In May 1973, the Polisario Front was created and the fight against Spanish colonialism began for the independence of the Saharawi people and the recognition of founding a State in the territory of Western Sahara, the former ...
In May 1973, the Polisario Front was created and the fight against Spanish colonialism began for the independence of the Saharawi people and the recognition of founding a State in the territory of Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony. In the preceding years there were already attempts at claims, the most serious event of which was the disappearance,
and possible murder, of the Saharawi leader Basisi, by Spanish colonialism.
It has been 40 years of struggle, sacrifices, and suffering on the part of an indomitable people in pursuit of their freedom and independence. In these 40 years there have been repeated UN resolutions recognizing their legitimate rights, especially their right to hold a Referendum on Self-Determination, as well as the finding that no country on Earth recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the territory and that, on the contrary, more than 80 countries legally and politically recognize the SADR.
The situation of the Saharawi people is extraordinarily aggravated when, in 1975, they were expelled from their territory in Western Sahara by the occupation of Morocco and Mauritania, with the signing of the Tripartite Agreements of Madrid in November 1975, thus preventing the holding of the planned Referendum on Self-Determination, under the auspices of the UN and within the framework of Resolution 1514
which recognizes this right to colonized peoples. From that moment on, the Saharawi people have lived a true humanitarian drama, with a large part of the population in Refugee Camps, another in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and another part in the diaspora.
The Saharawi people have their right to Self-Determination recognized and to exercise it through a free and democratic Referendum in the multiple and repeated Resolutions of the UN, in various pronouncements of the European Union and in the Opinion of the International Court of Justice in October 1975. Despite this, Morocco illegally occupies the territory of Western Sahara and systematically blocks the holding of the Referendum, creating a situation of instability in the area and violating the principles of International Law.
The Spanish State has a historical, political, legal and moral responsibility as the former colonial power and promoting, with the signing of the illegal Tripartite Agreements of Madrid of 1975, the occupation of the territory, thus preventing the completion of the decolonization process. Despite the occupation, neither the UN nor any country in the world recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the territory as it is an unfinished decolonization process, reaffirming that the only solution that respects international law and that is firm and lasting must be promoted within the framework of the Right to Self-Determination of the Saharawi People, under the auspices of the United Nations.
There is enormous concern about the violation of Human Rights in Western Sahara, expressed in the resolutions of the United Nations, in the UN Human Rights Council, as well as in the reports of the UN Rapporteur against Torture and the recent visit of the personal envoy of the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Christopher Ross, to the occupied territories. Likewise, prestigious human rights organizations have denounced the situation as Amnesty International and the Robert Kennedy Foundation of the USA. The US representative himself in the Security Council proposed an extension of the Minurso mandate to Human Rights, which was finally rejected due to pressure from France, Spain and Russia, in the face of the refusal of the Government of Morocco. This situation creates a climate of repression and intimidation in the Saharawi population, which suffers all kinds of violations of its political, social and economic rights. Torture, illegal detentions, trials without guarantees, unjust sentences, the prohibition of the presence of Human Rights observers in the Territory is creating a climate of violence that only aggravates the situation. Especially serious has been the military trial against 25 Saharawi activists from the GdaymIzik Camp with sentences of life imprisonment, and 30 years, 25 years and 20 years in prison, violating the minimum procedural guarantees of the detainees and denouncing torture and the absence of evidence, as reported by the international observers present at the trial.
Equally worrying is the plundering of natural resources, which, illegally, has been taking place in the territory of Western Sahara and which violates the economic rights of the Saharawi population.
On the other hand, the enormous difficulties in solving humanitarian needs in the Refugee Camps of Tinduff are about to cause a humanitarian catastrophe. Food shortages, health, water supply, social and educational equipment and basic needs are leading the refugee population to a situation of desperation, all aggravated by the decrease in humanitarian aid from donor countries as a consequence of the economic crisis and social and budgetary cuts.
