Western Sahara
Saharaui women from the pro-independence Polisario Front are seen near the Western Sahara village of Tifariti. Photo: AP
Substitute the words New Zealand for Australia when you watch this. NZ is doing EXACTLY the same thing.
of the smaller nations and had them back the Moroccan position, Mostly by offering no-strings grants and aid. The majority of African nations back Western Sahara but mostly (nearly totally) with words and not actions.
PRESS RELEASE � for immediate
release
Friday 5 September 2008
Australia Western Sahara Association
Australian Superphosphate not so super
Western Sahara in north west Africa has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975. Unless the occupation ends and the Saharawis are given a chance to decide their own future there will be no stability, peace or progress in north west Africa, an important region given its proximity to Europe and its abundance in natural resources, including phosphate .
Australian companies such as Incitec Pivot have been illegally exploiting Western Sahara�s phosphate for over 20 years.
Trading with Morocco in the phosphate that rightfully belongs to Western Sahara is harming Saharawis living under Moroccan rule and those in refugee camps in south west Algeria. It is giving comfort to Morocco�s brutal regime, which is condemned by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and many other human rights organizations
Three Australian companies (Incitec Pivot, CSBP and Impact Fertilisers) are hampering the resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara, and the trade is providing Morocco with huge amounts of money for its illegal occupation. The Australian companies are turning a blind eye to the suffering of the Saharawis living under Moroccan occupation and the refugees living in exile in a very harsh desert along the border with Algeria.
�We remain convinced that Australian farmers would not be happy to know the truth behind their superphosphate� said Georgia Vlassopoulos, chair of AWSA (Victoria).
AWSA calls on the Australian government to assume its responsibility and make sure that Australian companies behave legally and ethically in their trading activities.
We also urge the Australian government to contribute to the speedy, fair and just resolution of the Western Sahara question in accordance with UN resolutions .
The Saharawi people are entitled to have their say in what happens in their country. Not only over the exploitation of its natural resources, but more crucially, to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
For further information : http://www.awsa.org.au
Muddled. They don't want a bean of it. There's just been a coup in Mauriitania and I don't think the new government will come up with anything better.
After the Spanish left Mauritania and Maroc shared the terroriry. Then the Polisario went down, in their 4X4s, and shelled the parliament in Nouakchott. Mauritania gave up its claim so Maroc by force of arms occupied all of Western Sahara.
Mauritania, lets Saharawis cross the northern border with ease.
A Western Saharan diplomat has condemned New Zealand�s purchases of the territory�s fertilisers from Morocco.
Interesting that Vanuatu, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea recognise Western Sahara. The last two I expected with a shared history of trouble. Is Vanuatu's position ideological or a reaction to its history. Either way, its easy to crave stability in a region unless you're the one being "stabilised".
16 October 2008
H.E. Mr Nicolas Sarkozy
President of the French Republic,
President of the Council of the European Union*
Mr President,
In view of our conviction that the European Union, over which you preside, has become, during the last years, the driving force of a democratic Europe that has succeeded in making the values of freedom, equality and good governance the basis and essence of its system, whilst emerging as a model and a very powerful motivation for all other peoples and nations seeking liberty and dignity.
Considering our confidence that this august and prestigious organisation, at the risk of changing its position or being discredited, cannot become the accomplice, on the threshold of the twenty first century, of a colonisation and repression policy that has been pursued by the Kingdom of Morocco in Western Sahara for decades, in flagrant and clear violation of the international legality and in disregard for the most basic rights of Sahrawi
women and men. In view of the above, we have decided to address to you this letter.
Mr President,
During the past days, and contrary to all expectations, the European Union granted an "advanced status" to the Kingdom of Morocco, and approved a package of measures geared to reinforcing its partnership with this country in the political and security domains, among others.
These measures cannot be judged, if they to be translated on the ground, without real cooperation on the Moroccan part in terms of important issues such as the rights of Sahrawi men and women in the territories occupied by the Moroccan Kingdom and the holding of the self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara, which has long been promised by the international community and constantly delayed by the Moroccan authorities.
