UK-backed siege in Yemen could constitute a war crime, say Amnesty - as leading progressives demand No 10 stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Anti-war campaigners are ramping up pressure on the government to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia, following news that the Yemeni report of Hodeidah is under siege from by the Saudi military.
According to reports from Amnesty International today, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition – which is backed by the UK and the US – is continuing to impose restrictions on the entry of essential goods into conflict-ravaged Yemen.
It follows a bombing campaign which affects Yemen’s largest port – over 70% of the country’s imports, food and aid shipments flow through it.
According to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade, since the bombing of Yemen began in March 2015, the UK has licensed £4.6 billion worth of arms to the Saudi regime, including:
- £2.7 billion worth of ML10 licences (aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £1.9 billion worth of ML4 licences (grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
Now the bombing has shifted to a blockade, with the UK-backed Coalition delaying the delivery of humanitarian assistance in famine-threatened areas.
The coalition’s tightened restrictions could constitute a war crime, say Amnesty.
Tonight campaigners will hand in a petition to 10 Downing Street, demanding an end to UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the latest assault.
The letter states:
“The news that Saudi-backed government forces have begun an assault on the key Yemeni port of Hodeidah is threatening disaster for the region and for the 8 million people in the war-torn country that are at risk of starvation. Saudi forces have launched this attack with the backing of the Coalition which is supported by the US and Britain.
“The port is the main point of entry for aid and agencies have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if it is attacked.
“Donald Trump has been quietly escalating America’s role in the Saudi-led war on Yemen, disregarding the huge humanitarian toll and voices in Congress that are trying to rein in the Pentagon’s involvement.
“He has been supported in this by the UK government who in March this year rolled out the red carpet for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who has been described as the ‘architect of the war.’ The UK has licensed £4.6 billion worth of fighter jets, bombs and missiles to the regime since the intervention began. These will be amongst the aircraft that are flying over Yemen right now, and the bombs and missiles that are being dropped from them.
“It is reported that about 10,000 people – two-thirds of them civilians – have been killed in the fighting since March 2015, according to the UN. The vast majority of casualties have been the result of coalition air strikes. The UN’s figures do not include those who have died of disease and malnutrition. The conflict and a partial blockade by the coalition have also left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have killed thousands.
“It is time for an end to British collusion in what is already the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe. Britain must stop all weapons sales to Saudi and the other combatant countries and end its support for the war.”
Signed:
Liz Saville-Roberts MP, leader of Plaid Cymru’s parliamentary group
Chris Williamson MP
Angus MacNeil MP
Alan Brown MP
Murad Qureshi, Chair of the Stop the War Coalition
Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition
Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary
Kevin Courtney, NEU Joint General Secretary
Kika Markham, actor
Giles Fraser, writer and priest
Francesca Martinez, comedian, actor and author
Danny Dorling, Professor of Geography
As Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said, the UK has a lot to answer for when it comes to this conflict:
“There is no doubt that UK arms [are playing] a central role in the bombardment. This terrible war could not have been fought without the complicity of politicians like Theresa May and her colleagues, who have armed and supported the Saudi-led coalition every step of the way.”
The spotlight is once again on the UK’s dodgy arms deals. Will it be enough to force a rethink in this lucrative industry?
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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