Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) is an incorporated non-profit Association which was set up to raise awareness and promote the Saharawi cause in Australia, and to campaign for a free and fair referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people.
The independence struggle in Western Sahara mirrors almost exactly that
of the East Timorese. In 1975 when the colonial power Spain withdrew, the neighbouring country, Morocco, invaded. A war ensued until a UN sponsored ceasefire was declared in 1991 when a referendum was promised.
Despite UN pressure Morocco refuses to agree to a referendum.
February 7th, 2012
Green Left Weekly, Sunday, February 5, 2012
By Ryan Mallett-Outtrim & Laura Gilbie
The Sahrawi people continue to demand independence after decades of poor treatment under Moroccan rule. Many Sahrawi report being routinely subjected to police brutality and say they suffer widespread discrimination.
Activists in Laayoune face a day-to-day struggle with local authorities. The city is touted by the Moroccan government as a regional development hub, but from the ground looks more like an infantry barracks.
The police station is like an enormous shopping mall. Soldiers are everywhere, patrolling the main streets. ….(continued)
Read full article
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February 3rd, 2012
Pambazuka News Feature by Malainin Lakhal
2012-01-19, Issue 566
This is a transcript of the lecture by Malainin Lakhal, secretary general of Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union, presented during a conference organised in Cairo, Egypt, from 15 to 17 January 2012 by the Habitat International Coalition under the title: ‘Sovereignty over the land and peoples’ right to self-determination’.
Read article and transcript >>
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February 3rd, 2012
Human Rights Watch: World Report 2012
January 22, 2012
(Rabat) – Morocco’s new government should overhaul repressive domestic laws, curb police violence, and enhance judicial independence if it is to realize the human rights promises contained in the country’s new constitution, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2012. Substantial progress in these areas will prove the sincerity of the reforms announced by King Mohammed VI in response to street protests in Morocco and major upheavals elsewhere in the region in 2011.
HRW Statement >>
HRW World Report 2012: Morocco and Western Sahara>>
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February 3rd, 2012
UN News Service: 25 January 2012
In January 2009 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Christopher Ross as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, a territory that has been under dispute for several decades.
Read transcript of interview >>
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December 25th, 2011
On Monday 19 December Carlos Gonzáles introduced his new film at the Centre for Ideas at Victorian College of the Arts, part of Melbourne University in the presence of its director, Dr Elizabeth Presa (
see photo).
Entitled “Robbed of Truth”, the documentary examines the claim in the earlier Australian film “Stolen” that slavery is widespread in the Saharawi refugee camps. Carlos, who had been the camera man during the second visit of the Australian filmmakers of “Stolen”, retraces their steps meeting the main characters in the film such as Fetim Salami and her family to find out how the film he thought would be about family reunion turned into a film about slavery.
Read the rest of this entry »
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December 6th, 2011
‘Robbed of Truth’ - Australian Media Premiere
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2011 - 1PM
Victorian College of the Arts
School of Film and TV - Federation Hall
234 St.Kilda Road, Melbourne
This screening has been endorsed by The Center for Ideas, University of Melbourne
“Robbed of Truth: The Western Sahara Conflict and the Ethics of Documentary Filmmaking” will be introduced by its director and producer Carlos González.
Flyer about event >>
Facebook page about event and film >>
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December 2nd, 2011
NEW: Greeting cards for Christmas 2012 and beyond…..
Cards with high quality envelopes are $3 each or a dozen for $30 (postage and packing free) from AWSA, PO box 457, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 or email awsa.victoria@gmail.com
Please make cheques or money orders payable to AWSA (Victoria).
DOWNLOAD FLYER WITH CARD SAMPLES >>
All designs plain inside
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November 21st, 2011
Malainin Lakhal
17 November 2011, Pambazuka news/allAfrica.com
The prisoners were taken from a group of more than 200 activists arrested by Moroccan authorities a year ago. And as Malainin Lakhal reports, Morocco has over 60 Saharawi prisoners of conscience, including eminent human rights defender Naama Asfari.
Twenty-four Saharawi human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience, who are to appear before a Moroccan court-martial, are on hunger strike since 31 October, after being one year imprisonment without appearing before a court.
Read article >>
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November 14th, 2011
In cerca di una soluzione: Campi profughi sarahawi: non può esserci futuro senza sicurezza.
by Sonia Rossetti
PhD Student (Faculty of International Politics, University of Queensland)
Read Sonia’s article (in Italian) >>
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November 11th, 2011
On 29 October 2011 The Hon John Dowd AO QC, President International Commission of Jurists, presented a paper at the 2nd International Conference, Peoples’ Right for Resistance: the Case of Sahrawi People, Dar Diaf – Bouchaoui, Algier.
Conference paper available at this link “The Western Sahara and the United Nations” >>
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