Otherwise, they can only be construed as a clear encouragement to the illegal occupation by the warmongering and expansionist Kingdom of Morocco.
One should not forget that this special status granted by the European Union to Morocco, and reinforced by numerous opportunities to be given in several domains, will be undoubtedly and understandably considered as a direct sign of clear distrust with regard to the other peoples of the region. Because of
their engagement in serious and promising processes of consolidating democracy, these peoples would have deserved from the democratic Europe as well as its institutions and representatives the necessary support and assistance to face up to the challenges confronting them.
Mr President,
You are undoubtedly aware that Western Sahara is still considered by the international community as a Non-Self-Governing Territory that remains, since 1975, under the yoke of a military occupation carried out in flagrant violation of the principles of the Charter and the resolutions of the United Nations.
You are also aware that the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seized upon by the Moroccan authorities, in the absence of the legitimate representatives of Sahrawi people, to decide on possible ties between Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco, affirmed solemnly that: "the Court's conclusion is that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco or the Mauritanian entity. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara and, in particular, of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory"..
With the deployment of the forces of MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara), in 1991, Western Sahara has been placed under the mandate of the United Nations.
Would it be necessary to also remind you, Mr President, that the question of Western Sahara is registered, since 1966, on the agenda of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation and that, since then, it has been waiting for a happy end that could only materialise by forcing the Moroccan occupier to recognise its wrongdoings and allow the Sahrawi people to freely choose their destiny through a free and fair referendum?
Mr President,
Since the military invasion of its country by the Kingdom of Morocco, a major part of the Sahrawi population has been forced into exile where it has been living in precarious and difficult conditions, while the other part remained in the territory under the Moroccan occupation, which has turned it into an open prison. The people living there have been constantly subjected to a systematic policy of ferocious and inhuman repression that is generally manifested in detentions, abductions and forced disappearances. These abuses have frequently been denounced by international organisations of human rights and non-governmental organisations.
The Moroccan colonial authorities have employed blind and systematic repressive measures against our population in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. These authorities have ensured that there is not a single Sahrawi family that has not been affected directly in its dignity or suffered the repression exerted, with complete impunity, by the authorities of the Moroccan occupation.
It is also noteworthy that Morocco constructed, during the last years, a wall that is equipped with sophisticated surveillance apparatuses and fortified with anti-personnel mines. This long wall of 2300 kms divides the territory of Western Sahara into two parts.
By deciding to split the territory in this way, the Moroccan authorities increased the suffering of the Sahrawi families, and severed all ties between them. They have thus become responsible for a crime for which they must be held accountable before the international community.
Mr President,
It needs to be stressed that the Frente POLISARIO has nothing against the fact that the European Union has privileged relations of cooperation and special ties with Morocco. What it fears, which you can readily understand, is that Morocco takes advantage of such relations and consider them as an encouragement or a guarantee by your organisation of its colonial enterprise. You would also agree that there is no need for any move that
could have adverse consequences for the stability and peace in the region of northwest Africa as a whole, which may have negative repercussions on its relations with the European Union.
The countries of the European Union, while granting a special and advanced status to Morocco, should have assessed these serious risks, and foreseen ways to contain any possible drift that may involve real dangers for the evolution of the question of Western Sahara and for the future and stability of the whole region of the Maghreb.
In the opposite case, we can only remind these countries, while hoping that they would know how to act appropriately to deactivate a situation that may lead to destabilisation in the region of the Maghreb.. One of the first measures that, in our view, could help to avoid the worst situation consists in compelling the Kingdom of Morocco to put an end to its policy of repression and degrading practices employed against our population in the illegally occupied territories of Western Sahara. Moreover, Morocco should
honour the commitments that it has solemnly and officially undertaken before the United Nations to allow the Sahrawi people to exercise, without any pressure and coercion, their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
I should be grateful if you would bring the content of this letter to attention of the Member States of the European Union.
