Western Sahara
Euro-MPs visited Sahrawi refugee camps

afrol.com, 17 September - A special delegation of MEPs representing small nations and minorities in the European Union this week left for Western Sahara "to negotiate on behalf of the oppressed Sahrawi people," the European Greens announced.

Eurig Wyn MEP (Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales) Gorka Knorr MEP (Eusko Alkartasuna - the Basque Country) and Carlos Bautista MEP (Partido Andalucista- Andalucia) went to put pressure on the Moroccan government to hold a referendum as agreed by the United Nations in the 1970's.

200.000 Sahrawi people have since been banished from their homeland in the Western Sahara and have been forced to live in refugee camps in dire conditions. Thousands more have been killed or have disappeared. 

The Euro-MPs visited the Algerian Tindouf refugee camp on the border between Sahara, Morocco and Algeria on Wednesday (13 September). 

Eurig Wyn MEP stated: "I am very pleased to have this opportunity to continue the work. 10,000 Sahrawis have been killed since the 1970s in the war against the controlling government of Morocco. In recent years 600 people have 'disappeared', and I have been assisting close relatives in their attempts to locate their family members. We are now pressing the United Nations to implement the decision to allow the people of Western Sahara a free vote on self-determination."

Gorka Knorr MEP 's party, Eusko Alkartasuna, signed a declaration last week calling on the Moroccan government to change its stance on the ex-Spanish colony. He said: "Its of great importance that we from the Basque country and other small nations give the Sahrawi people all the support that they need at this very difficult time for them. I am appalled by the complete silence of the Spanish government on the issue. Spanish Prime minister Aznar and the King of Morocco must face up to the situation when they meet next week so that justice can be done to these forgotten people who have suffered in silence."

Over the summer, a large group of Sahrawi children from the refugee camps visited Wales and the Basque Country amongst other destinations, where they were welcomed by the respective MEPs.

Source: The Greens in the European Parliament 

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