Senia Abderahman, former student at the United World Colleges in Fjaler, Norway, recounts the story of her grandmother.
Following pressure from the UN and pro-Sahrawi activists, most serious oil companies pulled out of Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. But now, a new group of fortune hunters is eying great financial opportunities in the probably oil-rich territory, ignoring international law. Investors from Ireland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the US and Sweden hide behind a jungle of interwoven small companies.
The American oil company Kosmos Energy writes in a recent presentation that they plan to drill for oil on behalf of the Moroccan government in the occupied areas in 2009. According to the UN, that would be illegal.
Political parties from the far right to the far left come together to support Sahrawi students after attacks from Moroccan police.
The last two weeks, Sahrawi students at colleges and universities across Morocco and Western Sahara have been subjected to serious human rights violations. Today, 43 Norwegian organisations signed a letter to the Moroccan government, demanding that the attacks on Sahrawi students are stopped, and that their rights are respected.
- Diplomatic activities between Morocco and Israel have been on a high gear lately, despite the fact that Rabat broke its ties with Jerusalem six years ago. Sahrawi sources claim to have proof Morocco is offering the resumption of full diplomatic relations with Israel in exchange for a strong Israeli lobbying in favour of Rabat's Western Sahara policies.
See the latest photos of the Sahrawi student, Sultana Khaya, here.
Read the shocking testimony of the Sahrawi student, Sultana Khaya Sidi Brahim, who lost her eye from the police beatings last week.
A resolution passed yesterday at the annual congress of European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) in Berlin, demands the recognition of the Saharawi Arabic Democratic Republic. The resolution was tabled by the Young Liberals of Norway. LYMEC has a quarter of a million members in 37 European states.
One of the companies of shipowner Kristian Eidesvik is a large investor in disputed Western Sahara. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against such practice. "Theft of our resources", says activist Aminatou Haidar. Bergens Tidende daily, March 10, 2007.
During his five day long official visit to Morocco, the president of the Norwegian parliament, Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland, will raise the human rights situation in Western Sahara with the Moroccan authorities. Jagland will exert pressure on the Moroccan authorities to allow a Nordic delegation into the occupied area, and he believes the controversial Royal Council for Saharan affairs is to be considered a part of Morocco's occupation policy. Read article in Verdensmagasinet X.
- A good opportunity to discuss the violations in occupied Western Sahara, says the Support Committee.
Aminatou Haidar has been imprisoned and tortured because of her struggle for Africa's last colony. She now appeals for Norwegian recognition of Western Sahara as an independent state. Vårt Land (Oslo, Norway) March 9th 2007.