In an interesting twist of political maneuvering and foreign policies, the United States of American and European countries are siding with pro-democracy activists all over the Arab World and most recently in Yemen after having supported those countries' autocratic regime for several decades.
Non content to have stood on the sideline for the past 40 years or so, witnessing the oppression of Millions of Arabs, the very same countries which are now condemning president Saleh for his excessive of violence actually supplied the weapons that he is using against civilians.
Human Rights Groups Accuse
In its latest report, Amnesty International a well-renown human right organization stated that according to its own enquiry in the matter, it had found that the United States of America, Russia and several European countries had quite willingly sold weapons which they knew were being to be used to sustain the repressive policies upon which countries such as Egypt, Libya and Yemen, to only name a few, were implementing against their citizens.
Several reports on weapons sales and movements confirmed the study carried out by the London-based group as it was proven that Russia had sold to Yemen new war-tanks and various other military equipment; as to biff-up its armed forces ahead of a potential military confrontation with the revolutionaries and dissident forces.
Amnesty International stressed that it was illogical for countries such as the United States or Britain to condemn countries such as Yemen for their use of lethal forces against peaceful protesters if they were the one selling the weapons in the first place.
"To the extent that arms transfers are knowingly engaged in and result in the perpetration of crimes against humanity, the transferring state also becomes responsible under international law," said Sanjeev Bery, Amnesty international advocacy director for Middle East and North Africa, told The Associated Press.
"In the light of recent events in Yemen and the exponential increase in violence, with shelling campaign and snipers attack, it is hypocritical on the part of the West to express outrage. They are as much responsible as the Yemeni regime," said a HOOD worker, who for security reason refused to reveal his identity. (HOOD is Yemen most prominent Human Rights group).
Events such as those witnessed in Taiz in May 29th 2011 and the bloody week which followed president Saleh's return to Yemen, raise the questions of transparency and accountability as far as weapons trading is concerned.
Western Reaction
Britain announced last week that it was planning on introducing new arms export rules which would give Britain the option of suspended its licenses to country which would experience a sharp deterioration in security or stability.
"The Government is determined to learn the wider lessons of events in the Middle East and North Africa," Foreign Secretary William Hague told lawmakers in a written statement.
Whether such a policy is applicable on the ground is another matter, since monetary rewards are often put ahead of humanitarian considerations.
The United States of America, through Mark toner also said that it was studying the matter with the utmost care.