Category Archives: Political issues

AWSA Press Release, 24/5/2011 Disputed phosphate shipped to Geelong and Hobart

aicha-dahane-ia035729-252501.JPGAustralia Western Sahara Association
Press Release – 24 May 2011
….photo courtesy Geelong Advertiser
Disputed phosphate shipped to Geelong and Hobart – Australian companies continue unethical trade

As the Triton Stork berthed in Geelong at 6pm Monday, the Australia Western Sahara Association denounced Australia’s trade with Morocco in phosphate sourced in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

Earlier this month, Aicha Dahane, a Saharawi human rights activist from occupied Western Sahara added her voice to the protest about what superphosphate manufacturer, Incitec Pivot is doing in Geelong.

Continue reading →

Keep the focus on Morocco’s illegal occupation of the Western Sahara

By Mouloud Said – 05/19/11 01:12 PM ET
The Hills Congress Blog

In his recent blog entry in The Hill, “Mercenaries in Libya: Gadhafi’s Hired Terrorists,” Edward Gabriel disingenuously alleges that the indigenous Saharawi people, of the Western Sahara, are fighting for Moammar Gadhafi and somehow linked to al Qaeda. Gabriel’s tired allegations could not be further from the truth and, as a long-time lobbyist for the Government of Morocco, he knows it.

Read full article >>

Janelle Saffin relaunches the Parliamentary Friends of Western Sahara Group

Article in Northern Star, 18th May 2011
Saffin a Friend of Western Sahara

“Page MP Janelle Saffin has enhanced her busy political life by being elected chair of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Western Sahara Group.
The group has been relaunched after Saharawi human rights activist Aicha Dahane visited Canberra last week….”

Read rest of Northern Star report >>

Greens call on Australian companies to cut ties with occupiers of Western Sahara

Media Release, Senator Scott Ludlam, Wednesday May 18th, 2011

The Australian Greens have called on Australian companies to sever all ties with Moroccan firms involved in the occupation of Western Sahara.

The Greens justice spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the African Union and more than 80 governments around the world refuse to recognise the Moroccan conquest of Western Sahara and Australian companies should withdraw from deals with the occupation forces.
Continue reading →

Media Release 18 May from Janelle Saffin MP Federal Member for Page

Media Release:
Wednesday, May 18, 2011.
Federal Parliament shows solidarity for Western Sahara

FEDERAL Labor Member for Page Janelle Saffin has been elected Chair of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Western Sahara Group, relaunched when Saharawi human rights activist Aicha Dahane visited Canberra last week as part of her national speaking tour.

Media Release >>

Killed in Western Sahara by a bomb shaped like a ball

Hassan Hassan now herds his goats alone
By Louise Orton Western Sahara
BBC News Africa, 17 May 2011
Twenty years after a ceasefire brought a halt to a long-running conflict in Western Sahara, cluster bombs used by the Moroccan armed forces are still claiming victims – among them children attracted by their toy-like size and shape.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13413947

Geelong Advertiser 10 May ‘Activist targets Incitec Pivot’

Activist targets Incitec Pivot
By: DANNY LANNEN
Geelong Advertiser (Regional Daily), Edition 1 – First  Edition
TUE 10 MAY 2011, Page 010
AICHA Dahane says people in her  native Western Sahara are hurting and Geelong’s  Incitec Pivot phosphate operation is multiplying the pain.
The human rights  activist visited Geelong yesterday, sharing a plea for awareness and action  over what she branded as illegal exporting of rich phosphate rock from  Moroccan-occupied West Sahara by Pivot and other  companies.
Continue reading →

Western Sahara: Winning the “war on words” and avoiding actual war

NewsTime Africa 6 May 2011
“People will easily be able to sympathize with our issues, but they need the information first.” Senia Bachir Abderahman is talking about the situation in the refugee camp that she grew up in and the frustration that her family and most of her fellow Saharawis (Western Sahara’s indigenous population) cannot escape from this refugee camp because their country is colonised by Morocco. (continued…)

Article at:  http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/19929