Thaar revenge kills 8 in al-Jouf [Archives:2005/897/Local News]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
ALJOF, YEMEN – Nov. 23 – A family of eight – four men and four women were killed as their vehicle was shot at by live ammunition by members of the Ma'atrah tribe in al-Jouf governorate, the family belonged to the Thu-Mohammed tribe which has a history of armed conflict with Ma'atrah tribe.

Observers believe that this incident is Thaar revenge of an older dispute which resulted in killing six men of Ma'atrah tribe, Therefore the vehicle transporting a family of ten: four men, four women and two children was stalked until it reached the 'Rahob' area, where gunmen shot the vehicle and killed the four adults and injured the two children.

The reaction among Thu-Mohammed tribe members was extremely volatile as it is considered a dishonorable disgrace to kill or injure women and children in tribal conduct, indicate the launch of a massive tribal conflict which is expected to cost dearly.

Nevertheless, A source in Aljouf governorate said that military forces are yet to react to the incident or taken any steps to stop the expected armed conflict between the tribes. Tribal sources indicated that there are arrangements through which military forces do not interfere in tribal disputes and let the tribes resolve their issues themselves.

Earlier this year a brief tribal conflict between Alsholan and Hamdan tribes resulted in 23 casualties were claimed in al-Jouf governorate. Estimates indicate that casualties of Thaar revenge exceeded 5000 lives during the past two decades.
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