Yemen: UK's part by detrimentum 2015/08/29 17:55
Al-Baghdadi, Al-Assad, Al-Sisi, Netanyahu,
Rouhani these regional goliaths with their
recent adventures have swallowed up the
available column inches. So when Human Rights
Watch, the United Nations and Amnesty
International yell: WAR CRIMES IN YEMEN; nobody, sadly, is listening. This has to change. As it stands, British taxpayers are fuelling a
conflict in which war crimes are almost definitely
being committed. Tobias Ellwood, a junior
minister at the Foreign Office, told Parliament late
last month that while British personnel were not
on the front line, the UK was not only providing technical support and exchanging
information...through pre-existing arrangements
but also supplying precision-guided weapons.
Ellwood also told the Commons that British troops
were now deployed at the air and maritime
headquarters for the Saudi co-ordinated invasion. When pressed by Labour MP Andrew Smith,
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon would not reveal
the number of bombs we had given the Saudis,
saying it would harm relations between the two
countries. Fallon did say, somewhat unconvincingly, that
Riyadh had assured [the UK] that British-
supplied munitions will be used in compliance
with international humanitarian law and we
continue to engage with them on these
assurances.
Al-Baghdadi, Al-Assad, Al-Sisi, Netanyahu,
Rouhani these regional goliaths with their
recent adventures have swallowed up the
available column inches. So when Human Rights
Watch, the United Nations and Amnesty
International yell: WAR CRIMES IN YEMEN; nobody, sadly, is listening. This has to change. As it stands, British taxpayers are fuelling a
conflict in which war crimes are almost definitely
being committed. Tobias Ellwood, a junior
minister at the Foreign Office, told Parliament late
last month that while British personnel were not
on the front line, the UK was not only providing technical support and exchanging
information...through pre-existing arrangements
but also supplying precision-guided weapons.
Ellwood also told the Commons that British troops
were now deployed at the air and maritime
headquarters for the Saudi co-ordinated invasion. When pressed by Labour MP Andrew Smith,
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon would not reveal
the number of bombs we had given the Saudis,
saying it would harm relations between the two
countries. Fallon did say, somewhat unconvincingly, that
Riyadh had assured [the UK] that British-
supplied munitions will be used in compliance
with international humanitarian law and we
continue to engage with them on these
assurances.
detrimentum 2015/08/29 17:56
The issue is the Saudi-led coalition isnt complying
with international humanitarian law, at all. This
has been clear for months. In April, the United
Nations accused coalition warplanes of killing 40
civilians - including seven children - after
bombing a bridge. By that point, there had already been around 1,500 non-combatant
deaths. In the same month, Human Rights Watch
acquired videos and photos suggesting the
coalition were using American-manufactured cluster bombs, and more evidence has emerged since. Last week, US officials even admitted they
were being used. In May, the UN rapped Riyadh again for targeting hospitals and schools, during a brutal 24 hour
barrage encompassing 130 airstrikes. The
entirety of Sadaa was deemed a military target,
meaning thousands had to flee their homes. Earlier this month, another critical report appeared from Amnesty International. A Saudi
spokesperson appeared on Al Jazeera
desperately refuting their claims saying that
researchers in a London office can't make
assessments of what is going on in Yemen.
The issue is the Saudi-led coalition isnt complying
with international humanitarian law, at all. This
has been clear for months. In April, the United
Nations accused coalition warplanes of killing 40
civilians - including seven children - after
bombing a bridge. By that point, there had already been around 1,500 non-combatant
deaths. In the same month, Human Rights Watch
acquired videos and photos suggesting the
coalition were using American-manufactured cluster bombs, and more evidence has emerged since. Last week, US officials even admitted they
were being used. In May, the UN rapped Riyadh again for targeting hospitals and schools, during a brutal 24 hour
barrage encompassing 130 airstrikes. The
entirety of Sadaa was deemed a military target,
meaning thousands had to flee their homes. Earlier this month, another critical report appeared from Amnesty International. A Saudi
spokesperson appeared on Al Jazeera
desperately refuting their claims saying that
researchers in a London office can't make
assessments of what is going on in Yemen.
detrimentum 2015/08/29 17:57
This was a blatant lie. As the report made clear, a
number of Amnesty delegates had visited Yemen
in June and July. The frenetic exculpations of the
Saudi spin doctor are best explained by the
damning nature of the researchers' findings;
deliberate targeting of civilians, with Amnesty concluding that such attacks constitute war crimes. A fact-finding mission by a Human Rights Watch researcher earlier this month found
similar. In spite of the above, Defence Secretary Fallon
conveys to the British Parliament that Riyadh has
assured British-supplied munitions will be used
in compliance with international humanitarian
law. This is a carefully worded statement. British-
supplied suggests that it is perfectly OK for our
allies to commit war crimes, so long as they don't
use British bombs.
It is shocking to see such semantics deployed. For
every bomb we give the Saudis; true, they may not commit war crimes with that particular
weapon, but it simply frees up more resources to
commit war crimes elsewhere.
This was a blatant lie. As the report made clear, a
number of Amnesty delegates had visited Yemen
in June and July. The frenetic exculpations of the
Saudi spin doctor are best explained by the
damning nature of the researchers' findings;
deliberate targeting of civilians, with Amnesty concluding that such attacks constitute war crimes. A fact-finding mission by a Human Rights Watch researcher earlier this month found
similar. In spite of the above, Defence Secretary Fallon
conveys to the British Parliament that Riyadh has
assured British-supplied munitions will be used
in compliance with international humanitarian
law. This is a carefully worded statement. British-
supplied suggests that it is perfectly OK for our
allies to commit war crimes, so long as they don't
use British bombs.
