The leader of Liberal Youth Norway, Anne Solsvik, reacts strongly to the Grimstad firm Finsam operating in Western Sahara. Agderposten, 12 March 2008.
Agderposten
12 March 2008
“That Finsam is carrying out business activities in Western Sahara helps legitimize Morocco's occupation of the area,” Solsvik said in a press release.
Must Withdraw
During its national committee meeting this weekend the Liberal Youth Norway passed a resolution that all Norwegian companies must terminate their collaboration with Moroccan authorities or companies in occupied Western Sahara.
“The business activities that Norwegian companies are carrying out are against the interests of the Sahrawis, since they do not get to participate in the development of prosperity themselves,” Solsvik said.
According to the party, Morocco is carrying out systematic persecution of all those who sympathize with the thought of a free and independent Western Sahara. Furthermore, several cases of torture, of both adults and children, have been documented in the area.
Reduced Political Efforts
The Liberal Youth believes the Norwegian government has reduced its efforts for a free Western Sahara. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has changed the description of Morocco's presence from "occupation" to "unresolved legal situation".
"When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reduces the political signals with regard to Morocco, the pressure must to a greater extent come from other sources. We expect that Finsam examines more closely how it is helping to legitimize Moroccos occupation and terminates its business activities in the area," Solsvik said.
Per Samuelsen, manager of Finsam, was not willing to speak with Agderposten.
See original version in Norwegian here.
Translated to English by the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.
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