Wellington (New Zealand), March 20, 2015 (SPS) - Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) Monday published a detailed report revealing all companies that during 2014 illegally purchased phosphates from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, in complicity with Moroccan occupying authorities.
The presentation of the report was taken place in the city Wellington, New Zealand, which is considered the third biggest of the involved importing countries.
“Such trade is deeply unethical, as it directly undermines the UN peace efforts. It is taking place in violation of the Saharawi people's legitimate right to manage their own resources. The Saharawis have a right to self-determination over their land and resources, and both Morocco and the involved companies don't seem to care at all,” said Sara Eyckmans, coordinator of Western Sahara Resource Watch.
She also urged all importers to immediately halt their illegal involvement in the plunder of Western Sahara phosphate.
The report details all volumes, values and shipments relating to Morocco’s exports from the occupied territory of Western Sahara during 2014.
The report puts the total exported volume in 2014 at 2,1 million tonnes, corresponding to an estimated value of US $230 million, shipped in 44 bulk vessels.
Through tracking and analyzing all ship traffic in the port of El Aaiun, occupied Western Sahara, WSRW could identified nine known and one unknown importers in nine countries around the globe. Between the two of them, the companies Agrium Inc (Canada) and Lifosa AB (Lithuania) accounted for 58 percent of all purchases from Western Sahara. (SPS)
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