The Episcopal Conference of Haiti announced on Tuesday three days of closure of schools, universities and other institutions it runs to demand the release of the twelve religious kidnapped for ten days on the outskirts of the capital.
“Ten days in the hands of the kidnappers is too much. We note with pain the lack of change in the situation of our brothers and sisters who are in the hands of the bandits,” says a statement issued in Port-au-Prince.
The closing of activities will take place between next Wednesday and Friday, dates when the priests will continue to give Mass in the morning or in the afternoon.
On Friday at noon the bells of all the country churches will ring to demand the release of the abductees, if they have not yet been released. Since the end of 2019 Haiti is facing a wave of kidnappings unprecedented in its entire history, as kidnappings occur daily and all groups in society are victims of kidnapping, in the face of the impotence of the authorities.
On the 14th the Church held a day of protest to denounce the abduction of the twelve religious, which had taken place the previous weekend. This event precipitated last week the resignation of the then Prime Minister, Joseph Jouthe, who has been replaced by Claude Joseph.
Haiti is experiencing a deep political, economic and social crisis, which has manifested itself in the postponement of elections, the increase in food insecurity and the emigration of thousands of people.