The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) has issued a statement denouncing the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco in breach of international law and recent violent actions which have included attacks on civilians.
The YCL is Britain’s affiliate to WFDY, one of over 180 progressive and anti-imperialist youth organisations from more than 100 countries that are members. WFDY organises campaigns as well as solidarity brigades in support of peace, self-determination for all people and social and economic progress.
During the morning of the 13th of November, the Moroccan occupation forces opened three breaches east of the wall of shame in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement to attack the peaceful Saharawi civilians who were peacefully protesting in front of the illegal Guerguerat breach.
We want to show our solidarity with the Saharawi youth and people and with our comrades of the UJSARIO. We denounce the illegal actions of the Moroccan army. We urge the resolution of this conflict, which cannot culminate in any other way than with the end of the occupation and with the exercise of the right of self-determination of the Saharawi people, which has been denied to them for so many years.
In a statement published in the days before the attack, WFDY explained their position about the tensions in Guerguerat:
In recent days, tensions have increased over the Guerguerat illegal border gap with Mauritania due to the Moroccan occupation’s failure to comply with Military Agreement No. 1. The Moroccan occupying forces are conducting an operation to move large numbers of their gendarmes and other security forces into the area, which is part of the Buffer Strip and where “the entry of Royal Moroccan Army and Frente POLISARIO Military Forces personnel or equipment, by ground or air, and the firing of weapons in or over this area, is prohibited at all times and is a violation”. They have also already started to dress their security personnel in civilian clothes, and it is a concern on that they may launch an attack against the Saharawi civilians who have been peacefully demonstrating for several weeks against the illegal breakthrough in Guerguerat.
As we did in our 20th General Assembly, the World Federation of Democratic Youth believes that the situation in Western Sahara merits urgent solidarity and attention from the international community, and all anti-imperialist and progressive forces worldwide, to support Saharawi people legitimate and noble struggle against the ongoing occupation by the Moroccan authorities and for exercising their right of self-determination.
We strongly support our comrades of the UJSARIO, to the Saharawi civilians demonstrating in front of the illegal Moroccan-built breach in Guerguarat region and support their struggles as the legitimate right to close this illegal and continuous violation of the settlement plan and ceasefire.
We denounce the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara by the Moroccan authorities, which is preventing the Saharawi people from exercising the right of self-determination. This is against all UN resolutions and the principles of international law.
We denounce the negligence international organisations such as the United Nations or the imperialist European Union (especially, Spain and France), which are doing nothing to put an end to the illegal occupation by Morocco (or even they are taking advantage of the Saharawi natural resources under Moroccan authorities’ control), and condemn this accomplice silence.
We call on all sister organisations to do their utmost to raise awareness of their peoples about the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, the complicity of the ruling classes with this occupation, and about the necessity of supporting the Saharawi cause and struggles.
We reaffirm our steadfast position on the side of the Saharawi youth and their right to self-determination and a free sovereign state. Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory according to the UN, has been treated as a case of decolonisation since 1963, and as such it must be resolved.
Challenge News Desk
