News
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The European Liberal Youth demands the termination of the controversial EU fisheries agreement with Morocco that lets European vessels fish in occupied Western Sahara. Read statement from the Liberal Youth's annual Lymec congress, Barcelona 1-4th May 2008.

Published 16 May 2008
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Leader of the El Aaiun branch of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, Mr. Iguilid Hammoud, was, on May 10th, detained by the police, interrogated and then released outside of town.
Published 12 May 2008
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One out of five Sahrawi children who have grown up in refugee camps in Algeria are suffering from acute malnutrition. A report that will be published by the Norwegian Church Aid next week shows that the health of Sahrawi children now are severely affected by the lack of humanitarian aid.

Published 08 May 2008
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In a report launched May 6th 2008, American NGO Freedom House rates the situation for political rights and civil liberties in the occupied Western Sahara on the same level of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Belarus.

Published 07 May 2008
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The Norwegian insurance company, Skuld, keeps insuring ships carrying controversial cargo. After the case of the ship carrying weapons to Zimbabwe, it has now been discovered that Skuld has ensured a ship carrying phosphate from occupied Western Sahara.

Read also: AWSA demands halt to Tasmanian phosphate imports

Published 07 May 2008

The Australian Western Sahara Association reacts to a new shipment of phosphate that this week-end arrived Tasmania. May 6th, they sent a letter to the company demanding the imports to stop.

Published 07 May 2008
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"It is unjust, unjust, unjust", said Enaama Asfari to the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara. Asfari was sentenced on Monday to two months imprisonment for an alleged harassment committed at a time when he was, in fact, being tortured by the police.
Published 01 May 2008
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Enaama Asfari (right) is dreaming of returning to his home in France. But first he would have to win in court. Monday 28th of April, he is appearing before the court in Marrakech.

Published 28 April 2008
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Local authorities in South Morocco considers French Claude Mangin, the lady on the left, a threat to public order.

Published 28 April 2008
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On Saturday the Sahrawi student, Elkouria Amidane, received anonymous telephone threats. "Leave your home and you will be kidnapped and severely beaten".
Published 28 April 2008

Last week, Haddi Yarba, a Sociology student was struck on the head with a stone. Now he has problems finding the words.

Published 28 April 2008
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A group of French human rights activists is now being expelled from Morocco. Among them are Claude Mangin (left), who travelled to the country to attend the trials against her husband (right).

Published 25 April 2008

The leading human rights activist, Enaama Asfari has been arrested in Marrakech. His French wife found him in a prison, after a 3 day long disappearance.

Published 25 April 2008

Amnesty International demands investigation of torture allegations against Enaama Asfari

Published 25 April 2008

The Sahrawi students in Marrakech are under attack from armed Moroccan gangs. See fresh videos of peaceful demonstrations and victims.

Published 24 April 2008
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She travelled to Morocco to be present at the trial against her husband, who is falsely changed by a Moroccan court with a series of charges. Today, French Claude Mangin was arrested too -and she is now threatened with expulsion from Morocco.

Published 24 April 2008
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A representative of the Norwegian company Aqualyng is Saturday giving a presentation at a conference in occupied Western Sahara. The company is hesitating responding to questions whether they have investment plans in the country.
Published 24 April 2008
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A Moroccan website is attempting to discredit the Danish General, Kurt Mosgaard, who was the commanding officer for MINURSO in Western Sahara for two years.

Published 24 April 2008
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Sahrawi students at the University of Marrakech, Moroccco, are subjected to assault and chasing by armed gangs, according to human rights NGO, CODESA.

Published 22 April 2008
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Sahrawi human rights defender Naama Asfari has today been before a court in in Marrakech.

Published 21 April 2008
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Yarba had the incorrect opinions when he arrived El Aaiun airport, but managed to get 4 minutes with his family.

Published 20 April 2008

Read the report on the international trade union delegation to occupied Western Sahara from 17th to 22nd of February 2008.

Published 15 April 2008
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The former military chief of the UN mission in Western Sahara believes the UN must stand firmer on the claim for a referendum on independence. "But some permanent members of the Security Council have not wanted to push too hard for this" said Kurt Mosgaard, MINURSO Force Commander 2005-2007. Mosgaard is interviewed in a recent report from the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Published 05 April 2008
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The leader of Liberal Youth Norway, Anne Solsvik, reacts strongly to the Grimstad firm Finsam operating in Western Sahara. Agderposten, 12 March 2008.

Published 01 April 2008
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By the end of last week, the 30 year old Sahrawi student, Said Bellal, was sentenced to 4 months of prison. Amnesty International writes in a release today that they expect him to be a prisoner of conscience, jailed only for his activities for self-determination for the Sahrawi people. Bellal is sentenced for having taken part in a demonstration in May 2007. His explanation that he was subjected to torture, is not to have been investigated by the police.

