Comunicado de Imprensa

Organização Mundial de Solidariedade exige que um território ocupado seja excluído da cooperação europeia

4 de Novembro de 2008

As conversações para a concessão do chamado Estatuto Avançado a Marrocos estão prestes a concretizar-se. Se prosseguir com esta cooperação, a União Europeia poderá vir a violar o direito internacional.
A organização de solidariedade Observatório dos Recursos Naturais do Sara Ocidental (WSRW, sigla em inglês Western Sahara Resource Watch) exige que uma condição prévia para a concessão a Marrocos de um tal estatuto privilegiado seja que as partes ocupadas do Sara Ocidental fiquem especificamente excluídas da cooperação.
“Esperamos que o acordo saído das conversações sobre o Estatuto Avançado especifique claramente que a cooperação não se estenderá para sul da fronteira meridional internacionalmente reconhecida de Marrocos, com a latitude de 27º 40’ N”, declara uma carta que hoje foi enviada a Benita Ferrero-Waldner, a Comissária da UE para as Relações Exteriores.
Nenhuma precisão como esta foi feita até agora. O Conselho de Associação UE-Marrocos, reunido pela sétima vez a 13 de Outubro de 2008 no Luxemburgo, não faz menção da aplicabilidade territorial do acordo.
Marrocos continua a ocupar uma grande parte do Sara Ocidental, violando mais de 100 resoluções da ONU, que declaram que o povo do Sara Ocidental tem o direito à autodeterminação. A ONU trata o Sara Ocidental como uma questão de descolonização, e considerou o território como tendo sido ocupado e anexado. O Tribunal Internacional de Justiça rejeitou reivindicações infundadas de Marrocos sobre o território.
"É claro que, por força do direito internacional consuetudinário, a UE e os seus Estados membros têm o dever de não reconhecer a anexação ilegal do Sara Ocidental por Marrocos. O que a UE deve fazer é especificar claramente qual o território com que vai cooperar"- disse Sara Eyckmans, coordenadora do Observatório dos Recursos Naturais do Sara Ocidental, Bélgica.
Se a UE fizer tal precisão, estará a seguir o exemplo dos Estados Unidos da América, que excluiram especificamente o Sara Ocidental do seu acordo de comércio-livre com Marrocos.
"Se a cooperação UE-Marrocos não excluir claramente o território do Sara Ocidental, tal facto levará a um fortalecimento das reivindicações ilegais e infundadas de Marrocos sobre o seu país vizinho. A UE não deve apoiar uma ocupação brutal como esta", disse Eyckmans.
Marrocos pratica graves violações de direitos humanos contra os Saraouis que lutam pela autodeterminação do Sara Ocidental. Mais de 500 Saraouis foram vítimas de “desaparecimentos” desde que Marrocos invadiu o território em 1975.
WSRW é uma rede mundial, que tem como membros organizações em mais de 30 países e que trabalha para a protecção dos recursos naturais do povo Saraoui contra os interesses comerciais marroquinos e estrangeiros no Sara Ocidental ocupado.
Para mais informações, por favor contactar:

Pedro Pinto Leite, IPJET- Plataforma Internacional de Juristas por Timor-Leste, Coordenador da Associação Internacional de Juristas pelo Sara Ocidental na Holanda
Tel: +31-71-5221065
Email: ipjet2@gmail.com

John Gurr, coordenador da Western Sahara Campaign UK
Tel: (+ 44) (0) 845-458-9577
Email: wsc.cymru@tiscali.co.uk

Jan Strömdahl, coordenador da Swedish Western Sahara Association
Tel: (+ 46) 704-3888-41
Email: jan.stromdahl@politik.sll.se

Sara Eyckmans, WSRW Bélgica
Tel: (+ 32) (0)475-458695
Email: sara_eyckmans@yahoo.fr

Leia mais sobre o Observatório dos Recursos Naturais do Sara Ocidental em www.wsrw.org, saraocidentalonline.blogspot.com

Morocco launches homepage on Advanced Status including occupied Western Sahara as part of its own territory

A new Moroccan webpage about the Advanced Status to the EU has now seen its light. The homepage, www.statut-avance.com, was registered on the 22nd of October 2008, and was announced on the Moroccan ministry of information propaganda service, MAP, on November 4th. It is not clear on the webpage who is behind it. But according to MAP, it could be the Moroccan government: "Morocco has launched, on Tuesday, a website dedicated to the advanced status granted by the EU to Morocco in view of promoting this agreement as well as the reforms undertaken by the Kingdom", MAP wrote. The site is "meant to provide information on the status and pays a tribute to those who support Morocco’s endeavours", according to MAP. The webpage mentions places within Western Sahara as being part of Morocco, such as the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, which are quoted as being important ports for Moroccan processing of fish. Even the small logo of the entire page carries a map of Morocco, including territories that are both under Moroccan occupation and Polisario control. See its logo on the right. No countries in the world, including none of the EU states, recognise Western Sahara as being part of Morocco. Controversial sister pages The new page which according to MAP is launched by "Morocco" is affiliated to a number of obscure Moroccan propaganda sites which have appeared over the last two years. It is registered by the US based company www.DomainsByProxy.com, the same registrant as used by a number of other services from the Moroccan ministry of information. The US blogger Will Sommer has on his blog One Hump or Two uncovered how the Moroccan sites are all related through the same servers. This is the case for anti-Polisario pages such as www.polisario-confidentiel.com, www.polisario-verdad.org, www.camps-sequestres.org, www.lavage-de-cerveau.com and www.rabouni.com. They all appear to have the same graphical designer and registered on the same server. They also produce and reproduce the same news, together with MAP. Also the now closed propaganda site www.speakforsaharawis.org, which claimed to be a voice for Sahrawis abused by Polisario, had the same registrant. Most of the news on these sites are inventions, mentioning events, organisations etc. that do not exist, and quoting people erroneously. The interesting new development, is that MAP now admits that www.statut-avance.com, which is on the same registrant as the mentioned propaganda sites, is actually made by what can only be interpreted as the Moroccan government. The new webpage on the Advanced Status does not mention what plans Morocco has to withdraw from the territory it illegally occupies. Morocco remains in Western Sahara, despite of over 100 resolutions from the UN Security Council and General Assembly demanding right to self-determination for the people of Western Sahara to be implemented. On 6th of November 1975, 33 years ago, Morocco entered its neighbouring country despite of the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which said Morocco has no legitimate claim over the territory. Read the full version of the 1975 opinion here. A petition was launched by Western Sahara Resource Watch this week-end to demand from the EU Commission that the Advanced Status shall only cover Morocco as it is internationally recognised, and not to include occupied Western Sahara. After 4 days, 52 organisations have so far signed the petition. The petition, with all signatories, will be sent to the Commission on December 4th.

