Translation from Norwegian original by the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara. Photo: Elkouria Amidane from Western Sahara, with the president of the Liberal Party of Norway, Trine Skei Grande.

The central board of the Liberal Party urges the Norwegian government to protest against Morocco's violent actions in Western Sahara. Today, Moroccan security forces attacked a group Saharawis protesting peacefully against the Moroccan occupation of the country. At least one Saharawi is killed, and many more severely injured.

Today, there is a broad consensus about the fact that Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara is illegal, and the territory is labelled as Africa's last colony. In this area, human rights violations are committed on a daily basis, and according to Flyktningregnskapet 2009 [a report by the Norwegian NGO Flyktninghjelpen], more than 116.000 people are refugees in this area alone.

The Liberal Party of Norway wishes to recognise the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic as an independent state, and believes that Norway must put presure on both Morocco and on France - who is the Moroccan authorities' most important partner in the UN Security Council - so that the Saharawis can get fullfilled their legitimate right to self-determination.

8 November 2010.