No less than 426 organisations signed a petition letter, demanding from the EU Commission that occupied Western Sahara be kept clearly outside of the so- called Advanced Status cooperation that Morocco currently is being granted. The petition was sent to the EU Commission this morning. PRESS RELEASE.
PRESS RELEASE from Western Sahara Resource Watch
Melbourne, Brussels, Madrid
5th December 2008
The larger part of Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975. Morocco tries to integrate the occupied country into its own economy, and through the new "EU membership light", the EU risks lending further legitimacy to that process.
The EU-Moroccan talks have to this day not stated that the occupied Western Sahara be kept outside of the cooperation.
"If the EU does not clearly exclude Western Sahara from the Advanced Status cooperation, it could end up supporting Morocco's illegal occupation of its neighbouring country", said Cate Lewis, International Coordinator of Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), the organisers behind the petition.
"If the EU has lost this fundamental perspective on ethics and on international law, it is up to the international civil society to point them to their responsibilities" , Lewis said.
All the main Sahrawi organisations and networks working in the occupied country and in exile have joined the campaign named "Say no to Advanced Status for Occupied Country". The letter was sent to Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs.
"In the mere 4 weeks since we opened this petition we've seen an avalanche of organisations joining the appeal. This massive global support also reflects the real preoccupation by the Sahrawi people over the EU's intentions", stated Lewis.
Among the other signatories, one finds prominent international organisations such as Solidar, the Rafto Foundation, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation and War on Want, shoulder to shoulder with individual trade unions such as the South African COSATU, the Spanish CCOO Comisiones Obreras and Unión Sindical Obrera (USO), as well as the umbrella organisation The World Federation of Trade Unions.
The petition also drew support from political parties, such as the Norwegian Liberal Party, the South African Communist Party, the Australian Socialist Alliance and the Spanish Unión Progreso y Democracia. The demand to exclude Western Sahara from the Moroccan Advanced Status was even backed up from within the European Institutions, through the signature of the European Parliament's Intergroup for Western Sahara.
Read the petition and the list of signatories below.
For questions and comments:
Sara Eyckmans, Brussels, WSRW EU Coordinator, mob (+32) 475 958 645
Cate Lewis, Melbourne, WSRW International Coordinator, mob (+61) 407 288 358
Javier García Lachica, Madrid, WSRW Spain, (+34) 615-917-339
www.wsrw.org
Over 100 UN Resolutions call for the Western Sahara's people's right to self-determination. The UN treats Western Sahara as a decolonisation issue, and has labelled it both "occupied" and "annexed". Furthermore, Morocco's unfounded claim on the territory has been rejected by the International Court of Justice.
WSRW is a global network with member organisations in more than 30 countries worldwide, working to protect the Sahrawi people's natural resources against Moroccan and foreign business interests in occupied Western Sahara.
To the attention of Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
EU Commissioner for External Relations
200 Rue de la Loi
B-1049 Bruxelles
Belgium
MOROCCO'S ADVANCED STATUS MUST EXCLUDE WESTERN SAHARA
We, the signatories of this petition, demand that the European Union do not grant a so-called Advanced Status to Morocco, unless the occupied part of Western Sahara is specifically excluded from the agreement.
The EU and Morocco are currently in discussion on deepening their ties through this cooperation but, so far, there has been no mentioning in the reports from the EU-Morocco talks as to what is being done to prevent occupied Western Sahara from being included into the cooperation agreement.
If the EU would actually grant Advanced Status to occupied Western Sahara, through its negotiations with Morocco as the occupying power, it will give an unfortunate sign of support to the unfounded Moroccan claims over the territory. It could also lead to the EU damaging the UN's efforts to decolonise the territory.
We would like to underline that Morocco continues to be an illegally occupying power in Western Sahara, in violation of over 100 UN Resolutions which call for the Western Sahara's people's right to self-determination. A number of Resolutions point to the fact that Western Sahara is an occupied and annexed territory. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice has rejected Morocco's claims over Western Sahara, and the UN considers the Western Sahara case as a decolonisation issue.
Under international customary law, the EU and its member states have a duty of non-recognition of the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara, and to support the decolonisation of the territory. It is also a moral obligation, as long as the Sahrawi people suffer either in exile or under severe human rights violations committed by the Moroccan forces in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
The EU should therefore make sure that Western Sahara is unambiguously excluded from the territorial applicability of the Advanced Status cooperation, without delegating this responsibility to Morocco itself.
If the EU was to make such a precision, it would follow for instance the USA, who in their free trade agreement with Morocco have specifically excluded Western Sahara. It would also follow its own example of excluding the Palestinian territories from the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We urge the EU to follow these precedents and support the UN peace process by respecting its duty of non-recognition.
We, the signatories of this petition, are in principle not against a strengthened cooperation between the EU and Morocco. However, we demand that the agreement coming out of the Advanced Status talks will clearly specify that its applicability shall not extend further south than to Morocco�s internationally recognised southern border, namely 27'40'N.
