MPs and campaigners demonstrate against killings in Western Sahara

Campaigners and MPs will today (Saturday) converge on the Moroccan embassy to demonstrate against this week's violence against Saharawi's which left a large number dead.

A letter will be handed in to the Moroccan ambassador expressing “grave concern for the disproportionate use force” used last Monday by Moroccan forces to remove a protest camp that had sprung up just outside the Western Saharan city of El Aaioun. At least 11 protesters were reported dead in the camp and as well as hundreds of injured or missing.

In the early hours of Monday morning Moroccan security forces moved in to remove 20,000 Saharawi protesters from the makeshift protest camp where they had been living for the past month. Journalists, international observers and even Spanish MP's were banned from entering the camp. There are reports of 11 Saharawi dead, 723 injured and 159 missing as a result of the violence. Additional reports suggest that an unknown number of Saharawi have been detained.

Demonstrators, dressed in black will gather from 1pm and at 2pm they will hold a two minute silent vigil for the protesters who died.

John Hilary, Director of War on Want said today

“We are horrified by the news of violence and human rights violations in Western Sahara this week. We condemn the attack on the protest camp and we call for international inquiry into the unacceptable loss of life”.

Jeremy Corybn MP said today:

“Members of the House are very concerned about these killings. I personally raised the matter during Foreign Secretary's question time on Wednesday and an Early Day Motion condemning the action is gathering support. What was witnessed this week was not a one off act of brutality, but the latest in a catalogue of abuses suffered by the people of Western Sahara for more than three decades as they seek their right to self determination which is enshrined in international law.”

Ken Ritchie of the Western Sahara Campaign UK said today:

“It seems more than coincidental that this action took place on the same day that UN-brokered talks aimed at discussing Western Sahara's long awaited right to self-determination were due to start in New York. The Moroccan occupation has been allowed to continue for 35 years despite over 100 UN resolutions requiring a referendum on self-determination. We call on the United Nations and the entire international community to take immediate action to protect the Saharawi people in occupied Western Sahara and to end that Morocco's continued flagrant breach of international law”

The demonstration will take place from – 1pm - 2pm outside the Moroccan embassy

49 Queen’s Gate Garden London, SW7 5NE

For further information visit the Western Sahara Campaign - www.wsahara.org.uk

Contact 07818228072