London, Oct 20, 2013 (SPS) - In its Africa Today program, broadcasted today, Press TV hosted the London-based human rights campaigner, Stefan Simanowitz, and POLISRIO Deputy Representative to the UK, Sidi Breika Brahim, to talk about the struggle of Western Sahara and the right of its people to self-determination.
Speaking during this program, Stephan Simanowitz, journalist and human rights campaigner, clarified that in terms of international legality, the situation in Western Sahara “is unambiguous”, pointing to the ruling issued by the International Court of Justice in 1975.
Mr. Simanowitz went on saying that the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco “was against international law,” adding that settlement of Moroccans in the occupied Saharawi territories “is a breach of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention.”
He, on other hand, highlighted that Morocco “parallels” Israel in occupying Western Sahara through its division of the country by a military wall, considered the biggest one in the world.
Polisario Front’s Deputy Representative to the UK Sidi Breika Brahim, for his part, said that according to international law, Western Sahara “is a decolonization issue and it is the last colony in Africa.”
“It is a shame that colonialism still exists in Africa,” undrlined the Saharawi diplomat, asking the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take their responsibility vis-à-vis the Western Sahara.
Sidi Breika spoke about the constant violations of human rights the Saharawi people suffer in the occupied Western Sahara, appealing to the UN to assume its responsibility in putting an end to their suffering.
POLISRIO deputy representative concluded by declaring that the Saharawi people “are keen to achieve their goal of freedom and independence.” (SPS)
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