Sydney University: Seminar on unfinished decolonization process of Western Sahara:
Sydney (Australia), June 10, 2010: The Sydney Centre for International Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney organised Wednesday a public Seminar under the title: The Unfinished Business of Decolonisation: West Papua and Western Sahara as Occupied Territories, according to the Polisario Front Representation in Australia.
The Seminar, attended by students, academics and public in general, explored the unfinished business of decolonisation, by considering the legal, political and historical aspects of two territories which raise questions about the international right to self-determination and the enduring legacies of colonialism and occupation.
The Chair of the Seminar, Ms. Irene Baghoomiansa, member of the Sydney Centre for International Law, commented on international law aspects of both cases. On Western Sahara she mentioned Australia’s involvement in the exploitation of phosphates and the importance for Australia to play a positive role in this issue given its attempt to join the UN Security Council.
The Polisario Front Representative to Australia, Kamal Fadel, who attended the seminar highlighted, in his presentation, that during the past 35 years Saharawis have endured war, exile and horrendous human rights abuses. The continued occupation of Western Sahara is a violation of the fundamental norms of international law. The lack of political will and competing national interests of some members of the Security Council have contributed to UN's failure in Western Sahara so far.
He further indicated the striking similarities between East Timor and Western Sahara. Both were abandoned by their former colonial occupiers and invaded by neighbouring countries in 1975, but while East Timor has gained its independence, Western Sahara is still on the UN's list of non-self-governing territories waiting for the right to self‐determination.
On the other hand, The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) organised Sunday an event in Sydney to provide an update on Western Sahara.
The Mayor of Leichhardt (Sydney), Councillor Jamie Parker, gave an illustrated (with pictures and images) talk about his recent trip to the Saharawi refugee camps in south-west Algeria and also about the international conference of local government representatives in Algiers that he attended prior to visiting the refugee camps.
Furthermore, the Polisario Front Representative to Australia, Kamal Fadel, gave May 24, a lecture to students at Macquarie University in Sydney on the process of decolonisation in Western Sahara and the role of the United Nations.
Source: (SPS)
