Monthly Archives: March 2019

Western Sahawari protesters appeal to Ardern over phosphate

A Western Saharawi protester calls on PM Jacinda Ardern to intercede over phosphate exports

Stuff Business,
Gerard Hutching  Mar 11 2019

Western Saharawi freedom fighters have called on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to urge New Zealand fertiliser companies to stop importing phosphate from the Western Sahara.
The territory where the phosphate comes from is in dispute, with the Western Saharawis battling for an independent state.

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27 February 2019 – WS flag raised in solidarity with Sahrawis

Leichhardt Town Hall flag raising ceremony [Image: Kate Walsh, 2019]

Councils raise Western Sahara flag to support Sahrawi right to self-determination
27 Feb 2019

Wednesday 27 February marked the 43rd anniversary of the declaration of the Saharawi Republic. In recognition of this anniversary the flag of Western Sahara was raised in solidarity at Leichhardt Town Hall by the Mayor of the Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne. Also attending the flag-raising ceremony were Kamal Fadel (Polisario Representative Australia and New Zealand), Lesley Osborne (Secretary of the Australia Western Sahara Association, AWSA) and members of AWSA.
Other organisations flying the flag on 27 Feb included Victorian Trades Hall Council, Yarra City Council and the AWU – Australian Workers’ Union.

APHEDA Facebook post

Solidarity with Western Sahara – APHEDA article 27 Feb 2019

Mud brick house and tent in Dakhla, one of the Western Sahara refugee camps in the south-west. [IMAGE: L OSBORNE, 2016]

Solidarity with Western Sahara
Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, Feb 27, 2019

Background
Western Sahara is located in Northwest Africa. It is rich in mineral resources, renowned for its fishing grounds and has a great potential for oil and gas. In size, it is similar to the UK.

Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory, whose people have waited many years for a United Nations-sanctioned referendum of self-determination. It remains on the UN agenda and is considered Africa’s last colony due to its occupation by Morocco, which invaded Western Sahara in 1975.

APHEDA article