Yemen: Politicians, experts, activists raise alarm after MBS trip
By Alia
Al Ghussain, Al Jazeera, March 10, 2018
Concerns
over Britain and Saudi Arabia’s roles in Yemen bloodshed swell following crown
prince’s visit to London.
over Britain and Saudi Arabia’s roles in Yemen bloodshed swell following crown
prince’s visit to London.
 |
| Protesters gathered in London to decry the visit by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, decried as the ‘architect’ of the war in Yemen [File: Anadolu] |
London,
England – The international community, including Britain, must load pressure on
the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen to avoid further bloodshed, a Yemeni
politician told a conference in London on Saturday.
England – The international community, including Britain, must load pressure on
the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen to avoid further bloodshed, a Yemeni
politician told a conference in London on Saturday.
Abdulrahman
al-Hamdi addressed delegates the day after Mohammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s
32-year-old crown prince accused by activists of being the
“architect” of the Yemen conflict, left the UK having signed further
deals with Britain, with Downing Street announcing plans to sell 48 Eurofighter
Typhoon jets to Riyadh.
al-Hamdi addressed delegates the day after Mohammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s
32-year-old crown prince accused by activists of being the
“architect” of the Yemen conflict, left the UK having signed further
deals with Britain, with Downing Street announcing plans to sell 48 Eurofighter
Typhoon jets to Riyadh.
The world
should “assert more pressure on the allied forces. A military solution to
the conflict in Yemen will be a disaster”, said al-Hamdi, a former member
of the Yemeni parliament who was ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2009
until 2014.
should “assert more pressure on the allied forces. A military solution to
the conflict in Yemen will be a disaster”, said al-Hamdi, a former member
of the Yemeni parliament who was ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2009
until 2014.
Al-Hamdi
served mostly under Ali Abdullah Saleh – the president who stepped down and
fled to Saudi Arabia following protests in 2011, and who was killed by Houthi
rebels in December last year in Yemen.
served mostly under Ali Abdullah Saleh – the president who stepped down and
fled to Saudi Arabia following protests in 2011, and who was killed by Houthi
rebels in December last year in Yemen.
“History
is repeating itself. There is a history of Saudi intervention in Yemen, from
the revolution in 1962 to the 1994 Yemeni civil war,” said al-Hamdi at the
event, which was hosted by the Cordoba Foundation and titled Yemen: War,
Politics and Human Tragedy event.
is repeating itself. There is a history of Saudi intervention in Yemen, from
the revolution in 1962 to the 1994 Yemeni civil war,” said al-Hamdi at the
event, which was hosted by the Cordoba Foundation and titled Yemen: War,
Politics and Human Tragedy event.
“Yemen
is being destroyed. A nation is dying,” said al-Hamdi.
is being destroyed. A nation is dying,” said al-Hamdi.
The
controversial three-day visit by the Saudi crown prince, also known as MBS,
drew criticism from some sections of the British public, with protesters
calling for his arrest over his role in the calamitous war in Yemen.
controversial three-day visit by the Saudi crown prince, also known as MBS,
drew criticism from some sections of the British public, with protesters
calling for his arrest over his role in the calamitous war in Yemen.
Before he
arrived, thousands had signed an online petition calling on Prime Minister
Theresa May to cancel the trip over Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen
conflict, which has killed thousands and caused what the United Nations and
several countries say is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
arrived, thousands had signed an online petition calling on Prime Minister
Theresa May to cancel the trip over Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen
conflict, which has killed thousands and caused what the United Nations and
several countries say is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
When he
was in London, protesters greeted MBS with chants of “hands off
Yemen!”.
was in London, protesters greeted MBS with chants of “hands off
Yemen!”.
Al-Hamdi
rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim that it was intervening to support the legitimate
government of Yemen.
rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim that it was intervening to support the legitimate
government of Yemen.
“In
reality, all sides in this conflict are motivated by power,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia is destroying all of the infrastructure in Yemen, especially
military infrastructure.”
reality, all sides in this conflict are motivated by power,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia is destroying all of the infrastructure in Yemen, especially
military infrastructure.”
