Madrid (Spain), 1 December 2020 (SAPS) -The municipal council of Rivas-Vaciamadrid has approved a decision providing for the political recognition of the Saharawi Republic (SADR), deciding to name one of the public squares after the Saharawi people as a form of solidarity and commitment to the Saharawi cause.
The Council urged the Spanish government to officially recognize the Saharawi state and the Polisario Front, which is a liberation movement according to the United Nations.
It, in this respect, requested to grant Polisario Front’s representatives the same diplomatic status enjoyed by the Palestinian mission to Spain.
The decision called on Spain, the former colonial and de jure administering power, to take a more serious attitude to defend UN resolutions on self-determination referendum, respect for human rights and put an end to the natural resources plundering.
With regard to the humanitarian situation of Saharawi refugees, the Council asked the Spanish Government to increase humanitarian aid projects aimed at alleviating the serious shortage of essential services in the camps, including of which nutrition, health and education among other basic services.
On other context, the decision expressed deep concern over the human rights violations perpetuated against the Saharawi citizens in occupied Western Sahara, calling for an immediate end to repression, release of political prisoners, halting natural resources plunder and allowing the access of international observers into the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
The Council stressed the need for the extension of MINURSO mandate to include human right, not only the ceasefire monitoring, adding this will avoid an increase in human rights violations, until the referendum is celebrated.
The municipal council seized the opportunity to reaffirm support to Saharawi people’s right to self-determination.
Supported by 21 votes, the decision was forwarded to the UN chief, EU commission and parliament, as well as to the Spanish royal palace, presidency of the government, foreign ministry and permanent mission to UN. (SPS)
089/090/T