---

The President of the Republic congratulates Obama for his “historical electoral victory”

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, sent a message of congratulations Today to the newly elected President of the US, Barack Obama, for his “historical electoral victory”. Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, and secured nearly 63 million votes, the largest total in history. He led Republican candidate, John McCain, 52 percent to 46 percent in the popular vote--the highest percentage of any Democratic presidential nominee in 40 years. Here is the complete text of the letter sent Today by President Mohamed Abdelaziz to President Barack Obama: ------------------------------ November 5, 2008 The Honorable Barack Obama The President-Elect Obama for America P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL 60680 Dear President-Elect; On behalf of the people of the Western Sahara; its Government and my own, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations upon your historic electoral victory which brings so much hope to many people and nations, in particular to the Sahrawis that have been denied justice for so long. I am confident that your election not only will lead your great country to further prosperity but also will contribute to creating a more stable world based on the respect for the international legality. The people of the Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, has a great hope in your leadership to ensure that justice will prevail in that part of Africa and that a democratic solution is implemented through a free and fair referendum in which the Sahrawi people can determine its future. While I wish you success in your noble Mission, Mr. President-Elect, Please accept the expression of my highest consideration. Mohamed Abdelaziz President of the Sahrawi Republic Secretary General of the Polisario Front

---

President Mohamed Abdelaziz met with Mr. Ban Ki-moon

POLISARIO Front’s Secretary General and President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, met on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York, with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, with the presence of the latter assistants, a source from the Presidential delegation indicated. The discussions tackled the efforts of the United Nations aimed to decolonise Western Sahara and the process of negotiations between the two parties to the conflict, POLISARIO Front and Morocco, with a view to implement the UN Security Council’s resolutions. The Saharawi President, who affirmed the attachment and engagement of POLISARIO to continue the negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, regretted the attitude of Morocco that continue to put obstacles in front of this process and that uses all kinds of delaying tactics to postpone the official announcement of the name of the new Personal Envoy. Mr. Abdelaziz also recalled POLISARIO Front’s attachment to the international legality and underlined that the "respect of the Saharawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence is the only solution to the conflict". President Mohamed Abdelaziz drew the attention of his interlocutor to the daily violations of the human rights committed by the Moroccan authorities in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and in the south of Morocco. In this respect, the Head of the Saharawi State stressed the need to enlarge the mandate of the UN’s Mission on the ground, MINURSO, to include the protection and monitoring of human rights, in addition to the need to publish the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, elaborated since 2006 by a mission from the commissioner that visited the occupied zones of Western Sahara and the refugee camps. On his side, Mr. Ban Ki-moon affirmed to President Abdelaziz his determination to continue with his efforts for a prompt resuming of the process of negotiations under the auspices of his new Personal Envoy. He thanked POLISARIO Front, in this regard, for its cooperation as well as its help and assistance to the MINURSO. The meeting was also attended, from the Saharawi side, by Mr. Mhamed Khadad, Saharawi Coordinator with the MINURSO, Mr. Boukhari Ahmed and Mr. Moulud Said respectively POLISARIO Front’s representatives in New York and in Washington.

---

Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, Mustapha is transferred to Inzegan prison

