UK opposition leader slams Saudi Arabia, Israel, Myanmar for engaging in conflicts; calls for value based foreign policy

Hyderabad: While delivering speech at the Labour Party conference in Brighton on Wednesday, Britain’s opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to pursue a foreign policy that will not fuel conflicts but solve them if elected. He criticised Saudi Arabia for its “cruel” war in Yemen and urged Myanmar to end the violence against the Rohingya. He said, if he becomes prime minister he would put the pursuit of peace and human rights at the centre of his foreign policy.

He stressed the need for accountability by governments engaged in conflicts around the world. Al Jazeera has quoted Corbyn as saying, “Terrorism is thriving in a world our governments have helped to shape, with its failed states, military interventions and occupations where millions are forced to flee conflict or hunger.” “We have to do better and swap the knee-jerk response of another bombing campaign for long-term help to solve conflicts rather than fuel them. And we must put our values at the heart of our foreign policy.”

Regarding Yemen war, he said, “We cannot be silent at the cruel Saudi war in Yemen, while continuing to supply arms to Saudi Arabia, or the crushing of democracy in Egypt or Bahrain, or the tragic loss of life in Congo.”

Expressing worries over Rohingya suffering, Corbyn said, “I say this today to Aung San Suu Kyi, as a champion of democracy and human rights: please, do all you can to end the violence now against the Rohingya in Myanmar and allow the UN and international aid agencies in to Rakhine state. “The Rohingya have suffered for too long!”

Calling for an end to oppression of Palestinians he told “Let’s give real support to end the oppression of the Palestinian people, the 50-year occupation and illegal settlement expansion and move to a genuine two-state solution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

Criticizing Donald Trump for his speech to the UN, he said, “And Let me say frankly, the speech made by the US President to the United Nations last week was deeply disturbing. It threatened war and talked of tearing up international agreements. “Devoid of concern for human rights or universal values, it was not the speech of a world leader.”