Sincerely yours,
1. Western Sahara Resource Watch
2. Raftostiftelsen (The Rafto Foundation), Norway
3. The World Federation of Trade Unions
4. COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), South Africa
5. IPJET - International Platform of Jurists for East Timor
6. Vänsterpartiet (Left Party) [The Kronoberg county branch has also signed independently], Sweden
7. Solidar
8. CGTP-IN Confederação Geral dos trabalhadores Portugueses- Intersindical Nacional (General Confederation of Portuguese Workers), Portugal
9. UNPO - Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, The Netherlands
10. USO - Unión Sindical Obrera (Syndicate Trade Union), Spain
11. ARSO - Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental (Association for a fair and free referendum in Western Sahara), Switzerland
12. Unión, Progreso y Democracia (Union, Progress and Democracy), Spain
13. War on Want, United Kingdom
14. Venstre (The Liberal Party of Norway), Norway
15. African National Congress Youth League, South Africa
16. South African Communist Party, South Africa
17. CCOO (Comisiones Obreras), Spain
18. Intergroup on Western Sahara in the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
19. Kristdemokratiska Studentförbundet (Christian Democratic Student Union), Sweden
20. One World Action, United Kingdom
21. MDM - Movimento Democrático de Mulheres (Democratic Women's Movement), Portugal
22. Fédération des Jeunes Verts (Federation of Young Greens), France
23. Conselho Portugués para a Paz e Cooperação (Portuguese Council for Peace and Co-operation), Portugal [Almada Pela Paz branch signed independently]
24. Ung Vänster (Young Left), Sweden
25. Pax Christi Australia, Australia
26. Støttekomiteen for Vest-Sahara (Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara), Norway
27. Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund / ÖGB (Austrian Trade Union Federation), Austria
28. Kritische Ökologie / ifak e.V. (Critical Ecology / Inst. for Appl. Cultural Research), Germany
29. Liberala Kvinnor (Liberal Women), Sweden
30. Sosialistisk Ungdom (Socialist Youth League of Norway), Norway
31. Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), Republic of Korea
32. Suomen Rauhanpuolustajat ry (Finnish Peace Committee), Finland
33. Föreningen Västsahara, The Swedish Committee for Western Sahara, Sweden
34. U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation, USA
35. Örnsköldsviks FN-förening (Swedish UN Association, local chapter in Örnsköldsvik), Sweden
36. Partido Ecologistica - Os Verdes (Green party), Portugal
37. Western Sahara Campaign UK
38. Socialistisk Ungdomsfront (Socialist Youth Front), Denmark
39. USL - União dos Sindicatos de Lisboa (Lisbon Trade Unions), Portugal
40. Generación de la Amistad Saharaui (The Friendship Generation), Western Sahara/Spain
41. Heinrich-Barth-Institut für Archäologie und Umweltgeschichte Afrikas e.V. (Heinrich Barth Institute for African Archaeology and Environmental History), Germany
42. Støttekomiteen for Vest Sahara i Danmark (Danish Support Committee for the Saharawi People), Denmark
43. Solidariteitsgroep Westelijke Sahara (Solidarity Group Western Sahara), Belgium
44. Tierra Libre, Spain
45. Drustvo Za Podporo Zahodni Sahari (The Western Sahara Support Society), Slovenia
46. Partido Impulso Democrático, Spain
47. BIRDHSO - Bureau International pour le Respect des Droits Humains au Sahara Occidental (International Bureau for the Respect of Human Rights in Western Sahara), Switzerland
48. Club de Amigos de la UNESCO, Spain
49. Nihon Saharawi Kyokai (Japan Sahara Association), Japan
50. SNTCT (National Trade Union of Postal and Telecommunication Workers), Portugal
51. Solidaritetskommittén vid Jakobsbergs folkhögskola (Solidarity Committee of the Folk High School of Jakobsberg), Sweden
52. Mouvement Chrétien pour la Paix- Bruxelles, Belgium
53. S-kvinnor (Socialdemocratic women), Sweden
54. UJS - Union de Juristas Saharauis (Saharawi Jurists' Union), Western Sahara
55. New Zealand Western Sahara Association, New Zealand
56. United States Peace Council, United States of America
57. New Internationalist Publications, United Kingdom
58. Stichting Zelfbeschikking West-Sahara (The Netherlands Foundation for Self-determination in Western Sahara), The Netherlands
59. AFAPREDESA (Association of the Families of Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeards), Western Sahara
60. AWSA - Australia Western Sahara Association, Australia
61. Confederación Intersindical (STES, SF y STAS), Spain
62. Volkshilfe Österreich (People's Aid Austria), Austria
63. Unge Venstre (Young Liberals of Norway), Norway
64. Sosialistiliitto (Socialist Union), Finland
65. Central and Eastern European Alliance for the Solidarity with the Saharawi People, Hungary
66. AISAH - Asociación de Inmigrantes Saharauis de León (Association of Saharawi immigrants of León), Spain
67. Union de Periodistas y Escritores Saharauis (UPES) (Saharawi Journalists' and Writers' Union), Western Sahara
68. Juventud Saharaui, Saharawi Refugee Camps
69. Liberala ungdomsförbundet (Liberal youth), Sweden
70. Asociación Um Draiga, Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui en Aragón (Association Um Draiga, Friends of the Saharawi people in Aragon), Spain
