Press release from Australia Western Sahara Association

Shareholders question Wesfarmers over divestment by ethical fund-holders. Phosphate importations from Western Sahara to blame. Press release, 14 November 2008



Australia Western Sahara Association

PRESS RELEASE

14 November 2008

A group of Western Sahara friends including Wesfarmers shareholders asked many questions to the management of Wesfarmers during its Annual General Meeting held in Perth on 13 November 2008: http://www.wesfarmers.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=60. The questions concerned the involvement of Wesfarmers subsidiary CSBP in the illegal exploitation of phosphate rock from Western Sahara.

In the course of the past year Wesfarmers' importation of phosphate rock from Morocco, sourced in Western Sahara has troubled ethical investment advisors and fund holders internationally to the point of recommending the divestment of shareholdings in Wesfarmers. The latest is a major Swedish insurance company, Folksam.

There is growing awareness too amongst Australian investors and indeed the current Prime Minister has expressed deep misgivings about this trade.

Wesfarmers' fertiliser subsidiary, CSBP is the second biggest Australian importer of phosphate from Western Sahara. Phosphate rock is sold by Morocco although it comes from Bou Craa mine in the part of Western Sahara under military occupation by Morocco.

"This is the crux of the problem", says Cate Lewis, secretary of the Australia Western Sahara Association (Victoria), "CSBP is buying phosphate from Morocco, which is not Morocco 's to sell. It belongs to the people of Western Sahara."

Believing that shareholders should be made aware of this growing movement of divestment from Wesfarmers, members of the Australia Western Sahara Association asked questions at Wesfarmers' AGM on Thursday in Perth. The Association believes imports should be placed on hold until the referendum of self-determination is held to allow the Saharawi people to decide whether to be an independent country or part of Morocco.

In international law, Western Sahara is a 'non-self-governing territory', whose natural resources can only be traded with the consent and for the benefit of the indigenous people of that territory, in this case the Saharawi people (see Hans Corell's legal opinion: www.arso.org/UNlegaladv.htm). Morocco argues that the revenue is used for infrastructure projects that ultimately benefit the Saharawis however there is little evidence for this and Saharawis have certainly not been consulted about the extraction of their resources nor the distribution of the revenue derived from it.

The ethical argument against this trade is even stronger. It supports a brutal regime which commits human rights abuses on a daily basis against the Saharawi people under occupation. Morocco 's claim to Western Sahara is resisted by the Saharawis and has never been recognised by any country in the world, including Australia. Unfortunately your trade with Morocco effectively legitimises that regime and props up its intransigence in the 33 year-long UN process towards resolving sovereignty.

Around 160,000 Saharawi refugees have lived in exile across the border in south-west Algeria in extremely harsh conditions for this period. It is worth noting that with the price of phosphate rock having risen to 490 USD per tonne, the value of just two shiploads to Fremantle exceeds that of the entire annual humanitarian aid going to the Saharawi refugees.

The President of the Australia Western Sahara Association, former senator, Lyn Allison, wrote to Wesfarmers this week saying: "we urge you to raise the matter at the forthcoming AGM and announce to shareholders that you will cease as soon as possible the importation of phosphate rock sourced from this occupied country." She added: "we will be encouraging investors and shareholders to hold the board of Wesfarmers to account on this unethical and arguably risky trade."

The trend towards ethically sound investment may well grow as a result of recent events in global financial markets.

For Further Information:
Contact Cate Lewis 0407 288 358 or Ron Guy 0428 173 970
http://www.awsa.org.au/
http://www.wsrw.org

You can watch the questions and answers here:
http://www-waa-akam.thomson-webcast.net/au/dispatching/?event_id=e6cd43c45d4f974f639292ccfb74dd95&portal_id=cff2f208e945b0c05d992e6231cc3d44

You need to choose the sections:
Formal business at 00:08.00
Formal Business at 00.43.00
Q&A Session at 00.10.00
Q&A Session at 35.00.00

The ABC's 7.30 Report ran a program about phosphate importations from Western Sahara on 9 June 2008. You can watch the 8 min program on:
http://www.wsrw.org/index.php?cat=128

