SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

SPS
NORWAY/SADR/MOROCCO/SCANDAL
Norwegian NGO calls for a "speedy Norwegian recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic"

OSLO, 04/05/2005 (SPS) Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara called on the Norwegian Government to work for a "speedy Norwegian recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic" so as to remedy to the harm caused by Norwegian Ambassador to Morocco. The latter did not respect his country's official position regarding Western Sahara and expressed open support to Moroccan illegal occupation of the non-self-governing territory in a TV programme.

"As a result of ambassador Aasheim’s statements and Norwegian business activity in occupied Western Sahara, Norway has lost credibility and is seen as a supporter of the occupying power Morocco", says Mr. Ronny Hansen, a senior member to the NGO, in a press release his organisation publicised today.

The Norwegian Medias and social society was shocked to know the incomprehensible attitude of the Ambassador and many parties expressed clear condemnation to the Ambassador's behaviour, it was indicated.

Here is the complete text of the press release.

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Press Release

Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
Oslo, 4 May 2005
- Norway’s ambassador to Morocco must be withdrawn

In the program “Brennpunkt”, aired on 3. May by Norwegian Broadcasting NRK, Norway’s ambassador to Morocco, Arne Aasheim, declares his support for the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. It is also revealed that he has actively promoted business cooperation between Norwegian commercial actors and Moroccan interests in the occupied territory, primarily in the fisheries sector. This is in conflict with official Norwegian policy and the United Nations' efforts to organize a referendum in Western Sahara.

"The recall of the Norwegian ambassador to Oslo at this stage is a very slow reaction by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry already knew in July last year about Aasheim’s controversial visit to the occupied areas. That visit should never have taken place, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vidar Helgesen. This demonstrates clearly that the ambassador is no longer a credible representative of Norway in this region", states Ronny Hansen, a spokesman of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.

"The revelations in NRK’s "Brennpunkt" program are astonishing. Norwegian official policy is not being followed up in action. As a result of ambassador Aasheim’s statements and Norwegian business activity in occupied Western Sahara, Norway has lost credibility and is seen as a supporter of the occupying power Morocco", says Hansen.

"Norway and Norwegian companies have fallen into Morocco’s trap. Through investments and trade in goods from occupied Western Sahara, Norway is both legitimizing and prolonging the Moroccan occupation. It is not worthy of Norway to profit from a brutal occupation. The Ministry of foreign affairs will now have problems explaining itself to the United Nations and the Saharawi people", he says.

"This scandal must now have consequences on several fronts. Norwegian authorities must actively advise Norwegian companies against doing business in the occupied part of Western Sahara. Norwegian policy towards Western Sahara must become clearer, more active and based on an unequivocal support for the Saharawi people’s right to independence and control over their own natural resources. This can be done through, among other things, an increase in the humanitarian aid to the Saharawi refugees living in Algeria", Hansen says.

"Moroccan human rights violations in Western Sahara are systematic and extensive. Human rights activists are being harassed and intimidated, international media are being obstructed when attempting to document the situation in the country, scores are being tortured and deported and hundreds of Saharawis have “disappeared” in Moroccan custody. These are issues that the Norwegian government has a moral duty to raise with the Moroccan Government", says the Norwegian committee.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should also enter into dialogue with Front
Polisario, the legitimate representative of the Saharawi people, with a view to a speedy Norwegian recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)", Hansen concludes.

For further comments, contact:
Ronny Hansen, wsahara[at]online.no, +47 92 80 86 07
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Background: Western Sahara, Africa’s Last Colony

Morocco invaded Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony in November 1975, in defiance of a ruling by the International Court of Justice that the Western Saharan people (the Saharawis) should determine their own future, and now occupies 80% of the territory. A UN-sponsored peace process has ground to a halt due to Morocco’s refusal to accept any solution that would not guarantee Moroccan rule in the territory.

No country recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. The Saharawi’s Polisario Front, which formed a government in exile and is a member of the African Union recognised by 70 countries including South Africa, has condemned foreign companies’ and governments cooperation with Moroccan business in occupied Western Sahara

Organisations including Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch and the US State Dept have all strongly criticised the Moroccan government’s human rights record in Western Sahara, and the current human rights situation there.

For further background on this issue in several languages, see:
http://www.arso.org/NRK05.htm
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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
wsahara@online.no

*** Referendum now! ***". (SPS)

060/090/000 042223 MAY 05 SPS