ACTION: February is all about action...

Independent human rights monitoring is a key tool in the fight against human rights abuses.

MINURSO, the UN mission in Western Sahara, is the only contemporary peacekeeping mission without a mandate to monitor human rights.

Human rights organisations, including Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch, and the POLISARIO have repeatedly called for human rights monitoring in the region. This has been blocked by the Moroccan authorities.

The renewal of MINURSO’s mandate in April provides a key opportunity to implement this.

Take Action!

1. Write to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon:

• Thanking him for his action in the case of Aminatou Haidar and welcoming his comments on the need for a settlement on the issue.

• Emphasising the human rights abuses against those who peacefully oppose the Moroccan occupation - in particular the case of the 7 prisoners of conscience currently awaiting trial, who may face the death penalty.

• Stating that MINURSO is the only contemporary peacekeeping Mission without a mandate to monitor human rights.

• Calling on him to establish an independent mechanism for human rights monitoring

• Insisting that a referendum which includes the option of independence is implemented without delay.

2. Make sure your country supports human rights monitoring.

Contact your MP, ask them to write to your Foreign Office Minister:

• Explaining the human rights abuses against those who peacefully oppose the Moroccan occupation.

• Stating that MINURSO is the only contemporary peacekeeping Mission without a mandate to monitor human rights and;

• If your country is a member of the UN Security Council: calling on your country to insist on human rights monitoring whether through the extension of MINURSO’s mandate or through another independent monitoring mechanism.

• If your country is not a member of the Security Council: asking that your country makes a public statement calling for human rights monitoring.

Finally...

If you are a UK citizen or resident please sign the Downing Street petition.

Details

The UN Security Council

Permanent members of the UN Security Council are: China, France, Russian Federation, UK and US.

Non-permanent members: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon Mexico Nigeria, Turkey and Uganda.

Address for Ban Ki Moon

The Honourable Ban Ki-Moon

Secretary General

760 United Nations Plaza

United Nations

New York, NY 10017

If possible please send any copies of letters and responses to coordinator@wsahara.org.uk

Other Actions

Amnesty International currently has 2 urgent actions on Western Sahara:

• http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE29/005/2010/en
• http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE29/004/2010/en

PRESS RELEASE: Britain's Got a "Western Sahara Moment" [UPDATED]

For immediate release

Britain’s Got a “Western Sahara Moment”:
Charity Sandblast urges UK action on Moroccan human rights abuses

London, February 1, 2010 - The increase of reports of violence and human rights abuses against Saharawis in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara has alarmed human rights organisations and activists all over the world. Gordon Brown’s “Western Sahara moment” during Prime Minister’s Questions session (January 13^th) highlighted the general lack of awareness in Britain about the grave human rights problems afflicting the former Spanish colony. In protest, the UK charity Sandblast has launched an e-petition to 10 Downing Street seeking to mobilize British voices to call on Gordon Brown and his government to put more pressure on Morocco to respect universal human rights principles and stop its abuses against the Saharawi people.

In August 2009, a group of six young Saharawis were prevented by Moroccan authorities from boarding the plane in Agadir to attend to Talk Together at Oxford University, a programme  to generate dialogue between young members of communities in conflict. The "Oxford Six” subsequently experienced severe harassment, beatings and abductions.  Then in October, seven well known Saharawi human rights activists were abducted and arrested at Casablanca airport, upon their return from visiting relatives in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. They are on trial for treason in a military court and face possible life sentences or even execution. Amnesty International reports that the authorities have been using repressive legislation to force statements, are abusing prisoners and deny adequate legal representation. In November, leading human rights activist Aminatou Haidar was expelled to Lanzarote from her homeland for rejecting to identify herself as a Moroccan national. Only after serious international pressure was she eventually allowed to return home 32 days later and has reportedly been under virtual house arrest ever since. 

The recently published 2009 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report states “Morocco’s backtracking on rights became apparent to all during 2009. Developments in 2010 will reveal whether authorities intend to reinforce this negative trend or put the country back on a path of progress on rights.”

Sandblast's e-petition calls on Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the UK government  to take action and pressure Morocco to respect universal human rights principles and stop its abuses against the Saharawi people. As a leading EU member, the charity urges Britain to ensure that negotiations, due to take place this coming April on the "advanced status" for Morocco in  the EU, are suspended until it meets vital human rights criteria. Founding director Danielle Smith believes Britain has a crucial role to play and that the voices of British civil society need to be heard loud and clear to ensure human rights and freedom for the Saharawis.