The Saharawi writer and journalist, member of UPES, Mustapha AbdDaiem, was transferred yesterday to the local prison of Inzegan (Agadir-Morocco), where he was immediately handcuffed and put in punishment cell. The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES), consider this practice exercised against the Saharawi journalist and activist as an act of vengeance from the Moroccan colonial authorities against Mustapha. Moroccan colonial court in the city of Gulemim (South of Morocco) sentenced the Saharawi journalist and writer, Mustapha AbdDaiem, Tuesday 4 November, to 3 years imprisonment and 5000 Moroccan dirham fine, because of his political opinions. Mr. Mustapha AbdDaiem is an active human rights activist, and member of UPES (Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union), who usually unveils and condemns the Moroccan human rights violations in the occupied zones of Western Sahara, in the South of Morocco and in Moroccan universities against Saharawi students. He was kidnapped last Monday 27 October in the city of Assa, after he clearly supported some Saharawi demonstrators, who were victims of Moroccan police violence. The Saharawi journalist entered the Moroccan court raising his hands in sign of victory and chanting slogans in favour of the independence of Western Sahara. He openly declared that the Moroccan police has falsified all his statements during the interrogatory, and asked the Moroccan judge not to consider any of the false information presented by the criminal police. The Moroccan judge, however, didn’t take note of the victim’s declaration and quickly sentenced him to three years imprisonment after a brief break. The lawyers of the Saharawi journalist were surprised and declared that the trial lacked the most fundamental condition of fair judgment. It should be noted that the sister of the Saharawi journalist was arrested the same day, in the occupied city of Dakhla some 1400 km south the city where her brother was arrested. The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES) condemned this new violation of Saharawi people’s most fundamental rights, and called on all international human rights organizations and trade unions to support the Saharawi journalist in his plight. UPES informs all concerned that it will soon start an international campaign for the support to the Saharawi journalist, AbdDaiem, and for his immediate and unconditional release. And ask all friends and lovers of justice to support this action.

BASF will not repeat importation of phosphate from Western Sahara

The Belgian branch of German chemical company BASF is not planning further imports from occupied Western Sahara. Early in October, the branch of Western Sahara Resource Watch in Belgium discovered that a Belgian subsidiary of BASF had imported phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. On 22nd of October, German former MEP Margot Kessler, together with Western Sahara Resource Watch, wrote to BASF, asking for a clarification regarding the imports of phosphates. The letter requested information on the scope of the BASF imports. In a reply yesterday, the company confirmed having received this shipment, but said they do not expect further imports. "For the time being, this was an isolated replacement delivery from this territory which we do not expect to be repeated in the future. ", wrote Mrs. Anne Forst from BASF sustainability center in a mail to WSRW. "A part of BASF’s phosphate demand is covered by Moroccan phosphate delivered by Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP). OCP has been a reliable supplier of phosphate from mines in the Kingdom of Morocco for over 20 years. In spring 2008, OCP contacted us because of a supply shortage at the Moroccan mine from which BASF usually receives the phosphate. OCP offered a temporary replacement order with phosphate in an alternative quality from a different mine operated by OCP in the Western Sahara region, which we accepted", Forst wrote. The BASF representative says that the OCP has assured in an "expert opinion" that the OCPs operations in Western Sahara are to be beneficial locally. OCP has been running operations in occupied Western Sahara since shortly after Moroccan forces moved into Western Sahara on November 6th 1975. "OCP provided an expert opinion which was able to demonstrate to BASF that OCP’s operations in the Western Sahara are beneficial through job creation for the local people, investments in the local infrastructure, community engagement, and economic stimulus. We are fully confident that the operations of OCP at Boucraa and the purchase of the replacement delivery were consistent with international law.", Horst wrote. Since taking over the plant in 1975, OCP has replaced most of the Sahrawi workers with Moroccan settlers, who have been moved into the territory in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

POLISARIO Front reiterates demand to include the protection of human rights in the mandate of the MINURSO

POLISARIO Front denounced the pursuit of the "flagrant human rights violations" committed by the Moroccan authorities in many regions of the occupied Western Sahara and in the south of Morocco. In a letter he addressed to the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, POLISARIO Front Secretary General, Mohamed Abdelaziz, reiterated demand to "include the protection of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in the mandate of the MINURSO" (Mission of the UN for the Organisation of a Referendum in Western Sahara). The letter informed the UN Secretary General of the latest developments in Assa and the victims of the Moroccan forces attack against Saharawi unemployed who were peacefully demanding their legitimate right to work. POLISARIO Front called on the UN "to immediately intervene so as to protect the Saharawi citizens and guarantee their legitimate rights to the freedom of expression, demonstration and movement". The text also demanded the release of all Saharawi political prisoners, underlining the need to draw the light on the fate of more than 500 disappeared and 151 Saharawi prisoners of conscience, and to implement the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Violent confrontations took place last Monday 27 February 2008 in the city of Assa between the Moroccan colonial forces and peaceful Saharawi demonstrators who protested against the marginalisation and asked for legitimate rights to work and decent life. Saharawi students and citizens joined force to face the Moroccan police violent intervention against peaceful unemployed who wanted to organsie a sit-in to demand the right to work. The demonstrator lifted the flags of the Saharawi Republic and chanted slogans in favour of the independence of Western Sahara, and demanded the release of all Saharawi political prisoners from Moroccan jails. Moroccan colonial forces, from different corpses of police and military forces, violently attacked the peaceful demonstrators. The reaction from the Saharawi population was quick. Roads were closed by tyres in fire and the Saharawi youth started resisting the attacks with stones. The Moroccan authorities sent more forces from the neighbouring cities, and violently responded causing some injured and arresting others, while some Saharawi houses were stormed in by police and military agents. According to a first list, the injured victims are: Khouah Lhayba, Mustapha Charkaoui, Lghali Chayn, Lmjakri Chrayaf, Lkntawya Banga, Souakh Brahim. Others were arrested by the Moroccan forces, namely Abdaim Lmkhtar, Mohamed Lhchaychi, Jilali, Baldi Mohamed. Many houses were ransacked by Moroccan forces and their furniture and goods stolen or damaged.