Saharawi militant Aminetou Haidar receives Robert F. Kennedy Foundation Award

The Saharawi human rights defender and ex-prisoner of conscience, Mrs. Aminetou Haidar, received Thursday in New York, the price of the US Foundation of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. The legal director of the American organisation, Mrs. Marselha Goncalves Margerin, underlied that the price was awarded to Aminetou Haidar amonst a choice of 120 candidates around the world, "to raise awareness about the Saharawi cause in the US". The Saharawi activist also won the "Special price of Castellfelds" 2008 (Barcelona), the "Juan Maria Banderas" price in May 2006, as well as the price of the "Club of the 25". The same year, the Saharawi militant received the American "Freedom awards 2006", by the American "Defense forum foundation". She also received many other awards such as the "Silver Rose 2007", by the international organisation "Solidar", and was nominated to the EU price « Sakharov » among others. Born in Western Sahara in 1967, this Saharawi human rights activist who played a key role in the defence of human rights and campaigned for the release of the Saharawi prisoners of conscience and for the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination. She was arrested, tortured and imprisoned many times by the Moroccan forces. In 1987, she was arrested without judgement and imprisoned in many centres of detention before she was released in 1991. Touring many countries she alerted the international public opinion as well as the Medias, the serious situation of her country due to the Moroccan colonial occupation. She also evoked the Saharawi peaceful uprising, qualifying the "expression of the determination of a people who do no more bare the colonial yoke". Despite "the repressive stringinstaled by the Moroccan authorities since the illegal occupation of Western Sahara in 1975, the "action of the Saharawi human rights defenders succeeded in breaking the wall of silence, unveiling to the world the serious violations of the human rights", she underlined during a tour in France describing "the winds of revolution" when "the popular uprising started in El Aaiun in May 21 2005 because of the abusive transfer of a Saharawi prisoner of conscience from El Aaiun to Agadir". This prisoner "has rejected the Moroccan nationality that is imposed to us, and rejected his Moroccan identity card", she added. "The speech, which was confiscated for thirty years, was finally liberated, Mrs. Aminetou Haidar, who "keeps a lot of hope that the struggle of the Saharawi people will continue for the organisation of a un referendum that puts an end to this suffering".

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Hundreds demonstrators in Cadiz support Saharawi people’s exercise to self-determination

A demonstration was organised Wednesday in the region of Cadiz following the initiative of the political party of Progress and Democracy (UPD), a source close to the Saharawi representative in Spain. Hundreds demonstrators and personalities lifted the flags of the Saharawi Republic and chanted slogans in favour of the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination, the same source added. Demonstrators also called to the stopping of repression in the occupied territories of Western Sahara by Morocco, exhorting Spain "to assume its historical and moral responsibilities towards Western Sahara".

A delegation of Saharawi human rights activists start a visit to the UN

A delegation composed of Saharawi human rights defenders recently arrived to Washington, within the framework of a work visit and to participate to the ceremony of delivery of the Robert F. Kennedy Award to the Saharawi human rights activist and ex-prisoner of conscience. The delegation is composed of the laureate of the RFK Price, Mrs. Aminetou Haidar, recently elected president of the Collective of the Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA), accompanied by lawyers, Mohamed Lehbib Khalili and Mohamed Fadel Lili, the deputy-president of the ASVDH, Mrs. Jimi Elghalia, and members of the CODESA, Mrs. Fatma Ayach along with Misters Ali salem Tamek, Mohamed El Moutawakil and Mohamed Salem Lakhal. During the visit Mrs. Aminetou Haidar was received at the centre of Justice and Human Rights. The meeting tackled the ways of action for the defence of human rights in Western Sahara and then latest developments of the question of the last colony in Africa. The Saharawi human rights activist was also received at the seat of the US Congress, while the other members of the American Foundation RFK Memorial to discuss the deteriorated situation of the human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, in the south of Morocco and in the Moroccan universities. The American foundation will award Mrs. Aminetou Haidar the Robert F. Kennedy Price during a ceremony that will be organsie in Washington and sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy in recognition to her "struggle in favour of the self-determination in Western Sahara and against the violations committed by the Moroccan government of occupation", it should be recalled.

