Category Archives: Political issues

Two EU Parliament committees reject EU-Morocco Fish Pact

Western Sahara Resource Watch,
7 November 2011

Today, the European Parliament’s Development and Budget Committee both adopted an opinion calling on Parliament to reject the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement.

The Budget Committee deplored the heavy financial yoke of this particular agreement, consuming no less than 25% of the Union’s budget line for fisheries. Of all the EU’s ongoing bilateral agreements, the accord with Morocco is the least cost-efficient, placing the heaviest relative burden on EU tax payers.

Pambazuka News : latest articles

Features
Fresh political storm for Western Sahara
Konstantina Isidoros
2011-10-27, Issue 554
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/77452

Why does Spain need Morocco to free the hostages in Western Sahara?
Malainin Lakhal
2011-10-27, Issue 554
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/77453

Sahrawi camps not ‘dangerous’; Visitor rejects Morocco’s claim
Sabrina Tucci
2011-10-27, Issue 554
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/77458

The Allegra unloads its cargo of phosphate rock from Western Sahara for Impact Fertilisers in Hobart

Photo: Glenn Towler

AWSA together with the Australian Unions for Western Sahara have asked both Tasmanian Customs and the shipping company Inchcape to check the way the country of origin of Allegra’s cargo is designated on the importation documents.

If it says “Morocco” this is not right and should be changed to “Western Sahara” where the phosphate comes from. If it says “Western Sahara”, then they must ask the importer to provide evidence that the Saharawi people consent to the sale of this phosphate which rightly belongs to them.

Story and video about Allegra unloading phosphate in Tasmania >>

AWSA’s statement on the kidnapping in the camps

24 October 2011

The Australia Western Sahara Association today condemned the terrorist
attack on the Saharawi refugee camps that resulted in international aid
workers being injured and kidnapped.

AWSA expresses its deepest sympathy for victims and their families and
solidarity with the Saharawi people.

Three European aid workers, two Spanish citizens and one an Italian, working in the Saharawi refugee camps, were kidnapped on Saturday night by terrorists.
Continue reading →

Aminattou Haidar condemms kidnapping in refugee camps

Statement by Aminattou Haidar condemning the terrorist act against foreign sympathizers
23 October 2011

On Saturday night 22 October 2011 an unknown armed group has kidnapped three foreign solidarity workers who were in a humanitarian mission in the Saharawi refugee camps.

Continue reading →

Press Release: Javier Bardem Petitions the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee on Western Sahara

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

“Ladies and gentlemen:
I am very grateful for the opportunity and the privilege to speak to the Fourth Committee today.

I am here as an independent citizen. I am not affiliated with any political group or representing any government.
It is our duty as citizens, to remind our leaders of their responsibilities when injustice occurs.

Read rest of Javier Bardem’s statement >>

Javier Bardem: Let the People of Western Sahara Speak

Huff Post World blog, 4 October 2011
The “Arab Spring” sends us a very clear message: the people must speak! Across North Africa and the Middle East, people are crying out for a free choice over their future.

But there is one place where this desperate cry is being silenced. The territory of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, has been under Moroccan occupation since 1975
Read more > Javier Bardem: Let the People of Western Sahara Speak

AWSA calls for urgent action by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights

In a letter sent to UNHCR dated 30 September 2011, AWSA calls for urgent action by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights to intervene and protect Saharawis who are under violent attack by Moroccan settlers in the city of Dakhla in occupied Western Sahara. It is understood that the Moroccan security forces and police have not acted to protect the lives and property of the indigenous Saharawi.

Read letter sent to UNHCR >>

Reuters report : Western Sahara clash exposes tensions with Moroccans

Western Sahara clash exposes tensions with Moroccans
By Souhail Karam

DAKHLA, Western Sahara (Reuters) – Moroccan security forces deployed in the city of Dakhla in the disputed territory of Western Sahara this week after an outburst of violence that pitted members of the indigenous Sahrawi population against their Moroccan neighbours.

Moroccan officials said 7 people were killed after rival groups of supporters clashed following a soccer match last Sunday, and local criminals then joined in the violence.

Joint-Statement for a Western Sahara without violence and racism

Statement by Saharawi Human rights NGOs and committees following the recent brutal crackdown by Moroccan armed militias

“Since 25 September 2011, the Saharawi civilians in Dakhla, in the south of Western Sahara, are facing brutal and oppressive attacks from Moroccan armed militias. These militias reside in the Alwakala neighbourhood, home to thousands of Moroccan settlers brought into the territory by the Moroccan government in 1991, to participate in the envisioned referendum in Western Sahara…..

Read the full statement >>