---

Demonstration in front of the Moroccan consulate in Las Palmas to demand the release of Saharawi prisoners of conscience

Demonstrators organised a rally in front of the Moroccan Consulate in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) to demand the "immediately and unconditionally release all the Saharawi prisoners of conscience", a source from the Saharawi representation in Madrid indicated. Organised by the Canary Islands Association of support to the Saharawi people, the demonstration that took place on Thursday gathered many demonstrators lifting the Saharawi national flags and a placard that reads: "freedom for the Saharawi prisoners of conscience". They also chanted slogans in favour of the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and independence. The demonstrators handed over a letter protesting against the human rights violations committed by the Moroccan State against the Sahara people in the occupied zones and in the south of Morocco, but the employees of the consulate refused to receive it, the same source added.

---

Le président de la République félicite Bouteflika à l’occasion du 54 anniversaire du 1er novembre

RASD/ALGERIE/ANNIVERSAIRE

Bir Lehlou, Le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz a adressé vendredi, un message de félicitations à son homologue algérien, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, à l’occasion de la célébration du 54ème anniversaire de la Révolution de libération algérienne déclanchée contre l’occupant français le 1er novembre1954.

Le président sahraoui a exprimé à l’occasion de ce glorieux anniversaire les chaleureuses félicitations au peuple algérien, réitérant "la volonté sincère du peuple sahraoui à renforcer les liens de fraternité et d’amitié unissant la République algérienne et la RASD".

"Le peuple sahraoui en bénéficiant des leçons de la lutte et la résistance d’un million et demi des martyrs, exprime sa profonde reconnaissance à la position indéfectible de l’Algérie à la juste cause du peuple sahraoui et son droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance", a écrit le président sahraoui à Bouteflika.

Le Front Polisario réitère sa demande d'inscrire la protection des droits de l'Homme au titre des prérogatives de la MINURSO

RASD/NATIONSUNIES

Bir Lehlou,Le Front Polisario a dénoncé la poursuite des "violations graves des droits de l'Homme" par les autorités marocaines dans plusieurs régions du Sahara Occidental occupé et dans des régions du Maroc où vivent les sahraouis.

Dans une lettre adressée par le secrétaire général du front Polisario, Mohamed Abdelaziz au secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki Moon, le Front Polisario a réitéré sa demande "d'inscrire la protection des droits de l'Homme dans les territoires sahraouis occupés au titre des prérogatives de la Minurso" (Mission de l'Onu pour l'organisation d'un référendum au Sahara Occidental).

La lettre révèle également les derniers développements des évènements qui ont fait des victimes parmi les citoyens sahraouis dans la ville d'Assa au sud du Maroc depuis lundi matin lorsque des travailleurs et chômeurs sahraouis s'étaient réunis dans un sit-in pacifique au centre-ville pour protester contre le chômage et les conditions de travail.

Les personnes rassemblées "ont été violemment réprimées par les forces de l'ordre marocaines (...) ce qui a fait plusieurs blessés parmi les manifestants pacifistes alors que d'autres ont été interpellés", précise la même source.

D'autres sahraouis ont organisé près du siège de la commune d'Assa des manifestations pacifiques pour protester contre la répression dont ont fait l'objet les premiers manifestants et appeler à la libération de tous les détenus politiques sahraouis.

Ces manifestations ont également été réprimées par les forces de l'ordre marocaines qui "ont poursuivi les manifestants dans les rues et ruelles usant de moyens répressifs et sauvages et perquisitionné les établissements éducatifs, et les maisons".

Les forces de l'ordre ont poursuivi, le lendemain, "leur répression et perquisitions des établissements éducatifs" et "dispersé les manifestants par la force en utilisant les bombes lacrymogènes qui ont en blessé plusieurs".

Après avoir dénoncé "l'attaque sauvage" commise par les forces de l'ordre marocaines contre des civils de la ville d'Assa, le Front Polisario a appelé les Nations Unies à "une intervention immédiate en vue de protéger les citoyens sahraouis et leur garantir leurs droits légitimes en matière de libre expression, de rassemblements et de circulation".

Il a réitéré son appel pour la libération de tous les détenus politiques sahraouis soulignant la nécessité de faire la lumière sur le sort de 500 disparus et 151 prisonniers de guerre sahraouis et d'appliquer les recommandations issues en 2006 du Haut commissariat des Nations Unies pour les droits de l'Homme.

MANIFESTACIÓN EN MADRID EL 15 DE NOVIEMBRE POR LA LIBERTAD DEL PUEBLO SAHARAUI

Contra la violación de los Derechos Humanos en el Sáhara Occidental

Por la Descolonización y la Independencia


Desde hace más de treinta y tres años, el ejercito marroquí ocupa un territorio que invadió por la fuerza: el Sáhara Occidental, frente a las Islas Canarias. Marruecos sigue negándose a cumplir las Resoluciones aprobadas por la ONU, para concluir un proceso de descolonización inacabado, y pretende sencillamente anexionarse el Sáhara. En las zonas ocupadas por Marruecos persisten las detenciones arbitrarias, las torturas, la falta de garantías ante la Policía y ante los Tribunales, y continúa la persecución a través de juicios penales, con marcado móvil político, contra líderes saharauis cívicos, sociales y defensores y defensoras de los Derechos Humanos.

Del mismo modo, el pueblo marroquí es obligado a vivir bajo los dominios de un régimen anclado en el pasado que desprecia los derechos fundamentales de quienes viven bajo su influencia, especialmente los del Pueblo Saharaui.


