Category Archives: Political issues

West African Festival at Melbourne’s Immigration Museum

img_1350.JPGOn Sunday 6 March Western Sahara, represented by the Australia Western Sahara Association, was one of twelve countries taking part in a West African Festival at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne.

The festival was opened by The Hon Nicholas Kotsiras, the Victorian State Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship with all the countries taking part in the welcome ceremony in their national dress.

During the day visitors were entertained with music, film, workshops (eg djembe drum making) and cookery demonstrations. Each country displayed cultural artefacts and photographs.
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Celebration of 35th anniversary of the Saharawi republic in Australia

Youtube link: Raising the flag for Western Sahara, 27 Feb 2011

Melbourne (Australia) February28, 2011(SPS) The Saharawi national day was celebrated in Australia with flag raising ceremonies and a dinner organized by the Australia Western Sahara Association in addition to musical concerts and exchange speeches. According to the  Saharawi  representation in Australia.
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Arab Uprisings: What the February 20 Protests Tell Us About Morocco

With the ouster of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak, the Arab world has erupted in popular protests in favor of democracy and dignity. Morocco, long considered one of the most stable Arab countries, is not immune to this regional trend. Inspired by the cases of Tunisia and Egypt, a group of young activists are using social media to spread the word

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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

Moroccan government fears outbreak of mass protests

By Alejandro López
3 February 2011
As millions of people march in Egyptian cities and protests continue in Tunisia after the ouster of former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Moroccan monarchy fears that it may be the next to face mass protests.
According to reports on Spanish public television, Moroccan troops are being sent towards major Moroccan cities, including Casablanca and Rabat, from their bases in the Western Sahara. The Moroccan embassy in Madrid denounced this report.
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Morocco/Western Sahara: Dissidents in Prison, Unfair Trials

A Mixed Picture of Human Rights in the Kingdom

Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2011, please visit:
https://admin.hrw.org/world-report-2011(New York, January 24, 2011) – Morocco imprisoned government critics and dissidents for their peaceful expression during 2010, despite the image it enjoys as a regional leader on human rights, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2011.

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