VO

A few weeks after Haiti hit the headlines for food riots, UN soldiers are out in force in the capital Port au Prince.

But these soldiers are not here to control rioters. They are searching for kidnappers.

With over 30 kidnaps a month, Haiti is now one of the most likely places in the world to be kidnapped.

Hedi Annabi – Head of UN Mission Haiti

It’s a serious problem, we have had about 500 kidnappings in 2006this year we have had an average of about 30 kidnappings a month which if this continues until the end of the year will give us a number significantly higher.

Captain Javier – Brazilian UN MISSION.

This area where we are going – in Cite Soleil, there are many kidnap prisons. Where the kidnappers take their victims. Basically this is a hot part of the city.

These soldiers are Brazilian, working for the UN force called MUNISTAH. They are on a mission to search for a known kidnapper.

UN Captain Javier

VO

Amaral. This is the house of a famous bandit. Today we didn’t get him, but he is not going to come back to this house now.

The UN force face a tough job. These slum areas are some of the most violent in the world.  Many of the people who live here are supporters of ex president Jean Beatrand Aristede. When he was ousted in 2004, they lost their jobs and income. The people are still angry and blame the UN and the US.

These gang members guard this slum area of City Soleil. They are often in gun battles with the MINUSTAH force.  They are the former soldiers of the previous dictator Arisitde – they are armed, without work, and often resort to kidnapping for money.

VO

Before enterting this nortorious slum of Cite Soleil, I had asked to speak to anyone who knew about kidnapping.

What I did not expect – was an interview with a kidnapper personally. Kidnappers have never before been interviewd in Haiti. They are highly dangerous and unpredictable

Kidnapper 1

I am from the poor class. I lived out here in Cite Soleil, them is real dangerous gangsters there, down dirty, hungry, all they want really is a chance to have some money. This is gangsters paradise out here. `You walk round here, as a Mexican, as a white boy, as a Russian, you gotta be very careful.

Not you, coz your connected, you came with a contact. This Haiti man, gangsters paradise, get what you need and then get out.

VO

Two types of people are blamed for kidnapping –  Haitians who have been Deported from the United States for committing a crime and  former supporters of Aristede. This man was a Deportee

VO

I managed to get more kidnappers to agree to speak. This time, they were not DPs, but the Aristede supporters. I set off to an area controlled  by them. On arrival  It became clear that this was not just a place for an interview, but where they held their victims captive

kidnappers

The situation is hard now. My president Aristede left. After Aristede left, I was hungry, I lost my income from him. Now I kidnap and I have killed a lot of people.

VO

The two kidnappers then told me that they had recently kidnapped a girl – incredibly she was just next door. But it soon became clear that I also was in danger. My translator overheard that these kidnappers were planning to kidnap me. 

As they went to get their guns, I left.

Phils security off camera

These guys are saying they have someone kept here. We should get out of here.

Woman trader in the mud

But my translator stayed for this extraordinary interview.

VO

This is Denise, a 19 year old local Haitian who was kidnapped 4 days previously.

Denise

I was kidnapped. I hope today they will release me. My family is outside negotiating with them. There is a chance I will be out today. They asked my family for $4000. But they managed to negotiate for $1000.

-  Did any of the kidnappers thereaten you?

-         yes, they all raped me.

VO

Denise was released that night after her sister paid  a 1000 US dollar ransom. We managed to track her down at the house she lived in with her sister Elaine.

Denise

Sister Elaine

-         They know where I live so I don’t want to live here anymore. I want to flee to Santa Domingo. So another gang does not kidnap me and rape me again.

-         The whole things was a shock to me. I didn’t expect it. They asked me to negotiate with them, so I did. So I went looking for help. I sold my things and borrowed to get my sister out.

VO

Denise and her sister are part of a growing number of poor Haitians, as well as foreigners who are being caught up in a kidnap phenomeon

Since 2004, and the ousting of Aristide, many men lost their living from being hired government thugs. Yet these men, along with a new generation of men deported from the US for committing a crime, now use Kidnapping in Haiti as source of income..

With the majority of Haitians living under 1 dollar a day its clear that those willing to kidnap to make money, will continue to do so. 

This is phil cox, More4 news, Haiti.