Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

UN announces measures against child kidnapping in Haiti
12-24-2006

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): UN special representative in Haiti Edmont Mulet said last week that he was "revolted" by the recent spate of kidnappings of schoolchildren in Haiti and that measure would be taken to stop the scourge.

"We're working with Haitian authorities to address this problem," he told reporters.

"I'm committed to improve security (in Haiti) as quickly as possible," he added, promising results by early January. He suggested sending more UN peacekeepers to Haiti, but mentioned no numbers.

Mulet said the Haitian government had given UN forces the "green light" to join Haitian police in patrolling problem neighborhoods where armed groups prevail in Port-Au-Prince.

"I'm revolted by the recent killing of kidnap victims and the wave of abductions of schoolchildren," Mulet said.

More than 30 schoolchildren have been kidnapped in the last few days in Haiti. Most of the hostages have been released, but authorities have closed down all schools for now.

Sixty passengers of two city buses were also kidnapped earlier last week and taken to the Cite Soleil slum, which is controlled by armed gangs. Some of the hostages have been released.

Mulet said the kidnappers were "cowards" and suggested they were being used for political reasons.

"There's somebody behind this who wants to spread fear in the country," he said, telling Haitians that their safety was the United Nations' main concern.