Yearly Archives: 2009

Sign the petition: Stop the EU fisheries in Western Sahara!

The EU is paying Morocco to fish in occupied Western Sahara. Protest by signing this petition.
Published: 06.11 – 2009
Sign the petition >>
To the European Commissioner for Fisheries,
No state in the world has recognised the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara. Still, the EU is paying millions of Euros annually to the Government of Morocco to allow EU vessels to fish in the waters of Western Sahara. The EU fisheries activities in Western Sahara must immediately come to an end.
Continue reading →

AWSA welcomes the apology from World Vision regarding use of incorrect map

The Australia Western Sahara Association welcomes the apology from World Vision in their August 2009 Supporter Magazine. AWSA acknowledges the great work that World Vision is involved with globally in fighting poverty and hope they can join with the other NGO’s that are working in this region.

World Vision apology:
“A map in the April issue of World Vision News inadvertently dropped off the border between Morocco and Western Sahara. World Vision News maps adhere to United Nations cartographic standards, which indicate a border between Morocco and Western Sahara.
We apologise for the error.”
World Vision Supporter Magazine August edition 2009 p3

Video of Jose Ramos-Horta speech at Melbourne event

President Jose Ramos-Horta supports Western Sahara independence
The Monthly.com.au
The President of Timor Leste and co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, Jose Ramos-Horta headlined a discussion on the status of Western Sahara, Africa s last colony, in Melbourne, Australia on 23 July 2009.

View Jose Ramos-Horta’s presentation >>

Philippe Mora opens his diary. The Spectator, 29 August

The Spectator Australia, 29 August 2009
Philippe Mora writes: ‘I was in Sydney’s Chinatown, enjoying delicious steamed lobster with ginger and attending the recent Film Festival, when I got a dramatic phone call. An old friend and cameraman for three of my films, Carlos Gonzalez, was calling from Los Angeles to say that a West Saharan woman, Fetim, from Tindouf refugee camp in Algeria, was flying in to Sydney to denounce a film portraying her as a slave…

Read the rest of Philippe Mora’s article >>.

16 August 2009 – Updated critique of Stolen

The Second Edition of the detailed critique of the documentary Stolen has now been published. This updated edition reflects the more recent publicity, information and events surrounding the screening of the documentary at the Melbourne Film Festival on 31 July.
The critique investigates the questionable methods and unethical practices from pre to post production used in the making of Stolen, directed by Violeta Ayala and Dan Fallshaw and produced by Tom Zubrycki.

Download: Critique of Stolen II

Sahrawis prevented from travelling and punished for their stance

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT
Date: 7 August 2009
Amnesty International is concerned by reports that Moroccan security officials forcibly removed six young Sahrawis from Agadir’s Al Massira airport on 6 August 2009 and then assaulted them, after refusing them permission to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) on 5 August.

Read AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT >>

We seek no revenge – only peace, writes Mohammed Khadad

Guardian.co.uk, 10 August 2009
The people of Western Sahara stand prepared to engage with Morocco and to enter open discussions about our joint future.
A new round of talks between the kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front of Western Sahara are under way in Vienna, Austria. These talks, characterised as informal by the personal envoy of the UN secretary general, Christopher Ross, are the latest attempt to bring peace and security to Western Sahara and to the wider Maghreb region.

Read article >>

‘Stolen’ critique identifies questionable methods, unethical practices

‘Stolen’ is to be screened at the Melbourne Film Festival on Friday 31 July.

A detailed report and critique of this new documentary has been prepared investigating the questionable methods and unethical practices from pre to post production used in the making of Stolen, directed by Violeta Ayala and Dan Fallshaw and produced by Tom Zubrycki.
Published by the Australian Western Sahara Association.
Report Production Committee: Yvette Andrews, Cate Lewis, Lyn Allison,
Meredith Burgmann, Ron Guy, Georgia Vlassopoulos, Annette O’Neill

Following the screening of the documentary at the Melbourne Film Festival on 31 July the critique was updated and a Second Edition published.

Read or download Critique – Second Edition >>

Read or download Critique – First Edition >>

AWSA Press Release handed to Minister Garrett 31 July 2009 >>

Melbourne – President Jose Ramos-Horta supports Western Sahara independence 25/07/2009

The President of Timor Leste and co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, Jose Ramos-Horta headlined a discussion on the status of Western Sahara, Africa s last colony, in Melbourne, Australia on 23 July 2009.
His Excellency, President Ramos-Horta examined the parallels between Timor Leste and Western Sahara….(continued)

Read report on UPES website >>

The ethics of documentary film, by Kamal Fadel

Posted on ‘Unleashed’, ABC website, 24 July.
The Melbourne International Film Festival, which begins today, will be screening a highly misleading and fictionalised film account of life in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. The film screens, inexplicably, as a documentary.
This film, Stolen, vilifies its subjects, presents falsehoods as facts and insults a population of refugees who struggle under the shadow of a militarised occupation.

Read Unleashed column on ABC website >>