Afrol News
19 December 2007
"If this is true, it would mean a serious betrayal of the Sahrawi people's legitimate struggle against occupation," Western Sahara Resource Watch protested.
Tamoil Sakia, a newly established Libyan-Moroccan oil company based in Western Sahara's El Aaiun, is reported to be moving fast to invest in the petroleum sector in Western Sahara.
The million-dollar investment last for two years, but Tamoil's General Manager, Salem Bayet al-Malto said upon discovery of oil, the company will double its Western Sahara investment. The activities are said to begin in 2008.
Tamoil is reported to have acquired permits to explore both onshore and offshore oil and also distribute petroleum products in Western Sahara. The company is expected to start effecting the deals in 2008.
"Western Sahara is under illegal and brutal occupation by Morocco," said Javier Lachica, Coordinator of Western Sahara Resource Watch.
"The UN has also made it clear that further oil exploration in Western Sahara would be in violation of international law. Entering into oil exploration agreements with Morocco in Western Sahara is therefore highly unethical. It also risks strengthening the occupation, as well as prolonging the exile of the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria.
"If this these news reports are true, it would mean a serious betrayal of the Sahrawi people's legitimate struggle against occupation, and a serious affront to the efforts of the United Nations for a solution to the conflict. We would believe that cooperating with Morocco in plundering the possible oil wealth in Western Sahara is too unethical and controversial for any state company to even consider", said Lachica.
The international network urged Tamoil to reconsider its involvement in the occupied state. Moroccan media reported that Tamoil Sakia consists of investors from Moroccan Sahara.
UN body calls for the release of imprisoned Saharawi student
In a decision published yesterday, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concludes that the detention of the Saharawi student and human rights defender Al-Hussein Al-Bachir Ibrahim is arbitrary. The UN Working Group called on Morocco to immediately release him from the deplorable prison conditions.
Two Norwegians Are Now Being Deported from Occupied Western Sahara
Two more Norwegians, who travelled to occupied Western Sahara to learn about Morocco’s controversial energy projects in the territory, were detained by Moroccan police this afternoon and deported.
Norwegians deported from occupied Western Sahara - wanted to learn about renewable energy
Today, 25 Moroccan police officers showed up to expel two Norwegians from occupied Western Sahara. The two had traveled to learn what the Sahrawis think about Morocco's controversial renewable energy projects on occupied land.
UN committee highlights Moroccan impunity in occupied Western Sahara
Sahrawi civil society welcomes a new report from the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance, and urges exhumations and identification of victims in the Morocco-occupied Western Sahara.