay” the rescue of its citizens who are kidnapped by gangs in Haiti, assured yesterday Jatzel RomanVice Minister for Consular and Immigration Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirax).
The official referred, but did not offer details, about the kidnapping of a bus of the Dominican company Metro in which 12 people were traveling: eight Turkish citizens, three Haitians and one Dominican.
“The Dominican State does not pay kidnappingsnor do other States pay, “Román assured journalists who asked him about the subject in a call to the press at the headquarters of the Chancellery.
So far there are no reports that a ransom has been requested for the victims kidnapped by the gang 400 Mawozo. The kidnapping occurred in the commune of Croix-des-Bouquetson the outskirts of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, a place controlled by the gang.
“We ask for your understanding that we cannot say everything for the integrity of the people who are kidnapped,” he said. “What we can say is that the process is progressing, but we cannot give more details,” Román pointed out.
The Embassy of Turkey in the Dominican Republic has also not offered details in this regard on the occasions that it was consulted on the subject. The Turkish ambassador to the country, Yesim Kebapcioglu, is concurrent in Haiti.
in constant communication
The Dominican State has already reported that it is in contact with Haitian authorities for the “effective tracking” of the kidnapped Dominican driver. the deputy minister Jatzel Roman He met with the Dominican’s family to talk about the steps to follow to find a solution to the situation.
In a statement from the Mirax It was indicated that “a single and direct contact” was established between the institution and the family members to “manage communication effectively, avoiding misinformation by third parties.”
Turkish media reported that Mevlut CavusogluTurkish foreign minister, spoke by phone with his Haitian counterpart, Jean Victor Généus, to discuss the kidnapping.
Cavusoglu said that he is monitoring the situation and a crisis table has been established in Haiti to rescue Turkish citizens.
about the band
This gang is the one that at the end of April and near the same place in the commune kidnapped the commercial attaché of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince Carlos Gillen Tatis. The band asked in exchange for the release of the diplomat $500,000. But the conditions of Guillén’s release four days later remain unclear.
This gang is also credited with the attempted kidnapping yesterday of a bus that left Port-au-Prince for Santo Domingo. This also happened in Croix-des-Bouquets. It was a vehicle from the Capital Coach Line company, the first Haitian bus provider in the Dominican Republic.
Hugo Jean-Francois, director of the company, explained to Free Journal that 16 people were traveling in the vehicle: 14 passengers and two staff members.
“It’s a terrible situation because it damages people’s lives and business,” said Hugo Jean-Francois, who also reported that this is the first kidnapping attempt of which they are victims, a fact that now forces them to take stricter security measures. security.
400 Mawozo It was also the gang that became known internationally last year for the kidnapping of 16 missionaries from the United States and one from Canada. For each of the victims, the payment of one million dollars was demanded, but it was not confirmed whether the ransom was paid.
In Haiti they are counted in the first quarter of this year 225 kidnappingsan increase of 58% compared to 142 cases in the same period in 2021, according to the Center for Analysis and Research on Human Rights.
Avoid traveling to Haiti
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirax) reiterated at the beginning of the week to the Dominican population to avoid traveling to Haiti due to the increase in violence in that country due to clashes between gangs and the rise of kidnappings.
“The Chancellery reiterated the recommendation made since October 2021 to Dominicans, about refraining from traveling to Haiti except for essential reasons”, insisted the Miraxafter the meeting with the relatives of the bus driver, who has not been identified.
Jatzel Román guaranteed that the outsourcing of consular services from the Dominican Republic will not be privatized. The official explained that this pilot plan will allow for more transparency in collections and the standardization of costs. Román said that the supplier will obtain the remuneration through the collection of the fee for services rendered, while the cost of the visa, for example, will go to the Dominican State as part of the collections. Roman guaranteed that this will not increase the cost of services.
