Haitian PM criticizes US kidnappers

Haitian Prime Minister Max Bellerive has criticized a group of Americans who allegedly abducted more than 30 children during the post-quake mayhem.

Haitian police detained 10 members of a US charity group, called ‘New Life Children’s Refuge’, when they were trying to cross into the Dominican Republic with 33 children without the proper papers.

The children, who range in age from two months to 14 years, all have family members that survived the devastating January 12 earthquake.

“It is clear now that they were trying to cross the border without papers. It is clear now that some of the children have live parents,” Bellerive told the Associated Press on Monday.

“And it is clear now that they knew what they were doing was wrong,” he added.

However, the head of the Idaho-based group, Laura Silsby said they were “just trying to do the right thing,” admitting she had not obtained the required passports, birth certificates and adoption certificates for the children.

Bellerive also said that Haiti is open to having the Americans tried in the US, since the quake demolished most government buildings, including Haiti’s courts.

In response, US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the case remains firmly in Haitian hands for now.

“Once we know all the facts, we will determine what the appropriate course is, but the judgment is really up to the Haitian government,” he said.

Haitian officials insist on prosecution to help deter child trafficking, which many fear will flourish in the chaos caused by the incident.