President of the UN General Assembly: Western Sahara full independence is the only solution

The President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, asserted that solving the question of Western Sahara will be only by recognizing the right of the Saharawis to self-determination and their full independence, denying that Western Sahara was Moroccan. In an interview with Al Arabiya television, Mr. d’Escoto said that his efforts are focused on finding a final solution to the question of Western Sahara, emphasizing that Western Sahara was a Spanish colony and has never been a part of Morocco, contrary to what is being circulated by Moroccan diplomacy. The UN official stated in the same interview that recognizing the rights of the Saharawis will only enable them to gain their full independence, and he added that he is eager to enable them to achieve self-determination. The UN official returned to talk about the commitments agreed upon between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front but had not been respected, the same official added, in a clear reference to the Baker plan and the UN-OAU settlement plan, as well as United Nations resolutions which affirm the right of the Saharawis to self-determination in a free and fair referendum. In his response to a question concerning the issue of organizing the referendum on self-determination of the Saharawi people, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann said "I do not know what the future holds after 08 months if you ask me the same question I may not have the answer”. He continued, "we must not leave this issue in the shadows forever without finding a solution and the way it existed if we would recognize the rights of the Saharawis to self-determination, which is to allow them full independence, because 50 or 60 percent of Western Sahara is under occupation”, adding that recognizing The rights of the Saharawis is essential.

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The Liberal Party of Norway demands EU clarification

The Executive Board of The Liberal Party of Norway demands that Western Sahara be excluded from EU's cooperation with Morocco.



Below is an unofficial translation, made by Western Sahara Resource Watch, of a resolution from the Executive Board meeting of The Liberal Party of Norway, November 8th, 2008. See original (in Norwegian) here. The campaign referred to below is to be found on the homepages of Western Sahara Resource Watch. ELDR refers to the European Liberal Democrats.



The Liberal Party of Norway demands an independent Western Sahara!

The Liberal Party of Norway supports the campaign calling for Western Sahara being excluded from the cooperation between the EU and Morocco.

The territory on the north-western shores of Africa is occupied by Morocco. In 1991, a ceasefire was declared between the liberation group Polisario and Moroccan authorities, under the precondition that the people of Western Sahara were to vote whether it was supposed to be declared an independent state in 1992. This referendum has not yet been arranged and a large part of the people currently lives in refugee camps in Algeria.

Morocco is now about to be granted a so-called “Advanced Status” cooperation with the EU. But so far, the EU has not tried to prevent occupied Western Sahara from being included in the cooperation. The Liberal Party of Norway is very concerned for what consequences it could have for the Sahrawis and for their struggle for an independent Western Sahara if the occupied territories be included into the EU cooperation. Morocco’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has recently stated that the EU partnership will lead to Morocco getting international political support in the Western Sahara issue. It can also lead to Western Sahara’s economy being even further integrated into the Moroccan economy, through international commercial participation and possibly European aid arrangements.

The Liberal Party of Norway:
• Joins the campaign with the goal of having Western Sahara excluded from the so-called “Advanced Status” cooperation, which Morocco is about the be granted by the EU.

• Calls on the Norwegian government to put pressure on the EU to make sure that the occupied Western Sahara be kept outside of the EU-Moroccan cooperation.

• Calls on the ELDR to join the campaign.

Spanish political party calls on Spanish citizens to massively participate in a demonstration next Saturday in Madrid

The Spanish party of the Union for Democracy and Progress called on Spanish citizens to massively participate in the demonstration that will be organised next Saturday in Madrid on the 33 anniversary of the wicked Madrid Tripartite Accord. The party reaffirmed in a statement, of which the Saharawi Press Service received a copy, that its vice president Rosa Diez with member Meguel buesa and others will participate in the demonstration called for by the Coordination of the associations of solidarity and friendship with the Saharawi people in the capital Madrid to demand independence for Western Sahara, demand the application of international legality, and denounce the human rights Violations in the occupied zones of the last colony in Africa. The party pointed out that the demands of the Saharawi people are legitimate and in the course of dignity, and added in its statement that citizens favouring the right of the Saharawi people should march in support of this right on Nov 15 in the streets of Spanish capital Madrid. The statement said that the president of the party will forward this urgent call to the Spanish Chamber of Deputies at a later time, the statement reminded also of the meeting of the party delegation with the representative of the Polisario Front in Spain, Mr. Buchraya bayon. It was also mentioned that the union for Democracy and progress has initiated an awareness-raising campaign for the Saharawi question, accompanied by public activities at the level of Spanish provinces. The Spanish party called on its members to massively participate in this demonstration on Nov 15, and this was included in a paper of the campaign titled "the campaign of the party of the Union for Democracy and Progress for freedom in Western Sahara".

