Japanese hostage released

The hostage, Mr.Takeo Mashimo, 63, after his release speaks to his family from the governor's office. YO Photo / Mohammed al-Sharabi

YEMEN – The Japanese hostage arrived today in Sana’a, after more than a week of negotiations between his kidnappers, sheikhs of Arhab and surrounding areas, and Yemen government officials.

The mediation committee received the Japanese hostage, Takeo Mashimo, kidnapped Sunday, November 15th, after meeting Monday afternoon with the kidnapper’s tribe, the Zindani tribe, and the Sheikh of Arhab.

A series of speeches by the hostage himself and government officials followed the announcement of the Mashimo’s release. “I want say, thank you very much to the Yemeni government, all sheikhs and governors who cooperated in the negotiations. I am so very happy to be released,” said Mashimo after being freed. Mashimo received a phone call from his family in Japan and was laughing throughout the phone call, said local sources.

The Japanese Prime Minister expressed his happiness and appreciation of Yemen’s great efforts for bringing this kidnapping to a happy end. The governor of Sana’a stated that he felt sorry for what happened to Takeo Mashimo, and the past 8 days were worrying for the entire country.

Interior Ministry sources said that the Arhab tribal prisoner for whom the hostage was kidnapped for exchange is accused of affiliation with al-Qaeda. Hussein Abdullah Hussein Joab, the prisoner, fought in Iraq for two years for a religious group’s army. He stayed in Syria for a year and for another year in Lebanon. Joab was arrested when he returned from Iraq four years ago, said a source at the interior ministry. Joab belongs to an Arhab tribe in Zindan area.

The hostage, Takeo Mashimo, 63, was supervising a project for building a school in one of Arhab villages, when he was kidnapped Monday. Mashmio was going to work on his project, which is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

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