Gulf | Yemen
MP: Yemen government must use diplomacy with abductors
A Member of Parliament from the ruling party demanded his government establish "diplomatic relations" with a Yemeni tribe famous for kidnappings, after security men failed to free a hostage.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 00:03 July 23, 2008
Sana'a: A Member of Parliament from the ruling party demanded his government establish "diplomatic relations" with a Yemeni tribe famous for kidnappings, after security men failed to free a hostage.
"We need to tell the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish diplomatic relations with the republic of Bani Thabyan to deal with them diplomatically as long as the security could not deal with them," Sultan Al Barakani, chairman of the ruling party's parliamentarian block, told the House of Representatives.
The House debate was on Monday, a day after the abduction of a 17-year-old boy, son of a Yemeni businessman, Tawfeek Al Khamri, from Faj Attan, from the heart of Sana'a. The boy survived an assassination attempt last year.
The kidnappers are believed to be from Bani Thabyan tribe in the province of Sana'a.
"It is only the central bank that always treats the problems of kidnapping, not the central security forces or the kidnapping law, which has never been applied," said Al Barakani, referring to the ransom the government usually pays in return for releasing the hostages.
Old dispute
A source close to the family of Al Khamri, told Gulf News the reason behind the kidnapping was an old dispute over a business deal between Bani Thabyan tribesmen and Al Khamri.
Independent MP Sakhr Al Wajeeh said in the debate that the security men do not do anything for the citizens except for harassments in the street, and they cannot catch kidnappers or land plunders, who are protected by the state.
Ultimatum
The Parliament gave the government an ultimatum till today for releasing the abducted boy.
On its part, the council of the Yemeni businessmen and investors, said in a statement that if the authorities did not take measures against those who repeatedly kidnap and undermine the stability and security, there will be more kidnappings of the businessmen and their sons for extortions.
The council demanded that the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior and the general prosecutor wield their constitutional powers to put an end to the kidnappings.
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