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Election of Aminatu Haidar as president of the Collective of the Saharawi human right defenders

the Collective of the Saharawi human right defenders (CODESA) announced the official constitution of the organisation a Saharawi human right organization and elected the Saharawi human rights defender, Aminatu Haidar, as its president. CODESA, which works on the ground for the last 6 years in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, is considered by the Moroccan authorities as illegal, and was denied the right to the constitution last year. Aminatu Haidar, an imminent human rights activist, and winners of many human rights prizes at the international level, had been arrested and tortured several times by the Moroccan colonial authorities because of her political position on the question of Western Sahara, and also engaged in several hunger strikes in prisons. Since 2006, she started an international campaigns to raise awareness about the plight of the Saharawi people and the human rights violations in the occupied zones of Western Sahara. She visited so far Europe, US and South Africa in the African country. Aminatu haidar, is expected to receive the Robert Kennedy award for human rights of 2008, tomorrow in the U.S capital Washington, and will be handed to her personally by the widow of Robert Kennedy. Professor of politics and international studies at the American University of San Francesco, Stephen Zunes, told the National newspaper of Emirates that this award would reveal a terrible reality of human rights that is prevailing now in Western Sahara, which needs to be made public.

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Yara under police investigation for Western Sahara shipments

The fertilizer company Yara remains under investigation by Norwegian police after having purchased a shipload of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. In August 2008, it was discovered that the Norwegian fertilizer producer Yara International had imported phosphates from occupied Western Sahara, despite previous promises that they would never again carry out such imports. Yara has over the last 3 years followed the recommendations from the Norwegian government, which urges Norwegian companies to neither trade with nor invest in Western Sahara until the dispute over the territory is settled. But despite earlier promises and despite Norwegian government policy, and despite the fact that Yara is over 40 percent owned by the Norwegian government, the news service Norwatch revealed in August that Yara had imported a cargo containing 16.800 tonnes of phosphates from Western Sahara. The value of the cargo, transported by a bulk vessel named ‘African Wildcat’, was estimated to be around 4,3 million euros. See coverage of the story on Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, to the right (in Norwegian). The cargo was discharged at Yara’s harbour at Herøya, from 30th of July to 6th of August this year. Norwatch even got hold of a photo documenting the vessel at harbour (on top). “I can confirm that we have imported one phosphate shipment. We are not about to start importing phosphate originating from Western Sahara”, Bente Slaatten, public relations officer at Yara told Norwatch. Reported to the police Few days after the revelation was made, the Association of Sahrawis in Norway, together with the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara reported Yara to the police. “The production and export of the phosphates is done by an illegal occupying power in violation of the wishes and interests of the people of the territory, the Sahrawis”, the two organizations stated in the file handed over to the police on 29 August. “Thus, the phosphate exports must be considered a theft. The customer of the phosphates, Yara, has knowingly purchased the stolen goods, and thereby violated 317 of the Norwegian Penal Code on fencing of stolen property”, the statement said. The story of the reporting to the police was covered by the private national TV station, TV2 (to the right, in Norwegian). The Oslo district police has confirmed to the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara that the issue is currently under investigation. Promised to stop As late as in 2005, Yara promised in Norwegian media that it would not again import from Western Sahara. “Under the present circumstances we feel that it is correct to refrain from buying phosphate originating from Western Sahara”, Yara said to Norwegian Business Daily, Dagens Næringsliv, in 2005. After the the revelation of the August 2008 shipment, Yara has repeated numerous times to Norwegian media that this policy remains unchanged. The import in August was an exception, only related to testing of production facilities in Norway that they are investing millions of euros in, according to Yara. “We have had a project in which we tested various types of phosphate. In that project we chose to include this type, with an expectation that some time in the future the Western Sahara conflict will be resolved, and that the UN and Norwegian authorities will no longer advice against it. Now that we are investing large sums in the new plant, we must ensure that we get it right”, Slaatten told Norwatch. This message was actually also conveyed to Norwegian authorities two weeks before “African Wildcat” entered the harbour of El Aaiun, in occupied Western Sahara. The Ministry of Trade and Industry had been updated about Yara’s import already in beginning of July –but failed to prevent Yara from carrying out the trade. “Yara informed us that it would not start importing phosphate from the mentioned areas as long as the UN and the Norwegian authorities advised against import from Western Sahara”; said Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Øyvind Slåke, to Norwatch. Not yet apologized Yara has still not consulted the representatives of the Sahrawi people, nor apologized for their imports, which entails a serious political and economic loss for the Sahrawi people. Nor has Yara compensated for the loss. The value of the stolen phosphates equals 25% of the entire multilateral aid that is given by the international community to the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria in one entire year. A recent report by Norwegian Church Aid reveals that 19% of children in the refugee camps suffer from malnourishment, making the situation in the camps one of the most acute in the world. Unethical “A particularly serious violation of fundamental ethical norms e.g. because it may strengthen Morocco’s sovereignty claims and thus contribute to undermining the UN peace process”. That is what the US energy company Kerr-McGee’s involvement in Western Sahara was called by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance in 2005. The breach was considered so serious that the Norwegian government’s pension fund decided to divest from the US oil company. The three political parties in the Norwegian coalition government all have adopted strong resolutions demanding Norwegian companies to stay away from Western Sahara. The revelations of Yara’s phosphates import come shortly after three Norwegian shipping companies announced they do not wish to participate in similar trade. The Bergen-based shipping company R-Bulk was caught red-handed in April, when one of its ships had transported phosphate from the occupied country to Colombia. “We have of course taken this up with the shipping company that leased the ship, so that they will do their utmost to prevent this from happening in the future,” R-Bulk’s chairman of the board told the National Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in Hordaland. “We are located in Asia and admit that we knew nothing about Western Sahara. We have only had a single charter. But now that we have become aware of the Western Sahara issue, we won’t take on new contracts for assignments there,” Raymond Ching, vice president of Oslo Stock Exchange-listed Jinhui Shipping, told the leading English-language newspaper South China Morning Post on 11 May 2008. Jinhui withdrew from the assignments after Norwegian insurance compnay Storebrand had taken the case up with the shipping company and after Norwatch had reported the involvement. In November 2007 the Farsund-based shipping company Arnesen Shipbrokers informed NRK that it would do likewise. See an overview of the Yara coverage in Norwegian media here See Norwatch’s stories here: - 27th of August 2008:Yara Ignored Norwegian Ethical Standards - 27th of August 2008:The Government Knew about the Yara Transaction - 28th of August 2008: -NHD-bjellene skulle ringt (in Norwegian)