De acuerdo al Derecho Internacional, solucionar el conflicto del Sáhara Occidental no es difícil. Es posible diseñar una solución en unas pocas horas con la simple organización de un referéndum de autodeterminación libre, democrático y regular. No se trata de un conflicto étnico, ni religioso o el de dos pueblos por un solo territorio, es un caso claro de ocupación ilegal y por la fuerza de un territorio.

Por ello, debemos denunciar enérgicamente la actitud del Estado Español y su privilegiada relación con la monarquía Alaui. Como Potencia Administradora, responsable política y jurídicamente de la tragedia que sigue viviendo aún hoy el Pueblo Saharaui, el Estado Español debe contribuir de manera honesta a la solución justa y definitiva del conflicto del Sáhara Occidental y desde luego debe abstenerse de continuar facilitando material militar al régimen marroquí, tal y como, vulnerando cualquier código de conducta sobre el comercio de armas, ha realizado en dos ocasiones a lo largo del presente año (meses de enero y junio).


Igualmente, como ciudadanos y ciudadanas europeas, debemos denunciar la actitud de la UE que comete un acto contrario a la legalidad internacional al firmar con Marruecos un acuerdo de pesca que incluye ilegalmente las aguas jurisdiccionales del Sáhara Occidental. Es otro acto más de explotación ilegal de las riquezas naturales del Pueblo Saharaui, sobre las cuales el derecho internacional le reconoce soberanía permanente.
Ali Salem Iselmu, poeta saharaui exiliado en el Estado Español, en su último libro "La música del Siroco", expresa de inigualable manera el sentir de este pueblo con el poema titulado DECIRLES:


Decirles que la tierra no es de ellos,

que la gente no es de ellos,

que las piedras necesitan ser libres.



Decirles que el desierto solo conoce

a los nómadas, dueños del sol y el viento.



Que el Aaiun duerme

para quedarse sin sentido,

que quien niega

será negado por la ternura

de esas voces melancólicas y sedientas.



Decirles que no hay más espera

que la espera del reencuentro

renacido del polvo de la libertad.



Esta es LA VOZ DEL PUEBLO SAHARAUI,



Un pueblo pequeño, forjado en el desierto, que sigue buscando su libertad, construyéndola cada día, tanto en el refugio como bajo la ocupación, combatiendo en una desigual contienda contra el olvido impuesto. Un pueblo que a lo largo de todos estos años de sufrimiento ha dado pruebas de resistencia, dignidad y determinación por recuperar la libertad y construir su futuro en paz, democracia y libertad.



Nosotras y nosotros, miles de personas solidarias con un pueblo hermano, caminaremos siempre a su lado, hasta el día del ansiado retorno a su territorio.



¡¡EL SAHARA NO SE VENDE, DE RENDIRSE MEJOR NI HABLAMOS!!

Por la Descolonización y la Independencia del Sáhara

COORDINADORA ESTATAL DE ASOCIACIONES SOLIDARIAS CON EL SAHARA


2008

AÑO INTERNACIONAL POR LA DEFENSA DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS EN EL SÁHARA OCCIDENTAL


Estimados/as amigos/as,

Como sabéis, estamos trabajando en los preparativos de la gran manifestación a nivel estatal que se celebrará en Madrid el sábado 15 de Noviembre, con participación de amigos/as y simpatizantes de todo el Estado, así como el apoyo de los y las artistas que han colaborado con la campaña www.todosconelsahara.com



Este será el quinto año consecutivo que nos manifestaremos en las fechas próximas al 14 de noviembre, para denunciar el abandono que desde hace 33 años sufre el Pueblo Saharaui, para exigir la independencia del Sáhara Occidental y el respeto a los Derechos Humanos en las zonas ocupadas por Marruecos, entre otras muchas cosas. Las cuatro manifestaciones precedentes fueron un gran éxito de participación ¡este año no puede ser menos! Tenemos que superar el número de participantes de las anteriores.

Tenemos mucho trabajo por delante hasta el 15 de noviembre, así que ¡¡mucho ánimo!! Esperamos contar con la participación y ayuda de tod@s vosotr@s para que esta manifestación sea un gran éxito a todos los niveles y consigamos los objetivos que nos proponemos.



Cordiales Saludos

CEAS-Sáhara

Two vessels on their way to New Zealand

Two bulk vessels filled with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara are within the next weeks arriving New Zealand.

One of the vessels -Tenshu Maru (IMO number 9317080) - is destined for the fertiliser producer Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Tenshu Maru is apparently managed by the Philippino shipping company Astro Shipmanagement from Ceby City.

The other, Alam Sempurna (IMO number 8312071), is for the importer Ravensdown, and is managed/owned by Malaysian company Pacific Carriers.

Tenshu Maru is estimated to arrive Northport (Marsden Point), berth MP1, on 31st of October, to discharge phosphates rock. Estimated to continue on the 1st of November.
Then she arrives Tauranga on the 1st of November, continuing towards Timaru Point on the 3rd, where she will arrive on the 5th, before continuing southwards on the 6th. She will reach her last port, Southport (Bluff) on 7th of November, before finishing the discharging on the 8th.

The vessel Alam Sempurna is estimated to arrive Port of Napier on the 9th of November, before continuing towards Lyttleton on the 11th. According to the Napier arrival information, she is supposed to come from "Laayoune, Morocco". New Zealand and the rest of the international community do not consider Laayoune - or El Aaiun - as it is correctly spelled, to be within Morocco.

After Napier, Alam Sempurna will reach port of Lyttleton on the 12th of November 2008.

