Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

Western Sahara Urgent Action

category international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report author Monday May 15, 2006 23:21author by Gar Fitzpatrick

EU to legitimize Morocco's illegal occupation of Western Sahara with fisheries agreement.

The International Court of Justice and successive United Nations resolutions have made clear that Western Sahara is Africa’s last colony, with a right to self-determination. For the past 30 years Morocco has occupied the territory and many of the Saharawi people have been forced into exile in Algeria.

Tomorrow the European Parliament votes on a fisheries agreement with Morocco. The proposed agreement will allow EU boats to fish in the waters of Western Sahara, strengthening the Moroccan occupation.

Please email your MEPs to express your concern.
National governments still have several weeks to decide so there is still time to lobby them aswell.

A Draft letter to MEPs and national governments is online at: http://www.fishelsewhere.org/action.htm

You can find contact details for MEPs at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do?language=en

For more information:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=2...10005
There is a country profile of Western Sahara in New Internationalist 374, December 04, online at:
http://www.newint.org/

Comments (2 of 2)

Jump To Comment: 1 2
Update
author by Gar Fitzpatrickpublication date Tue May 16, 2006 18:43author address author phone

MEPs today voted in favour of a Fisheries Agreement that will allow European ships to fish off the coast of illegally occupied Western Sahara, despite claims that this violates international law. Amendments by Green and left-wing GUE groups were voted down, despite support from campaigners and members states like Sweden, Finland and Ireland, and rebellions from within the Socialist (PES) and Conservative (EPP) groups.

The agreement still has to pass the Fisheries Council made up of national government representatives.
Keep up the pressure by contacting the minister responsible for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahern:

Email: minister@dcmnr.gov.ie
Other contact info: http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Corporate+Units/Minister/Minist...s.htm

Sorry
author by Gar Fitzpatrickpublication date Tue May 16, 2006 18:52author address author phone

Noel Dempsey, not Dermot Ahern, is the minister. Oops.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76054

Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.