The Moroccan military launched an attack on the Sahrawi village of El-Guerguerat on November 13, violating a three-decade-old ceasefire in the disputed Western Sahara region
November 17, 2020
Photo: Instituto Simón Bolívar
Progressive groups from across the world have expressed their solidarity with people of Western Sahara in the wake of Morocco’s aggression and breach of three-decade long ceasefire agreement on November 13. The organizations have condemned Moroccan aggression and called the international community to intervene to resolve the issue.
On Monday, November 16, Venezuelan social movements gathered in the center of the capital Caracas to express their solidarity with the Sahrawi people and their cause and denounce Moroccan aggression. The demonstrators demanded that the UN should intervene in a more decisive way in the region.
Movimientos sociales venezolanos exhortan al cese a las agresiones contra civiles saharauis y exigen a las Naciones Unidas hacer presencia efectiva en el territorio.
¡Ya basta de impunidad!
¡Viva el pueblo saharaui! 🇪🇭#DePuebloAPueblo pic.twitter.com/dblpdOHLgV
— Instituto Simón Bolívar (@ISB_VE) November 17, 2020
Grace Initiative Global in Vermont, US denounced Moroccan aggression in the demilitarized zone in El-Guerguerat and urged the international community to renew its efforts to resolve the conflict in the Western Sahara with focus on safeguarding the right to self-determination of the people of the region.
US organization Grace Initiative Global has described Morocco's military aggression in the demilitarized zone of El-Guerguerat as a grave violation of the ceasefire, urging the international community to "renew its efforts" in order to "find a lasting and just solution" pic.twitter.com/6kRahkBpYp
— Frente Polisario 🇪🇭 (@Polisario_) November 16, 2020
On Saturday, November 13, the Canarian Association of Solidarity with the Sahrawi people called for a demonstration in the Canary Islands of Spain before the Moroccan consulate in Gran Canaria to protest against the Moroccan military’s aggression against the Sahrawi people. Cadres of the Communist Party of the People of Canary (PCPC) also participated in the demonstration and expressed solidarity with the Sahrawi people.
The PCPC stated, “the Canary people actively support the Saharan people in the struggle for self-determination and independence. And the Canary People’s Communist Party…stands tall and firm in its commitment to our brotherly Saharawi people.”
The Algerian National Committee of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (CNASPS) dubbed Moroccan aggression as “vile and full of hatred”. It called the UN security council to intervene to end the remilitarization of the region, Sahara Press Services reported.
Several other organizations such as, the French Association of SADR’s Friends (AARASD), European parliamentary inter-group “Peace for Sahrawi people” and Belgian Committee of support to the Sahrawi People among others also issued similar statements for solidarity and demanded international intervention to curb the Moroccan aggression.
Moroccan aggression continues
The Moroccan military on Saturday launched an attack at Guerguerat village in the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) when local people were demonstrating against decades-long Moroccan occupation. SADR authorities denounced the Moroccan aggression and declared an end of their commitment to the ceasefire agreement with Morocco the next day. They alleged that Morocco has violated the three-decade-old ceasefire in place in the disputed Western Sahara region since 1991.
SADR is a partially recognized state on the western coast of Africa and the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. Following the withdrawal of Spain from the region in 1975, the Sahrawi liberation movement called the Polisario Front proclaimed the creation of SADR in 1976. The western part of this region is currently under the territorial control of Morocco. Sections within Western Sahara, under the leadership of Polisario Front, have been fighting to end the Moroccan occupation of the region.
On Monday, Moroccan forces raided several houses in the occupied El-Aaiun area of Western Sahara to arrest people who expressed their solidarity with the Sahrawi people and supported their demand for independence. The Moroccan forces also arrested some journalists covering its aggression
Special commandos break into Sahrawi homes. Dozens of youth have been arrested, mistreated and tortured by the Moroccan occupation forces conducting a campaign of mass arrests. Morocco is violating International Humanitarian Law and MINURSO chooses to stay silent#WesternSahara pic.twitter.com/Lezs2SEEYs
— Equipe Media (@Equipe_Media) November 15, 2020
Moroccan occupying forces raided houses in El Aaiun to arrest a number of citizens including 2 Saharawi media activists
Echrif Bakhil and Mohamed Hadi members of Nushatta fondation#JournalistsInDanger@RSF_NordAfrique @CPJAmericas @RSF_ES pic.twitter.com/yRWE8oOsVh
— Equipe Media (@Equipe_Media) November 16, 2020
In the wake of the new Moroccan aggression, Polisario Front has demanded immediate UN intervention to control the invasive troops. It has also demanded a clear pronouncement in favor of holding a self-determination referendum in the region on an urgent basis.
Published at peoplesdispatch.org
