Monday, February 28, 2011
Los saharauis celebran su 35 aniversario
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
So much for human rights
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Western Sahara Echo- L'Echo du Sahara Occidental - Sada Assahra al -Gharbiya: Democracy Now Televised Interview 11-15-2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Ruscombe Green: Massacre in Western Sahara – Please Help
Ruscombe Green: Massacre in Western Sahara – Please Help: "This week the worst violence and the highest number of deaths in Moroccan occupied Western Sahara since the ceasefire in 1991 has erupted. ..."
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
THE NORDIC COUNTRIES MEPS SAYING NO TO THE EU-FISHING AGREEMENT
Nordic parliamentarians call for halt of unethical EU fisheries
Press release
Western Sahara Resource Watch
7 July 2010
32 parliamentarians from Finland, Sweden and Denmark today requested the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of their countries to prevent renewed EU fisheries in occupied Western Sahara.
“We urge the governments of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, to actively and jointly work to prevent an automatic prolongation of the EU-Moroccan fisheries agreement as long as Western Sahara is not clearly excluded from its application”, stated the letter, urging that the EU fisheries offshore the occupied territory terminate.
The EU is currently paying its tax payers money to the Moroccan government to be able to fish in offshore Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco has occupied.
Sweden, Denmark and Finland all treated the 2007-2011 EU-Moroccan fisheries agreement seriously when it was first debated in the European Council in 2006. Sweden voted against the agreement, stating it was in violation of international law. Denmark and Finland also raised concerns about the legality of the agreement. Finland abstained from the vote, underlining that the Saharawi people must be consulted. The European Commission has since ignored the conditions the Finnish government set in its separate statement in 2006.
The letter from the parliamentarians point to a Legal Opinion of 2009, made by the Legal Service of the European Parliament, which concluded that the conditions for respecting international law have not been met: there is no proof that the Saharawi people has been consulted, nor that it has benefited from the agreement. During the three years of fisheries, the Commission has not been able to present a single piece of information showing the contrary. Both the Saharawi representative, formally recognised by the UN, the Polisario Front, and all major Saharawi civil society organisations have made clear statements against the present agreement and any new version that includes their own territory.
“We expect that the Swedish, Danish and Finnish governments will stand by their defence of international law, as a basis for a determined, constructive Nordic action for a fully legal agreement. That would also bring the EU in line with the US and EFTA, who in respect for international law clearly exclude Western Sahara in agreements with Morocco”, stated the parliamentarians.
The letter was signed by parliamentarians from the Social Democratic Party, The Greens, The Left Party and Left Alliance, the Christian Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Center Party, the Socialist People’s party and the Danish Red-Green Alliance.
For questions or comments, contact
Sara Eyckmans, Western Sahara Resource Watch, Belgium, tel +32 475458695
Mr. Sören Lindh, Western Sahara Action, Sweden, tel +46 8392769
www.wsrw.org
Press release
Western Sahara Resource Watch
7 July 2010
32 parliamentarians from Finland, Sweden and Denmark today requested the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of their countries to prevent renewed EU fisheries in occupied Western Sahara.
“We urge the governments of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, to actively and jointly work to prevent an automatic prolongation of the EU-Moroccan fisheries agreement as long as Western Sahara is not clearly excluded from its application”, stated the letter, urging that the EU fisheries offshore the occupied territory terminate.
The EU is currently paying its tax payers money to the Moroccan government to be able to fish in offshore Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco has occupied.
Sweden, Denmark and Finland all treated the 2007-2011 EU-Moroccan fisheries agreement seriously when it was first debated in the European Council in 2006. Sweden voted against the agreement, stating it was in violation of international law. Denmark and Finland also raised concerns about the legality of the agreement. Finland abstained from the vote, underlining that the Saharawi people must be consulted. The European Commission has since ignored the conditions the Finnish government set in its separate statement in 2006.
The letter from the parliamentarians point to a Legal Opinion of 2009, made by the Legal Service of the European Parliament, which concluded that the conditions for respecting international law have not been met: there is no proof that the Saharawi people has been consulted, nor that it has benefited from the agreement. During the three years of fisheries, the Commission has not been able to present a single piece of information showing the contrary. Both the Saharawi representative, formally recognised by the UN, the Polisario Front, and all major Saharawi civil society organisations have made clear statements against the present agreement and any new version that includes their own territory.
“We expect that the Swedish, Danish and Finnish governments will stand by their defence of international law, as a basis for a determined, constructive Nordic action for a fully legal agreement. That would also bring the EU in line with the US and EFTA, who in respect for international law clearly exclude Western Sahara in agreements with Morocco”, stated the parliamentarians.
The letter was signed by parliamentarians from the Social Democratic Party, The Greens, The Left Party and Left Alliance, the Christian Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Center Party, the Socialist People’s party and the Danish Red-Green Alliance.
