Sevilla, capital of the international solidarity with the Saharawi people

05/09/2008

The Spanish city of Sevilla (Andalusia) hosts for three days and international conference of solidarity with the Saharawi people, with the participation of many Saharawi and international personalities as well as representatives of many associations supporting the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination. Organised by the Spanish-Saharawi association "Somoud" (resistance), the Spanish Council for the Defence of Solidarity and Peace and the Mayoralty of Sevilla, this conference, whose works started on Friday, aims to "strengthen the support to the Saharawi cause on the basis of the inalienable right to self-determination", according to the organisers. In a meeting that introduced the conference, few hours before its opening, El-Ouali Bentaleb, member of the association Somoud called on Spain to "assume its historical and moral responsibilities towards the conflict in Western Sahara and to recognise the Saharawi Republic and POLISARIO Front as the unique and legitimate representatives of the Saharawi people like more than 85 other countries did". In the conference the participants discussed on many themes related to the history of the conflict, the current situation on the basis of the international law, the political scene after the Manhasset’s negotiations between the two parties to the conflict, POLISARIO Front and Morocco. The serious human rights violations in the occupied zones and the popular uprising against the Moroccan occupation as well as testimonies on the life in the refugee camps, will also be presented in the conference. Amongst the speakers there will be the Saharawi Ambassador to Algiers, Mr. Brahim Ghali, who will speak about the "international political situation after the negotiations of Manhasset". The Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation will be present to speak about the model of decolonisation of Timor-Leste, which is similar to the decolonisation process of Western Sahara. The conference will also be an opportunity to present some books and project films on the history, life, culture and struggle of the Saharawi people for independence.

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