Clear all mines from Western Sahara (Free Western Sahara campaign)

Copenhagen (Denmark)Free Western Sahara campaign in Denmark (Frit Vestsahara) issued Tuesday a statement calling for clearing all mines from Western Sahara, on the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The statement reads as follow:

“Today on the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action we call for the world to condemn the longest continuous minefield of the world at present and to recognize that it clearly symbolizes the despicable brutality of Moroccan imperialism against the Sahrawi people.

In Western Sahara the Moroccan Wall of Shame is preventing the original people from returning to their homeland areas rightfully theirs to claim. The wall stretching for more than 2,700 kilometres consist amongst others of a total 7 million landmines. More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured in Western Sahara as a result of encountering these mines. Nevertheless the Moroccan Kingdom have never expressed no regrets or apologies to the victims of their cowardly use of this inhuman weapon of terror.

United Nations (UN) and the leaders of the world have forgotten their responsibilities towards Western Sahara and their promises in Resolution 690 (1991) of a referendum to be held among the original people of the land. The Danish campaign Frit Vestsahara (Free Western Sahara) sympathizes fully with the Sahrawi people, their demand for the referendum on self-determination and their struggle against the Moroccan occupation and brutality that has lasted for more than four decades.

October 14-22 this year the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), an NGO recognized by UN, will host what is expected to become the biggest and most important international youth gathering since the dawn of the Millennium. On the World Festival of Youth and Students (#WFYS2017) there will be workshops and activities regarding coordination and strengthening of the many campaigns worldwide supporting the Sahrawi struggle against Moroccan imperialism and colonization.

The freedom fight of the Sahrawi people is a fight supported by the youth of the world. The youth has always been the leading force in struggles against colonization and will always resist imperialist aggressions. We encourage every young man and woman that sympathizes with the people of Western Sahara to participate in the World Festival of Youth and Students 2017.” (SPS)