Category Archives: General

Senator Claire Moore addresses the Senate on Human Rights and Morocco

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

In her speech to the Senate Senator Claire Moore, Labor Senator for Queensland, spoke of the injustice of Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara for over 40 years, the oppression and human rights abuses endured by the Saharawi, the plight of those in exile in the desert of Algeria and the failure of the United Nations to require Morocco to honour its ceasefire agreement to allow a UN referendum in Western Sahara.
Senator Moore acknowledged the presence in the gallery of a delegation from the Australia Western Sahara Association who have been working tirelessly to ensure that this message is not lost in our community.

Hansard Record 8 September 2015

YouTube

Mariem Hassan’s Farewell from Smara camp

AWSA regrets to announce the sad death of Saharawi singer, Mariem Hassan, whose powerful singing made her “the voice of the Sahara”.

Here is a message from Mariem’s agents Nubenegra.
“On 6th of August Mariem Hassan returned to the refugee camps and on Saturday morning (22 August 2015) she died in her family circle in the refugee camp Smara (Tindouf, Algeria).
She knew that she had no chance against the bone cancer, but she never gave up to fight against the injustice of her occupied homeland since 1975
with her unforgettable voice around the world.

Before passing away Mariem wanted to say goodbye,
Her Farewell has been published on YouTube

Listen to Mariem Hassan broadcasts on ABC Radio National

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ACTU resolution on Western Sahara adopted on 28/5/2015

At the ACTU Congress today, 28 May, a resolution was passed on Western Sahara

The Australian Council of Trade Unions notes that
•             Morocco has occupied Western Sahara since 1975
•             UN efforts to accomplish the decolonisation process in Western Sahara have not been successful;
•             Around 165,000 Saharawis continue to live in dire conditions in refugee camps in South West of Algeria;
•             Saharawis in the occupied areas endure human rights abuses and denial of their basic rights;
•             The only just, legal and lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, is to end the Moroccan illegal occupation and allow the Sahara people to exercise their right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN decolonisation doctrine;
Congress:
•             Strongly supports the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence;
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10 April 2015: United Nations Secretary-General’s Report on Western Sahara

10 April, United Nations, Security Council
This latest UN Secretary-General report on the situation concerning Western Sahara is a disappointing indicator of the UN’s current position on Western Sahara.
In many respects it simply reaffirms the status quo and once again offers little hope that the UN will instigate meaningful change to support the Saharawi’s right to their country and their future. All this in a context of Morocco’s blatant violations of the basic requirements of the international community – self-determination – and of international law – the protection of human rights during an armed occupation.

UN Secretary-General’s 2015 report >>

Major development: African Union Peace and Security Council requests the UN to expedite process of decolonisation

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 496th meeting held on 27 March 2015, adopted the following decision on the situation in Western Sahara:

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) has asked the United Nations Security Council (UN) to “make every effort to expedite the process of decolonization of Western Sahara “. The Council appealed for an enhanced and coordinated international action towards the early organization of a referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in compliance with relevant OAU/AU decisions and UN resolutions; (…cont.)

Read communique >>

President of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic decorates Australian supporter with 2O May Medal

Sahara Press Service
Melbourne March 23, 2015 (SPS)

The President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz, decorated Kate Lewis, vice president of the Australian Association of solidarity with the Saharawi people (AWSA) with the 20 May Medal for supporting the people of Western Sahara.

Thirty-ninth anniversary of SADR proclamation celebrated in Australia

Saharawi Press Service reports on recent and forthcoming Australian action for Western Sahara, Canberra, March 4, 2015 (SPS)

The thirty-ninth anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Republic (SADR) has been commemorated in several Australian cities.
On the occasion, the Saharawi flag was raised in the cities of Melbourne, Ballart, Geelong and Victoria as a form of solidarity with the Saharawi people.
As well, Melbourne will later this month host an international conference on the Saharawi natural resources.
The conference will be attended by experts, professors, lawyers and representatives of international companies. (SPS)

Article >>
Flag raising pictures >>

Western Sahara’s ‘conflict tomatoes’ highlight a forgotten occupation

Ian Black Middle East editor,
The Guardian Wednesday 4 March 2015

Morocco’s control of the ‘last colony in Africa’ is at the centre of campaigners’ legal challenge to the labelling of Saharan produce and the tax breaks it receives. Accurate labelling of consumer produce is a familiar part of the struggle for Palestinian rights under Israeli occupation and a striking example of global citizen empowerment. Now campaigners for the freedom of Western Sahara are making similar demands to try to undermine Morocco’s control of the territory.

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The Responsibility of the UN Security Council in the Case of Western Sahara

Hans Corell, Former Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and the Legal Counsel of the United Nations
International Judicial Monitor, International Law Analysis and Commentary, Winter 2015

In this Commentary Hans Corell raises the question of Western Sahara saying “that it is a situation where the Security Council risks falling short in fulfilling its mandate. Under the UN Charter the Council has a legal obligation to take action in situations like the present.” (…continued)

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January 2015: African Union adopts important decisions on WS

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session 23 – 27 January 2015
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

DECISION ON THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
Doc.EX.CL/887(XXVI)

The Executive Council,

10. REITERATES its serious concern at the continued illegal occupation of the territories of Western Sahara which could not be visited by ACHPR in line with Executive Council Decision on the matter, DEMANDS expeditious implementation of the various relevant United Nations and African Union Resolutions to actualize as early as possible the long awaited self-determination of the Saharawi people; in that regard, Council RECOMMENDS that AU organize some of its activities in the liberated territories of Western Sahara as a demonstration of solidarity with the Saharawi people in their legitimate aspirations(1); \

11. RECOMMENDS to the Assembly of the Union to adopt a special declaration condemning the holding of the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla in the occupied territory of Western Sahara (1), (2);

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