71. AISOC - Asociación de inmigrantes del Sahara Occidental en Canarias (Association of Saharawi immigrants in the Canary Islands), Western Sahara/Spain
72. Fundación Xaley (Xaley Foundation), Spain
73. Tasmania Quaker Peace and Justice Committee, Australia
74. ASVDH - Association Sahraouie des Victimes des Violations Graves des Droits de l'Homme commises par l'Etat du Maroc (Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations commited by the Moroccan State), Western Sahara
75. Club of Independent Journalists supporting Sahrawi People's Right to Self-Determination, Mauritania
76. Stiftelsen Global Kunskap (Global Publications Foundation), Sweden
77. AFASPA - Association française d'Amitié et de solidarité avec les peuples d'Afrique (French association of friendship and solidarity with the peoples of Africa), France
78. Asociación Estudiantil Alternativa de la Universidad de Granada, Spain
79. Asociación de Mujeres Saharauis en España (Saharawi Women Association), Spain
80. Espacios Europeos, Spain
81. Observatorio Galego para o Sáhara Occidental, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
82. Liberala studenter (Liberal students), Sweden
83. Festival de Cine Social y de los Derechos Humanos, CINE OTRO, Chile
84. Asociación Asturiana de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui (Asturias Association of friends of the Saharawi People), Spain
85. SUKS - Schweizerisches Unterstötzungskomitee für die Sahraouis (Swiss Supporting Comittee of Sahawi People), Switzerland
86. ACAPS - La Llagosta Solidaria, Spain
87. Centerpartiets Ungdomsförbund (Centre Party Youth), Sweden
88. Colectivo de Redacción LQSomos.org, Spain
89. ANSPS - Associazione Nazionale di Solidarietá con il Popolo Sahrawi (National Association of solidarity with Sahrawi People), Italy
90. Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker (Society for Threatened Peoples), Germany
91. Emmaus Björkå Association [The Stockholm and Gävle branches of Emmaus have also signed independently], Sweden
92. CSPRON - Sahrawi Commitee for Support to UN Resolution Plan and for Protection of Natural Resources in Western Sahara, Western Sahara
93. Socialist Alliance, Australia
94. Observatorio Aragones para el Sahara Occidental, Spain
95. Interkulturel Verein Vita, Switzerland
96. Young Socialists, New Zealand
97. Asociación Civil Yakarí - Para la Integración y Participación Ciudadana (Civil Association Yakarí - For Civil Integration and Participation), Spain/Venezuela
98. Fundación Mundubat (OneWorld Foundation), Spain
99. ¿Quien Debe a Quien? (Campaign against External Debt), Spain
100. Österreichisch Saharauische Gesellschaft - ÖSG (Austrian Saharawi Society), Austria
101. Colectivo de la Juventud Saharaui (Collective of the Saharawi Youth), Spain
102. Garrigues, Cooperacio Internacional del Grup cultural Garrigues, Spain
103. Associacio Catalana per al Desenvolupament i la Cooperacio, Spain
104. Bundesausschuss Friedensratschlag (Federal Committee Peace Council), Germany
105. AG Friedensforschung an der Universität Kassel (Working group Peace Studies, University of Kassel), Germany
106. Cantabria por el Sahara, Spain
107. Tidningen Anti (Political journal), Sweden
108. Federaciòn Andaluza de Asociaciones solidarias con el Sahara - FANDAS Sahara (Andalusian Federation of Associations supportive of the Sahara - FANDAS Sahara), Spain
109. Escritores por el Sáhara (Writers for Sahara), Spain
110. CEDEPU - Center of Studies for People's Democracy, Chile
111. Gemeinnützige Entwicklungszusammenarbeit GmbH (GEZA), Austria
112. Foro Social de Granada (Social Forum of Granada), Spain
113. ECOS - Traductores e Intérpretes por la Solidaridad (Translators and Interpretors for Solidarity), Spain
114. Haags Vredesplatform (Peace Platform, The Hague), The Netherlands
115. Associazione di solidarietá con il Popolo saharawi - Al Awda (Al Awda, Solidarity with Saharawi People), Italy
116. Medico International, Germany
117. Asociación Cultural y Juvenil ADAC Alcalá de Henares (Cultural Youth Association ADAC of Alcalá de Henares), Spain
118. UGT-SARIO, Western Sahara
119. Kulturverein Wechsel e.V., Germany
120. Colectivo Antimilitarista M.O.C. Las Palmas, Spain
121. Algeria-Watch, Germany
122. Vrede vzw, Belgium
123. SODePAZ - Solidaridad para el Desarrollo y la Paz (Solidarity for Development and Peace), Spain
124. Associació Terressaharaui, Spain
125. AARASD - Association des Amis de la RASD (Association of Friends of the RASD), France
126. Les Amis du Monde Diplomatique en Bélgique (Belgian Friends of Monde Diplomatique), Belgium
127. Asociación de Pequeño Comercio da Pobra do Caramiñal, Spain
128. Lembarki, Spain
129. Transformando - Cooperativa de Initiativa Social, Spain
130. Industri Energi (Trade Union for Industry and Energy), Norway
131. Vlaams Palestina Komitee vzw (Flemish Palestine Committee), Belgium
132. Comité de Soutien au Peuple Sahraoui, Belgium
133. Animo (Animo, Flemish Socialist Youth), Belgium
134. Grön Ungdom Riksorganisationen (Young Greens), Sweden
135. Asociación Cultural Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Castilla y León (Cultural Association of Friends of the Saharawi People, Castilla y León), Spain
136. Unión de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Pueblo Saharaui de Castilla y León (Union of Solidarity Associations with the Saharawi People, Castilla y León), Spain
137. Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Béjar (Friends of the Saharaui People, Béjar), Spain
138. SaharaLibre.es, Spain
139. Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui - Aminetu Haidar de Daganzo (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People), Spain
140. CEAR - Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (Spanish Commission for Refugee Help), Spain
141. CAWSA - California Western Sahara Association, United States of America
142. La'o Hamutuk - The Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis, East Timor
143. Bir Lehlu - Asociación de Ayuda al Pueblo Saharaui (Association for Help to the Saharawi People), Spain
144. Ayuda Social al Sahara Occidental de Aspe (Social Help to Western Sahara, Aspe), Spain
145. Asociación del Pueblo Saharaui de Águilas (Association for the Saharawi People of Águilas), Spain
146. Africa Contact, Denmark
147. Asociación de Mujeres de Getafe "Manuela Galeote" (Association of Women of Getafe "Manuela Galeote"), Spain
148. Nätverket för Global Fred och Demokrati (Network for Global Peace and Democracy), Sweden
149. MHACASA: Mount Holyoke African and Caribbean Student Association, United States of America
150. Mount Holyoke College International Club, United States of America
151. ACAPS Wilaya Alt Penedès, Spain
152. Association des Sahraouis en France (Association of Saharawi in France), France
153. Association des Travailleurs Sahraouis en France (Association of Saharawi Workers in France), France
154. Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Guadalajara (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People, Guadalajara), Spain
155. Association Solidarité Enfants Sahraouis (Association for Solidarity with Saharawi Children), France
156. CODESA (Collective of Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara), Western Sahara
157. Patchanka, Denmark
158. Asociación Leganes con el Pueblo Saharaui, Spain
159. Ireland Timor-Leste Association, Ireland
160. UMMA - Mount Holyoke College Muslim Students Association, United States of America
161. Asociación Grupo Scout 217 Matterhorn (Group Scout 217 Matterhorn Association), Spain
162. Cultural Canary Great Angular Association (Asociación Cultural Canaria Gran Angular), Spain
163. UJCE - Unión de Juventudes Comunistas de España (Comunist Youth Union of Spain), Spain
164. SAN - Seeds Action Network, Germany
165. Tidskriften Västsahara, Sweden
166. Asociación de Amigos y amigas del Pueblo Saharaui de Villafranca de los Barros- Badajoz (Association of Friends of the Sahrawi People - Villafranca de los Barros - Badajoz), Spain
167. United World Organization, United States of America
168. CEAS - Sahara, Coordinadora de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Sáhara, Spain
169. AISOC - Association of people from Western Sahara in Gran Canaria, Spain
170. Comité Syndical des Travailleurs sahraouis, Western Sahara
171. Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Alcalá de Henares (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People of Alcalá de Henares), Spain
172. Associació Catalana d' Amics del Poble Sahrauí - ACAPS (Catalan Association of Friends of the Saharawi People), Spain (Anoia section signed independently)
173. Verein Freunde des Sahrauischen Volkes Basel (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People, Basel), Switzerland
174. Madison-Ainaro Sister-City Alliance, United States of America
175. Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Alcobendas y San Sebastián de los Reyes (Association of Friends of the Saharaui People of Alcebendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes), Spain
176. Dobrodelno društvo Tibet (Charitable society Tibet), Slovenia
177. Asociación Cultural Artegalia (Cultural Association Artegalia), Spain
178. DCLIC, Asociación Colectivo de Difusión y Creación Cultural (Cultural Creation and Difussion Ass.), Spain
179. Asociación de Amigos y Amigas de la RASD de Álava (Association of Friends of the RASD, Álava), Spain
180. IESBAA ELKARTEA - Asociacion de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Aretxabaleta (Assocation of Saharawi Friends from Aretxabaleta - IESBAA), Spain
181. SKV - svenska kvinnors vänsterförbund (The Left Federation of Swedish Women), Sweden
182. La Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Mora y Comarca (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People of Mora and Comarca), Spain
183. Coordinadora Regional de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Pueblo Saharaui de Castilla La Mancha (Regional Coordination of Solidarity Associations for the Saharawi People of Castilla La Mancha), Spain
184. Associazione El Ouali Bologna per la Libertá del Sahara Occidentale (Association El Ouali Bologna for the Western Sahara's freedom), Italy
185. Observatorio de Derechos Humanos Del Colegio de Abogados de Badajoz, Spain
186. CORELSO - Comité pour le respect des libertés et des droits humains au Sahara occidental (Committee for the Respect of liberties and human rights in Western Sahara), France
187. Rødt (The political party Red), Norway
188. Rode Morgen (Red Morning), The Netherlands
189. Por un referéndum de autodeterminación del Sáhara Occidental, Spain
190. A Ecolojovem - Os Verdes, Portugal
191. Puente Humano (Human Bridge), Spain
