PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) 鈥� The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang that police say is holding 17 members of a kidnapped missionary group is seen in a video released Thursday saying he will kill them if he doesn鈥檛 get what he鈥檚 demanding.
The video posted on social media shows Wilson Joseph dressed in a blue suit, carrying a blue hat and wearing a large cross around his neck.
鈥淚 swear by thunder that if I don鈥檛 get what I鈥檓 asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans,鈥� he said in the video.
He also threatened Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the chief of Haiti鈥檚 National Police, L茅on Charles, as he spoke in front of the open coffins that apparently held several members of his gang who were recently killed.
鈥淵ou guys make me cry. I cry water. But I鈥檓 going to make you guys cry blood,鈥� he said.
Earlier this week, authorities said that the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn鈥檛 immediately clear that included the five children in the group, among them an 8-month-old. Sixteen Americans and one Canadian were abducted, along with their Haitian driver.
The missionaries are with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, which held a news conference before someone posted the video of the gang leader.
Weston Showalter, spokesman for the religious group, said that the families of those who鈥檇 been kidnapped are from Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada. He read a letter from the families, who weren鈥檛 identified by name, in which they said, 鈥淕od has given our loved ones the unique opportunity to live out our Lord鈥檚 command to love your enemies.鈥�
The group invited people to join them in prayer for the kidnappers as well as those kidnapped and expressed gratitude for help from 鈥減eople that are knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with鈥� such situations.
鈥淧ray for these families,鈥� Showalter said. 鈥淭hey are in a difficult spot.鈥�
The same day that the missionaries were kidnapped, a gang also abducted a Haiti university professor, according to a statement that Haiti鈥檚 ombudsman-like Office of Citizen Protection issued on Tuesday. It also noted that a Haitian pastor abducted earlier this month has not been released despite a ransom being paid.
鈥淭he criminals ... operate with complete impunity, attacking all members of society,鈥� the organization said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads and burned tires in Haiti鈥檚 capital to decry a severe fuel shortage and a spike in insecurity and to demand that the prime minister step down.
The scattered protest took place across the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.
In addition to kidnappings, the gangs also are blamed for blocking gas distribution terminals and hijacking supply trucks, which officials say has led to a shortage of fuel. Many gas stations now remain closed for days at a time, and the lack of fuel is so dire that the CEO of Digicel Haiti announced on Tuesday that 150 of its 1,500 branches countrywide are out of diesel.
鈥淣othing works!鈥� complained Davidson Meiuce, who joined Thursday鈥檚 protest. 鈥淲e are suffering a lot.鈥�
Some protestors held up signs including one that read, 鈥淒own with the high cost of living.鈥�
Demonstrators clashed with police in some areas, with officers firing tear gas that mixed with the heavy black smoke rising from burning tires that served as barricades.
Alexandre Simon, a 34-year-old English and French teacher, said he and others are protesting because Haitians are facing such dire situations.
鈥淭here are a lot of people who cannot eat,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here is no work ... There are a lot of things we don鈥檛 have.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Kantele Franko in Columbus, Ohio contributed to this story.
Evens Sanon, Mat铆as Delacroix And Pierre-richard Luxama, The Associated Press