‘Yemen is
like the Saudi Vietnam’
like the Saudi Vietnam’
The
kingdom’s involvement is taking place as part of MBS’ consolidation of power
within Saudi’s ruling family, he said.
kingdom’s involvement is taking place as part of MBS’ consolidation of power
within Saudi’s ruling family, he said.
British
arms companies have profited from the war in Yemen, reportedly earning more
than £6bn ($8.3bn) in trade with Saudi Arabia since Saudi became involved in
the conflict in 2015.
arms companies have profited from the war in Yemen, reportedly earning more
than £6bn ($8.3bn) in trade with Saudi Arabia since Saudi became involved in
the conflict in 2015.
On
Thursday, Downing Street confirmed that new deals were signed with the kingdom,
to the tune of more than $90bn.
Thursday, Downing Street confirmed that new deals were signed with the kingdom,
to the tune of more than $90bn.
At the
London conference, politicians, academics and campaigners joined British
opposition politicians in slamming Prime Minister May for rolling out the red
carpet for the Saudi prince, and for failing to criticise the kingdom’s record
in Yemen.
London conference, politicians, academics and campaigners joined British
opposition politicians in slamming Prime Minister May for rolling out the red
carpet for the Saudi prince, and for failing to criticise the kingdom’s record
in Yemen.
“This
is designed to curb the growth of democracy in the region,” said Bill Law,
a journalist who has reported from the Middle East for the BBC.
is designed to curb the growth of democracy in the region,” said Bill Law,
a journalist who has reported from the Middle East for the BBC.
Yemen is
like the Saudi Vietnam. The poorest country in the Arab world is being
systematically destroyed by the richest.Hugh
Miles, author
Hugh
Miles, an author and consultant specialising in the Middle East, suggested that
the conflict in Yemen was quickly becoming a disaster for Saudi Arabia, as
popular support in the kingdom for the war declines.
Miles, an author and consultant specialising in the Middle East, suggested that
the conflict in Yemen was quickly becoming a disaster for Saudi Arabia, as
popular support in the kingdom for the war declines.
Drawing a
comparison to US foreign interventions, he said: “[Yemen] is like the
Saudi Vietnam”.
comparison to US foreign interventions, he said: “[Yemen] is like the
Saudi Vietnam”.
“The
poorest country in the Arab world is being systematically destroyed by the
richest.”
poorest country in the Arab world is being systematically destroyed by the
richest.”
Deals
struck amid Brexit-driven economic fears
struck amid Brexit-driven economic fears
Several
speakers said the latest developments between Saudi Arabia and the UK could be
driven by fears over economic weakness after Britain leaves the European Union.
speakers said the latest developments between Saudi Arabia and the UK could be
driven by fears over economic weakness after Britain leaves the European Union.
Law said:
“By and large, the government got what they needed …assurances that Saudi
will invest in the UK post-Brexit.”
“By and large, the government got what they needed …assurances that Saudi
will invest in the UK post-Brexit.”
In the
kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman is credited with leading a series of social
reforms, such as allowing women to drive and lifting a 35-year ban on cinemas.
kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman is credited with leading a series of social
reforms, such as allowing women to drive and lifting a 35-year ban on cinemas.
However,
activists say Saudi Arabia still has a poor human rights record and have warned
against interpreting these reforms as heralding new freedoms.
activists say Saudi Arabia still has a poor human rights record and have warned
against interpreting these reforms as heralding new freedoms.
Carol
Turner, vice chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament UK, said: “It
was absolutely predictable that Saudi Arabia would make the propaganda it did
out of the visit, and that Theresa May would use it to sell more weapons.”
Turner, vice chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament UK, said: “It
was absolutely predictable that Saudi Arabia would make the propaganda it did
out of the visit, and that Theresa May would use it to sell more weapons.”
While May
has defended her government’s close relationship with the kingdom by arguing
that the UK played an influential role in bringing to light issues Saudi Arabia
faces, delegates were not convinced by recent reforms.
has defended her government’s close relationship with the kingdom by arguing
that the UK played an influential role in bringing to light issues Saudi Arabia
faces, delegates were not convinced by recent reforms.
“Liberalisation
is a distraction from the war in Yemen … this is a strategy,” said Miles.
is a distraction from the war in Yemen … this is a strategy,” said Miles.
