Moneer Al-Omari
Last week, unknown parties kidnapped a nine-member group of foreigners working for an international organization in Al-Jumhuri Hospital in Sa’ada. Out of the group’s nine members, three members – including two German nurses and a Korean nurse – were found dead.So far, security apparatuses and local authorities of Sa’ada have been unable to find the group’s other members and the authorities accuse Houthi followers of being behind the kidnapping operation; however, this was denied by Houthis. This comes few days after tribesmen in Amran’s Harf Sufian released a group of 24 medical workers, including foreigners. The country saw another kidnapping operation two months ago and it targeted a Dutch couple working for a development project in Taiz.
Who to kidnap?
Tribal and mountainous areas have been a scene for different kidnapping operations against foreigners. The first kidnapping operation targeting foreigners was recorded early in 1991. Since then, Yemen has seen over 200 kidnapping operations targeting foreigners, including tourists, international organizations’ workers and to, a lesser degree, diplomats. Over the recent years, the kidnappers have turned to kidnap Yemeni businessmen and state high ranking officials. The kidnappers always target the sons of such persons and they always ask for ransoms. In most cases, the kidnapped, whether foreigners or Yemenis, were released unharmed. Aside from the latest kidnapping of foreigners in Sa’ada, tourists were killed during a military operation launched against the kidnappers belonging to Aden-Abyan Islamic Army in Abyan’s Hitat Mountains in 1998. By then, four British tourists were killed and they were used as human shields by the kidnappers. The same governorates saw another kidnapping operation, but, this time, Yemeni medical workers were targeted. Bani Dhabian Tribe in Sana’a governorate is ranked first as to the number of kidnapping operations targeting foreigners and Yemenis, followed by Mareb Tribes, Bani Jabr Tribes in Sana’a province and Al-Hada Tribes in Dhamar. The list of foreigners kidnapped in Yemen includes French, German, Dutch, Polish, British, American, Belgian, Russian and Asian people. Those kidnapped foreigners belong to foreign companies, embassies or international organizations. The motivations behind kidnappings are mostly political, according to observers. However, other motivations cannot be ruled out. They blame the increased number of kidnapping cases on the fact that laws are not enforced and the government does not take tough measures against the kidnappers. Tribes resort also to kidnapping to force concessions in the government’s side, to get money in ransom and to force the state to implement development projects in their poor and remote areas.
Kidnapping and development
Several studies and symposiums meant to discuss the effects of kidnapping on development and investments took place. These studies hint that kidnapping was behind slowing the pace of development in Yemen. Kidnapping has also effected the decisions of investors, especially when the domestic capital fears such operations and does not invest in tourism fields. Most local investors limit their investments to consumptive and food commodities. Observers note that kidnapping has badly affected tourism in Yemen, especially when kidnapping was coupled with terrorist attacks targeting tourists in Mareb and Hadramout in 2006 and 2008 respectively. The last few years have seen a steep drop in the number of foreign tourists visiting Yemen.
Kidnapping effects
According to studies, the kidnapping operations harm the country’s image and give a distorted image about the country and its investment climate and they effect Yemen’s relations with foreign countries. These operations also force investors to give up plans to invest in the country. This applies to Yemeni expatriates abroad who do not feel secure. The kidnapping operations also affect a significant number of youth working in tourism sector.
Terrorism law
Yemeni government has recently presented a terrorism and money laundering combating draft law to parliament for final endorsement. The draft law lists acts like highway robbery, kidnapping and money laundering to be acts under terrorism.
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