Download the statement form Lymec 2008 here.

Stop exploitation of occupied Western Sahara

Whereas 

• The territory of Western Sahara has been under occupation by Morocco since 1975.
• The International Court of Justice in 1975 ruled against Morocco’s territorial claim on Western Sahara.
• Western Sahara is on the UN list of Non-Self Governing Territories and is considered Africa's last colony.
• Under the terms of the UN's settlement plan in 1991, Western Sahara should decide its own future status in a referendum.

Noting that

• Morocco has repeatedly blocked the execution of a referendum.
• Human rights agencies and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have reported grave and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territories.
• The people living in the occupied territories are subject to severe restrictions on their freedom of speech, assembly and movement.
• Human rights activists and pro-independence journalists and editors have been arrested.

Observing that

• None of the the income from the exploitation of Western Sahara's rich fish and phosphate natural resources is diverted back to the people of Western Sahara.
• The EU has signed an agreement with the government of Morocco that allows EU vessels to fish in occupied territorial waters off the coast of Western Sahara, in clear violation of international law.
• The USA has specifically excluded from its free-trade agreement with Morocco all products that originate from the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

LYMEC - European Liberal Youth calls upon

• The EU to terminate its fishing agreement with Morocco.