The 99th and The Most Professional and Unusual Kidnapping Incident So Far Who are the Kidnappers? Where is the Hostage? KENNETH WHITE’S FATE: STILL UNKNOWN!! [Archives:2000/05/Front Page]

archive
January 31 2000

Indeed, the latest kidnapping incident had left security forces and the ones concerned puzzled and without much sleep. The unusual story goes like this: 
On Wednesday’s very early morning, a few armed men sneaked into the complex of Halliburton -a contracting company with Yemen Hunt Oil co.- in Mareb. The men cut off the barbed wires surrounding the complex and entered the complex where they bypassed two rooms that had a French and another foreign expert, and silently knocked the door of Kenneth White’s room, 55, and silenced him in order not to make any racket that would wake the other men whose rooms were quite close. Then they took him away walking through the same path they came from for almost 700 meters, where there was a vehicle awaiting them. Then they drove away without leaving any trace behind them as they attempted to drive over the desert which covers all marks left by cars with the effect of wind and sand. 
It was only in the morning that the people in the complex realized Kenneth was not there. They reported that he was missing, and it was not long until they saw the cut wires and realized he was kidnapped. 
Then the security forces were on high alert in an attempt to track down the kidnappers, but to no avail as there were no marks of the vehicle and they were not able to trace them, because the wind had blown off any tire marks on the desert. 
On Friday (two days later), and upon some reports that the hostage was seen heading to Al-Jowf province, forces consisting of a large number of artillery and troops headed to Raghwan area where they thought the kidnappers have hidden the hostages. However, as the troops were not able to identify the exact location, random search and chaos was evident in the way they searched for the kidnappers. The villagers in the area were upset at the violent way the security forces reacted. Soon, the forces realized that they are wasting time as they found no single clue about the location of the kidnappers. They will be waiting for more accurate reports. 
Without doubt, this kidnapping incident is the most professionally conducted incident ever to be witnessed on Yemen soil, and the Ministry of Interior until the very moment of printing this issue has no clue that would help in identifying the location or identity of the kidnappers as the initial reports that they were from Al Fahaid in Aba Al-Harith turned to be false. In fact, it is not even know whether the kidnappers are tribesmen or not. 
The official press organs have once again accused foreign forces of being behind this strange kidnapping incident, that seem to be so professional in the kidnapping incidents that have been conducted by normal tribesmen. 
Analysts suggest that this type of kidnapping could increase as a direct result of the government’s decisions to crush kidnappers and surround their villagers, etc. In other words, this incident warns the government of new tactics the kidnappers could start if it continues its strong measures against them. 
In fact this new type of kidnapping concerns more the relatives of the hostage as his fate is not known while in previous cases, the fate would be known as he/she were treated well by the kidnappers. 
It is expected that if the Ministry of Interior fails to provide information and act responsibly in releasing the hostage, pressure from the USA would increase, resulting in the possibility of forcing the Minister of Interior to resign, as it would be a shame on the government to fail to have the simplest clues of Kenneth White’s fate. after a week since the day he was kidnapping. 
A reliable source in the Yemeni Congregation for Reform regretted for what has happened by some groups that gave false information which affects the reputation of Yemen at the regional and international level. He indicated that the Yemeni Congregation for Reform refuses kidnapping and all works that negatively affects the country. He called upon all Yemeni people, political parties and governmental and non-governmental organizations to stand against those groups. The source indicated that there is no relation between the Yemeni Congregation for Reform and Al-Mongith company.
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