Sandblast hopes to collect thousands of signatures by February 27 on the occasion of the anniversary of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which was proclaimed 34 years ago and is recognized by over 70 countries worldwide. Sign the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sahrawirights/.

About Sandblast:
Sandblast is an arts and human rights charity that aims to empower the displaced Saharawi refugees through the arts. Close to 200,000 Saharawis have been living as refugees since the 1975 Moroccan invasion of their country, Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony in NW Africa. Despite the extreme hardships of their exile, the Saharawi refugee community has managed to build a vibrant, democratically run nation-in-exile, where women play a prominent role in all sectors of life, defying many Western preconceptions about Arab-Muslim societies. The Saharawis seek their independence in Western Sahara and have been waiting for the UN to implement the long promised referendum for their self-determination, originally scheduled for early 1992.
To find out more please visit the Sandblast website: www.sandblast-arts.org. 

Contact:
Danielle Smith
Director of Sandblast
61 Minster Road
London NW2 3SH
e: danielle@sandblast-arts.org
t: 0783 8463310

UPDATE: 
Download press release from http://sandblast-arts.org/images/Press release_petition_Feb2010.pdf

ePETITION: petitioning vs. human rights abuses

PLEASE SIGN AND CIRCULATE

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to do all in his power to pressure the Moroccan government to respect universal human rights principles and stop its abuses of the Saharawi people under its occupation in Western Sahara.

Saharawi human rights defender Aminatou Haidar was expelled for refusing to acknowledge Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Her 32 day long hunger strike has highlighted to the world the plight of her people.

We, the undersigned, request the British government takes the following actions: Through its bi-lateral relations and influence demand that Morocco frees all the prisoners of conscience held in its jails and particularly raises the issue of the 7 Saharawi activists in Sale/ Rabat, who face a military court trial with possible death sentence.

In its capacity as a leading member of the European Union, call for the suspension of negotiations on advanced status for Morocco unless it complies with required human rights standards. Through its position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, ensure the self-determination rights of the Saharawi people be fulfilled through a referendum.

Follow the link: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sahrawirights/

Sign. Verify. Circulate. Thanks.

Newsletter 1/2010: Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone: We hope 2010 will be a great and successful year. In this first newsletter we are updating you on what has been and what is yet to come. Since 2009 All eyes were on Aminatou Haidar when the decade came to an end. After staging a 32 day long hunger strike, the "African Gandhi" finally celebrated her victory and was allowed to return to her home in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. Since then, she has been reported to be under house arrest and is still very weak.  Her convictions generated unprecedented media coverage about the plight of the Saharawis. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who showed their support. It is our responsibility now to use this momentum of rare international awareness on Western Saharato to take action. Action Alert While Aminatou’s battle is won, the wider battle of human rights still needs to be fought. Sandblast is running a PETITION addressed directly to the Prime Minister to pressure the UK government to play a more active role in finding a just solution to the conflict in Western Sahara. It is very important that this petition be signed by as many of us as possible to reflect our outrage about the ongoing human rights violations being perpetuated by the Moroccan regime. Sign it and share it. Circulate it with your network via email, facebook, twitter and the good old word-of-mouth. Coming up in 2010 For 2010, we hope that the Saharawi struggle for their self-determination can come closer to becoming reality. February 19-27 Next month, 32 people go out to the refugee camps in the Algerian desert for the Saharamarathon. Charity director Danielle Smith joins the group of adventurous runners and plans to walk 42km in an effort to raise £ 20,000 for projects to give the Saharawi refugees a voice and income through the arts. Please support their fundraising efforts and learn about the personal stories of some of the participants on our JustGiving page.  April 25-May 2 For this year’s FISAHARA, the annual international film festival in the Saharawi refugee camps, we hope to attract as many actors, filmmakers, film technicians and enthusiasts to experience this unique festival in the desert. Now in its 7th year, international stars like Penelope Cruz are expected to attend. More information will soon be released. Emailgiles@caravanseraiproductions.com for more details. Contact us for any questions and comments, The Sandblast Team Become a Fan of Sandblast on Facebook Follow us on Twitter If you no longer want to be contacted by Sandblast, please email to info@sandblast-arts.org.