Amnesty International will deliver a batch of life-size ‘bombs’ to Downing Street on Whitehall in protest at British arms deals to Saudi Arabia.
The British government has supplied the Saudis with 2,400 missiles and 58 war planes in the last year alone, the human rights organization says, enabling it to continue its war against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
British arms deals with the Saudi government have been branded unethical and in breach of international law.
More than 6,000 civilians have been killed or injured in Yemen as a result of the fighting.
Amnesty will carry five 1.8m long replicas of the Paveway IV missile, which have the words “Made in Britain, destroying lives in Yemen” emblazoned on the side.
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: “It looks like our missiles will be needed in the UK’s rush to re-stock Saudi Arabia’s supply of weaponry for its bombardment of Yemen.
“It’s absolutely shocking that the UK is still selling billions of pounds’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia even as the civilian casualties have mounted and mounted in Yemen.
“Ministers need to stop burying their heads in the sand and immediately suspend arms sales for the Saudi war machine.”
It was announced last week that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia will be the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.
The powerful cross-party committee on arms exports controls will also examine Britain’s arms sales to other Gulf countries.
Conservative MP Chris White, who chairs the committee, said: “The defense and security industry is one of the UK’s most important exporters. However, it is vital that its financial success does not come at a cost to the nation’s strategic interests.
“We have launched this inquiry to understand what role UK-made arms are playing in the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Have the criteria set by the government for granting arms export licenses in the region been respected, and what should be the consequences if they have not?”
Via RT. This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.