23 May 2007
May 24 marks the day of national demonstrations for the complete de-colonisation of Western Sahara.
As we begin this massive solidarity demonstrations with with the Saharawi people, in support of their right to self-determination against Morocco, the SACP welcomes the United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon`s call for the completion of global decolonization for the world`s non-self governing territories, which includes the self determination of Western Sahara, Africa`s last remaining colony occupied by Morocco since 1975.
In his address to the Special Committee on Decolonization Mr. Moon noted that `Achieving self-government for the peoples of the world has been one of the cardinal goals of the United Nations since its inception`.
We would like to therefore recall the moral obligation of all of South Africa`s people, based on historic ties of friendship and solidarity, towards the people of Western Sahara and the defence of their right to self-determination to come out in their numbers and send out a single message that "Western Sahara is not a Bantustan of Morocco".
The people of our country are called upon to send a clear message to the Moroccan authorities that the time has come for them to immediately halt all the human rights atrocities in the occupied territories, rescind its autonomy plan which is aimed to de-focus the international public opinion on what is a legitimate right.
The SACP rejects this deviation and calls for a speedy shift towards negotiations and the institution of the referendum for self-determination. This call extends to all democratic forces across Africa, including Morocco, and the rest of the world, to repudiate the military oppression of an African country by another.
It is against this background that members of the public are urged to join the solidarity march to be addressed by senior alliance leaders will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 24 May 2007
Venue: Union Buildings, Tshwane
Time: 11h00
Issued by the SACP.
For Comment Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson
082 226 1802