Standing in solidarity with the people of Yemen
We held a moving candle-lit vigil for the people of Yemen outside the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation, the government body responsible for promoting arms exports globally. There was a great turnout of concerned citizens calling on the government to Stop Arming Saudi Arabia and thus being complicit in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Since the war started in March 2015, the UK has licensed £4.6bn worth of the weapons to the Saudi regime. This weapons have been used to bomb schools, roads and health facilities (even when the coordinates of these facilities have been provided). The most powerful moment was when we read out the names of the 38 children who died in the bus bombing in August this year, followed by a two minute silence. We also sang some peace songs, chanted our opposition to the government’s sales and got a good reception from the passing public. We ended the night by putting put up a plaque on DSO’s wall, highlighting the arms they’ve sold to the Saudi regime. Ahmad Algohbary, a Yemeni-based journalist, tweeted that the people of Yemen were grateful to hear about the vigil and it was also covered by Bahrain Alyoum.
Next London CAAT meeting
There will be no December meeting so thank you for your support over this year and see you next year as we continue to challenge the arms trade. Our next meeting will be on January 15th.