Category Archives: General

Australian tour of Aicha Dahane: Human rights activist and International Officer for Forum Future for Saharawi Women

aichabwp1020345.JPGAicha’s tour dates:
Melbourne 5-11 May
Canberra 11 May
Sydney 12-18 May
Perth 18-22 May

The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) has invited human rights activist from Western Sahara, Aicha Dahane, to visit Australia.
In her role as a human rights defender for Western Sahara while a law student in Rabat, and because of the involvement of her brother, Brahim Dahane, president of the ASVDH (Saharawi Association for Victims of Human Rights Violations by the Moroccan state) in political activism, Aicha was subject to serious pressure, intimidation and harassment by the Moroccan regime. As a result she sought political asylum in the UK in 2002. Aicha is in daily contact with her family living in occupied Western Sahara, a life she knows well and which she shared for 28 years.

Melbourne program 6 & 10 May >>

Sydney program 12 – 18 May >>

Perth event, Thursday 19 May 6:30pm, Reception Room, Fremantle Town Hall

Global Dispatches: Western Sahara

Western Sahara – article by Anna Theofilopoulou
Anna Theofilopoulou covered Western Sahara and North Africa in the Department of Political Affairs of the United Nations from 1994-2006. She worked closely with former U.S. Secretary of State, James A. Baker, III and was a member of his negotiating team throughout his appointment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Western Sahara from March 1997 until his resignation in June 2004.
http://www.theglobaldispatches.com/articles/western-sahara

UN-backed Western Sahara talks begin in New York amid clashes on the ground

8 November 2010 – The parties to the dispute over Western Sahara met today in New York for the start of the third round of United Nations-backed informal talks, while clashes on the ground between Moroccan security forces and Saharawi protesters have reportedly resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36696&Cr=western+sahara&Cr1=

Achieving justice for Africa’s East Timor – book launch in Melbourne

Australian Book Launch at the New International Bookshop, Melbourne of Stephen Zunes & Jacob Mundy, Western Sahara: war, nationalism & conflict irresolution (University of Syracuse Press)

Roger Clark, a professor of international law at Rutgers Law School, New Jersey, USA in launching this important new work by his colleagues, Zunes and Mundy, recommended everyone to buy the book. He read some excerpts to give the audience a flavour of the clear prose and clear thinking of the authors and he talked about the legal issues in the conflict.
Continue reading →

Melbourne 13 October, 6.30pm: Underground Talk and Book launch

6:30PM WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER
Underground Talk presents:
Roger Clark, Professor, International Law, Rutgers Law School, USA
“Western Sahara: Achieving justice for Africa’s East Timor”

Launch of the latest book by Stephen Zunes & Jacob Mundy (Syracuse University Press) 
Western Sahara; War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution

This major new book brings up to date earlier studies of the conflict in the last colony in Africa
Where: NEW INTERNATIONAL BOOKSHOP
TRADES HALL, CNR VICTORIA & LYGON STS, CARLTON
6.30pm

Entry: $5/ $2 concession. More info: (ph) 9662 3744, (email) [email protected]

Download flyer

Passing of Mr Mahfoud Ali Beiba, President of the Saharawi Parliament

Condolence messages were sent from Australian parliamentarians and from the President of Australia Western Sahara Association on the passing of Mr Mahfoud Ali Beiba, President of the Saharawi Parliament.
Letters were sent by:

Janelle Saffin MP, Federal Member for Page
on behalf of the Parliamentary Friends of Western Sahara (Saharawi People)
Read letter >>

Maria Vamvakinou, MP
Federal Member for Calwell
Read letter >>

Lyn Allison
President
Australia Western Sahara Association
Read letter >>

7 July “Conflict Resolution in the Struggle for Self-Determination” – Western Sahara and Tamil (LTTE) Case Studies.

Sydney Customs House, Circular Quay
MFPA, CPACS (University of Sydney) and the Sydney Peace Foundation present: “Conflict Resolution in the Struggle for Self-Determination” – Western Sahara and Tamil (LTTE) Case Studies.
Workshop led by Prof. Johan Galtung, & Prof. Stephen Zunes
Intro Prof. Stuart Rees.
Venue: Barnet Long Room, Customs House Circular Quay Sydney
Time:  1800 -2000

Fee $30 includes refreshments All welcome.

More information and bookings at http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/peace_conflict/news/ipra2010.shtml  Note: go to page for full conference booking. Here you can select to book for this single event at Customs House.

Reader riposte: Western Sahara by Guest Blogger – 9 June 2010

Reader riposte: Western Sahara
by Guest Blogger – 9 June 2010 10:46AM
A response to Danielle Cave’s recent post on the Western Sahara from Kamal Fadel, the representative to Australia of Polisario, the Western Sahara independence movement:

“I was surprised to read Danielle Cave’s recent article on Western Sahara. It was nice to see a fresh perspective on the plight of my country, a country that struggles to gain and maintain media attention in Australia, and in fact, the coverage it does receive is few and far between…..(cont.)

Read full response >>