Experts blame kidnappings on underdevelopment and lawlessness

Underdevelopment, an undemocratic political system and a lack of law and order have fuelled a series of recent kidnappings in eastern Yemen, said experts at a conference held on the subject. "The most important reasons behind the kidnappings are feeble political participation, non-application of the law, the absence of a tolerant culture, the weakness of security and the spread of weapons," said conference participant and researcher Dr Abdul Qader Ali. "The strength of tribal culture, illiteracy, the lack of infrastructure and tribal conflicts are also among the reasons." Yemen is considered one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 148 out of 175 countries on the 2003 UNDP Human Development Index. Approximately 42 percent of the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank statistics. Kidnappings, meanwhile, have historically been rife: over 200 abductions were reported countrywide between 1993 and 2000, according to government figures. Ali al-Ansi, director of the presidential office admitted that the government had been slow to respond to the problem: "The state dealt with the phenomenon with leniency at the beginning,” he said. More recently, between November 2005 and January 2006, a total of 14 European tourists were kidnapped in separate ambushes. The kidnappers demanded the release of fellow tribesmen, whom the government accused of involvement with the al-Qaida terrorist group, in exchange for their release. Earlier demands also included the improvement of living conditions in rural areas of the country. In a separate case, six suspects are currently being tried for the kidnapping of five Italian tourists in January in the eastern Marib governorate. The tourists were abducted only a day after a German family of five was freed after being held for five days in the eastern Shabwa area. In November 2005, two Swiss tourists were briefly taken hostage in Marib governorate, where two Austrians were also held for two days the following month. Dr Abdul Azeez al-Maqaleh, cultural advisor to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and an organiser of the conference held on 19 and 20 February, said the phenomenon could be curbed by addressing certain issues. He pinpointed them as “reform of the judiciary, the eradication of illiteracy" and the provision of basic development services in areas where the tribesmen live. Researcher Abdul Bari Taher noted that, besides the disarmament of unruly tribes, “serious dialogue involving civil society is needed.” According to some estimates, Yemen – with a population of 18 million – is home to some 40 million weapons. Disarmament campaigns have been launched every year since 1995, but Yemen's tribes have insisted on maintaining their weapons.