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TERRITOIRES OCCUPES/REPRESSION

Arrestation de deux citoyens sahraouis à la ville d’El Aaiun occupée

El Aaiun (territoires occupés), Les forces de répression marocaines ont réprimé samedi une manifestation pacifique des étudiants sahraouis au collège ‘Allal ibn Abdallah’ à la capitale occupée du Sahara occidental, El Aaiun, a rapporté le ministère sahraoui des territoires occupés et de la diaspora.

Des dizaines d’étudiants sahraouis ont organisé pacifiquement une manifestation appelant au retrait immédiat de l’occupation marocaine du Sahara occidental et scandant des slogans en faveur de l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui, avant d’être dispersé brutalement par les forces marocaines, a ajouté la même source.

Ces mêmes forces ont arrêté le jeune sahraoui, Mreihba et un autre qui n’a pas pu être reconnu,. a-t-on souligné de même source.

A cet égard des dizaines de citoyens sahraouis se sont regroupés dans le quartier ‘Erraha’ pour réclamer la libération des prisonniers politiques sahraouis et permettre au peuple sahraoui l’exercice de son droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance.

Par ailleurs les forces d’occupation marocaines avaient arrêté le mineur Elmoualati Jaafar (11ans) pendant plus de 48 heures au commissariat de la police, sans avertir sa famille, avait rappelé la même source.

Il est à noter qu’à la ville d’El Aaiun occupée, les forces marocaines mènent une campagne d’arrestations et de contrôle dans les avenues de la ville et impose un couvre feu sur toute la ville, a conclu la même source.

More shots of Port Phillip

Western Sahara Resource Watch has received more photos documenting the vessel that arrived Tasmania, Australia, end of October, carrying phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

These spectacularly coulourful photos were taken in the port of Risdon, Tasmania, Australia, on 26th of October 2008.

The photos show the vessel Port Phillip discharging phosphates for the fertiliser producer Impact. The phopshate rock originates from occupied Western Sahara, and has been shipped to Australia in violation of international law. Read a UN opinion on the illegality of such industries here.

