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Ross meets in occupied El Aaiun with Saharawi civil society organizations

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El Aaiun (occupied territories), Oct 19, 2013 (SPS) - The Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross met today, Saturday, at MINURSO headquarters in the occupied city of El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara, with Saharawi civil society organizations, said the Saharawi Ministry of Occupied Territories and Diaspora.


The UN Envoy met in particular with the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) and the Committee for the Support of UN Settlement Plan and Protection of Natural Resources of Western Sahara (CSPRON).


In their meeting with Ross, CODESA delegation renewed his call to expedite the establishment of a UN human rights mechanism in Western Sahara, calling for the release of all Saharawi political prisoners.


They also addressed an urgent letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, handed over to Ross, in which they requested him to carry Moroccan state to free all the Saharawi human rights defenders and political prisoners.


In another meeting with Ross, the Committee for the Support of UN Settlement Plan and Protection of Natural Resources of Western Sahara (CSPRON) addressed a letter to Ban Ki-moon calling on the UN to find a solution, which ensures the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination through free, fair and transparent referendum.


The letter called for the inclusion of human rights within UN powers, by creating a UN mechanism within MINURSO to monitor human rights, protect natural resources, cancel all the agreements signed with Morocco, and ensure that the Saharawi people will benefit from their country’s wealth.


The Committee also urged to respect Hans Corel’s legal opinion, dated back to 29 January 2002, which clearly states that Western Sahara has not decolonized yet, and that any exploitation of its natural resources without the consent of the indigenous people is a breach to international law. (SPS)


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