British In Bed With The Saudis - No Regard for Human Rights - It's A Scam

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/bribery-over-humanity-the-uk-saudi-arabia-and-the-un-human-rights-council/ http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/bribery-over-humanity-the-uk-saudi-arabia-and-the-un-human-rights-council/ January 5, 2016 Bribery over Humanity: The UK, Saudi Arabia and the UN Human Rights Council by Binoy Kampmark Wither human rights – especially when it comes to strategic partnerships. The UK-Saudi Arabia relationship has been one of a seedier sort, filled with military deals, mooted criticism and hedging. When given the John Snow treatment as to what Britain’s role behind securing Saudi Arabia its position on the UN Human Rights Council was, Prime Minister David Cameron fenced furiously before embellishing Riyadh’s value in its relations with the West. [comment:  not sure who John Snow is ... it may be Channel 4 presenter, Jon Snow - here] The paper trail in such matters is always useful, and given that Britain remains one of the most secretive states in the western world, those things are not always easy to come by. Light, however, was already shed by cables released through WikiLeaks suggesting that a degree of haggling had taken place between the states over the subject of compromising human rights. The Saudi cable trove, made available to WikiLeaks last June, has spurred various groups to comb through the foreign ministry collection with an eye to decoding the Kingdom’s sometimes inscrutable positions. The relevant documentation in this case touches on talks between Saudi and British officials ahead of the November 2013 vote on membership of the 47 member body. Cables from January and February 2013, separately translated by UN Watch and The Australian, discloses proposed positions of support. One cable posits how, “The [Saudi] delegation is honoured to send to the ministry the enclosed memorandum, which the delegation has received from the permanent mission of the United Kingdom asking it for the support and backing of their country to the membership of the human rights council (HRC) for the period 2014-2016, in the elections that will take place in 2013 in the city of New York.” It goes on to say how, “The ministry might find it an opportunity to exchange support with the United Kingdom, where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would support the candidacy of the United Kingdom to the membership of the council for the period 2014-2015 in exchange for the support of the United Kingdom to the candidacy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” The cables also reveal how money was expended for the campaign to gain the seat, noting a transfer of $100,000 for “expenditures resulting from the campaign to nominate the Kingdom for membership of the human rights council for the period 2014-2016.” While the itemisation of that item is not available, the Kingdom’s record on sugaring and softening its counterparts to improve its image is well known. A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attempted to nip any suspicions in the bud in rather unconvincing fashion. “Saudi Arabia took part in an uncontested election for a seat as one of the Asian Group members in the UN’s Human Rights Council.” Besides, the UK’s position, so went the argument, was of no consequence, whatever might have been said behind closed doors. The UK might not publicise “how it votes” but as “this was not a contested election within the Asian Group… the UK’s vote was immaterial.” The situation has also been further excited by the mass execution on Saturday of 47 individuals, including the outspoken Shia cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr. It was the largest show of death put on by the Kingdom since 1980. Neither the Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett or Tim Farron of the Liberal Democrats, could let that one pass. “In light of the weekend’s events,” claimed Bennett, “the government should be launching an inquiry to establish who made the decision to so abuse the UN process and the principle of universal human rights.” The perennial problem here is that any government inquiry tends to be an exercise of exculpation rather than revelation. [comment:  eluding responsibility rather than fact-finding / exposing] The response from the British FCO to the spectacular bloodletting on Saturday was of the tepid, pedestrian variety, taken straight out of its precedent book of tepid, pedestrian responses. “The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. The death penalty undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent.” The statement goes on to suggest that the foreign secretary is doing his job, regularly raising “human rights issues with his counterparts in countries of concern, including Saudi Arabia. We seek to build strong and mature relationships so that we can be candid with each other about these areas on which we do not agree, including on human rights.” So candid were these exchanges, they led to a compromise regarding Britain’s own stance on human rights abuses. If anything, it induced a cynical caricature, one of positioning and sponsorship for an image distinctly at odds with the reality. For Riyadh, this could not be seen as anything other than a coup in international diplomacy. The Kingdom had found its own useful, complicit fool. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email:  bkampmark@gmail.com http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/bribery-over-humanity-the-uk-saudi-arabia-and-the-un-human-rights-council/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT The human rights topic is wasted on me. As I see things, universal human rights principles are just a means of (a) interfering with other nations (bullying, shaming, undermining, pressuring, smearing, fomenting dissent etc), while maintaining pious intentions; and (b) a means of politically assaulting and manipulating domestic political opponents (or other targets), in the usual guise of 'concern', 'condemnation' and other holier than thou rubuke, or whatever else. I highly doubt that those at the top end of national government (whoever they may be) actually consider the notion of 'human rights' (and certainly not domestic rights), as they plot their way to domination and exploitation of whatever is coveted and targeted for gain, on behalf of whoever their masters may be. Western governments that pour billions of dollars (while depriving their own citizens and/or condemning them to generations of debt slavery to finance wars etc), Western governments that supply tons of arms over decades of relentless interference in the affairs of foreign targets, with the aim of destabilising sovereign states, when they're not raining down tons of bombs, or otherwise pursuing regime change, faking reasons to wage war, waging war illegally and destroying entire regions, regardless of the grand scale of destruction and number of direct and indirect deaths, probably don't really care much for universal human rights principles ... or much beyond the principles of self-interest. The British Foreign Office personnel wouldn't lose any sleep over beheadings in Saudi Arabia.   In fact, they're probably in favour of whatever blood-letting it takes the Saudis, if it serves to preserve the power of the Saudis (whom the British installed on the throne), because the British elite interests and the Saudi elite interests coincide beyond the UNHRC body. The rote non-statement 'nowhere' response, that serves to create an appearance of an appropriate official 'response', must be standard practice in British politics -- and maybe all politics.  I've not really been listening. Getting a bit off topic:  what's the bet that the following isn't an aberration, and that it's also a standard British political manoeuvre?   No Evidence of Iran’s role in violence and instability in Iraq – confirms British Foreign Minister by Mehrnaz Shahabi(CASMII Columns) Wednesday, July 18, 2007 David Milliband, British foreign secretary, confirmed in an interview (1) with the Financial times, 8th July, that there is no evidence of Iranian complicity in instability in Iraq or attacks on British troops: Asked by the FT, “What do you think of Iran’s complicity in attacks on British soldiers in Basra”?, Miliband’s first response was, “Well, I think that any evidence of Iranian engagement there is to be deplored. I think that we need regional players to be supporting stability, not fomenting discord, never mind death. And as I said at the beginning, Iran has a complete right, and we support the idea that Iran should be a wealthy and respected part of the future. But it does not have the right to be a force of instability”. However, prompted more closely, “Just to be clear, there is evidence?”, he replied, “Well no, I chose my words carefully…”. This confession came in the context of an implied accusation or a not so subtle suggestion of Iranian role in the instability in Iraq which seem to have stimulated the question “There is evidence?”, to which the reply “Well no …”; a possible disappointment, was nonetheless crystal clear: There is no evidence. Contextually, this important admission by the British Foreign Minister of absence of any evidence linking Iran to the violence and instability in Iraq was preceded by the discussion about Iran’s nuclear programme and Britain’s readiness to impose another set of punishing sanctions on Iranian people, for Iran’s non-compliance with the security council’s resolutions which have no basis in international law, imposed based on supposed suspicions for which again, there is no evidence. [...] CONTINUED http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/?q=node/2609 In Summary FT did not dwell on Milibrand admission FT had published without evidence that Iran govt cooperation w/ al-Qaeda using Iran territory for launching anti-coalition ops in Iraq mainstream media response re Milibrand admission, also silence war media / orchestrated chorus "finding shadows of Iranian culprits at every corner" Tape of Abu Omar al Baghdadi al-Qaeda Iraq leader released by Associated Press >> threatens to war w/ Iran  >> unless Iran stops supporting Shia in Iraq >> no USA govt response >> absence of media interest That caught my eye somewhere today (not sure what I was reading) ... and it sort of stuck. Lucky the Financial Times guy followed up the misleading statement with a clarifying question.  lol EDIT:  It looks like FT itself didn't then follow up further on the Milibrand admission, nor did the media in general. This is the funniest British-Saudi image I could find.  Not sure how accurate it is -- as in, who is really in control in this relationship?  [CLICK image for clarity / enlargement] ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ꕤ

