Just as the kidnapping ordeal of a former German ambassador and his family comes to a peaceful end in Yemen, five Italians are kidnapped. The kidnappers are disenfranchised tribesmen, who are effectively excluded from the political system (because they comprise the greatest potential check on Yemeni President SalehÂ’s authority). Lacking a functional judiciary, many kidnappings occur to effect the release of family members held without trial by the regime.
What is often not reported is the practice of hostage taking when perpetrated by the regime itself. As a method of intimidation and retribution, the regime often kidnaps young siblings (age 14 and under) of reformers. Adult hostages are held in governmental prison without trial at the behest of influential persons connected to the regime. Many influential sheiks have private prisons. Taking hostages to be used as bargaining chips by tribesmen is deplorable, and the taking of hostages by the regime is on a higher scale of injustice.
For more information on the lack of basic services in tribal areas and throughout the country, massive corruption, and the anti-democratic practices of the Yemeni regime, see my latest article in the Yemen Times here.
1
Yemen isn't a country. It's an area of land with warring fundamentalis muslim tribes, with one tribe holding itself out as the "government" because it is better than the other tribes at bribery and intimidation. But it plays ball and we do business with it. The "reformers" are merely other warring tribesmen who prefer their own tribe to the other.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 01, 2006 10:58 AM (8e/V4)
2
Dear Jesusland
You are wrong Yemen is not like that. It is beautiful country. Islam and all Yemeni people reject such act. I wish you read about Yemen and real teachings of Islam.
My best regards
Happy New Year for All World
Posted by: Adnan Hizam at January 01, 2006 11:05 AM (w8lZG)
3
Adnan, tell us this; are Osama and al Zarqawi good muslims, even though they murder innocent people, including other muslims?
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 01, 2006 11:16 AM (0yYS2)
4
Both of them are wrong and Allah well punish any one attack innocent people.
You know Islam reject any attack against innocent people. I donÂ’t agree with Osam and Zarqawi.
but as a Muslim I have to clear reality of Islam which rejects violence and terror and all attacks target innocent people.
Posted by: Adnan Hizam at January 01, 2006 11:23 AM (w8lZG)
5
Adnan,
I'm sure Yemen is very beautiful. But it's political system is tribal and primitive, you can't deny that.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 01, 2006 11:27 AM (8e/V4)
6
I agree Adnan. I have many muslim friends. I'm not a racist. Not all muslims are terrorists or "Jawas". Osama and Abu claim to help Muslims but they kill their own people and make muslims look bad. I know your religion is not bad. Zarqawi simply changed it to help his own perverted view of America. Happy New Year Adnan.
Posted by: George Ramos at January 01, 2006 11:29 AM (Lp5Uh)
7
To be honest with you. you are right. And here in Yemen we are as journalists have to change the culture of the people. There are people believing in rule of the tribe rejecting rule of the law. It is our duty to spread awareness among people about rule of the law and to guide them to get their political and human rights.
Posted by: Adnan Hizam at January 01, 2006 11:33 AM (w8lZG)
8
Jane
Happy New Year - staying focused I see. Good. I have no idea how I could ever help you, but feel free to email me if you think of something.
Posted by: hondo at January 01, 2006 11:37 AM (3aakz)
9
Thank you George
Here in Yemen we like all world peoples but we need time to change the current situation. You know here the rate of illiteracy is high. I pray my country will be better then now.
Posted by: Adnan Hizam at January 01, 2006 11:39 AM (w8lZG)
10
So it just goes around and around. These tribes may feel disenfranchised, but there are a lot of disenfranchised tribes out there. How come we don't hear of Chinese tourists being kidnapped by Aborigines in the Australian Outback or Japanese tourists being kidnapped by Native Americans in New Mexico? They have their fair share of problems too. Perhaps, despite being among the lowest rungs on society's ladder, these peoples, over the centuries have been able to modernise their thinking and solve their problems without resorting to intimidation.
Posted by: Graeme at January 01, 2006 11:58 AM (S769q)
11
Hey Happy New Year peps, and thanks Hondo. Sometime or another I will need help. You're on the list.
Graeme, keep in mind that the Australian government and others with tribal populations are in responsive to their tribes, to their human needs and grievences, where as the Yemeni regime acts in a way to exclude them, to turn them against each other, and to keep them from modernizing by not providing water, electricity, schools, or healthcare. Theres some really appauling statistics in my article.
The last three kidnapping in the last 45 days were prompted by the tribes demand for a trial for a relative who may be held indefinately otherwise. So in essence they are acting in a illegal way to demand an application of the law. But the law in Yemen is a tool of the powerful only.
Posted by: Jane at January 01, 2006 12:48 PM (M7kiy)
12
Also if the government was tribal, it would care about the condition of its people, which it doesnt.The Yemeni regime is a loosely related web of self interested individuals who are all out for themselves. Most of the exercise of power is done outside of governmental institutions. The parliament and judiciary are not empowered.
