‘Saudi Arabian blackmail of United Nations on child killing in Yemen’

This video says about itself:

UN blacklists Saudi-led coalition for ‘killing & maiming’ children in Yemen

3 June 2016

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon slammed the Saudi-led coalition for ‘killing and maiming’ children in Yemen, adding it to an annual blacklist of countries and armed groups that have violated children’s rights in conflict.

Read more here.

That was a few days ago. And now…

Translated from Dutch NOS TV:

“Saudi Arabia blackmailed UN chief about blacklist”

Today, 05:35

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has been blackmailed by allies of Saudi Arabia, diplomats have told Reuters. Ban is said to have been pressured to remove the international coalition led by Saudi Arabia from the list of violators of children’s rights.

The United Nations put the coalition last week on a blacklist, because the countries are said to have killed children in airstrikes in Yemen. The measure was reversed yesterday. This led to much criticism from human rights organizations; who spoke, inter alia, of “political manipulation”.

The UN said that the coalition was removed from the list because there was still an investigation about violations in Yemen. But concerned diplomats told Reuters that Ban Ki-moon has been put under pressure by ministers of Arab countries. “There was blackmail,” said a source who wishes to remain anonymous.

Saudi Arabia is said to have threatened to stop financial support to UN projects and to withdraw aid to the Palestinian territories. …

According to a UN report, the coalition, supported by the United States, is responsible for more than five hundred children killed in Yemen. The countries are said to regularly bomb schools and hospitals.

The UN will not say whether the coalition led by Saudi Arabia will again be put on the list as the investigation of the violations is completed. “We will look at the results and then decide whether we will adjust the list again,” said a spokesperson.

“It appears that political power and diplomatic clout have been allowed to trump the UN’s duty to expose those responsible for the killing and maiming of more than 1,000 of Yemen’s children.”- Sajjad Mohammad Sajid, Oxfam Director in Yemen, Jun 7, 2016. See here.

Why is the United States still backing Saudi Arabia in Yemen? Here.

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