For questions or comments, contact
Sara Eyckmans, Western Sahara Resource Watch, Belgium, tel +32 475458695
Mr. Sören Lindh, Western Sahara Action, Sweden, tel +46 8392769
www.wsrw.org
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
IDN-inDepth NewsAnalysis
Western Sahara Back on Radar Screens
A small shop in El Argoub, Western Sahara | Credit: Wikimedia Commons
By Ramesh Jaura
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis
BERLIN (IDN) – Western Sahara, one of the most thinly populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands, is drawing renewed focus after having been consigned to mainstream neglect for years.
The disputed territories are back on radar screens in the aftermath of new reports that the area is one of the most heavily mined territories in the world. These have been accompanied by one significant step taken by the United Nations.
Spanning 266,000 square kilometers (103,000 sq miles), Western Sahara has been on the UN list of non-self-governing territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony. Spain withdrew from Western Sahara in 1976.
But he noted that two informal meetings under the auspices of his personal envoy Christopher Ross held in August 2009 and February 2010 produced no movement on the core substantive issues, and more work is needed before a fifth round can be held.
The efforts undertaken by Ross -- since his appointment in January 2009 -- to promote a settlement have been "laborious", Ban said. "Their pace and substance have been heavily affected by the parties' reaction to events in the region and their unyielding attachment to mutually exclusive positions."(..)
Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker went through a similar disappointing experience as Secretary General Kofi Annan's personal envoy for Western Sahara. Subsequently, he resigned in 2004. He was succeeded by Dutch Ambassador to the UN, Peter van Walsum in July 1995.
April 30 UN Security Council resolution called on the parties to continue the dialogue under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions to achieve "a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara".
see the link
http://www.indepthn ews.net/news/ news.php? key1=2010- 07-06%2002: 14:43&key2=1
A small shop in El Argoub, Western Sahara | Credit: Wikimedia Commons
By Ramesh Jaura
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis
BERLIN (IDN) – Western Sahara, one of the most thinly populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands, is drawing renewed focus after having been consigned to mainstream neglect for years.
The disputed territories are back on radar screens in the aftermath of new reports that the area is one of the most heavily mined territories in the world. These have been accompanied by one significant step taken by the United Nations.
Spanning 266,000 square kilometers (103,000 sq miles), Western Sahara has been on the UN list of non-self-governing territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony. Spain withdrew from Western Sahara in 1976.
But he noted that two informal meetings under the auspices of his personal envoy Christopher Ross held in August 2009 and February 2010 produced no movement on the core substantive issues, and more work is needed before a fifth round can be held.
The efforts undertaken by Ross -- since his appointment in January 2009 -- to promote a settlement have been "laborious", Ban said. "Their pace and substance have been heavily affected by the parties' reaction to events in the region and their unyielding attachment to mutually exclusive positions."(..)
Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker went through a similar disappointing experience as Secretary General Kofi Annan's personal envoy for Western Sahara. Subsequently, he resigned in 2004. He was succeeded by Dutch Ambassador to the UN, Peter van Walsum in July 1995.
April 30 UN Security Council resolution called on the parties to continue the dialogue under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions to achieve "a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara".
see the link
http://www.indepthn ews.net/news/ news.php? key1=2010- 07-06%2002: 14:43&key2=1
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Saharawi people mournes Mr Mahfoud Ali Beiba the Speaker of the Parliament
In the picture Mr Mahfoud Ali Baiba, and Chairman of the Swedish Parliament with Lamine Baali, at the Swedish-SDP Congress 2005
SADR declares national mourning for seven days following tragic death of President of National Council
Bir Lehlu (Liberated Territories), July 3, 2010 (SPS) - The SADR Presidency has declared a national mourning for a week starting this Saturday, following the tragic death of the President of the National Council, Mafoud Ali Beiba, died Friday at his home in the February 27th camp, because of heart attack, according to a statement received by SPS.
On this occasion, the Presidency announced the formation of a national committee including high members of the Polisario Front for the organization of the funeral, which will be held Sunday, the source added.
The committee comprises Mhamed Khadad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, Mohamed Lamin Ahmed, advisor to the Presidency, Mbarek Lehdeib, vice president of the SNC, Hammada Selma and Sid Ahmed Tayeb, respectively minister of justice and minister of public health, Mohamed El Ouali, director for Protection of National Institutions, Brahim Beila, public prosecutor, Brahim Mokhtar, Polisario Front representative in Sweden and Habibullah Mohamed-Kuri, director of protocol.
Mr. Mahfoud Ali Beiba was born in 1953 in Saguia El Hamra, married and a father of three daughters. He was one of the main founders and leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia El Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario Front) and member of its executive committee. He was appointed deputy general secretary of the Polisario front.
He held several positions within the Saharawi state, including Prime Minister for some Governments and Chairman of the National Council until his death.
Since 1997, Mahfoud Ali Beiba, chaired the Saharawi delegation in the direct negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco under the auspices of the United Nations.
He was known for his patriotism and sincere devotion to the benefit of its people and its national cause, as well as his wisdom and serenity, the statement concluded. (SPS)
Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. (Quote by author -- Proverb)
