Addis Ababa, May 27, 2013 (SPS) - The Saharawi human rights Ms. Aminatou Haidar described today, Monday, in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) as “great success” the “unconditional” support of member states of the African Union (AU) to the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.
“The unconditional support of the AU to the Saharawi question is a great success. This reaffirms the just cause of the people of Western Sahara and their struggle for independence,”
Ms. Haidar, who attends the celebration of the OAU-AU 50th Anniversary as a guest of honor, told Algerian Press Service (APS).
During two days of discussion, Heads of State and Government of the AU adopted a declaration, in which they expressed “unwavering and unconditional support to the struggle of the people of Western Sahara to exercise their right to self-determination.”
The Saharawi activist said in this regard that AU support “will advance the process of negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco to reach a final political solution that would put an end to the suffering of the Saharawi people.”
She went on saying that African countries, through their concrete actions towards the people of Western Sahara, may help to push the international community, United Nations and Security Council to “do more” to end this conflict that lasted more than 38 years.
She therefore denounced the continuous and flagrant violations of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, saying “Morocco continues to violate ferociously all fundamental and basic rights of the Saharawi population in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.”
The Moroccan authorities, she added, deny the Saharawis from their right of association and demonstration, as well as freedom of expression.
The Saharawi Activist noted that “arbitrary detentions, unfair trials and fabrication of falsified charges against Saharawi human rights activists and all activists calling for the respect for the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people, are all practices being carried out by Moroccan authorities.”
Despite the fierce repression, she indicated, the Saharawi population remains engaged and committed to its noble and peaceful struggle to achieve their right to exist and to freedom. (SPS)
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