Yearly Archives: 2008

AWSA letter sent to Impact Fertilisers Aust. CEO

“Accepting a phosphate rock shipment from Moroccan authorities in the occupied Western Sahara is a serious violation of niki.JPGfundamental ethical norms and international law. It gives the impression of political legitimacy to a brutal occupation, and undermines the UN peace process to find a solution to the conflict. Please put further importations on hold until the conflict in Western Sahara is settled”, Cate Lewis wrote in a letter to the company on behalf of AWSA on 6 May.

Read AWSA letter to Impact Fertilisers Aust. >>

Australia Western Sahara Association PRESS RELEASE 28 April 2008

Appeal for release of Brahim Sabbar and all Saharawi political prisoners

Today the Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) wrote to Mr Chakib Benmoussa, Moroccan Minister of the Interior asking for the release of Saharawi political detainees, held in Moroccan prisons. Brahim Sabbar is the secretary general of ASVDH, the Saharawi Association for victims of violations of human rights for Saharawis living under Moroccan rule and has been in prison since June 2006 (see: http://asvdh.net/english/?page_id=316).
Continue reading →

The Age, 29 April 2008. Western Sahara and Australian foreign policy

We can help Western Sahara gain independence
by Kamal Fadel, The Age 29 April 2008
NOW that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s first big overseas trip has concluded, and we have a chance to assess the new direction in Australian foreign policy, we can begin to flesh out his “middle power” agenda. A solid speech or a tough talking doorstop in the exalted atmospheres of international geopolitics do not a policy make. Kevin Rudd needs a hook to hang his “middle power” hat on. There is no better hook than Western Sahara.
Read the full article >>

25 April. Amnesty International. Public Statement

Morocco / Western Sahara:  Allegations of torture of Sahrawi human rights defender must be investigated

Amnesty International deplores today’s expulsion by the Moroccan authorities of a delegation of Action by Christians against Torture (Action des chrétiens pour l’abolition de la torture, ACAT) as another setback against human rights defenders working on Western Sahara. Continue reading →

Bardem swaps red carpet for sand

EL PAÍS, 19 April 2008
The actor is part of a strong Spanish contingent supporting Sahrawi film festival

The world’s only film festival to be held at a refugee camp opened Friday in the Algerian desert. Several prominent actors and directors from Spain, including the Oscar-winning Javier Bardem, are scheduled to attend Fisahara, the International Film Festival of Western Sahara. Continue reading →

Javier Bardem visits refugees

javier.jpgThe Oscar winner jetted off to southwestern Algeria near the border with the Western Sahara to partake in the cinema gala’s fifth installment Thursday and took time out of his schedule to visit the Dakhla refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria. There, the 39-year-old was welcomed with open arms by numerous exiled Sahrawi families.
Find out more >>

18 April, New York; Statement of Ahmed Boukhari

STATEMENT OF AHMED BOUKHARI, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO in New York
The Frente POLISARIO has taken note with satisfaction of the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara and its recommendations particularly those calling for the intensification of direct negotiations between the Frente POLISARIO and the Kingdom of Morocco. Continue reading →