It’s been a bad week for Decency in the league of world affairs, finding itself on the end of a two nil thumping at the hands of Despotism.
Decency went one down on 7th October when the UN Human Rights Council voted not to renew the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (GEE). The Group examined human rights abuses and other atrocities being committed in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, leading the charge for Despotism, increased its lobbying efforts in state capitals around the world and undermined support for the GEE and succeeded in getting rid of it.
This result promotes impunity for war criminals and other violators of international law who drive the conflict in Yemen. Itwill lead to further devastation and loss of life for Yemeni citizens.Getting rid of the GEE green lights actions that condemn millions in Yemen to violence and death. Brutal attacks continue against civilians throughout the country. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in coalition with United Arab Emirates, is the lead actor in these attacks, as well as the Ansar Allah (Houthi) armed group.
Saudi Arabia wanted rid of the GEE because a recent report highlighted a lack of political will amongst the parties to the conflict and the international community to cease violations of international law. This drives actions delivering civilian harm and broader human suffering within Yemen.
Reports from Yemen tell of at least 233,000 deaths, including 102,000 as a direct result of hostilities and 131,000 from indirect causes, such as conflict-related famine, and the destruction of health services and infrastructure. Over 400,000 Yemeni children are at risk of dying of starvation and malnutrition and 16.2 million people face acute food insecurity. Yemen is heading towards one of the largest famines in modern history. Attacks on homes, schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian aid provide compelling evidence that targeting and starving Yemenis is a widespread method of warfarein the country.
The votes at the UN Council went 21 against renewal of the Group’s mandate, 18 for, with 7 abstentions. Scanning the list of abstaining countries, as well as those who voted against, indicates the strength of diplomatic and economic clout Saudi Arabia, its allies and associates, wield in the world. It is time for states like Japan and others who abstained on this issue to step up and demonstrate they are committed to upholding international law and protecting the people of Yemen.
Saudi Arabia is among the world's biggest military spenders, along with the United States of America and China. It received half of all US arms exports to the Middle East in the past five years. What makes the Saudi Arabia regime different from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan is simply its trade in oil and armaments.
A second strike for Despotism doubled the deficit suffered by Decency in the same week. A financial consortium from Saudi Arabia bought the English Premier League Club Newcastle United. This was easily achieved because many clubs in the league are already own by international consortia, often with dubious financial and political records. The city of Newcastle in the north-east of England is ripe for picking off by the fund because of the collapse of old industries which sustained the population, such as ship-building and coal mining, without meaningful economic regeneration by the UK and other investors.
Saudi Arabia deviously formulated an investment fund that it claims is not run by the state. The Premier League accepted this formulation, even though the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is a Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It’s a bit like saying that a forthcoming commercial festival is not Christmas, but yes, Santa is in charge.
Football supporters in Newcastle are delighted, mainly at being rid of the club’s (smaller-scale) despotic previous owner. Their much loved club has now joined the ‘big league’. The investors will plunder it for soft-power and social capital, while acting like Victorian mill magnates doing good works.
Two nil for Despotism, then. Decency took a beating. Still the game continues.
Who’s supporting Decency?
Mwatana for Human Rights (Yemen)
https://mwatana.org/en/renew-the-gee/
Table of votes:
https://www.facebook.com/mwatanaen/photos/a.656100531156024/4177863622313013/
Newcastle Football Club bought by Saudi Arabia Fund:
www.facebook.com/DaveDugganWriter
