STATEMENT
OF "JUSTICE AND PEACE" ABOUT THE EVENTS IN THE OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES OF WESTERN SAHARA
In view of the serious events that
have taken place in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, the
Commission for Justice and Peace of Luxembourg wishes to express its
deepest concern and to join the voices of condemnation and denunciation
coming from numerous organizations by publicizing the following
considerations.
Firstly, we would like to
express our strongest condemnation of
the unacceptable and unjustifiable action taken by the Government of
Morocco, in order to dismantle violently the Izik Gdaim camp by
police and military forces while camp members attended to a peaceful
and lawful demonstration. This action produced serious violations of
human rights and an undetermined number of deaths and injuries,
including a Spanish citizen. We also
condemn the illegal and arbitrary expulsions of different
observers, European parliamentarians and journalists, thus preventing
the exercise of freedom of information and the public awareness of the
grave events that were befalling, and all
actions of violence that were occurring in both directions
during this episode.
Therefore, we appeal to the Moroccan Government to
fully respect all the Human Rights recognized in international
treaties, including the right to
self-determination for the Saharawi people, according to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that is explicitly
recognized in the Resolution 34/37 of the General Assembly of United
Nations which dates back to November 21st, 1979.
Similarly, we call upon the Spanish Government and
Parliament as former metropolis of Sahara, the European Union and its Parliament
and, in general, the international community, in order to promote the
independent research for the clarification of these events, to express
their condemnation of the illegal conduct by the Government of Morocco
and to demand to the latter the full respect to human rights and to
United Nations resolutions. Also, we
urge the European governments to implicate themselves seriously in
order to resolve this conflict with justice and peace, without
being subjected to specific and particular immediate interests.
Finally, we recall that
violence is never a just answer. Dialogue and negotiation are the only
way to achieve peace. But peace is not merely the absence of violence
since, as Pope John XXIII said, it should be based on truth, justice,
love and freedom.
Therefore, we appeal to those actors involved in this
conflict to renounce all violence, to act with the utmost
respect for human rights, to
intensify dialogue and to carry out the necessary efforts, in
the framework of the United Nations, in order to reach all the
agreements needed to achieve a truly just and definitive peace.