In 1960, the UN adopted resolution 1514 which stated that all people have a right to self-determination and that colonialism should be brought to a speedy and unconditional end. Half a century later it may come as a surprise to readers to learn that there are still 16 territories around the world that have yet to achieve de-colonisation. Known as “non-self governing territories”, the list of places still ruled by a foreign power contains some familiar names: Gibraltar and Falkland Islands (Malvinas) to name just two. But while some of these territories like the tiny Pacific Island of Tokelau are dependencies that could be said to have rejected independence and democratically chosen to maintain their territorial status, others are more controversial. Most notable is Western Sahara, known as Africa’s last colony, which has fought for self-determination for over 35 years against neighbouring Morocco.
In New York, the UN’s Fourth Committee on Decolonisation has been hearing petitions from people speaking on behalf of these non-self governing territories. As with previous occasions, this year’s meeting was dominated by petitions on the conflict in Western Sahara, a conflict that remains one of the longest running in the world.
About the size of Britain, Western Sahara lies along Africa’s Atlantic coast. In 1976, in a breach of international law, the departing Spanish divided Western Sahara between Morocco and Mauritania in exchange for continued fishing rights and partial ownership of mining interests. A 15-year war ensued between the Moroccans and the Polisario Front, with the Mauritanians withdrawing in 1979. In 1991 a ceasefire was declared and under the terms of a UN agreement a referendum for self-determination was promised. Nineteen years later the native Saharawi are still awaiting that referendum.
An estimated 165,000 Saharawi refugees who fled the fighting are still housed in desolate refugee camps in the Algerian desert. Despite aid from the United Nations, conditions in the camps are abject with widespread health problems including hepatitis B, anaemia and meningitis. A 2008 survey by the World Health Organisation, suggested that one in five children in the camps suffers from acute malnutrition.
Within occupied Western Sahara, the Saharawi population face discrimination and human rights abuses. International organisations including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have raised serious concerns over violations of human rights in the territory and a 2008 report by Human Rights Watch found that Morocco had violated the rights to expression, association, and assembly in Western Sahara.
8 October marked the first anniversary of the arrest of several prominent human rights defenders who were arrested in Casablanca airport after returning from a visit to the refugee camps. Three of the activists – Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek, and Ahmed Naciri are still imprisoned in Sale jail, Rabat awaiting trial. To mark the occasion we joined a delegation to Downing Street, which handed in a letter to David Cameron calling on the British government to increase efforts to ensure that these men get a free and fair trial leading to their unconditional release.
Against the backdrop of this human tragedy, the European Union has concluded a fisheries agreement with Morocco under which Western Saharan waters are being unlawfully exploited by European fishing vessels. Many foreign governments and companies are involved in deals with Morocco, which give them access to Western Saharan vast mineral resources, most notably phosphates.
The UN Fourth Committee heard over 80 petitions on the subject of Western Sahara including an impassioned plea from Suzanne Scholte, president of the Defence Forum Foundation. “Do not let the [Saharawi people’s] trust in this Committee be in vain or you will send a terrible signal to the world that invasion, aggression and violence, as Morocco has employed, are the ways to achieve your ends,” she said.
Despite many attempts to break the long-running diplomatic stalemate, progress towards a resolution has been tortuously slow. A political solution may seem far off with the parties positions being so far apart: the Polisario Front being unprepared to negotiate away their legitimate right to self-determination, Morocco rejecting any proposal that contains even the possibility of independence, and the Security Council so far unwilling to enforce its own resolutions. But history has shown that a political solution is the only way forward.
Nevertheless, it is important to stress that a political solution to this problem is far too important to be left in the hands of politicians. It is up to us all, to civil society groups, campaigners and individuals to make their voices heard. We must demand that our governments around the world exert diplomatic and political pressure on those who are ignoring the requirements laid out under international law and blocking a referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara.
As Martin Luther King said, “The arc of history may be long but it always bends towards justice.” There is little doubt that the people of Western Sahara have both the tide of history and the force of justice on their side.
Ken Loach is a film maker.
Stefan Simanowitz is a writer, journalist and broadcaster.
He attended the Decolonisation Committee
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