Madrid (Spain), November 19, 2018 (SPS) - The 43rd European Conference for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO 2018), which wrapped up Saturday in Madrid, has denounced the continued plunder of the Sahrawi natural resources by the European firms, warning against Europe’s manoeuvres aiming at including the Sahrawi territory in its commercial deal with Morocco.
In this regard, the participants have warned the EU of new actions in the event that the European Parliament adopts amendments to include Western Sahara in the EU-Morocco commercial agreements.
Worth reminding indeed, the EU Justice Court has issued three decisions, separating the territories, that of Morocco and Western Sahara.
The participants in the Eucoco 2018 also renewed support to the Polisario Front, willing to "bring to justice the companies responsible for the plunder."
Research in this matter must be pursued by the solidarity movement so "denounce and bring to justice the European companies which are operating in the occupied territories without prior negotiations with Polisario Front, the representative of Western Sahara people," they said.
"The solidity movement must work closely with the International lawyers to endow the activists and support the Polisario Front in its legal battle"
== Providing Minurso with human rights monitoring mechanism ==
Concerning the respect of human rights in the occupied Sahrawi territories and the constant abuses committed by Morocco, the participants called on the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights to visit the occupied territories to meet the political prisoners.
The participants renewed their demand to provide the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) with human rights monitoring mechanisms in Western Sahara.
The final declaration of EUCOCO 2018 also stressed that the treatment of the Sahrawi political prisoners and the permanent repression of activists have always been under "media blackout," calling for swift actions."
"These actions have high media visibility and force politicians to position themselves with regard to human rights violations in Western Sahara," they said.
Besides, the participants stressed "the Geneva-based group of ambassadors can expand our advocacy to diplomatic circles, and it would be appropriate to duplicate these initiatives in New York and Brussels.” (SPS)
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