192. Organisation française pour la solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui (French Organization for Solidarity with the Saharawi people), France
193. Juventud Comunista de Espa�a (marxista-leninista) (Communist Youth of Spain - Marxist-Leninist), Spain
194. Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharahui de Tres Cantos (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People of Tres Cantos), Spain
195. Asociación Soriana de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui (Saharawi's people friends Asociation.Soria), Spain
196. Asociación Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui del Campo de Gibraltar "Solidaridad" (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People of Campo de Gibraltar "Solidaridad"), Spain
197. BastA!, Basels starke Alternative (Bast!A, Basel's Strong Alternative), Switzerland
198. El Grupo Jaima de Córdoba, Spain
199. Africa Action, United States
200. Ateneo Republicano de Málaga, Spain
201. Comunicadores por la Paz (Communicators for Peace), Spain
202. CLSPS - Comité Limousin de Solidarité avec le Peuple Sahraoui (Solidarity Committee for the Saharawi People of Limoges), France
203. Asociación "Alcorcón por el Pueblo Saharaui" ("Alcorcón for Saharawi People"), Spain
204. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre, Australia
205. Arrasateko Sahararen Lagunen Elkartea Nubi, Pais Vasco/ Spain
206. Asociaci�n de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Cieza (People of the Sahara's friends from Cieza Association), Spain
207. YALAH - Solidaris amb el Poble Sahrauí, Spain
208. Iniciativas de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo - ICID ( Initiatives of International Development Cooperation), Spain
209. SAHANDREU - Sant Andreu Solidari amb el Poble Sahrauí, Spain
210. Aula de Solidaridad de la Universidad de la Laguna, Spain
211. Anti-Racist Front, Portugal
212. Casal La Gallineta from Mollet del Vallès (Catalunya), Spain
213. CSDDHSSO - Commission Sahraoui de Defenseurs des Droits humains de Smara, Sahara Occidental, Western Sahara
214. Asociacion de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Avila (Avila Friends of the Saharawui People Asociation), Spain
215. AASTP - Amics del Sahara de les Terres de Ponent (Friends of the Sahara from Terres de Ponent), Spain
216. Asociación de Ayuda al Pueblo Saharaui "Nuyum" (Association of help to the Saharawi people "Nuyum"), Spain
217. Initiative Eine Welt e.V. (Initiative One World), Germany
218. STIENC - Sindicato dos Trabalhadores das Industrias El�ctricas do Norte (Northern Trade Union of Electrical Industry Workers), Portugal
219. INAMO e.V. - Informationsprojekt Naher und Mittlerer Osten e.V. (Project Information about Near and Middle East), Germany
220. Senterungdommen (Centre Party Youth), Norway
221. Asociación 'Dah Sid Ahmed' de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Getafe (Dah Sid Ahmed, Association of Friends of the Saharawi People, Getafe), Spain
222. Seixal Peace Comission of Portuguese Council for Peace and Co-operation, Portugal
223. Norsk Målungdom (Norwegian Language Youth), Norway
224. Le Comité Syndical Saharaoui, Western Sahara
225. CODAPSO - Comite de Défense de l'Autodétermination du Peuple du Sahara Occidental (Committee for the Defense of Self-determination of the Saharawi People), Western Sahara
226. RESISTIR Info, Portugal
227. District Trades Council in Ytre Sogn (the local organization of Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions), Norway
228. MURPI - Movimento Unitário Reformados Pensionistas Idosos, Portugal
229. Zentrum für Europäische und Orientalische Kultur e.V. (Centre for European and Oriental Culture), Germany
230. DROP - Do Remember Other People, Norway
231. SAFUGE, Save the Future Generation, Norway/Sierra Leone
232. The Tree of Hope, Thailand
233. Centro de la Cultura Popular Canaria (Cultural Centre Canary Islands), Spain
234. Coordinadora de Pueblos y Barrios (Coordination of Peoples and Neighbourhoods), Spain
235. Unión Ciudadana (Citizen Union), Spain
236. Radio San Borondón, Spain
237. ACEP - Associação para a Cooperação Entre os Povos (Association for Cooperation Between People), Portugal
238. STRUP - Sindicato dos Trabalhadores de Transportes Rodovários e Urbanos de Portugal (Portuguese Trade Union of Roads and Urban Transport Workers) [The Aveiro and Leiria branches of STRUP have also signed independently], Portugal
239. "El Laberinto Rojo" ("The Red Labyrinth"), Spain
240. Associazione "Bambini + Diritti", Italy
241. Ayuntamiento de Telde, Las Palmas (Telde City Council, Las Palmas), Spain
242. Associazione Culturale e Solidale Crescere Insieme, Italy
243. União dos Sindicatos do Porto (Porto Trade Unions' Union), Portugal
244. Consejo Español en Defensa de la Solidaridad y la Paz CEDESPAZ (Spanish Council in Defense of Solidarity and Peace), Spain
245. Sindicato dos Trabalhadores de Indústria de Hotelaria, Turismo, Restaurantes e Similares do Norte (Northern Trade Union of Workers in Hotels, Tourism, Restaurants and other), Portugal
246. Sindicato dos Trabalhadores Pesca do Norte (Northern Trade Union of Fisheries Workers), Portugal
247. Saheb Associazione Culturale e Solidale, Italy
248. TEPS - Terres de l'Ebre amb el Poble Saharauí Catalunya, Spain
249. Rød Ungdom (Red Youth), Norway