The phosphate is shipped out of Western Sahara in the disregard of the wishes and interests of the Sahrawi people. Morocco is earning billions of dollars a year from the phosphate industry in the country that they occupied in 1975. Such trade is in violation of a legal opinion by the UN from 2002. Three shipping companies have over the last year announced they will not longer ship such phophates, out of ethical concerns.

Colombia imports from Western Sahara

16.000 tonnes were received in October.



On 11th of October 2008, the vessel 'Ansac Spirit' arrived the harbour of Baranquilla, Colombia.

'Ansac Spirit' discharged 16.000 tonnes of phosphates, originating from occupied Western Sahara.

The ship is registered on Antigua and Bermuda registered with IMO number 9227857. Agent was Bulk Maritime Agencies Limitada.

The owner used to be Wieczorek Reederei, Hamburg, Germany, but it is unclear if this is still the case.

This vessel is carrying stolen goods

This week, the vessel Port Phillip arrived the Tasmanian port of Hobart, with phosphates from Western Sahara.

She arrived Hobart at anchor Thursday 23rd of October, together with a tug boat (below), before probably continuing Risdon to discharge, and is still in Tasmania.

Port Phillip (IMO 9377975) has deadweight tonnes of 32.500, and thus probably contains around 30.000 tonnes of phosphates. She is Hong Kong flagged, and managed/owned by Pacific Basin, a Hong Kong shipping company that is probably one of the biggest shippers of the phosphates, mainly to Australia and New Zealand.

The phosphate is shipped out of Western Sahara in the disregard of the wishes and interests of the Sahrawis. Morocco is earning billions of dollars a year from the phosphate industry in the country that they occupied in 1975. Such trade is in violation of a legal opinion by the UN from 2002.

