Three brothers of Lebanese origin found dead in Venezuela

[Heaven]

Les corps de trois garçons canadiens kidnappés sont retrouvés au Venezuela

CARACAS (PC) - Les autorités du Venezuela ont découvert les dépouilles de trois adolescents canadiens kidnappés il y a plus d'un mois.

Le ministre vénézuélien de la Justice, Jesse Chacon, a expliqué que les corps de John, Kevin et Jason Faddoul, âgés respectivement de 17, 13 et 12 ans, avaient été retrouvés à environ 30 km de Caracas. Ils ont été abattus avec une arme à feu. Ils avaient été enlevés le 23 février lorsque des hommes habillés en policiers avaient arrêté leur voiture lors d'un faux barrage routier.
Mercredi, la découverte des corps a déclenché des manifestations à Caracas où des centaines de manifestants ont bloqué une artère principale en dénonçant les crimes violents et la corruption policière.

Ailleurs, 200 protestataires rassemblés au ministère de la Justice ont demandé un ménage au sein de la police et ils ont accusé les autorités de nonchalance dans la lutte contre le crime.

Le procureur général Isaias Rodriguez a indiqué que les autorités sont sur la piste des suspects.

Les garçons étaient nés au Venezuela, mais détenaient aussi la citoyenneté canadienne. Les trois frères vivaient avec leur père, l'homme d'affaires d'origine canadienne John Faddoul, et leur mère vénézuélienne dans un quartier aisé de Caracas. La famille a aussi habité brièvement à Windsor, en Ontario, où ils ont toujours de la parenté.

A Ottawa, le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Peter Mackay, a souligné l'appui du gouvernement canadien pendant l'enquête des autorités vénézuéliennes.

Les autorités n'ont toujours pas écarté la possibilité que les ravisseurs aient été de véritables agents de police.

Les kidnappeurs avaient exigé une rançon de 4,5 millions $ US - soit environ 5,2 millions $.

Les victimes ont été abattues par balles et deux d'entre elles portaient toujours leur uniforme scolaire, a dit le chef de la police judiciaire Marco Chavez à la télévision publique.

Ce n'était pas la première fois que la famille faisait l'expérience d'un rapt.

Le père et le fils aîné, John, avaient été kidnappés voilà quelques années et conduits à un guichet automatique pour être ensuite relâchés quelques heures plus tard, a raconté Nelly Elbarche, une cousine de la mère des garçons.

Les rapts, meurtres et vols armés sont fréquents au Venezuela. Selon les statistiques du gouvernement, le pays a dénombré 9402 homicides en 2005, soit une légère baisse par rapport à l'année précédente.

[Chrysostomos]

May they rest in peace.
I was totaly shocked when i knew about this fatal tragedy.
Now Nayla Mouawad will claim that Lahoud had something to do with it.
May God bless their souls

[Haruun]

God Bless them, they were rioting in Caracas today regarding the murders as well as the general lack of security in the country. Our prayers are with the Faddoul family, may these young boy rest in peace.

[lebo]

The Daily Star

Friday, April 07, 2006
Venezuelan slayings shock Lebanon
By Rym Ghazal
Daily Star staff


BEIRUT: The kidnapping and brutal murder of three Canadian-Lebanese brothers in Venezuela this week has become an international incident with the Lebanese village of Torza declaring a day of mourning over "the loss of its sons" and hundreds of protesters in Caracas demanding and an end to the scourge of kidnappings.

John, Kevin and Jason Faddoul, aged 17, 13 and 12 respectively, were found Tuesday hanging from a tree with shotgun wounds to the head and numerous bruises and burn marks all over their bodies. The boys were still wearing their school uniforms.

"The whole town is in shock over what happened to our boys," said Elias Antonious, the mayor of Torza. The Bsharre village marked a "day of mourning for all Lebanon" over the deaths of the Faddoul boys. The boys were kidnapped a month ago by a group of men dressed in police uniforms while on their way to school.

All three children possessed Lebanese and Canadian citizenship.

"Both of their parents are from Torza, from the two biggest families here, so the whole town feels like they lost their sons in the most horrific and unimaginable way," Antonious told The Daily Star.

According to the mayor, the parents had raised the $4 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers. "They sold and borrowed, did everything possible to get the money."

However, when the kidnappers repeatedly changed the location and date of the pickup, "out of desperation" they contacted the authorities to help them find their children.

"When that happened, it seems the kidnappers panicked and killed the boys," he said.

Meanwhile, reports from Venezuela said hundreds of protesters had poured on to the streets of Caracas Wednesday, in anger over the execution-style murder of the three young brothers.

Dozens of vehicles passed through downtown Caracas with the word "mourning" scrawled across their windows.

The protest in Caracas turned violent when troops fired tear gas at protesters who were blocking streets and highways. News photographer Jorge Aguirre was reported to have been shot and killed during the protest by an unidentified man on a motorcycle.

Venezuelan Justice Minister Jesse Chacon called for calm. He said: "We're very close to finding those responsible for this abominable crime," adding that police have arrested three suspects in the kidnapping and killing of a prominent Italian-born businessman last week.

Both the Canadian and Lebanese governments urged Venezuela to conduct a thorough investigation.

Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh released an official statement expressing his "deepest condolences" to the families in Venezuela. Salloukh said he had instructed Lebanon's ambassador in Caracas to visit the Faddoul family, vowing to "follow up on this heinous crime."

Meanwhile, in a conversation with The Daily Star from Torza, the boys' aunt Rene Deeb, in between deep sobs, said: "so ugly, I can't believe anyone can do this to such sweet young boys."

She said John, Jason and Kevin's parents "are not picking up the phone or talking even to us, the family."

"The kidnappers promised to return them safely when they got the money. They promised!" she shouted.

A Mass will be held Saturday in Torza at the Sarkis Bakhous Church at 4 p.m.

[Motorcity]

May God have Mercey on their Souls!

How many lebanese die every year in unstable latin America!
or in the Inner cities of the US!
or in West African riots...
strugling to make a better future for their families!!!

I remember while living in my Southern Town, almost every year one or more young men will be returned for burial in their home land after been murdered either in Detroit or in west Africa!

Enna li Lah wa Enna Elayhe Raje3oun!

[coralie]

comme c'est triste si innocents a l'age des fleurs si brutalement leur destins s'arretent. que Dieu les recoi dans son pardis et donne la patience et le courage a leur parents . les mots manquent devant une si horrible inhumaine tragedie .

esperons que le gouvernement venezuelien fera preuve de bonne volonte a presentera au plus vite les coupables devant la justice .

[Inanna]

may their soul rest in peace! this is a tragedy!
when i heard the story i was shocked! how could people be that heartless!
lebanese are victims to similar crimes and robberies in South America and in Africa a lot!
when it comes to South Africa, venezuela and brazil are the countries were they suffer the most!

[Carlutchi]

I was shocked when i heard the news !! It is HORRIBLE !!

I can't find words to describe how i feel !!

May their souls rest in peace and may God be with their parents.