250. IDEAS - Iniciativas de Economía Alternativa y Solidaria (Initiatives of Alternative Economy and Solidarity), Spain
251. Asociación Pro Niños Saharauis (Pro Saharaui Children Association), Spain
252. FESAHT - Federação dos Sindicatos de Agricultura, Alimentação, Hoteleria e Turismo de Portugal, Portugal
253. Asociacion la Jaima solidaridad con el pueblo saharauis, Spain
254. Arbeidernes Ungdomsfylking (AUF) (Norwegian Labour Youth), Norway
255. ASOVESSA - Asociación Venezolana de Solidaridad con el Sahara (Venezuelan Association for Solidarity with the Sahara), Venezuela
256. Asociación para Conocer y Proteger la Naturaleza Munigua (Association to Know and to Protect the Nature Munigua), Spain
257. Centerstudenter, Sweden
258. Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpefond (SAIH, Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund), Norway
259. Asociación hispano-saharaui Resistencia Sumud (Association Spain - Saharawi Resistance Sumud), Spain
260. Asociación Villena con el Pueblo Saharaui Desierto La Hamada (Villena Association for the Saharawi People, Hamada Desert), Spain
261. Soldepaz Pachakuti, Spain
262. AMPUSASA - Asociación de Amigos del pueblo Saharaui de Salamanca (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People, Salamanca), Spain
263. Associazione di Solidarieta con il Popolo Saharawi "Kalama" (Association in solidarity with the Saharawi People "Kalama"), Italy
264. Kristna Studentrörelsen i Sverige (Student Christian Movement in Sweden), Sweden
265. Asociación Dajla, Solidarios con el Pueblo Saharaui (Association Dajla, Solidary with the Saharawi People), Spain
266. Asociación Riojana de Amig@s de la RASD (Association La Rioja of Friends of the RASD), Spain
267. Brödet & Fiskarna (The Bread and Fishes Foundation), Sweden
268. Asociación Cultural S.A.X. (Somos Anti Xenofobia) (Cultural Association "We are Against Xenophobia), Spain
269. CIDAC - Centro de Informação e Documentação Amílcar Cabral (Information and Documentation Centre Amílcar Cabral), Portugal
270. CAC 38 - Collectif pour une Alternative Citoyenne 38 (Collectif for an Alternative Citizenship), France
271. "Vue d'ailleurs" ("Seen elsewhere"), France
272. DU.SO - Dulces Sonrisas sin fronteras (Sweet Smiles without Borders), Spain
273. Centro de Estudios Imazighen de Canarias - Tamusni (Center of Imazighen Studies - Canary Islands - Tamusni), Spain
274. Children of Mexico, The Netherlands
275. Area Paz y Antiglobalización de Ben Magec, Ecologistas en Acción (Peace and Antiglobalization Area, Ben Magec, Ecologistas en Acción), Spain
276. Club Atletismo Mahit, Spain
277. Asociación Solidaridad Jarrera con el Pueblo Saharaui, Spain
278. Kvinnor för fred (Women for peace), Sweden
279. The International Club of Mt. Holyoke College, United States of America
280. Advocacy Project, Chapter at Mt. Holyoke College, United States of America
281. UB Sahrawi, Spain
282. ECOTERRA Intl., Germany
283. SINQUIFA - Trade Union of the workers of chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas of center, south and islands -Portugal
284. Echo Echanges, France/Japan
285. ACSPS - Asociación Canaria de Solidaridad con el Pueblo Saharaui (Asociation of Solidarity with the Saharawi People), Spain
286. Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya (IDHC) (Institute of Human Rights, Catalunya), Spain
287. Associacio Catalana de Juristas Democrates (ACJD) (Catalan Association of Democratic Jurists), Spain
288. Aktionsgemeinschaft Solidarische Welt e.V. (ASW), Africa Desk (Action for World Solidarity, Africa Desk), Germany
289. Snail Aid - Technology for Development, Italy
290. Kristna Fredsrörelsen (KrF) (Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation - SweFOR), Sweden
291. Solidaridad Vedruna - SOLIVE (Solidarity Vedruna), Spain
292. "Heart the Kids", Wellesley College Boston, United States of America
293. Izquierda Unida Canarias (United Left, Canary Islands), Spain
294. Muixeranga de la Safor, Spain
295. ASPA - Asociación Andaluza por la Solidaridad y la Paz (Andalusian Association for the Solidarity and the Peace), Spain
296. Comité pour un Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste de Roussillon (38), (New Anticapitalism Party comities of Roussillon), France
297. Asociación Andaluza por la Solidaridad y la Paz (ASPA) (Andalusian Association for the Solidarity and the Peace), Spain
298. Asociación Socio-Cultural Asamblea de Mujeres de Ermua, Spain
299. Asociación Canaria de Amistad con el Pueblo Saharaui (ACAPS), Spain
300. Afrikagrupperna (Africa Groups), Sweden
301. Asociación "Amanecer en el Sáhara", Spain
302. Federación Provincial de Huelva de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Sáhara, Spain
303. Kristelig Folkepartis Ungdom (Norwegian Christian Democrat Youth), Norway
304. Comité Portugués de Solidariedade com o Sara Ocidental (Portuguese Support Committee for Western Sahara), Portugal
305. Federación Estatal de Instituciones Solidarias con el Pueblo Saharaui (FEDISSAH), Spain
306. Red Tercera Vía (Third Way Network), Spain
307. Asociación Navarra Amigos del Sahara (A.N.A.S), Spain
308. PdCI (Party of Italian Communists), Italy
309. Jaleo Radioacción Colectiva, Spain
310. Survie, France
311. Círculo Solidario Euskadi, Spain
312. "Ateneo Cultural 14 de Abril", Spain
