LABOUR BOYCOTTArab ambassadors cancel event at Labour conference after Corbyn’s party bans Saudi Arabia
The League of Arab States has scrapped a planned reception at the conference
SOURCE: THE SUN
BY MATT DATHAN
JEREMY Corbyn faced humiliation after it emerged that the League of Arab States will boycott Labour party conference later this month.
The group has cancelled a reception of Arab state ambassadors at the party’s gathering in Brighton because Labour rejected Saudi Arabia and Sudan’s application to attend.
Jeremy Corbyn is being boycotted by Arab leadersThey snubbed the Arab countries contrasts with the party’s treatment of Venezuela.
The Sun revealed earlier this month that members of Mr Corbyn’s frontbench will attend a “Venezuela Solidarity Campaign” event at Labour conference – hosted by the country’s ambassador Rocio Manerio – despite the brutal clampdown on opposition parties inflicted by the Venezuelan tyrant Nicolas Maduro.
Shadow Leader of the Lords Baroness Smith will join activists and Unite Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke at the “anti-sanctions” rally, which is being organised by two close allies of Mr Corbyn – Chris Williamson and Karen Lee.
The League of Arab States wrote to all Labour MPs earlier this week announcing their decision to cancel their annual reception and buffet dinner at the party’s conference.
The League of Arab States sent this letter about its boycottThe letter said: “Our Council has decided to refrain from attending the Labour party conference this year due to the rejection of both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s and the Republic of Sudan’s applications to attend the conference.”
Mr Corbyn has repeatedly accused Saudi Arabia of committing war crimes against Yemen.
A party spokesman said: “Following evidence of war crimes committed by Saudi Arabia in its bombing campaign in Yemen and other large scale human rights abuses, the NEC agreed that the embassy’s application to attend the Labour Party conference would not be accepted.”
But Mr Corbyn has faced criticism for his failure to condemn the Venezuelan regime following the President Maduro’s bloody suppression of protests and his appearance at the conference rally supporting the regime is likely to reignite the row.
The US have slapped economic sanctions on the oil-rich Latin republic following the Maduro’s crackdown.
Venezuelan Ambassador Manerio has been invited to address the “Hands Off Latin America – No To Blockade Of Cuba And Sanctions On Venezuela” event on September 26.
