Seville (Spain), Feb 6, 2012 (SPS) - The Solidarity Prize “Juan Antonio González Caraballo” awarded Sunday to family of the Spanish actress Pilar Bardem, as recognition to her solidarity action with the Saharawi people struggle.
The Prize was awarded by the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, to Ms. Pilar and her son Carlos following the closing of the 37th European Coordination Conference of Support to the Sahrawi Saharawi People (EUCOCO), in the presence of former winners like the Saharawi human rights defenders: Ali Salem Tamek and Aminatou Haidar.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Pilar said “I still cannot understand position of the Spanish authorities, when it withdrew from Western Sahara in favor of Morocco without assuming its historic responsibilities to resolve this conflict.”
From her part, the Saharawi human rights defender and ex-winner of the Prize, Ms. Aminatou Haidar, gave detailed explanation about the state of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara since EUCOCO’s 36 th Conference, which was held Le Mans in 2010.
She pointed out in this regard the daily assaults committed against the Saharawis, especially minors in the schools, denouncing on other hand the kidnapping of the three European aid workers from the Saharawi refugee camps.
Ms. Ali Salem Tamek, Saharawi defender of human rights, considered that this Prize is “a symbolic recognition to the struggle of the Saharawi people.” (SPS)
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