I would not have freed you! You'd be in Haitian jail with Seydou or Stanley watching over you. Yes, of course, so many details we don't know about - and when it comes to children, I don't have any concern whatsoever for the excuses - Simple - a) did you come to Haiti on your own volition? Yes or No. If yes, did you intend to have contact with children while in haiti? Yes or No. If yes, did you intend to transfer these children from the place you first saw them, or found them, and anywhere else. Yes or No. If yes, did you at any time, actively move the children from one location to another, in such a manner that a reasonable person might conclude you were taking them. If yes, did you believe their parents were all dead, and or had signed over rights to the child to the person you were collecting them from. If yes, did you see the signed papers from their parents. Did you see the bodies of their parents, did anyone at any time tell you they were all dead. Were you at any time told or otherwise had conveyed to you the information that you might, at any time, receive repayment for your services or the church you belong to could be reimbrsed for your services. If yes - was the payment or repayment or reinbursal amount more than the cost for your plane flight at discounted rates? If yes, to more than 1 question above but no more than 5, go to prison for not less than five years. If you answer yes to all the questions, off to prison for 10 years minimum - in a friendly Haitian prison. If you are not happy with that chocie a) tough, b) cry a lot and maybe enough people will donate funds in order that you be transferred from the hell of a Haitian prison to a) a Turkish prison, or b) Kabul Central Jail. I would be happy with any of the options above.
Missionaries freed by Haitian judge land in US
David Fischer And Frank Bajak, Associated Press Writers
February 17, 2010
MIAMI – Eight American missionaries freed by a Haitian judge landed in Miami early Thursday, nearly three weeks after the group was charged with kidnapping for trying to take 33 children out of the quake-stricken country.
A U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane carrying the Americans landed at 12:04 a.m. at Miami International Airport, said Lt. Kenneth Scholz of the U.S. Southern Command. The group still hadn't emerged from customs as of early Thursday.
[And why is a US airforce plane carrying these 8 people anywhere. Who authorized the plane to carry them, were others on the plane, was it simply a matter of - this plane is leaving with stuff on it, you might be able to get on, or was this something arranged for them!!! By Whom!]
The group's swift departure from Haiti began a day earlier when Judge Bernard Saint-Vil said eight of the 10 missionaries were free to leave without bail because parents of the children had testified they voluntarily gave their children to the missionaries believing the Americans would give them a better life.
"The parents gave their kids away voluntarily," Saint-Vil said in explaining his decision.
He said, however, that he still wanted to question the group's leader, Laura Silsby, and her former nanny, Charisa Coulter, because they had visited Haiti prior to the quake to inquire about obtaining orphans.
Just after dusk in Haiti, the bedraggled, sweat-stained group of eight walked out of the jail escorted by U.S. diplomats. They waited until they were safely inside a white embassy van before some flashed smiles and gave a thumbs up to reporters. Their plane took off from Port-au-Prince shortly thereafter as a group of reporters watched.
Silas Thompson, 19, of Twin Falls, Idaho, plopped into the back seat, breathing heavily and beaming with relief. He'd accompanied his father Paul, a pastor, on the mission not knowing that Silsby had not obtained the proper papers, said his U.S.-based lawyer, Caleb Stegall.
[Stupid is as stupid does. The 19 year old has an excuse - he followed his father down the primrose path. So sit in prison for a year and contemplate following others anywhere.]
The missionaries were charged with child kidnapping for trying to take 33 Haitian children to the Dominican Republic on Jan. 29 without Haitian adoption certificates.
Their detentions came just as aid officials were urging a halt to short-cut adoptions in the wake of the earthquake. Before their release, Haiti's No. 2 justice official, Claudy Gassent, informed them of the judge's decision but said he also gave them a lecture.
"They know they broke the law," he said.
The missionaries say they were on a do-it-youself "rescue mission" to take child quake victims to a hastily prepared orphanage in the Dominican Republic, denying the trafficking charge.
[Absconding with children is absconding regardless of where you are taking them.]
Silsby originally said they were taking only orphaned and abandoned children, but The Associated Press determined that at least 20 were handed over willingly by their parents, who said the Baptists had promised to educate them and let their parents visit.
[And you know this how. The EQ occurs, you insert yourself and suddenly find orphaned and abandoned children and then abscond with them ... Coulter from idaho ... jumps down to Haiti forgetting about her diabetes because she figured she would swoop in, save people, and then be home for breakfast. How quaint.]
Saint-Vil said he did not release Silsby, 47, or Coulter, 24, because of their previous activities in Haiti during a December visit. Silsby hastily enlisted the rest of the group after the quake. Coulter, of Boise, Idaho, is diabetic and the judge signed an order Wednesday afternoon authorizing her hospitalization.
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