Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Yemen Ambassador: U.N. Silence Makes it Partner of Houthi Crimes in Taiz | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Media ID: 55352017
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U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Reuters


New York-Yemen’s Ambassador to the United Nations Khalid al-Yamani condemned U.N.’s silence for the crimes Houthis are committing in Taiz.

Al-Yamani said that the silence allows Houthis to ignore international humanitarian laws, and thus the U.N. is participating in the aggression.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Yamani also criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for not naming Houthis explicitly in his statement regarding the attacks on al-Moktaza Market in Taiz on Friday.

U.N. Sec Gen’s statement condemned the attacks of Taiz, which were carried out with heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and artillery, but didn’t mention the Houthis. It simply said: “Attacks directed against civilians and populated areas, including markets, are strictly prohibited.”

Ban reminded all parties that targeting civilian areas is a violation of international humanitarian law and urged them to fully respect their obligations in this regard.

It wasn’t clear why the Secretary General called for an independent investigation, as if he is accusing parties other than the Houthis for the massacre.

In a clear contradiction, U.N. Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed said on his Twitter account: “The attack against crowded market in Taiz is unethical. We condemn the bloody incidents in Taiz despite the cessation of hostilities.”

Ould Sheikh’s statement may be justified with wanting to come out as impartial during the Kuwait negotiations.

A report issued by the U.N. Sec Gen wasn’t very accurate when it mentioned that the Arab coalition was responsible for killing hundreds of children in Yemen, something the coalition denied repeatedly.

The report also didn’t mention Houthis recruiting about 5,000 children.

Ambassador al-Yamani said that the report is not accurate and unbiased because the U.N. receives its information from a number of cooperating personnel in San’a, which is under the control of Houthis. He explained that their reports cannot be trusted.

The diplomat defended the Saudi-led coalition saying that it relies on modern technologies used in military to accurately target locations of the militias loyal to Iran.

Al-Yamani denied any information that the coalition targeted civilians or children. He added that Houthis want to achieve victory over international laws after their countless defeats in the field.

Furthermore, he considered the people of Yemen a victim of a sectarian coup.