313. Coordinadora "27 de Febrero" Euskadi-Sahara (Coordination "27 February" Basq Country-Sahara), Spain
314. Asociación Navarra de Amigos y Amigas de la RASD (ANARASD) (Association of Friends of the RASD), Spain
315. A.S.F - L'Assossiation des Saharaoui en France (Association of Saharawi in France), France
316. Alternativa Sí se puede por Tenerife, Spain
317. STEC-STAC - Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Enseñanza de Cantabria y Sindicato de Trabajadores Asamblearios de Cantabria (Education Workers Trade Union of Cantabria and Assembly Workers Trade Union of Cantabria), Spain
318. Acercándonos (Aproaching us), Spain
319. Asociación Canaria de Enseñantes por la Paz y la Solidaridad, Spain
320. Red Canaria de Escuelas Solidarias, Spain
321. Kommittén för Västsaharas Kvinnor (Committee for Western sahara Women), Sweden
322. Association Tracto'Dak, France
323. Asociación Cultural Poetico Teatro, Spain
324. Associació Comarcal d’Ajuda al Poble Sahrauí, ACAPS "la Safor", Spain
325. SERSO - Servicio de Solidaridad de Euskalherria, Spain
326. Col·lectiu local del Bloc Nacionalista Valencià de Gandia (la Safor) (Collective of local Valencian Nationalist Bloc Gandia (la Safor), Spain
327. USAM - (União dos Sindicatos da Região Autónoma da Madeira), Portugal
328. Praktisk Solidaritet, Sweden
329. Federació d'associacions de Solidaritat amb el Poble Saharaui del País Valencia, Spain
330. "Valencia-Dakar", Spain
331. Menschen und Toleranz (MuT) (Men and Tolerance), Germany
332. "associazione culturale giovanile Scianus", Italy
333. Regüelta (Riot), Spain
334. Partit Comunista del Poble de Catalunya (Communist Party of the People of Catalunya), Spain
335. Coordinadora Safor Valldigna pel Valencià, Spain
336. Grup de Treball Xucurruc, Spain
337. MRP Escola d'Estiu Marina Safor, Spain
338. ONG Mestres que fan escola, Spain
339. Sindicato de Periodistas de Andalucía (Trade Union of Journalists of Andalucia), Spain
340. Vereinigung Schweiz-Cuba/Asociacion Suiza-Cuba/Association Suisse-Cuba/Associazione Svizzera-Cuba (Association Switzerland-Cuba), Switzerland
341. Asociacion de hermanamiento con el pueblo saharaui de Alzira (Twin Town with the village Saharaui of Alzira), Spain
342. Ajuntament Santa Margalida (Municipality of Santa Margalida), Spain
343. Asociacion Contamos Todos (Association We All Count), Spain
344. Asociación Juvenil de Cañada Rosal (Sevilla) "Plataforma Joven" (Youth platform of Cañada Rosal, Sevilla), Spain
345. SJJA - Sahara Japan Journalist Association, Japan
346. Associazione di Solidarietá con il Popolo Saharawi "KABARA LAGDAF" (Association of Solidarity with the Saharawi People "KABARA LAGDAF"), Italy
347. "Hangetsu", Spain
348. SSU - Sveriges Socialdemokratiska ungdomsförbund (Swedish Social Democratic Youth League), Sweden
349. Association for Sahrawis in Norway, Norway
350. Fotofeeling, Spain
351. ACAPS Wilaya Alt Penedès, Spain
352. Nätverk för ett nytt Irak, Sweden
353. Coruña Liberal, Spain
354. Federación UNEGA - Unión de Estudiantes de Galicia (Galician students United), Spain
355. Amnesty International group at the Red Cross Nordic United World College, Norway
356. Foro Liberal (Liberal Forum), Spain
357. Kansainvälinen solidaarisuussäätiö (International Solidarity Foundation ISF), Finland
358. Hilfe für saharawische Flüchtlingskinder e.V. (Welfare assoziation for Saharawi refugee children), Germany
359. Arbeiterwohlfahrt Kreisverband Nordhausen e.V. (Workerswelfare District Branch Nordhausen), Germany
360. Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - Kreisverband Nordhausen (Socialdemocratic Party of Germany - District Branch Nordhausen), Germany
361. Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - Ortsverein Bleicherode (Socialdemocratic Party of Germany - Local Branch Bleicherode), Germany
362. Asociación de Antiguas Alumnas del Centro de Promoción de la Mujer de Ermua-Bizkaia, Spain
363. Vindeiros, Asociación de Estudiantes de Historia, Arte y Geografía de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
364. HazteOir.org, Spain
365. La Rosa Blanca (The White Rose), Spain
366. Khaima - Comitato di Solidarietá con il Popolo Saharawi, Italy
367. Asociación Solidaridad Jarrera con el Pueblo Saharaui- La Rioja, Spain
368. Društvo Ženska Svetovalnica (Women's Counselling Service), Slovenia
369. Gewerkschaft Unia Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland
370. League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development, Germany
371. Gävle Afrikagrupp (Gävle Africa Group), Sweden
372. Fundación de Estudios y Cooperación con el Pueblo Saharaui (Foundation for Studies and Cooperation with the Saharawi People), Spain
373. Asociación Cultural de Mujeres para el Bienestar Social "Kassandra" - ACUMBISKA (Cultural Association of Women for Social Well-Being "Kassandra"), Spain
374. Collectiu de Literatura "Pep Sempere" (Collective of Literature "Pep Sempere"), Spain
375. Ateneu Cultural - Mutxamel (Cultural Athenaeum Mutxamel), Spain
376. Netzwerk gegen Konzernherrschaft und neoliberale Politik (Network against corporate rule and neoliberal policy), Germany
377. UNISON, United Kingdom
378. Neue PdA, Sektion Basel der Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz, Switzerland
379. Zenski forum Socialnih demokratov (Women's Forum of Social Democrats), Slovenia
