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British civil society representatives call on Prime Minister for respect of cease-fire in Western Sahara

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London, September 8, 2011 (SPS) - An important delegation of parliamentarians, representatives of civil society  including  trade unions and the Polisario Front representative in London delivered a petition to the Office of the British Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron,  calling on London to play an active role to ensure the respect of the cease-fire in Western Sahara.

 

The petition, signed by parliamentarians and political, academic and trade unions figures, was delivered on the occasion of the 20-year ceasefire between the Parties  to the conflict, Morocco and the Polisario Front and presence of  UN mision, MINURSO,  in Western Sahara.

 

Following is the full text of the petition:

  .

"Dear Prime Minister

 

With the Arab Spring reshaping the political landscape of the region now is the time for the UN Security Council to fulfill its obligation to enforce international law in Western Sahara and resolve the ongoing 36-year conflict there.

 

Exactly twenty years ago today the Polisario Front laid down their arms, ending a 16-year war with Morocco. While the UN Security Council promised the people of Western Sahara that a referendum on independence would soon follow the ceasefire, the vote has yet to be carried out. In the meantime over 100,000 Saharawi continue to live in refugee camps in the Algerian desert whilst the rest of the population suffer under an unlawful occupation.

 

To mark this anniversary, a delegation of campaigners and MPs are visiting Downing Street to call on Britain to use her role within the UN Security Council to help enforce the terms of the ceasefire agreement in "Africa's last colony".

 

Twenty years is too long but it is not too late for international law to be applied and a peaceful resolution brought to this conflict.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Carne Ross (Director, Independent Diplomat)

 

Francesco Bastagli (UN Special Representative on Western Sahara (2005 – 2006))

 

Cathy Jamieson MP (Vice Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Western Sahara)

 

Jeremy Corbyn MP (Vice Chair, Parliamentary Human Rights Group)

 

Kelvin Hopkins MP

 

Stefan Simanowitz (Chair, Free Western Sahara Network)

 

Danielle Smith (Director, Sandblast)

 

Natalie Sharples (Western Sahara Campaign UK)

 

Mark Williams MP (Secretary APPG on Western Sahara)

 

Ann Clwyd MP

 

Jonathan Edwards MP

 

Paul Flynn MP

 

Andy Love MP

 

John Hilary (Executive Director, War on Want)

 

Dr Dimitrina Petrova (Executive Director, Equal Right Trust)

 

John Gurr (Western Sahara Resource Watch)

 

Dr Parag Khanna, Director, Hybrid Reality Institute."

 

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