Please accept, Mr President, the assurances of my highest consideration.
*
Mohamed Abdelaziz
Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO,
President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic*
Anyone who knows anything about blockading a port is welcome to PM me. I have a kayak...
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dairyflat2008-10-26 23:17:16
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=37940806028&ref=nf#/event.php?eid=37940806028&ref=mf
Show your support the Western Sahara cause. February 27th is independence day for Western Sahara. This is a chance to show the world that the Saharawis deserve to their right to self-determination and that the Western Sahara issue needs to be solved!
Please invite your friends, family and as many people as possible for this symbolic celebration of this very important day in the Western Sahara history.
"Extraction of the phosphates by Morocco does, however, give rise to considerations of the international legal principles involved in the administration of non-self-governing territories. These are issues for Morocco to consider".
In essence, NZ doesn't care is the stuff is stolen.
HRW have just published a pretty even handed report on the situation...
The Western Sahara support group in Australia said Morocco �s abduction of seven Saharawi human rights activists showed it would stop at nothing to keep its grip on the occupied territory.
AWSA President, Lyn Allison said � Morocco �s business-as-usual arbitrary arrests have seriously undermined the UN�s latest efforts in confidence-building for a peaceful solution to this 30-year occupation.
She called on the Australian Foreign Minister to express Australia �s disgust at Morocco �s latest action saying the capture and disappearance of Saharawis for trying to protect their people from human rights abuses should be condemned.
AWSA has called for the immediate release of these latest prisoners and encouraged the Australian government to join others in demanding that Morocco complies with International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the UN Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners.
On October 8, 2009, Moroccan authorities arrested the seven prominent Saharawi activists at Casablanca airport on their return from visiting the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria and took them to an unknown location.
Arrested were Ali Salem Tamek, vice president of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA); Brahim Dahane, president of the Saharawi Association of Victims of Serious Violations Committed by Morocco (ASVDH); Ahmad Anasiri, general secretary of the Saharawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara and president of AMDH Smara Chapter; Dagja Lachgar, member of the executive office of ASVDH; Yahdih Ettarrouzi, member of AMDH; Saleh Lebayhi, president of the Forum for Protection of Sahrawi Children; and Rachid Sghayar, member of Committee Action against Torture.
Earlier this month Moroccan authorities arrested five other Saharawis and preventing them from visiting Mauritania . 500 Saharawi civilians remain �disappeared� and 151 Saharawi prisoners or war are still unaccounted for.
do you have a link to this DF?
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/6/keenan
Professor Keenan know his stuff.
no link here, but I suspect you have read it because it's at least 18 months old
DN had IIRC Hitchens v Galloway
That Galloway is a complete **** isn't he? I have no time for him.
there is parts of his public speaking I heartily endorse.
and the stich up regarding Saddam the establishment (Tory) media of the UK put on him was a disgrace. I would suggest he will not expire from low self esteem or be able to withdraw from an argument, but for the main I think he was one of the few UK Politicians to stand up to Blair BEFORE the Genocide/Invasion/Crimes of Aggression/War Crimes he assisted in Iraq took place.
as for Hitchens, I miss the Trotsky days. Now he is a racist drunk delighting the new (read far) right of one of the most funadmentilist religionized states on earth. A situatuion he seems to find replusive, yet pays well. An odd man.
"This prize gives me the courage to pursue the non-violent struggle that I have been leading since I was 23," Haidar told AFP after receiving the award in New York from The Train Foundation along with a check for 50,000 dollars.
in the house with the cameras
shameless self-promotion
I should find the article where he talks about the Iraq trip
During the controversies over the EU fishing in the waters off Western Sahara, the EU has used, and still uses, the 2002 UN opinion in search for legal arguments.
Again, last week, the EU Commission used the analysis to defend the fisheries. And once more, the EU Commissioner seems to have been erroneously advised. The Corell opinion is completely misrepresented:
Some of the boats fishing here are ultimately New Zealand owned.
Is Ning the first social networking site with a conscience?