Saudi Arabia Crucifixion, Saudis Bombing Yemen & UN Human Rights Council - Saudi Appointment Hypocrisy

ꕤ #OpNimr human rights #FreeNimr @OpNimr ARTICLE  Death Sentence by Crucifixion http://www.theladbible.com/articles/a-teenager-has-been-sentenced-to-death-by-crucifixion … ARTICLE  UN HR Saudi Arabia Appointment Hypocrisy http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2015/09/20/saudi-arabia-wins-bid-to-behead-of-un-human-rights-council-panel/ … HELP http://pastebin.com/vdu6qWdG  ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Above is info re Saudi Arabian citizen (originally arrested in 2012 as teen), sentenced to death by crucifixion. The same Western-allied & installed despots that have pronounced this barbaric sentenced on Ali Mohammed al-Nimr are chairing the UN Human Rights Council panel ... and bombing Yemen with impunity: I'm no human rights campaigner & my interests are usually narrow and selfish, but I think that people ought to know what kind of regime is supported by the West in the Middle East -- and what a joke the United Nations organisation really is. ꕤ

Video - US war on Syria - Coalition Against ISIS A Lie - MUST SEE

TRANSCRIPT Refugee Crisis What the Media is Hiding  Syrian Girl | here VIDEO Refugee Crisis:  What The Media Is Hiding SOURCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHFnvFbThDE&feature=youtu.be VIDEO ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. US War on ⟴Syria US, France, UK & Australia join coalition 1 week before  MSM & McCain exploit sympathy for dead child to wage US-allied War on Syria ⟴ RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ⟴   ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. COALITION Against ISIS LIE ⟴ SAUDI ARABIA QATAR & TURKEY USA & ALLIES FUNDING & FACILITATING ISIS ⟴ RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. RIGHT ON CUE WEAPONS OF WAR ⟴ SOURCE http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/09/angelina-jolie-tells-parliament-that-isis-uses-rape-as-centrepoint-of-their-terror-5382696/ Angelina Jolie tells Parliament that Isis uses rape as ‘centrepoint of their terror’  Richard Hartley-Parkinson for Metro.co.uk Wednesday 9 Sep 2015 7:54 am Angelina Jolie gave evidence to a House of Lords committee yesterday (Picture: Reuters) Angelina Jolie warned yesterday that Islamic State is using rape as a weapon of war as she calls for greater action against those responsible. She is a special envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and made her comments in parliament. She said: ‘The most aggressive terrorist group in the world today …(is) using (rape) as a centrepoint of their terror and their way of destroying communities and families. ‘ Jolie says that Isis uses rape as a ‘policy’ while asking for a ‘very strong response’. Thousands of women and girls have been abducted, raped and sold into sexual slavery by Islamic State since the militant group declared a caliphate across swathes of Syria and Iraq last summer, according to the United Nations and rights groups. Oscar-winning Jolie, who joined forces with former British foreign secretary William Hague in 2012 to launch an initiative to prevent sexual violence in conflict, spoke about girls she had met in war zones who had been raped. This included a 13-year-old Iraqi girl whom she said was raped repeatedly along with her friends and sold for £26. As part of their campaign against sex crimes in war, Jolie and Hague in 2013 launched a declaration pledging to pursue those responsible and provide justice and safety for victims that has been signed by more than 150 nations. SOURCE http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/09/angelina-jolie-tells-parliament-that-isis-uses-rape-as-centrepoint-of-their-terror-5382696/ ---------------------- ꕤ  ---------------------- COMMENT If you want to help refugees, watch the above video and read the transcript below. ⟴ ꕤ WEAPONS OF WAR RIGHT ON CUE  WEAPONS OF DECEIT MANUFACTURE OF CONSENT EXPLOIT REFUGEES (emotive) EXPLOIT DEAD CHILD (emotive) EXPLOIT RAPE (emotive) Assange UK-US Special Relationship War On Syria The WikiLeaks Files Link | here ⟴ Explains a lot ... Assange Transnational Security Elite, Carving Up the World Using Your Tax Money London  OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) Link  |  here ꕤ

Saudi Arabia - UN Human Rights Council Member - Beheaded 19 since August 4th

Saudi Arabia Sustains UN Human Rights Council Membership Despite Beheading 19 People in 17 Days Human Rights Watch: 'Another dark stain on the kingdom's human rights record.' Maria Khan By Maria Khan August 22, 2014 22:57 BST Saudi Arabia, a member of the UN Human Rights Council, has beheaded 19 people since August 4, reported the Human Rights Watch (HRW). Out of the 19 people who were beheaded, eight where convicted of non-violent offences, seven for drug smuggling, while one was charged with sorcery. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/saudi-arabia-sustains-un-human-rights-council-membership-despite-beheading-19-people-17-days-1462308

Unbelievably, SA is also a member of the UN Human Rights Council.

Saudi Arabia - Shia cleric Ayatollah Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, who has been sentenced to death by crucifixion and beheading