German former MEP demands BASF clarification

German former MEP, and former leader of the Western Sahara solidarity network at the European Parliament, Margot Kessler, has this week sent a letter to the Belgian branch of the German chemical company BASF. In the letter, Mrs. Kessler asks for a clarification on a series of questions regarding BASF’s imports of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. Margot Kessler Schulstr 1 99752 Kehmstedt Germany CEO Wouter De Geest BASF Antwerpen NV Haven 725 Scheldelaan 600 B-2040 Antwerpen BELGIUM Kehmstedt, Madrid, 22nd of October 2008 Regarding imports of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara Dear Mr. De Geest, The international solidarity organisation Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), has over recent years been monitoring the importation to Europe of phosphates from a Moroccan state phosphate company’s operations within Bu Craa, occupied Western Sahara. According to the WSRW branch in Belgium, BASF Belgium has 2 weeks ago received approximately 25.000 tons of phosphates originating from the Bu Craa mines. The phosphates were unloaded of a vessel, the Novigrad, at the harbour of Ghent. WSRW researchers were on October 9th in contact BASF Belgium, but were unable to get any confirmation on the aforementioned, nor to get answers to questions relating to the purchases. Mr. Roland de Clerck told them to submit their questions through an online form. We believe however, that a direct and lucid clarification on such matters is both in the interest of BASF, as a socially responsible enterprise, and the Western Saharan people. We kindly ask you to clarify the following questions: - Could you confirm that BASF Belgium has indeed imported phosphates from the Bu Craa mines? - Are our sources correct in stating that the received volume was 25.000 tons? - How many times during the last 5 years has BASF imported from the Bu Craa mines? (please specify by volume and date of receipt) - Since the vessel carrying the phosphates from El Aaiún to Ghent is now heading for Kiel, could you please clarify whether the vessel was emptied in Ghent, or whether parts of the vessel’s cargo were shipped to Kiel? - On which plant is BASF processing this phosphate? - And is the final product destined exclusively for the Belgian markets? If no, which other markets? It is by no means our purpose to put BASF on the spot. But we think it is important to emphasize the fact that the natural resources extracted in Western Sahara do not belong to Morocco as the territory’s occupying power, and to clearly underline to you that imports from Western Sahara are highly unethical and politically controversial. They are furthermore in violation of international law. As you perhaps know, Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco since 1975, and since then, the majority of the local people, the Saharawis, have been living in refugee camps in the Algerian desert. These refugees await a settlement of the conflict, but Morocco refuses to implement the peace agreements that the Moroccan and Western Sahara government have already agreed to. A minority of the Saharawi people still remains in what are now the Moroccan occupied areas, where they are subject of widespread human rights violations. In the meantime, the Moroccan state profits from natural resource exploitation in the occupied area. The Moroccan state phosphate company, OCP, has extracted phosphate rock from the Western Sahara since shortly after the invasion. It is clear that neither the indigenous population that remains in Western Sahara, nor those who left, benefit from the Moroccan exploitation of phosphates in Bu Craa. Carrying out trade with phosphates originating from Bu Craa clearly gives the impression of a legitimization to Morocco’s illegal presence in the territory. The trade also contributes to finance Morocco’s expensive occupation. The government in exile of the Saharawi Arabic Democratic Republic (SADR), recognized by more than 80 states, has strongly condemned international participation in the Moroccan government’s resource exploitation in Western Sahara. It is evident that the Moroccan owned OCP’s activities in Bu Craa are in violation of international law. An opinion issued 29 January 2002 by the UN Under-Secretary General for Legal Affairs, Hans Corell, looks at the legality of the Moroccan “offering and signing of contracts with foreign companies for the exploration of mineral resources in Western Sahara”. For your ease of reference, we enclose a copy of the opinion with this letter. Summing up international law in the field, Mr. Corell emphasises that “the General Assembly has consistently condemned the exploitation and plundering of natural resources and any economic activities which are detrimental to the interests of the peoples of those Territories and deprive them of their legitimate rights over their natural resources”. His final conclusion is that “if further exploration and exploitation activities were to proceed in disregard of the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara, they would be in violation of the principles of international law applicable to mineral resource activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories”. All evidence points to the fact that the phosphate industry is neither according to the local population’s interests nor its wishes. The same breach of international law would naturally also apply to any party that would ship or purchase these stolen goods from OCP. Consequently, we deem it of high importance to get clarifications on the abovementioned questions. If BASF requires further information on Western Sahara, its legal status, the opinion of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, the situation for its refugee population or the grave violations of human rights in the occupied territories committed by the Moroccan state, please do not hesitate to contact Western Sahara Resource Watch. They will be pleased to reply. Looking forward to hear from you as soon as possible for clarifications on the above questions, Sincerely yours, Margot Keßler Former Euro-Parliamentarian Javier García Lachica International Coordinator, Western Sahara Resource Watch A reply can be sent to either Javier García Lachica at j.g.lachica@gmail.com or +34-(0)615 917 339 or to Margot Keßler at telephone: +49-(0)36338-42905 or +49-(0)173-3700878 Background: The Western Sahara conflict The conflict in Western Sahara is not a detachment struggle, but one of decolonization. Western Sahara was previously a Spanish colony named Spanish Sahara. Before Spain left the territory in 1976, the area was occupied from the north by Morocco, and from the south, by Mauritania. Since the area was never formally decolonized, as the UN had demanded for over a decade, the Western Sahara is still, to this day, treated as a decolonization issue in the UN. As a colonial issue, the UN has repeatedly emphasized the Saharawi people’s the right to self-determination over the Western Sahara’s future territorial status. This right is widely acknowledged: in addition to the efforts by the UN Fourth Committee (the committee for decolonization issues), the UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions stating and reaffirming the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination. This was further acknowledged by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 1975. In a UN negotiated peace plan from 1990, Morocco recognizes this right, which was reaffirmed in the so-called Houston Agreement from 1997. The latter agreement also includes a plan for carrying out a referendum. While neither the UN nor any of the states in the world have acknowledged Morocco’s claim to the territory, some 80 states have to this date recognized the Saharawi Arabic Democratic Republic (SADR), announced by the Polisario Front in 1976. SADR is a member of the African Union. Polisario, established as a liberation front in 1973 during the time it was still a Spanish colony, is recognized by the UN as the legal representative of the people of Western Sahara. Today, Western Sahara is still regarded by the UN as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and Morocco is not the legal administering Power, but an occupational power. From 1975 there was a war between Morocco and Polisario Front. Mauritania has later withdrawn, but the armed conflict between Morocco and Polisario continued until the 1991 cease-fire. With about 90 percent of its army in Western Sahara, Morocco today controls approximately two thirds of the territory. Following the occupation in November 1975, the majority of the Saharawis fled their country under bombing. Today, 165.000 Saharawi refugees are languishing in refugee camps in the warmest part of the inhospitable Algerian desert, totally dependent on foreign humanitarian aid. The population remaining in the areas under Moroccan occupation, approximately 60.000 Saharawis, is subjected to widespread human rights violations, such as torture, forced disappearances and arbitrary detention. For more information on these violations, please see the homepages of Amnesty International. Today, Morocco shows no intention of abiding by the peace agreements it has signed. For a long time, the key issue of the conflict was who should be eligible to vote. The Houston agreement goes into detail on this issue, but Morocco now refuses to accept the voter lists that the UN elaborated from the agreed principles. Indeed, Morocco has now gone to the point of rejecting that a referendum should take place at all, claiming, in breach of the peace agreements, and dozens of UN resolutions, that the referendum option for a Western Sahara conflict is "out of date". Polisario, on the other hand, accepts that the Moroccans living in Western Sahara should be eligible to vote. Morocco refuses even that. Progress today is at a standstill, and intensifying Saharawi impatience over their lengthy suffering. At the same time, the natural resources of the area are depleted, with the participation of foreign companies, in disrespect of the wishes and interests of the local population.

