Brussels, July 14, 2015 (SPS).- Western Sahara Resource Watch has condamned San Leon's drilling oil exploration operations the UK/Irish company San Leon is planning to do in the areas of Western Sahara occupied by Morocco.
"Western Sahara Resource Watch condems San Leon's operations. We expect more from a UK/Irish company than a blind support to the occupation of this territory. San Leon needs to take into account the wishes of the people of Western Sahara and start respecting international law. It must immediately withdraw from this operation. San Leon fundamentally undermines the UN peace process in the territory", said Erik Hagen, a campaigner in Western Sahara Resource Watch, in a statement posted yesterday by the association site.
According to the same source, San Leon Energy on 2 July 2015 announced in a press release it had entered into an agreement with the company Entrepose Drilling to carry out a well in the neighbourhood of the capital city of occupied Western Sahara, El Aaiún.
WSRW recalled that the UN legal office stated in 2002 that any further oil exploration would be illegal if the people of the territory does not consent to it. No state in the world has recognised the Moroccan claims to the territory.
Irish daily The Independent reported yesterday that Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), a human rights non-governmental organisation run by Irish lawyers say they will take a legal action against the company over the plan. The Irish Government has previously called for a referendum to decide the future of Western Sahara. Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said: "Under international law, the economic resources of a non-selfgoverning territory may only be exploited for the benefit of the people of the territory, on their behalf or in consultation with their representatives."Any exploration and exploitation activities that proceed in disregard of the interests of the people of Western Sahara would be in violation of the principles of international law." SPS
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