Protest demands Saudi regime frees dissident cleric Saturday, August 23, 2014 By Tony Iltis, Melbourne Protesters took to the streets of Melbourne on August 16 to condemn human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia and to call for the release of Shia cleric Ayatollah Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, who has been sentenced to death by crucifixion and beheading for calling for religious freedom in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is both an absolute monarchy and a theocracy. The regime promotes a Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam, notorious for narrowly defining Islam and intolerance toward other beliefs. The oil-rich kingdom, created with Western support in the early 20th century, claims ideological legitimacy from possession of the holy cities Mecca and Medina. Less than a quarter of the population are Wahhabi. Paradoxically, while Saudi Arabia is the closest ally of the US in the Arab world, its brutally repressive, misogynist and theocratic system provides much of the evidence for Islamaphobic Western propagandists making the case that Islam is violently anti-democratic. Western reporting of the wave of unrest in the Arab countries since the beginning of 2011 ignored large protests in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, where most of the country’s fossil fuel industry is based. The Eastern Province is home to most of the Shia minority, who form 10 to 15% of the Saudi population but are viewed as heretics by the Wahhabi establishment. Nimr was condemned to death for speaking out in support of protesters and calling for freedom of religious belief. Speakers at the rally said that Nimr’s message was that Sunni and Shia Muslims, and non-Muslims, should all be free and equal, not just in Saudi Arabia, but throughout the Middle East. Speakers condemned Saudi and Western support for religious sectarian forces in Iraq, Syria, and other countries of the region, and condemned the IS (Islamic State) terrorist group for its brutality and genocide of religious minorities such as the Yazidi and Christian communities. Speakers also drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s de facto alliance with Israel and pledged solidarity with the Palestinians. Marching to the Human Rights Commission, protesters’ chants and signs called for democracy, peace, religious freedom and independence for Palestine and condemned the Saudi regime, the US, Israel and IS. https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/57150

Blown away by this information.

Saudi Arabia is a US business partner (Shell).

GAZA - UN HRC Votes - 23 July 2014 Resolution - Who's for and Who's against?

Firstpost. Saturday, August 2, 2014 India to provide $1 million for aid to Gaza victims ... India contributes $1 million towards the UNRWA fund each year. The money is being planned to be expedited in view of the unceasing violence and the mounting suffering of the people of Gaza. India voted against Israel in the July 24 UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that sought a probe into Israel's offensive in Gaza ad also condemned Tel Aviv's "disproportionate use of force". The India vote caused some consternation in Israel, with which India shares good relations. There was some censure for India's negative vote for Israel as experts felt that maybe India should have abstained, keeping in mind the good economic relations, especially in defence purchases, New Delhi shares with Tel Aviv. ... India joined Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa to vote for a Palestinian-drafted resolution on "Ensuring Respect for International Law in The Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem". In the 46-member human rights council, 29 countries voted in support of the resolution while 17 nations abstained. Supporting calls for an immediate ceasefire, India said at the UNHRC that it is "deeply concerned at the steep escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, particularly heavy airstrikes in Gaza and disproportionate use of force on ground, resulting in tragic loss of civilian lives, especially women and children and heavy damage to property." ... This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. EXTRACTS ONLY ... FULL @ SOURCE - http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/india-to-provide-1-million-for-aid-to-gaza-victims-1645971.html

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Blogger Research

Human Rights Council

Twenty-first special session

23 July 2014

A/HRC/RES/S-21/1

                        Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

                              S-21/1

Ensuring respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Member Total: 47

[ 29 ] - For

[  1  ] - Against

[ 17 ] - Gutless

In favour:

Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam

Against:

United States of America

Abstaining:

Austria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Republic of Korea, Romania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]

Anyone that's interested in reading the Resolution, may do so - here.

COMMENT

Well, at least US had the guts to openly vote against.

The gutless abstainers are by and large US NATO allies, plus those involved in the US Partnership for Peace 'boy scouts' co-op (Austria, Macedonia).

To my mind, PfP is the US way to gain influence over other nations (but isn't everything?).

So what's the story of:

Botswana - US reliant - 

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is another US way of gaining influence.

Botswana gets US assistance.

The pals relationship with US also entitles them to 'preferential trade benefits' 

source:  http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1830.htm

Burkina Fasco - appears to depend on US aid -

"Burkina Faso is classified as a least developed, low income, and food deficit country.  The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) 2013 Human Development Index ranks Burkina Faso 183 out of 187 countries, and over 44 percent of the population lives below the poverty line."

source:  http://www.usaid.gov/burkina-faso/food-assistance

Republic of Korea (ie SOUTH KOREA) - Strong US ally and trade partner

2009 G-20 London Summit, U.S. President Barack Obama called South Korea "one of America's closest allies and greatest friends."  In addition, South Korea has been designated as a Major non-NATO ally. [wikipedia]

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How to control the world in 4 easy steps:

1.  Protection/Security agreements.

2.  Mid-way hand-holding, peace-loving programs to gain influence.

3.  Trade agreements.

4.  Aid provision / Food provision.

But that's not all folks ... there's more.  LOL


So getting back to the UN HRC resolution (which I've just about totally forgotten), there's some deploring and some condemning documented - and there's resolutions. UN HRC:

"Decides to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014 ..."

So it's hardly a big stick, is it?

It's not like they were voting on immediate military action in the region.

It was just a call for human rights observance!