Saturday, February 6, 2010

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American prisoners in Haiti: 'We're afraid'

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- Americans under arrest for kidnapping in Haiti expressed concern for their lives in a note to NBC News Saturday.

The note, scribbled on a scrap of paper, said: "We fear for our lives here in Haiti. There is corruption and extortion."

Then this: "Laura wants to control. We believe lying. We're afraid."

Laura would be Laura Silsby, the spokesperson for the jailed Americans.

She organized the trip to Haiti and initially told government officials here she had permission, if not the documents, to adopt 33 children in the wake of the earthquake.

She has repeatedly said the group is trusting in God.

A Haitian defense attorney hired to represent the kidnapped 10 says he believes nine of the missionaries had no idea what was going on, and that the adoption documents never existed.

The scribbled note goes on to say:

"Please, you must listen. We have no way to call. Court will not let us have a say with anything about truth for us. We only came as volunteers. We had nothing to do with any documents and have been lied to."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it is unfortunate that the group tried to take the children across the border without proper documentation, and that she is now in talks with the Haitian government.

(Copyright (c) 2010 Sunbeam Television. NBC News Channel contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)