This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8494841.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Haiti judge quizzes missionaries Haiti judge quizzes missionaries
(1 day later)
A group of 10 US missionaries who were arrested as they tried to take 33 children out of earthquake-stricken Haiti have been questioned by a judge. A group of 10 US missionaries who were arrested as they tried to take 33 children out of earthquake-stricken Haiti are being questioned by a judge.
The investigative magistrate quizzed the five women for several hours and will interview the men on Wednesday.The investigative magistrate quizzed the five women for several hours and will interview the men on Wednesday.
Communications Minister Marie Laurence Jocelyn-Lassegue said prosecutors would later decide whether to press charges.Communications Minister Marie Laurence Jocelyn-Lassegue said prosecutors would later decide whether to press charges.
The missionaries deny they were engaged in child trafficking, and insist they were trying to help vulnerable orphans.The missionaries deny they were engaged in child trafficking, and insist they were trying to help vulnerable orphans.
On Monday, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive described them as "kidnappers" who had known "what they were doing was wrong".On Monday, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive described them as "kidnappers" who had known "what they were doing was wrong".
He said some of the children had parents who were alive, and that the Haitian authorities were trying to reunite them.He said some of the children had parents who were alive, and that the Haitian authorities were trying to reunite them.
Preliminary stagesPreliminary stages
On Tuesday, the five women missionaries were questioned behind closed doors by an investigative magistrate at the judicial police headquarters in Port-au-Prince. There were no lawyers present.On Tuesday, the five women missionaries were questioned behind closed doors by an investigative magistrate at the judicial police headquarters in Port-au-Prince. There were no lawyers present.
"I heard five of them. Then I will hear the other five tomorrow," Judge Ezaie Pierre-Louis said. "After the hearing tomorrow, I will make a report to the prosecutor, then he will decide what he does next.""I heard five of them. Then I will hear the other five tomorrow," Judge Ezaie Pierre-Louis said. "After the hearing tomorrow, I will make a report to the prosecutor, then he will decide what he does next."
Up until now we have not encountered any who say they are an orphan Patricia VargasSOS Children's Village Protecting Haiti's childrenUp until now we have not encountered any who say they are an orphan Patricia VargasSOS Children's Village Protecting Haiti's children
Before the hearing, prosecutor Mazarre Fortil said the authorities were still in the preliminary stages of the investigation.Before the hearing, prosecutor Mazarre Fortil said the authorities were still in the preliminary stages of the investigation.
"We are looking deeper into what happened to determine the next steps," he told the Reuters news agency."We are looking deeper into what happened to determine the next steps," he told the Reuters news agency.
The missionaries have been detained since Friday, when they tried to enter the neighbouring Dominican Republic with the children, whose ages ranged from 2 months to 12 years, without the right documents.The missionaries have been detained since Friday, when they tried to enter the neighbouring Dominican Republic with the children, whose ages ranged from 2 months to 12 years, without the right documents.
The children were later taken to an orphanage, where those who were old enough and willing to talk said they had surviving parents.The children were later taken to an orphanage, where those who were old enough and willing to talk said they had surviving parents.
"Up until now we have not encountered any who say they are an orphan," said Patricia Vargas of SOS Children's Village."Up until now we have not encountered any who say they are an orphan," said Patricia Vargas of SOS Children's Village.
The missionaries' "Haitian Orphan Rescue Mission" was described on their website as an effort to save abandoned and traumatised children. They intended to take 100 by bus to a hotel in the Dominican beach resort of Cabarete.The missionaries' "Haitian Orphan Rescue Mission" was described on their website as an effort to save abandoned and traumatised children. They intended to take 100 by bus to a hotel in the Dominican beach resort of Cabarete.
"Our intent was to help only those children that needed us most, that had lost either both their mother and father, or had lost one of their parents and the other had abandoned them," said Laura Silsby, a spokeswoman for the group, from their cell."Our intent was to help only those children that needed us most, that had lost either both their mother and father, or had lost one of their parents and the other had abandoned them," said Laura Silsby, a spokeswoman for the group, from their cell.
"We believe we have been charged very falsely with trafficking. We all gave up everything we had... to come here to help these children and by no means are any part of that horrendous practice.""We believe we have been charged very falsely with trafficking. We all gave up everything we had... to come here to help these children and by no means are any part of that horrendous practice."
Thousands of children in Haiti have been separated from their familiesThousands of children in Haiti have been separated from their families
Ms Silsby said her group had met a Haitian pastor by chance when they arrived last week, and that he had helped them gather the children. She also admitted that they did not have the proper paperwork.Ms Silsby said her group had met a Haitian pastor by chance when they arrived last week, and that he had helped them gather the children. She also admitted that they did not have the proper paperwork.
The director of Haiti's social welfare agency, Jeanne Bernard Pierre, told the Associated Press that the pastor had knocked on doors asking people if they wanted to give away their children.The director of Haiti's social welfare agency, Jeanne Bernard Pierre, told the Associated Press that the pastor had knocked on doors asking people if they wanted to give away their children.
"One child said to me: 'When they came knocking on our door asking for children, my mom decided to give me away because we are six children and by giving me away she would have only five kids to care for,'" he said."One child said to me: 'When they came knocking on our door asking for children, my mom decided to give me away because we are six children and by giving me away she would have only five kids to care for,'" he said.
The US government has said the case remains one for the Haitian authorities. Embassy officials have had regular access.The US government has said the case remains one for the Haitian authorities. Embassy officials have had regular access.
Experts have expressed concerns that child traffickers could take advantage of the earthquake on 12 January, which killed up to 200,000 people and left more than a million people homeless.Experts have expressed concerns that child traffickers could take advantage of the earthquake on 12 January, which killed up to 200,000 people and left more than a million people homeless.
According to UN guidelines, two years should pass after a disaster before adoption can even be considered, giving time to exhaust all efforts to locate family members first.According to UN guidelines, two years should pass after a disaster before adoption can even be considered, giving time to exhaust all efforts to locate family members first.