The Canary Islands has a special sensitivity to the cause and tragedy of the Saharawi people, due to its geographical proximity and the traditional and historical social, economic, educational and commercial relations that were always maintained from the time of the colony for decades. The Canary Community is very interested in advancing an urgent solution to this long conflict that can only be
guaranteed within the framework of respect for international law, the resolutions of the United Nations and respect for the inalienable rights of the Saharawi people to live in peace and freedom in their territory.
It is important to remember some recent events that configure an encouraging scenario to pressure the Government of Morocco in the sense of unblocking the current situation:
? The latest Resolution 2099 (2013) of the UN Security Council reiterates
? The conflict in Mali is a threat to the stability of the Region and
? The internal and external deterioration of the Government of Morocco and of the King himself, as well
? The growing role of Algeria in the region, with economic agreements
? The proposal of the Government of the USA to evidence the violation of the
For all this, it is essential that the solidarity movement with the cause of the Saharawi people promote a set of priority actions that are specified in:
1. Reiterate the support for the right that the Saharawi People has recognized to Self-Determination and to exercise it through a free, democratic Referendum where all options are raised, including the option of independence, as recognized by International Law and, above all, the repeated resolutions of the UN. The conflict has its origin in a decolonization process that has not concluded, so any formula that does not respect this principle moves away from an
effective and realistic solution.
2. Show concern for the violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Territories that is exercised on the Saharawi civilian population of Western Sahara and urge the immediate cessation of repression, the freedom of all Saharawi political prisoners who defend Human Rights, the end of the plundering of natural resources and access to the territory of international observers. In this sense, the extension of the Minurso mandate is essential to guarantee respect for Human Rights in the Territory and that the UN guarantees not only the ceasefire, but also prevents the violation of Human Rights, until the holding of the Referendum. Likewise, the annulment of the military trial against the 25 activists of the Gdaym-Izik Camp and the immediate release of the detainees is demanded.
3. Support humanitarian aid projects aimed at alleviating the serious shortages of basic products in refugee camps, especially in food, health, education, clothing, footwear and basic services. Make an appeal to the Government of Spain, to all public institutions and the population so that, within the framework of their possibilities, they maintain and increase Cooperation
humanitarian, and, especially, the "Holidays in Peace" project that enables the arrival of thousands of boys and girls.
4. Request from the Government of Spain a clear position in defense of international law and the implementation of UN agreements to unblock the holding of the Referendum that the Government of Morocco prevents and refrain from promoting actions that reinforce the Moroccan attitude of continuing to occupy Western Sahara.
Likewise, it is necessary for the Government of Spain to facilitate the effective recognition of the Polisario Front, as the legitimate representative of the Saharawi People, as considered by the UN, and facilitate and grant its representatives the same diplomatic status enjoyed by the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the Kingdom of Spain, in order to facilitate their political and humanitarian initiatives aimed at responding to the needs of the Saharawi People.
5. Make an appeal to public opinion, solidarity, social, educational, trade union organizations and public institutions to support these just demands of the Saharawi population. Likewise, urge the International Community, especially the UN, EU and the governments of France, Spain and the USA to urge the Government of Morocco in their bilateral relations to guarantee international law, the resolutions of the UN, especially the holding of the
Referendum on Self-Determination and respect for the Human Rights of the Saharawi population in the Occupied Territories.
Signatories:
- Carmelo Ramírez, Councilor of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria
- Flora Marrero Ramos, deputy for Tenerife
- Ángel Víctor Torres, Mayor of Arucas
- Juan Antonio de la Hoz, Councilor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote
- Narváez Quintero, Senator for El Hierro
- Nieves Rosa Pulido, deputy for La Palma
- Josefa Milán, councilor of Telde
- Claudina Morales, Mayoress of La Oliva
- Teresa Morales, solidarity movement with the Sahara
- Víctor Tomás Chinea, deputy for La Gomera