380. ATEES Basilea - Asociación de trabajadores españoles emigrantes en Suiza (Association of Spanish Emigrant Workers in Switzerland), Switzerland
381. Travail et Culture (Work and Culture), France
382. Asociacion Pro Derechos Humanos de España (Association Pro Human Rights), Spain
383. Sindicato de Periodistas de Andalucía (SPA) (Trade Union of Journalists of Andalucia), Spain
384. Spire, Utviklingsfondets ungdom (Spire, The Norwegian Development Fund�s youth organization), Norway
385. Terre des femmes Stralsund, Germany
386. Frauenladen LiSa e.V., Germany
387. Asociación de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de las Islas Baleares (Association of Friends of the Saharawi People in Balearic Islands), Spain
388. Fadel Ismail Onlus, Italy
389. Ayuntamiento de Valverde de Mérida, Spain
390. Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Catalonia's Left Republican Party), Spain
391. Amics del Poble Sahrauí de Xàtiva (Friends of the Saharawi People of Xàtiva), Spain
392. SCI branche belge francophone (Service Civil International) , Belgium
393. Akalla Socialdemokratiska Förening, Styrelsen (Akalla branch of the Swedish Social Democratic Party), Sweden
394. Movimento de Utentes dos Serviços Públicos (MUSP), Portugal
395. Colonia Libera Italiana di Basilea (Free Italian Colony of Basel), Switzerland
396. Tolosaldea sahararekin sahara bizi GKE ( Support Committee for Western Sahara of Tolosaldea-Basque country), Spain
397. Association Talhaxirivella, Spain
398. JungsozialistInnen Schweiz, (Socialist Youth of Switzerland), Switzerland
399. Asociación Amal-Esperanza de solidaridad con el Pueblo Saharaui (Amal-Hope Association for Solidarity with Saharawi People), Spain
400. Enfants Réfugiés du Monde, Pays de la Loire (Refugiees Children in the World - Pays de la Loire), France
401. Mills Gorman Architects, Australia
402. Nätverket för ett fritt Västsahara (Network for a free Western Sahara), Sweden
403. Södertälje Afrikagrupp (Africa Group of Södertälje), Sweden
404. Comité pour un Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste de Vienne (38), (New Anticapitalism Party committee of Vienne (38)), France
405. Uníon do Povo Galego UPG (Galician People's Union UPG), Spain
406. Asociación Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui del Noroeste Región de Murcia, Spain
407. Izquierda Unida Moratalla, Spain
408. Comité pour un Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste de Givors (69), (New Anticapitalism Party committee of Givors), France
409. Grupo Jaima - Amigos de la RASD (Jaima Group, Friends of the RASD), Spain
410. Puchun Civil Union, Republic of Korea
411. Imagination for International Solidarity, Republic of Korea
412. Palestine Peace Solidarity, Republic of Korea
413. Kyungsan Chungdo city committee, Democratic Party, Republic of Korea
414. Ulsan Solidarity For Human Rights, Republic of Korea
415. Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM), Republic of Korea
416. VIF - Vänsterns internationella forum (Left International Forum), Sweden
417. Terre des hommes Schweiz (terre des hommes Switzerland), Switzerland
418. Los Verdes en Fuengirola, Spain
419. ADS (Advanced Strategic Consulting), Spain
420. Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA), South Africa
421. Genova e il Tigullio con il Popolo Sahrawi (Genova and Tigullio with the Sahrawi People), Italy
422. Medicus Mundi Catalunya, Spain
423. IEPALA (Instituto de Estudios Políticos para América Latina y Africa), Spain
424. Fundação AMI, Portugal
425. Socialdemokratiska studentförbundet, (Swedish social democratic students� association), Sweden
426. South African Human Rights Commission, South Africa
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Post-Deadline Signatories
427. Parti Communiste français, section de Roussillon, France
428. Iniciativa per Catalunya Verd (left green party Catalunya), Spain
429. PCPE (Partido Comunista de los Pueblos de España) (Communist Party of Peoples of Spain), Spain
430. Estudios Sin Fronteras (Studies without Borders), Spain
431. CPCCRD (Confederação Portuguesa das Colectividades de Cultura, Recreio e Desporto), Portugal
432. Asociación de Vecinos "El Val", Spain
433. Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH), France
434. Norsk studentunion (National Union of Students in Norway), Norway
435. Miljöpartiet de Gröna (Green Party of Sweden), Sweden
436. Asociación Cultural "El Picuezo", Spain
437. "Akuete", Togo
438. Asociación ALOUDA (Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui del Altoaragón), Spain
439. Asociación Cultural "El Picuezo" de Molinos Teruel, Spain
440. Fundación Conciencia (Conscienceness Foundation), Spain
441. Asociación Juvenil Escuela Educar para la Paz (Youth Association School Educating for Peace), Spain
During the past week, Saharawi victims of severe human rights violations have taken to the streets of El-Aaiún, demanding more respect for their socio-economic rights. Protesters carried slogans calling attention to the ongoing plunder of Saharawi natural resources, perpetrated by Morocco and complicit foreign interests.
The Danish organisation Afrika Kontakt demands that the Danish government do not support Morocco's occupation through the EU cooperation.
Statement from Western Sahara Resource Watch, 24 March 2009.