Western Sahara: Occupied and abondoned

Last night, an open meeting was held at the Rafto House on the situation in Western Sahara. Several speakers participated to provide an understanding of the forgotten conflict. The Saharawi student and human rights activist, Rabab Amidane, right, described a shocking reality. (21-NOV-07)

Gunta Venge/Rafto Human Rights House Bergen based on the article written by
Øystein Skotheim at the Rafto House. Photo of Amidane above: the Rafto Human Rights House, below: HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of Daddach, below: Thomas Frantsvold.

-They discriminate and torture us – simply because of our explicit desire for our right to self-determination and independence. The Saharawis are subjected to terrible abuse and oppression. The international community must help us. Now.

To read about the torture Amidane’s family eas recently subjected to, click here.

More than half the Saharawi population in exile, in camps in Algeria
Rabab Amidane, right, is currently touring Norway, telling her story as a student and human rights activist. Having already paid a visit to Oslo, Trondheim, Tromsø, as well as the United World College at Fjaler, she visited also Bergen to depict today’s status in Western Sahara – a territory under illegal Moroccan occupation since 1975. She recounted the atrocities taking place every day, and the terrible fate her people suffer. More than half of the Saharawi population are currently based in refugee camps in the Algerian desert.

A risk she is willing to take
Ms. Amidane has personally countered serious physical abuse from Moroccan authorities. She further jeopardizes her own as well as her family-members’ lives by sharing her true story. However, it is a risk she is willing to take. It is a risk she is forced to take to obtain freedom. The aim of her lectures is to inform people in general and students in particular, about what is actually happening in her homeland. At the meeting in Bergen three additional speakers supplemented Amidane’s firsthand experiences. Arne Lynngård, left, the Chairman of the Board of the Rafto Foundation introduced the meeting, making the former Rafto Prize laureate and Saharawi human rights activist Sidi Mohamed Daddach a point of departure.

-UN backs Western Sahara …
-Daddach (right), is, however, just one example of courageous freedom fighters in Western Sahara. We are indeed honoured to have with us here tonight Rabab Amidane. An amazingly bold human being daring to oppose the injustice committed against the Saharawi people, boasted Mr. Lynngård. Mr. Kai Grieg from the UN Association elaborated on the historical events of the conflict, and informed about the workings of the United Nations on the issue. His message was clear: the UN backs Western Sahara. From the embassy of the South African Republic in Norway attended the First Secretary, Daniel Stemmer, on behalf of the ambassador himself.

… and so does South Africa
-The policy of the South African Republic is clear: the Saharawi people have a right to exercise their right to self-determination by the means of a referendum. The embassy envoy made parallels to the former apartheid regime in his own country only ended 13 years ago in connection with free elections and the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president. -Not supporting the Sahrawi struggle for freedom and justice would be a mockery of our own history as South Africans. The Saharawi people are oppressed, discriminated against, and are frankly treated like animals. The Moroccan approach to this crisis is shameful, continued Mr. Stemmer.

Children of the clouds
Ms. Amidane concluded her presentation by showing a short documentary from the occupied territory. “Children of the Clouds” mediated the hope of Saharawi children in times of hopelessness. Dreaming of a childhood and future in freedom, void of cruelties. This is what they think of as they wake up, and again when they go to bed. This is what Rabab Amidane is fighting for with all her might – what she is willing to sacrifice her own future to obtain. But she cannot go it alone. Her concluding message still rings in the audience´s ears and minds: -It is necessary to increase the political pressure on Morocco. That is the only solution to our despair. We need the commitment and support of the international community. We need it now.
From right: Arne L. Lynngård, Daniel Stemmer, Rabab Amidane, Kai Grieg and representative from the UN students group attending the meeting at the Rafto House.