It is shocking to see such semantics deployed. For
every bomb we give the Saudis; true, they may not commit war crimes with that particular
weapon, but it simply frees up more resources to
commit war crimes elsewhere.
detrimentum 2015/08/29 17:59
The second part of Fallon's statement is even
more cynical - we continue to engage with [the
Saudis] on these assurances. How convenient
then, in case British-supplied munitions are later
found to have been used illegally it will surely
be the Saudis fault for not notifying the British government of their transgressions. Fallon,
Ellwood and their Conservative government will
be off the hook. This isn't the UK supplying fighter jets to Saudi
Arabia or the UAE, which they later happen to
use for war crimes, this is a live conflict, in which
war crimes are being committed right now (by
both sides, which is an important point). Not only
are British troops deployed, but hi-tech explosives are being sent over by our own
Ministry of Defence to keep the war going. Just as
Tehran is arming the Houthi war criminals,
Whitehall is arming the Saudi war criminals. This
should be a front-page scandal, but Fleet Street
has focused their energies elsewhere. Quietly and insistently, the UK is getting away with murder.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/20594-yemen-the-war-nobody-is
about
The second part of Fallon's statement is even
more cynical - we continue to engage with [the
Saudis] on these assurances. How convenient
then, in case British-supplied munitions are later
found to have been used illegally it will surely
be the Saudis fault for not notifying the British government of their transgressions. Fallon,
Ellwood and their Conservative government will
be off the hook. This isn't the UK supplying fighter jets to Saudi
Arabia or the UAE, which they later happen to
use for war crimes, this is a live conflict, in which
war crimes are being committed right now (by
both sides, which is an important point). Not only
are British troops deployed, but hi-tech explosives are being sent over by our own
Ministry of Defence to keep the war going. Just as
Tehran is arming the Houthi war criminals,
Whitehall is arming the Saudi war criminals. This
should be a front-page scandal, but Fleet Street
has focused their energies elsewhere. Quietly and insistently, the UK is getting away with murder.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/20594-yemen-the-war-nobody-is
about
NinthElement 2015/08/29 19:23
The UK and US governments keep sucking up to the Saudis because of all the oil they control. It is pretty sickening how they always give them the benefit of the doubt over war crimes or turn a blind eye to human rights abuses there.
The UK and US governments keep sucking up to the Saudis because of all the oil they control. It is pretty sickening how they always give them the benefit of the doubt over war crimes or turn a blind eye to human rights abuses there.
Xiao Zen 2015/08/30 05:12
"https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/20594-yemen-the-war-nobody-isabout" The source is quoted at the bottom of the last post.
Quote: Eeprom: F%*k mee that's too long to read and i bet you forget to quote your source -nana-
the yemen is either voluntary or non-voluntary one evilist islamist anti-western anti non radical muslins countries only outbeaten by iran!
the yemen is either voluntary or non-voluntary one evilist islamist anti-western anti non radical muslins countries only outbeaten by iran!
"https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/20594-yemen-the-war-nobody-is
about" The source is quoted at the bottom of the last post.
detrimentum 2015/08/30 06:44
yeah, this isn't about Yemen being evil. This is about the UK being evil. And the UK being mentally impaired, i mean, one day they are concerned about human smuggling and migrants dying, the next day they are funding a war that will lead to more smuggling and migrants. Pitty we cant call them terrorists hey? Anyway, i suggest you stop paying tax son, its going towards forcing people (migrants) to flood the UK, and before you know it theres 80% of them and you'll need to migrate yourself. Vicious cycle ain't it?
Quote: Eeprom: F%*k mee that's too long to read and i bet you forget to quote your source -nana-
the yemen is either voluntary or non-voluntary one evilist islamist anti-western anti non radical muslins countries only outbeaten by iran!
the yemen is either voluntary or non-voluntary one evilist islamist anti-western anti non radical muslins countries only outbeaten by iran!
yeah, this isn't about Yemen being evil. This is about the UK being evil. And the UK being mentally impaired, i mean, one day they are concerned about human smuggling and migrants dying, the next day they are funding a war that will lead to more smuggling and migrants. Pitty we cant call them terrorists hey? Anyway, i suggest you stop paying tax son, its going towards forcing people (migrants) to flood the UK, and before you know it theres 80% of them and you'll need to migrate yourself. Vicious cycle ain't it?
NinthElement 2015/09/14 20:57
The UK press and BBC have been covering this story recently and challenging the goverment on it.
Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/sep/11/britain-gives-aid-to-yemen-but-sells-bombs-to-its-enemies
BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34211979
BBC Newsnight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqlrcVRzzhU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5z4M5dm4o
The interview with Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski is well worth watching, it's very telling how evasive he is on the issue and how he tries to cheaply deflect questions by attacking the BBC. More on this in the story below.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/daniel-kawczynski-tory-mp-considers-legal-action-after-patronising-bbc-newsnight-interview-10498328.html
The UK press and BBC have been covering this story recently and challenging the goverment on it.
Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/sep/11/britain-gives-aid-to-yemen-but-sells-bombs-to-its-enemies
BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34211979
BBC Newsnight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqlrcVRzzhU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5z4M5dm4o
The interview with Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski is well worth watching, it's very telling how evasive he is on the issue and how he tries to cheaply deflect questions by attacking the BBC. More on this in the story below.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/daniel-kawczynski-tory-mp-considers-legal-action-after-patronising-bbc-newsnight-interview-10498328.html
Boet 2015/09/16 02:00
I admit that i am not utterly kwnoledgeable on the subject, but could the underlying factor be economics, seeing that oil is perhaps one of the most valuable commodities?
I admit that i am not utterly kwnoledgeable on the subject, but could the underlying factor be economics, seeing that oil is perhaps one of the most valuable commodities?
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