---

WSRW protests phosphate imports to Florida

Florida fertilizer company Mosaic Co. has received another vessel of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara, in violation of international law. Western Sahara Resource Watch section Florida has urged the company to stop its imports. Read letter here. After a short delay, the bulk vessel Ocean Twins arrived Tampa, Florida, on 9th of October 2008, with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. The Panama registered vessel has IMO number 9302906, and docked at Manatee County Port Authority, Berth number 6. Considering that the vessel has 31.699 dead weight tonnes, the vessel contained an estimated volume of around 30.000 tonnes of phosphates from the Bu Craa mines in El Aaiun. With an estimated value of 425 dollars/tonne of phosphate when the shipment was done, Mosaic can have paid Moroccan authorities around 12,7 million USD for the shipment. They have done this despite the fact that Morocco does not own the phosphates that has been exported. The phosphate belongs to the neighbouring country, Western Sahara, which is under Moroccan occupation. Such trade is illegal accoring to international law. The UN states that such trade is in violation of international law. When the shipment arrived Tampa, Western Sahara Resource Watch section Florida sent the below letter to Mosaic Co. WSRW has still not received an answer. --------------------------- Mr. James T. Prokopanko, The Mosaic Company Atria Corporate Center Suite E490 3033 Campus Drive Plymouth MN 55441 USA Open letter to Mosaic Florida, 7th October 2008 Regarding Mosaic’s phosphate shipment from occupied Western Sahara Dear Mr. Prokopanko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mosaic, It has come to our attention that Mosaic is involved in phosphate shipment from occupied Western Sahara. On Wednesday the 8th of October 2008, the ship Ocean Twins and its highly controversial phosphate cargo arrived at Port Manatee close to Tampa Bay. This shipment will be used in Mosaic’s phosphate facilities in Florida. We would like to underline that trade with and transportation of mineral resources from occupied Western Sahara is highly unethical and politically controversial. As you know, Morocco is an illegal occupying power in Western Sahara. The Sahrawi population remaining in areas under Moroccan occupation is subjected to grave human rights violations, such as torture, forced disappearances and arbitrary detention. Most importantly, however, they have not been allowed to freely exercise their right to self-determination through a free, fair and transparent referendum. This right was established through UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) (1960), and has since been supported by more than 100 UN resolutions. The occupation of Western Sahara has resulted in enormous suffering and deprivation for the Sahrawi people, the rightful owners of the land and the natural resources of Western Sahara. Approximately 165,000 Sahrawis are languishing in refugee camps in the inhospitable Algerian desert since 1975. A May 2008 report by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) notes that 19% of children living in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria are suffering from malnourishment. Just for comparison, the percentage among children in Darfur is 16%. Ocean Twins was, according to our information, carrying around 30.000 tonnes of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. Since 1 tonne is worth around 425 dollars, the value of the cargo is 12,7 million dollars. This money is given directly from Mosaic to the Moroccan state phosphate company. It equals more than 1/3 of all multinational aid given to the refugee camps in the entire 2007 (through WPF, ECHO, UNHCR)! In light of the above facts, other corporate entities have responded appropriately. Yara, the world’s biggest fertilizer company, terminated the imports of phosphate to Norway in 2005, for ethical reasons[i]. "Now that we understand the issue we will not directly contract any more business out of there," said vice-president of the Chinese shipping company Jinhui Shipping to South China Morning Post on 11th of May 2008, after it had been discovered they had carried out a shipment with phosphate from occupied Western Sahara to New Zealand [ii]. In addition to ethical concerns, companies involved in the phosphate trade from occupied Western Sahara should be aware that the trade is most probably in violation of international law. The International Court of Justice in its 1975 Western Sahara Advisory Opinion established that Morocco has no legal claim to Western Sahara. That same opinion affirmed that the Sahrawi population has a right to self-determination, which includes, inter alia, the right of permanent sovereignty over its natural resources. Permanent sovereignty over natural resources is a customary principle of international law [iii]. Numerous resolutions of The United Nations Security Council and General Assembly and a legal opinion by the former UN Under-Secretary General of Legal Affairs, Mr. Hans Corell on 29 January 2002 affirm this position [iv]. Because the Sahrawis have not been able to exercise their right to self-determination, and because they have not been properly consulted, trade with Morocco of natural resources emanating from Western Sahara is a violation of the Sahrawis’ right to permanent sovereignty over their resources. Morocco’s control and exploitation of Western Sahara also hurts the Sahrawis’ labor rights and their economic development, something which clearly underlines the legally controversial nature of this trade. According to a report by the French organization France Libertés -Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, the Sahrawis have been systematically marginalized from the phosphate industry in Western Sahara. In 1968, before Morocco took control over the phosphate mines, all 1600 workers in the industry were Sahrawis. Today, 1800 of 2000 workers are Moroccan settlers who have illegally been moved into the territory [v]. The Mosaic phosphate shipment is in the interest of Morocco, an illegal occupier, and clearly lends legitimacy to the illegal Moroccan occupation of the territory. This kind of support makes Morocco less inclined to contribute in finding a solution to the occupation, and makes delaying tactics and attempting to profit from the existing situation more attractive. The phosphate trade in Western Sahara therefore increases the risk of further armed conflict, destabilization and suffering in the region. This increased tension actively undermines the hard work of the United Nations to solve the conflict in Western Sahara. We hereby appeal to Mosaic to do the same as Yara, Jinhui and other international companies. We urge you to demonstrate your attachment to International Legality, Human Rights and basic standards of Corporate Social Responsibility by reconsidering your involvement in shipping phosphate of Western Sahara origin. We urge Mosaic to issue a statement that your company intends to no longer ship phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. We will be more than happy to provide you with any additional information that you may require to study this matter more closely. Any reply could be sent to Western Sahara Resource Watch section Florida, represented by Mr. David Urnes Johnson, at davurnjoh@hotmail.com. Sincerely, David Urnes Johnson Western Sahara Resource Watch section Florida ---------------------- [i] See for instance Dagens Næringsliv, 5 July 2005 www.dn.no/forsiden/naringsliv/article547859.ece [ii] Read South China Morning Post, 11 May 2008, here: www.vestsahara.no/index.php?parse_news=single&cat=49&art=950 [iii] This was recently affirmed by the International Court of Justice in its 2005 judgment of Case Concerning Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda.) [iv] Read the 29 January 2002 Legal Opinion of the UN Under-Secretary General of Legal Affairs here: www.arso.org/Olaeng.pdf [v] See for instance France Libertés, Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, International Mission of Investigation in Western Sahara, January 2003.