Euro MP Phil Bennion has pledged to investigate how EU aid to Yemen is being used after meeting local Yemeni community leaders from the Black Country.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">The Liberal Democrat MEP met Ragih Muflihi and a delegation from the Yemeni Community Association at the Greets Green Access Centre run by the group in West Bromwich on Sunday February 3rd.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">Dr Bennion said: "I was pleased to visit the centre and discuss issues raised by Mr Muflihi and his colleagues on behalf of Yemenis in Sandwell and Dudley.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"I recognise the widespread concern that serious human rights abuses and oppression in Yemen, especially the south, is going unchallenged by the EU or the wider international community and is rarely reported by the media.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"In particular, I will investigate how EU aid is being delivered to Yemen and ask for a breakdown of how it is spent and what is being done to stop it being mis-used.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"Earlier this year I took similar action to investigate EU aid to Somalia, following concerns raised by the diaspora Somali community, which is concentrated in Birmingham.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"The plight of Somali refugees in Yemen, which is struggling to cope with them, was also an issue raised.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"As well as promoting economic interests, the EU has a duty to stand up for human rights and the principle of self determination around the world. It is clear that this issue has not been resolved in the eyes of the South Yemeni community, who feel they have been subject to military occupation since 1994.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"Many people who use the centre in Greets Green have close relatives in Yemen. Britain, as the former colonial power in Aden and South Yemen for 100 years, also has an obligation to look more closely at these continuing problems.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"I support the principle of self determination. Where nation states can be seen to have failed, a peaceful transition to independence or other forms of autonomy should be considered by populations concerned in free and fair referenda.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"That is the best solution for conflicts such as Kashmir, it is a process which recently occurred with international oversight in both Sudan and Ethiopia. It may now be the best way forward for north and south Yemen.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"I will take up these concerns with the EU's External Action Service and with my colleagues in the Liberal Democrat ALDE group in the European Parliament.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"I was also asked to investigate the growing toll of civilians being killed in attacks by unmanned American drone aircraft. Just as in Pakistan, terrorism needs to be tackled, but drone attacks which kill large numbers of innocent civilians are counterproductive as well as wrong.
style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4pt;" id="yiv1426397841yui_3_7_2_1_1360057676908_28689" class="yiv1426397841MsoNormal">"I was impressed by the wide range of service that Mr Muflihi and his team at the Greets Green Centre provide, both for the Yemeni community and other local residents and look forward to future visits."
Phil Bennion
The Liberal Democrat MEP met Ragih Muflihi and a delegation from the Yemeni Community Association at the Greets Green Access Centre run by the group in West Bromwich on Sunday February 3rd.