As far as Western Sahara Resource Watch understands, the phosphate from the occupied country is transported from the harbour to the Impact factory by a firm called Jenkins Hire.

M. Abdelaziz: Le Maroc torpille la reprise des négociations de paix au Sahara Occidental

Valence (Espagne), Le Président sahraoui, Mohamed Abdelaziz, a vivement déploré que le Gouvernement marocain continue à “torpiller” la reprise des négociations avec le Polisario en imposant comme condition “sa formule coloniale appelée autonomie”, ainsi que son “obstruction à la désignation du nouveau envoyé personnel proposé par le Secrétaire général de l’ONU pour le Sahara Occidental”.

Intervenant vendredi au cours de la 32ème édition de la conférence européenne de coordination de soutien au peuple sahraoui (Eucoco), à Valence, M. Abdelaziz a condamné cette "une attitude intransigeante", renouvelant toutefois la disponibilité du Polisario à reprendre ces négociations directes "dans le cadre définis par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unis (….) avec bonne foi et sans conditions préalables".

Le Président sahraoui a en outre regretté qu’aucune pression n’a été exercé sur le Maroc de manière sérieuse au niveau international pour "protéger et imposer la légalité internationale", déplorant également "le silence complice de puissances influentes qui encouragent le Maroc à continuer à violer le Droit international".

A cet égard le Président sahraoui a évoqué l’octroi par l’UE de statut de partenaire privilégié, qui devait être soumis selon lui à "la condition de mettre fin aux violations systématiques des droits humains au Sahara Occidental et au pillage des ressources naturelles sahraouies".

Dans cette optique, il a lancé un appel à la France et à l’Espagne "impliqués directement dans le conflit", pour "reconsidérer la situation et les décisions, afin qu’elles soient conformes aux valeurs préconisés par l’UE, contribuant ainsi à la préservation de la sécurité, la paix et la stabilité dans la région".

Par ailleurs, M. Abdelaziz a indiqué que devant l’intransigeance de Rabat et le manque de réponse adéquate de la part de la communauté internationale, le Polisario a commencé la reconstruction des zones libérées du Sahara Occidental pour laquelle il compte sur le mouvement de solidarité et l’intérêt des investisseurs pour "créer des conditions de vie meilleures, de sécurité et de tranquillité pour les citoyens sahraouis".

La 34éme Eucoco s’est ouverte ce vendredi après-midi à Valence en présence de plus de 500 délégués venus de 25 pays des différents continents, avec la participation d’une forte délégation sahraouie conduite par le Président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz.

Elle débattra durant trois jours, des thèmes de la solidarité internationale avec le peuple sahraoui et du bilan du travail réalisé depuis la dernière conférence de l’EUCOCO, tenue à Rome, comme elle doit définir les objectifs et la stratégie pour que les droits de justice et de liberté pour ce peule trouvent enfin leur chemin et qu’il puisse enfin décider librement de son destin, précise-t-on. (SPS)

Le Polisario appelle le Conseil de sécurité et le secrétaire général de l'ONU à assumer leurs responsabilités

Bir Lehlou (Territoires sahraouis libérés), Le Front Polisario a appelé, vendredi, le Conseil de Sécurité et le secrétaire général des Nations Unies à assumer leurs responsabilités face à "la fuite en avant des autorités marocaines".

Le Front Polisario a également appelé le Conseil de sécurité et le secrétaire général des Nations Unies à "poursuivre la série de négociations visant l'application des décisions des Nations Unies".

Au moment où le Front Polisario réaffirme au secrétaire général des Nations Unies "ses bonnes intentions et son entière détermination à engager des négociations sérieuses, le roi du Maroc annonce officiellement son refus de négocier en dehors du seul cadre que définissent ses conditions préalables consacrant la politique du fait accompli dans la colonisation du Sahara Occidental sous couvert de ce qu'il appelle autonomie", indique un communiqué du ministère sahraoui de l'Information.

