Background: 

This is part II of the two interviews with Yemeni ministers following a wave of kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen including the Dutch Koolstra family.

For more information, please refer to the preceding tape Minister of InformationʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Aqwā on kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen I:

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

and

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

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

• First telephone call of the Koolstra family after their release:

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/first-telephone-call-koolstra-family-a...

• 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...

Side A:

At the beginning of the interview it is reiterated that the aforementioned cases of kidnappings did not in any way represent principles of Islam, and that the government did not condone the kidnappings which were both a misrepresentation of Muslims and Yemenis.

Measures to combat the kidnappings taken by the Yemeni government included tracking down of kidnappers, the promulgation of a new law that prohibits kidnappings and imposes severe punishments for those involved, and media campaigns to promote tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.

The Minister of Interior stipulated that those kidnappings were not a prevailing phenomenon; explaining that they should be dealt with on an individual basis. The government had already arrested a group of alleged kidnappers, and was taking necessary precautions to ensure their future safety. Yemen was becoming much more stable, and was completely safe for foreigners.

He further explains measures taken by the government to ensure the safety of foreigners which included accompanying foreigners with security forces across the country and maximum self-restraint when dealing with cases of actual kidnapping to ensure the safety of the foreign victims.

Concerning the then-new law on kidnappings, the most important aspect was the increase in the severity of the punishments for any party implicated; ones that were much harsher than existing laws. According to the new law, punishments ranged from 15 years in prison, to life, and even the death penalty in some cases.

Finally, in response to accusations that the government was weak and unable to enforce its power in tribal areas, the minister highlighted the fact that the purpose behind the kidnappings of foreigners was to create clashes between tribes and the government. That made the government very attentive to this problem; choosing to deal with it only with severe caution and wisdom; which according to the minister, could have possibly been mistaken for weakness on the government’s part.