* Jonathan Bartley: “Simply put: If we do not end arms sales immediately the UK will be left with the blood of innocent Yemenis on its hands.”
The Green Party has called for a complete and immediate ban on the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and all other authoritarian regimes.
New co-leader of the party Jonathan Bartley made the call in response to news today that the Committees on Arms Exports Controls has drafted a report saying the UK should stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia while Saudi actions in neighbouring Yemen are investigated [1].
Jonathan Bartley said:
“The Saudi regime has a total disregard for human rights and the UK must stop supplying it with arms immediately.
“Ending sales to Saudi Arabia while an investigation into the actions in Yemen takes place is simply not enough. In order to move toward any kind of ethical foreign policy, the only credible response is for the Government to end all sales to this despotic regime for good.
“The UK must stop propping up undemocratic regimes across the world with arms. It is unacceptable that UK weapons could be used to violate international law and human rights.
“Simply put: If we do not end arms sales immediately the UK will be left with the blood of innocent Yemenis on its hands.”
Notes: