28503: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-Kidnapped Canadian (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MYRNA DOMIT

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, June 22 (AP) -- Kidnappers who seized a Canadian
missionary from his residence five days ago have lowered their ransom
demands, a colleague said Thursday.
   Ed Hughes' captors initially threatened to kill him unless a $45,000
ransom was paid but now say they will release him for $10,000, said Nelson
Ryman, co-director of the Tytoo Gardens orphanage north of Port-au-Prince.
   "We have hopes that he will be released before the weekend," Ryman said
from his home in Tampa, Fla. Ryman left Haiti last week.
   Ryman said, however, it wasn't clear if Hughes could raise the money his
captors have demanded.
   "It is highly unlikely that friends of Mr. Hughes would be able to come
up with that amount," Ryman said.
   U.N. authorities and Haitian police have been negotiating with Hughes'
kidnappers through a mediator, Ryman said.
   Hughes figured in another kidnapping, losing an arm in December 2005
trying to stop the abduction of Haitian-American missionary Daniel
Phelusmar. Hughes was shot and badly wounded in the arm. Phelusmar was held
hostage for four days.
   A total of 29 people were kidnapped in Haiti's capital last month, up
from 15 in April, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The
actual number was probably higher because victims' families often prefer to
negotiate with kidnappers rather than notify police.
   The abductions have highlighted Haiti's shaky security following last
month's inauguration of Rene Preval as president of the Western
Hemisphere's poorest country.
   Hughes' orphanage houses about 20 children and feeds 130 others.
   Police on Tuesday conducted a raid in the town where Hughes was seized,
freeing a kidnapped Haitian and arresting four people. It's unknown whether
the suspects had any connection to the abduction of Hughes.