Background:

The Dutch Koolstra family has been released after being kidnapped in Yemen in 1999. Cornelis Hulsman interviews the family for the first time after their release by phone. The exact date of the telephone interview is not known but it was shortly after the interview with Truus Wierdsma.

For more information please refer to the following tapes: 

• Dr. Truus Wierdsma on the kidnapping of the Koolstra family in Yemen

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/dr-truus-wierdsma-kidnapping-koolstra-...

• Hans Koolstra after his release in Yemen:

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/hans-koolstra-after-his-release-yemen

• Dutch Radio Program Tijdsein: Interviews Hans Koolstra after his release in Yemen:

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/dutch-radio-program-tijdsein-interview...

• Minister of Information ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Aqwā on kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen I:

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/minister-information-%CA%BFabd-al-ra%E...

• Minister of Information ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Aqwā on kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen II:

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/minister-information-%CA%BFabd-al-ra%E...

Side A:

Berta Koolstra is on the phone and explains what happened after her release and that of her family. She cannot say much about the kidnapping itself because the Dutch Embassy specifically asked her not to. She says her family is in good condition. Hulsman describes to Berta Koolstra what the reactions were like to their release. Berta mentions a previous kidnapping attempt when shots were fired which really upset her. She says that she does not know what kind of effect it will have on her family in the future. She says that her children might not want to live in Yemen anymore, but that will depend on how they will react to the kidnapping in the long run. If that is the case, Berta Koolstra would respect their decision.

During the second part of the tape, Hulsman calls the Dutch Embassy in Yemen. During the third part, he tries to arrange a meeting with the Koolstra family for a Dutch television program and a Dutch radio news program called Tijdsein of the Evangelical Broadcasting Company (EO).

Side B:

Hulsman calls Hans Koolstra, the husband of Berta Koolstra who was kidnapped as well. Hulsman tries to set up an interview with him. After fifteen minutes, Hans Koolstra describes how he and his family were kidnapped. He and his family were driving on the road from Ṣanaʿaʾ to Ṣaʿada in Yemen, and a few men stopped their car and asked if they could come with them. The Koolstras were not alarmed by the fact that the men were armed, as most men in Northern Yemen are. The kidnappers explained that their attempt to kidnap an American diplomat failed, and had to flee. On their way back they came across the Koolstra family, and decided to kidnap them instead. The kidnappers wanted to bring the family to a house where an elderly woman was living, but she had none of it and chased them away. The kidnappers had to find a new house and placed the family there. Hans Koolstra says that kidnappings are common in Yemen, so they did not worry too much. The reason of the kidnapping was to release one of the brothers of one of the kidnappers who was in prison because he was accused of murder. Hans Koolstra does not know whether or not the prisoner was released. Being a Christian, Hans Koolstra says that he drew strength from his faith. When the tape stops the interview is not finished. Hulsman had no reserve tape at the time but the interview was close to the end.