Tribalism on the other hand has as its underpinning the sense of family, and care for the family. A tribal government i think would place child mortality as a priority, which is currently at 11%. Also tribalism is not as authorian as might be expected. There are mechanisms of consensus building, popular participation in decision making, and a transparent and collective economy. The regime on the other hand would be taking a big step up to become a tribal government. Now its more like a disorganzied mafia with brutal tendencies.
Posted by: Jane at January 01, 2006 01:06 PM (M7kiy)
13
Thanx for clarifying that, Jane. Coming from somehwere where the law of the land is observed without question, it's really hard to imagine that some may have to actually take a step up to achieve the level of even being a "tribal" government.
Posted by: Oyster at January 01, 2006 02:01 PM (YudAC)
14
Kidnaping must be a way of life for these fanatics
Posted by: sandpiper at January 01, 2006 02:03 PM (JtcRt)
15
Oyster, its mind blowing.
Sandpiper, its a way of life for the govt. Check out the article in the Yemen Times that I linked.
Posted by: Jane at January 01, 2006 02:18 PM (M7kiy)
16
Check this out.
"Although the location of the kidnapped teenager are known to be in Garadh area in Bani Dhibian, 80 kilometers south of SanaÂ’a authorities have still not taken measures for the release.
However a security officer concerned with the case told Yemen Times that they surrounded the area and arrested 25 persons since the kidnapping. The arrested people belong to Bani Dhabian but were arrested as hostages while they were in SanaÂ’a."
This one is over a land dispute, normally the person with the best connections to the military wins.
Posted by: Jane at January 01, 2006 02:40 PM (M7kiy)
17
Kidnapping and hostage taking has been a custom of the Arabic and North African tribes since history has been recorded, Quite like a lot of thing we (the Westerner) deem out of the ordinary, due to our particular customs and beliefs.
This in no way excuses them in this modern day and age, but I hope it helps explain it. Also the killing or Beheading of hostages is an old, barbaric custom relating back to early Middle Eastern Customs. Some of it is carried over in the Quran as "Sharia".
And Jane's pretty much right on about the Governments there.
Posted by: large at January 01, 2006 03:42 PM (fEUSs)
18
Agent Jones says there are too many guns in Yemen.
Posted by: Agent Smith at January 02, 2006 06:24 AM (b1Uko)
19
Jane.. you have to know in Yemen we are poor country not because resources but because people themselves. They do not know their rights and the rate of illiteracy still high because corruption. Here, the corruption is real complicated matter, it is difficult to understand it.
Posted by: Adnan Hizam at January 02, 2006 06:29 AM (w8lZG)
20
Agent Smith
Tell Agent Jones he his being - naive. Before there where too many guns, there where too many swords, before that too many bows, before that too many spears, before that too many rocks.
It is the poor workman who always blames the tools.
Posted by: hondo at January 02, 2006 09:45 AM (3aakz)
21
my spelling is off - the headache remains
Posted by: hondo at January 02, 2006 09:51 AM (3aakz)
22
The headache may remain, but the logic is spot on. And the agents are poor workmen, that's for sure.
Posted by: jesusland joe at January 02, 2006 09:59 AM (rUyw4)
23
Yes Adnan, there's lots of resources- the port, the fisheries- which are being mismanged and many of the biggest businesses are also have corrupt practices and nepotism. The illiteracy rate is never going to improve until the govt puts the welfare of the people and the country ahead of its personal interests. They cut the education spending to put much more money into the military, and we know who runs that, the president and his relatives. If the people had their rights, they would know them. A whole generation grew up with their rights denied.
Posted by: Jane at January 02, 2006 02:26 PM (ywZa8)
24
Agent Smith says God Bless America - at least we fight for our rights.
Posted by: Agent Smith at January 03, 2006 06:46 AM (0kwVT)
25
Has Agent Smith kidnapped Maxie? Will there be an exchange in the desert for - greg? Will there be room for 2 Smiths in this standoff? Who will be the last man standing?
Posted by: hondo at January 03, 2006 09:55 AM (3aakz)
26
Please of any one interest about reality of the corruption in Yemen just go to see my article published in Yemen Observer weekly
http://www.yobserver.com/news_9070.php
Posted by: Adnan Hizam at January 03, 2006 10:17 AM (w8lZG)
27
Sorry Hondo, I've been busy of late. Adnan, despite my often inflammatory rhetoric, I do think there are a few Arabs, as you seem to be, who are decent, civilized human beings, but guys like you tend to end up in mass graves if you speak out, so hope for the ME is slim, and my best advice to you is to get out, because unless the US invades, Yemen won't be fixed in your lifetime.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 06, 2006 08:46 AM (0yYS2)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
