CAAT: Why is the UK still arming Saudi Arabia?

SANAA, April 25 (YPA) –  After the Saudi-led air strikes hit the wedding party on Yemen’s Hajja , why is UK still arming Saudi Arabia? Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) asked.

More than 20 people in Yemen were killed on Sunday when Saudi forces bombed a wedding. Some reports put the death toll at 88.

This is only the latest in a long line of Saudi-inflicted atrocities. The war has killed thousands of civilians and created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: “Yemen is now in its fourth year of the war, and the bombardment is getting worse.

He added that thousands have been killed, and many more will be if it continues.

He also criticized Theresa May Saying that “she has said she wants the UK to play a positive role on the world stage”, adding that  “so why is her government still arming and supporting Saudi atrocities? It’s time for her to put the lives of Yemeni people above the interests of arms companies.”

Pope Francis has criticised the arms trade on several occasions. Last June, he said: “It’s hypocritical, to speak of peace while fueling the arms trade, which only serves the ‘merchants of death’ exacerbating wars not fought to ‘solve a problem’ but to benefit the weapons industry.

“It’s an absurd contradiction to speak of peace, to negotiate peace, and at the same time, to promote or allow the arms trade,” he added.

According to the independent Catholic News, Since the Saudi-led coalition 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) and £1.9 billion worth of ML4 licenses (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures).

Emad