Published 31 March 2008
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A new publication has just been published by the Norwegian Refugee Council. Order here.

Published 28 March 2008
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Since end of February, Sahrawis in Moroccan prisons have been on hunger strike. For the most part they are political prisoners, protesting primarily the bad treatment they receive. Human rights organisations are now issuing warnings that the physical condition for some of the prisoners are worsening.
Published 25 March 2008
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The Sahrawi human rights organisation CODESA has put together a report of last year's human rights violations committed by Morocco against the Sahrawis.
Published 22 March 2008
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The Danish Youth of the Conservative Party adopts a resolution in favour of Western Sahara in its annual congress, 15th-16th of March, 2008.
Published 21 March 2008
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Last year the sister, Elkouria Amidane, met Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Now her brother is on a hunger strike in a prison in Morocco.
Published 13 March 2008
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The General Assembly of the Norwegian Labour Party's Oslo Constituency, 7th-8th March 2008, demands that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls Western Sahara an occupied country.

Published 12 March 2008
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Two Moroccan policemen imprisoned for the murder of Sahrawi man in 2005 have been released after a court, this week, reduced their sentences from 10 to 2 years.

Published 12 March 2008
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The Sahrawi human rights association ASVDH has started a campaign for the immediate release of their imprisoned general secretary, Brahim Sabbar.

Published 12 March 2008
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Anders Forsmo from Vallø, Norway, has been running in Marathons for almost 20 years. On the 25 February he ran once again - in the Sahara. Tønsbergs Blad, 6th March, 2008.

Published 11 March 2008
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2nd of March 2008, a semi-marathon was arranged in Fjaler, north of Bergen, in solidarity with the Sahrawi refugees.
Published 10 March 2008
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Jinhui Shipping said Wednesday that it will take into consideration the analysis of Norwegian authorities regarding avoiding trade with phosphates from Western Sahara.

Published 27 February 2008
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Western Sahara's government in exile accuses the shipping company J. Lauritzen of contributing to theft of natural resources from the occupied parts of the country.

Published 27 February 2008
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Jinhui, the Oslo Stock Exchange-registered dry bulk shipping company, will tomorrow unload its last tons of controversial phosphate in New Zealand. The phosphate originates from occupied Western Sahara and has been shipped out of the country despite advice to the contrary from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Norwatch has got photos and video footage of the unloading.

Published 15 February 2008
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The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara has for the fist time discovered that a shipping company registered at the Oslo Stock Exchange is transporting phosphate from Western Sahara.

Published 08 February 2008
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On the 25th of February, the Sahrawi refugees will host the 8th edition of the Sahara Marathon in their refugee camps in western Algeria. The refugees have been living in the camps since Morocco illegally occupied their home country in 1975.

Published 06 February 2008
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Another investor, Öhman Funds from Sweden, has now divested from the Australian phoshate company Wesfarmers due to its imports of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 31 January 2008
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Said Mustafa El Baillal (29), studying for a Doctorate in Social Sciences, has received a severe prison sentence. 
 

Published 28 January 2008
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Before the week-end, the Moroccan governmental news service MAP claimed that the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs hailed their autonomy plan for Western Sahara. "Not true", replies Minister.

Published 21 January 2008

From the 10th to 13th January the Moroccan National Tourist Office will be represented at the International Travel Fair 2008 at Lillestrøm, Norway. It is expected that again, the Moroccan tourist authorities will use the fair as an arena for falsely marketing Western Sahara as a tourist destination within Morocco. The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara demands that Norwegian Trade Fairs forbids the Moroccan marketing of its neighbouring country.

Published 17 January 2008
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The organisers behind Norway's most significant travel fair have demanded that Moroccan tourism authorities halt the marketing of the occupied Western Sahara in this weekend's "Travel Fair 2008". The fair, taking place just outside Oslo this weekend expects some 40.000 visitors.
Read also: Stop the propaganda!

Published 12 January 2008
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A resolution adopted by the Executive Board of the Norwegian Centre Party on January 10th 2008, demands the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Centre Party is one of 3 parties in the Norwegian Government.
Published 11 January 2008
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Published 05 January 2008
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25th of December was a violent day in El Aaiun.

Published 27 December 2007
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Human Rights Watch said on Friday Morocco must investigate what it said was the beating of two leading human rights activists in Western Sahara and expressed concern it could be part of mass rights abuses there. Reuters, 27 Dec 2007.
Published 29 December 2007
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Pentagon announced on December 18th that the US will do a major sales of war material to Morocco. The agreement entails sales of 24 F-16 combat aircrafts, at a value of 2400 million dollars, as well as 24 T-6B Texan training aircrafts for 140 million. "An important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa", they state about Morocco.

Published 24 December 2007