Category Archives: Political issues

Moroccan military court declares itself incompetent to try “Casablanca 7”

STATEMENT

Saharawi Association of Victims of Serious Violatons of Human Rights committed by the Moroccan state (ASVDH)
El Aaiun, Western Sahara  – 23/09/2010
Today, 23/09/10, the instructing judge informed the three Saharawi prisoners of opinion incarcerated in Salé prison, that they were no longer being prosecuted by the military court, which had declared itself incompetent.

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AWSA’s protest about the phosphate importations has gone international

AWSA’s protest about the phosphate importations has gone international with the latest shipment to Hobart aboard Christine O becoming news on
international websites, with links in Switzerland and now Germany.
See stories at these links below:
saharaoccidental.blogspot.com
wsrw1
wsrw2
wsrw3

Read ARSO letter >>
 Continue reading →

8 Swiss parliamentarians protest ethics of Tasmanian company

Australia Western Sahara Association

Press release – for immediate release
10 September 2010

This afternoon, a bulk vessel is set to arrive port of Risdon, Hobart, Tasmania, with phosphate rock plundered from occupied Western Sahara.

The trade to Tasmania takes place in violation of international law, and contributes to prolong one of the longest running conflicts in Africa. The cargo will be on board the vessel ‘Christine O’.

Read rest of press release

Letter from Socialist Alliance to HE Mr Jose Luis Rodriguez, President of the Spanish government

“We are writing to bring to your attention the situation in Western Sahara and kindly request you forward this letter to HE Mr Jose Luis Rodriguez, President of the Spanish government.

The Socialist Alliance notes that Morocco invaded and illegally occupied Western Sahara in 1975. which led more than 165,000 Saharawis to flee their homeland and seek refuge in South West Algeria for the past 35 years in dire conditions.
Read letter….

BHP urged to dump unethical phosphate trade in its takeover of PotashCorp

Australia Western Sahara Association
Press Release, 25 August 2010

The Australia Western Sahara Association today urged BHP-Billiton to suspend PotashCorp’s trade in phosphate from Western Sahara if its takeover bid is successful.

President of AWSA, Lyn Allison, said “If BHP cares anything for business ethics, social responsibility and international law, it will not allow the Canadian fertiliser corporation to buy further Western Saharan phosphate from Morocco.”
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Human Rights Watch call for Morocco to Release or Try Sahrawi Activists Held 10 Months

Seven Facing Charges in Military Court After Visiting Tindouf Refugee Camps
August 2, 2010
(New York) – Moroccan authorities should release three well-known Sahrawi activists held since October 8, 2009, on charges of “harming state security,” or provide them with a prompt and transparent trial, Human Rights Watch said today.

Read HRW report >>

The Image and its Discontent: The 29th Sundance Film Festival and the 18th Pan African Film and Arts Festival

Festival Reports in Issue 55
by Bérénice Reynaud
….The controversial Australian documentary Stolen (which received PAFF’s Best Feature Documentary Award) argues that slavery still exists in the Polisario camps in Western Sahara – an assertion that was violently criticised during the post-screening panel discussion, that unfortunately degenerated into a screaming match between (and among) the Festival’s organisers and some members of the audience. (….continued)
Read full report >>