Though I'm sure you've seen this and have heard/seen updates...

[tinpra]

10 Americans in Haiti Are Charged With Abduction

By MARC LACEY
Published: February 4, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Ten Americans who tried to take 33 Haitian children out of the country last week without the government’s consent have been charged with child abduction and criminal conspiracy, as Haitian officials sought to reassert judicial control after the Jan. 12 earthquake.

The Americans, most of them members of a Baptist congregation from Idaho, had said they intended to rescue Haitian children left parentless in the quake and take them to what they described as an orphanage across the border in the Dominican Republic. But they acknowledged failing to seek approval to remove the children from Haiti, and several of the children have at least one living parent.

The Americans will face a potentially extended legal proceeding in Haiti and could, if convicted, face prison terms of up to 15 years. (Read the rest at NY Times online.)

Comments

[lieueitak.livejournal.com]

I wonder why they weren't also charged with trafficking and having a major case of the stupids.

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

From what I've been hearing, it sounds like a hugecase of the stupids. and I think they are going to be charged with trafficking. Or maybe what I heard was just kidnapping. I dunno. Clinton spoke about it earlier. The soundbite was something to the effect of: "It's up to the Haitian gov't to work it out." Which I think is right since these are Haitian kids.

[lieueitak.livejournal.com]

Oh, it absolutely should be up to the Haitian government. I'm just doing what I do best: judge. :P

I also wonder if there might be some neglect charge to arise eventually. From what I've read, the kids were treated poorly, but I suppose it would be hard to prove that these fools were solely responsible for that.

No matter the charges or the outcome of the trials though, the children involved lose obviously. :(

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

I wonder if they'll be able to get a straight answer out of anyone, the Americans or the parents.