Le Front Polisario "ne restera pas sans agir devant cette situation marquée par l'obstination du Gouvernement marocain et son rejet clairement affiché des dispositions de la Légalité internationale", ajoute la même source soulignant que le Front "saura riposter au moment opportun à cette politique aveugle de manière à préserver les droits du peuple sahraoui et défendre la Légalité et le Droit internationaux". (SPS)

The President of the Republic denounced the condemnation of the Saharawi journalist Moustapha Abd Dayem

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaiz, denounced Wednesday the condemnation by the Moroccan colonial court of the Saharawi journalist and writer, Moustapha Abd Dayem, to 3 years imprisonment and 50.000dh fine. "Denouncing this repressive systematic practices against this young Saharawi, we would like to recall you that the Moroccan government is still imprisoning more than 40 Saharawi political prisoners, only because they demanded the implementation of the UN’s resolutions for the decolonisation of Western Sahara and self-determination for its people", Mr. Abdelaziz wrote in a letter to Ban Ki-Moon. "The latest news we have report that the Moroccan authorities had transferred the Saharawi prisoners of conscience, Moustapha Abd Dayem, to the civil prison in the Moroccan city of Inzegan while they still detain the Saharawi citizens, Mohmed Elhachachi and Abd Dayem Mokhatr Naji without judgment", the Head of the Saharawi State regretted. IN this respect, the Saharawi President exhorted the UN Secretary General to exercise pressure on Morocco so as to unveil the truth on the fate of more than 151 Saharawi prisoners of war and more than 500 victims of "disappearance" since the beginning of the Moroccan invasion of the territory in 1975, the letter adds. He further called to the immediate and unconditional release of all the Saharawi prisoners of conscience maintained in the Moroccan prisons. Last week, it should be recalled, POLISARIO Front reiterated the call on the UN "tp include the protection of the human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in the mandate of the MINURSO" (UN Mission for the organisation of a referendum in Western Sahara), it should be recalled.

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POLISARIO urges the UN to send a mission of investigation in Western Sahara

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Wednesday, to send a mission to investigate on the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Mr. Abdelaziz warned, in an interview to the Spanish press agency, EFE, against the "dangers that may result from the current situation in the territories of Western Sahara under the Moroccan occupation". He held "the Moroccan authorities accountable of crimes, abductions and arrests against the Saharawis because of their political opinion", adding that the “repression is the daily life of the Saharawi population in the occupied zones of Western Sahara". "It seems strange, to us, that this is taking place before the eyes of the UN Mission for the organisation of a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)", he deplored. He urged the UN to include the protection of the human rights in the mandate of its Mission on the ground. "It is time for Morocco to say to Morocco to put an end to the obstacles its is erecting in front of the peace process, as well as its violations of the Security Council’s resolutions that call for direct negotiations without pre-conditions between the two parties to the conflict, POLISARI and Morocco", he underlined. Mr. Abdelaziz reiterated the "availability of POLISARIO to continue the negotiations in good will, conforming to the decisions of the UN with a view to reach a solution that guarantee Saharawi people’s right to self-determination". He finally called in the "French and Spanish governments to review the current position, that POLISARIO considers as favourable to Morocco".

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A young Saharawi girl kidnapped and tortured by Moroccan forces in the occupied city of El Aaiun

The Moroccan forces of occupation kidnapped, last Monday, the young Saharawi student, Miss. Enguia Elhawassi, upon her leaving of the secondary school, a source from the Saharawi Ministry of occupied zones and Diaspora indicated. The 18 years old girl was driven by a group of Moroccan agents to an unknown destination outside the occupied city of El Aaiun, to be tortured and abandoned in a "pitiful state", the same source regretted. Miss. Enguia Elhawassi was victims of arrest and torture at lease six times during the last three years. She is usually arrested after participating to peaceful demonstrations in favour of the independence of her homeland.

End of the President’s visit to New York

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, was received by the President of the Security Council, Mr. Jorge Urbina, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UN, after he met with the UN Secretary General, and the President of the General Assembly, Saharawi diplomatic source in New York indicated. During this meeting the parties discussed the engagements of the Security Council and the implementation of the resolutions related to the conflict in Western Sahara as well as the human rights situation in the last colony in Africa. Mr. Abdelaziz presented to the President of the Security Council, the Saharawi concerns with regards to the paralysis of the process of negotiations and the impasse registered in the peace process because of the Moroccan obstructions. The President also met with Ambassadors of many countries, members in the Security Council, mainly of the UK, Ireland and Russia. Finally, President Abdelaziz and the Saharawi delegation accompanying him was received by Ambassadors and representatives of the Non-Aligned Countries members of the Security Council, especially South Africa, Libya, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Panama, Cuba and Indonesia.

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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.

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