A visiting journalist from Western Sahara today appealed for support from New Zealand to block trade supporting the military occupation of his country by Morocco. Pacific Media Centre, New Zealand, 23 July 2007.
PARLIAMENTARIANS from around the globe have joined together to criticise the actions of an Elmbridge company.
PRESS RELEASE: 06/29/2007. This morning, parliamentarians from the UK, Norway, New Zealand and Japan sent a letter to the London-based shipping company Gearbulk. The company profits from the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
This statement was sent to the Australian radio Pulse Radio, 10 January 2007.
Letter sent from the Saharawi Arabic Democratic Republic, 16. June 2006.
“In an act of gross hypocrisy the Irish Government last week signed up to a deal between the EU and Morocco to rob the fishing rights of the people of Western Sahara - a nation occupied by Morocco - while at the same time issuing a statement claiming to support the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination”, An Problacht wrote on 1 June 2006.
Sent 1 June 2006. The letter was sent to CEO K. Wester, with copy to A.Jonkman.
Analysis made in 2006 by the French association on the Fisheries Agreement (in French).
Last week, the EU endorsed a fishing deal with Morocco. This wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that the deal includes the coastal waters of Western Sahara, a territory that has been occupied by Morroco for more than thirty years. The Brussels Journal, 25 May 2006.
The UK has said a new European fisheries agreement with Morocco will have to be closely monitored to ensure it does not break international law.
Interview with the UN's former legal chief, Hans Corell. Swedish Radio, Eko, 22 May 2006
Statement on EU-Morocco fisheries agreement by Mohamed Sidati, Minister Delegate for Europe, Polisario.
Here is the EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement of 2006, in several languages.
The exiled political leaders of Western Sahara have warned that a €144-million fisheries deal agreed by the EU and Morocco could spark civil unrest in the territory. Irish Times, 22 May 2006.
The British Government has been condemned by War on Want and campaign groups from across Europe today for supporting a Fisheries Agreement that will allow European ships to fish off the coast of illegally occupied Western Sahara, despite claims that this violates international law. Sweden stood alone in opposing the Agreement though Finland, the Netherlands and Ireland conditioned their support with a statement that the Agreement should benefit the “local population” of Western Sahara. Press release by War on Want, 22 May 2006.
EU governments have given final approval to a deal that will allow European trawlers to catch fish along Morocco's Atlantic coast.
The EU has voted to steal fish from the displaced people of Western Sahara, writes columnist John Hilary, 17 May 2006.
FishUpdate, 18 May 2006.
FishUpdate.com, 17 May 2006.
Press release from The Greens, 16 May 2006.
Press release from the Fish Elsewhere campaign, 16 May 2006.
AN MEP today voiced his reservations over the outcome of a controversial Euro vote. FishUpdate.com, 16 May 2006.
Letter from the Sahrawi human rights activists and prisoners of conscience denounce EU fisheries and foreign oil industry in Western Sahara, 16 May 2006.
Press release, 3 May 2006.
Kerr-McGee is pulling out of Western Sahara following pressure from activists pushing for Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) independence from Morocco.
EU Observer, 9 March 2006.
Afrol News, 7 March 2006.
Campaigners from 19 European countries came together today to stop the European Union ratifying an Agreement which will violate international law and see European boats fishing in the waters of Africa’s last colony. Press release, 13 February 2006.
The Moroccan state phosphate company present in Western Sahara grew in 2006 in relation to 2005. Read press a press release from the company here.
Statement from the Sahrawi government , 17 January 2006.
Statement from the Saharawi Arabic Democratic Republic, 6 January 2006.
Media clips of the Yara admissions of having imported phosphate from Western Sahara, 2005.
Story published by Oilbarrel.com, 14 December 2005.
Statement from the Saharawi governmment
"Intended Activities by Companies in Western Sahara Against the Express Wish of the Indigenous Saharawi Population". Statement of 12 oct 2005.
Following six years of negotiations and strained relations, Morocco and the European Union (EU) today finally signed a new but limited fisheries partnership agreement for the next four years. The new deal especially favours the Spanish and Portuguese fleets. Morocco, on the other hand, has used the last six years wisely to build its own modern fisheries industry. Afrol News, 28 July 2005.
