On Friday 13 November, in the early morning, Morocco launched a military operation in the area called Guerguerat, in the south-west corner of Western Sahara. The area is part of a 5-kilometre wide demilitarised area created as part of the UN-sponsored 1991 ceasefire agreement between Morocco and the Polisario Front, and it was a strictly no-go buffer zone for the military personnel or equipment of either party.
Since the 13 of November, there is an increased and massive presence of Moroccan military, gendarmerie, police and intelligence forces on the streets of the occupied Western Sahara. These armed units are terrorising Saharawi civilians, with night raids on the homes of civilians and activists and the rounding up and mass arrest of young people, as well as beatings and other forms of abuse. Tents used by the Polisario Front ablaze in Guerguerat (AFP).
The situation is extremely dangerous for Saharawi civilians as Morocco launches a massive campaign of collective intimidation, harassment and mass arrests. Due to Morocco´s effective ban; there are no international observers or media on the ground. What can you do?
Please call or write to your MP to express your views on the need for public support for the Saharawi people. Use your own words in these communications to have a greater impact.
E-mail or write to your MP. You can find your MP and their contact details here.
Ask your MP to write to the Foreign Secretary raising your concerns.
Points to make: ● You are concerned about the breakdown of the ceasefire following the Moroccan military invasion of the Guerguerat buffer zone and the alarming increase of repression and violence against Saharawi civilians in the territories of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation. ● The UK should use its position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to address the matter. ● A Special Representative of the Secretary General should be appointed without further delay to restart negotiations towards an act of self-determination by the Saharawi people ● Morocco should stop the repression of Saharawis within the territory it occupies on the pretext of the resumption of hostilities ● MINURSO should be directed to effectively police the buffer zone ● HMG must tell Morocco that it cannot proceed with the UK-Morocco trade agreement while Morocco is violating its international obligations under the ceasefire agreement.
WESTERN SAHARA CAMPAIGN UK
The Western Sahara Campaign works in solidarity with the Saharawi people to generate political support in order to advance their right to self-determination and to promote their human rights.
Our role is to lobby the UK Government and the EU. You can help us to ensure the UK does not ignore the voice of the Saharawi people.
Follow the news about EU's illegal fisheries in Western Sahara
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