Arab Coalition: Report by group of experts on Yemen lacks objectivity

The Arab Coalition has refuted the report issued on September 3, 2019, by the group of eminent international and regional experts on Yemen, saying that it “lacks objectivity and impartiality.”

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman of the coalition, said that the fallacies and accusations against the coalition in this report “are only a continuation of the fallacies and accusations contained in the previous report in 2018,” according to that Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Col. Al-Maliki highlighted the issues pertaining to methodology of the report and the experts team’s reliance on “misleading information provided by unidentified third parties,” adding that the report was based on allegations mentioned in the reports of some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have not been documented or verified, as well as what has been published in the media.

“Thus, this report lacks objectivity and impartiality. The report was based on baseless and untrue assumptions of facts and allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law attributed to the coalition countries.” he said.

Al-Maliki pointed out that the preliminary review of the report revealed that it is based on a number of incorrect assumptions by the team of experts, affirming that the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen is fully committed that its military operations are in accordance with the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

He asserted that the coalition is also committed to conduct an investigation of any incidents arising from allegations of violations during military operations and trial of those found guilty in committing any violations.

Col. Al-Maliki added that the coalition, “in line of its commitment with the international humanitarian law, provides voluntary assistance for those affected by collateral damage of the military operations that have been unintentionally mistaken according to investigation of its alleged military operations. This measure confirmed that the coalition is continuously committed to the humanitarian law, pointing out that the coalition will later provide a detailed legal response to this report.”

Col. Al-Maliki concluded that the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen continues in collaborating with all United Nations bodies and mechanisms in the Yemeni conflict in order to achieve peace, security and stability in Yemen and the region.