The small Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara has won a great victory: the last Norwegian investor is now selling its stocks in the petroleum company Kerr-McGee. Aftenposten, 30 June 2005.
On 17 May, Mohamed Khaddad, a senior Polisario diplomat, declared an oil exploration licensing round for the waters offshore the Western Sahara at an oil industry and press gathering in London. Middle East International, 26 May 2006.
As the European Union (EU) is currently negotiating a new fisheries agreement with the government of Morocco, the exiled government of Western Sahara has voiced its concern over a possible inclusion of fisheries resources from the occupied territory in the deal. The Sahrawis call for "greater transparency and respect for international law" in the ongoing negotiations. Afrol News, 19 May 2005
Letter from Polisario representative in Europe to EU Fisheries Commissioner, 18 May 2005.
Oil Companies Very Keen On Western Sahara Despite The Geopolitical Problems. Oilbarrel.com, 14 May 2005.
Newsclips regarding Kerr-McGee's renewal of contract offshore Western Sahara, May 2005.
International campaign puts pressure on U.S. oil corporation profiting from Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
Shareholders focus of campaign to end Kerr-McGee's involvement in Occupied Western Sahara. Press release Feb 28th 2005. Also: letter to KMG shareholders.
PESA News, April/May 2003, Issue Number 63.
KERR-McGee remains unfazed by the growing row in Norway concerning the legitimacy of exploration activity off Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony under occupation by Moroccan forces. Upstream Online, 14 January 2005.
Report was published by the "The International Coalition for the Protection of the Natural Resources of Western Sahara" which was the former name of Western Sahara Resource Watch.
Article in Le Journal Hebdomadaire, 12 January 2005, on US oil company Kerr-McGee.
Offshore: Thor in Hósvik has ended up in the world spotlight, after it has been known that the company has worked in an area that the whole world is boycotting. The company claims to not have known about the tense situation in the area, and has now no plans to continue in the area. Dimmalaetting (Faeroe Islands), 11 January 2005.
Philippe Riché, of the French Association des Amis de la R.A.S.D in 2004 wrote a series of reports on the phosphate industry and general natural resources in the territory (in French).
Kerr-McGee, the only remaining oil company operating on a Moroccan contract in occupied Western Sahara, is under strong pressure to follow three other companies that have left the territory, or face major divestments. The world's biggest public investment fund is believed to be in the process of selling out its shares in Kerr-McGee. Afrol, 24 December 2004.
Unknown author, published in English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Regarding Norwegian government's ownership in US oil company Kerr-McGee.
The day before the ethical guidelines of the Petroleum Fund enter into effect, the [Norwegian] Minister of Finance is presented allegations of clear violations of the guidelines.
Claims have been made that Norway\'s Oil Fund holds shares worth Nkr46.6 million ($7.6 million) in US oil company Kerr McGee, contrary to established ethical guidelines. Upstream, December 1st, 2004.
The French oil giant Total (formerly TotalFinaElf) has announced its withdrawal from its controversial operations offshore Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. The company claims there were no recoverable oil or gas deposits in the area.
FUGRO looks set to become the second seismic contractor to eat humble pie over involvement in exploration activity off the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Upstream, August 6, 2004.
This press release is one of the first initiatives of the network that took the form of Western Sahara Resource Watch, 6 August 2004.
Letter from K. Scheele on behalf of the Intergroup on Western Sahara of the European Parliament to Commissioner Joseph Borg, DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, European Commission.
This press release is one of the first initiatives of the network that took the form of Western Sahara Resource Watch, 30 June 2004.
Sent from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, on 8 June 2004, to the President and CEO of Fugro NV, Mr. Gert-Jan Kramer. Kosmos did, at the time, seismic surveys for Kerr-McGee offshore occupied Western Sahara.
A PAIR of small British energy companies are squaring off against French and American multinationals in a conflict over oil in a barren corner of Northwest Africa.
Activists campaigning against what they dub premature exploration of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara are preparing to turn up the heat on UK minnnow Wessex Exploration, writes Barry Morgan. Upstream, 28 May 2004.
Wessex Exploration is planning oil exploration in Western Sahara. Press release from Western Sahara Campaign UK.
KERR-McGee this week kicked off a massive 5000-kilometre 2D seismic sweep of its controversial Boujdour permit off Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco, writes Barry Morgan. Upstream, 6 May 2004