UN failure to stop Saudi aggression against Yemen shameful: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Jalal Fairooz, a political commentator in London, to ask for his take on the Saudi military aggression against Yemen.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: The airstrikes against Yemen continue despite many calls, particularly from the UN, for ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. Why do you think Saudi Arabia did not relent?

Fairooz: Well, it seems that the Saudis think that bombarding civilians will put pressure on the Ansarullah and the Houthis, and probably when the people suffer from within Sa’ada itself and all the related areas, then they would put pressure to stop Houthis from progressing.

And also the Saudis wanted to put some of the psychological pressure on the negotiating team of the Houthis in Geneva, but they have failed actually. They have shown how brutal they are even during Ramadan time. Imagine during the dawn period, the Sahar period, when the people are preparing to fast for next day of Ramadan, they are being bombarded.

Today in..., in south of Sa’ada, and also in Sana’a, only houses have been bombarded. It is really a big shame, but the most shame is not only on the Saudis, but on the Western media who are not covering whatever atrocities and all the killing and bloodshed which the Saudis are doing in Yemen.

And also tonight the Saudis have targeted the airplane of the Houthis, which was about to go to Oman. All these have to be stood very strongly against by the international community, because as the people of Yemen are seeing that the international community is involved and they have all the responsibility of all the children and women and the old people who are being killed and the houses, which are bombarded.

Press TV: Indeed. Now, Mr. Fairooz, Why aren’t these things being raised in Geneva, where the UN’s been sponsoring talks between different Yemeni factions? Because it is hard to ignore these bombs that continuously falling on the Yemeni population.

Fairooz: It’s very very shameful on the United Nations actually that they did not ask for immediate ceasefire, because no negotiation, no dialogue can be taking place while all the bombs are falling on the heads of the women and children. The first thing you need to [do is] put off the fire. The first principle of any negotiation is to stop bloodshed of the people. You cannot expect another team to go and to talk while the sword is on their neck and the neck of their children.

So, it was really a shame of the United Nations, but it seems that all the parties, including the Western powers, just want the Houthis to treat back and have the old Mansur Hadi’s government to be initiated again.

But that is far beyond what they imagine, because things have gone beyond that; we have seen how the Yemeni people have got all united, hands in hands, and they have... even the ones who are against the Houthis, have turned with the Houthis now and no one you can see on the ground almost no one with Abd Rabbu... Hadi. And all of that is because of all the bloodshed and all the killing which is being done; even right now when I’m talking to you, reports are on the twitter that they are being bombarded on their houses.

ABN/HJL

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk