[West-Sahara] tweede fosfaatschip door Front Polisario aan de ketting gelegd

[fwillems op antenna.nl]

In Panama is een Deens schip aan de ketting gelegd dat met uit
West-Sahara gestolen fosfaat door het Panama-kanaal op weg is naar
Vancouver in Canada. Het gaat om de Ultra Innovation.

Front Polisario heeft een persbericht uitgebracht in het Engels:


Media release – Communiqué

The detention of a vessel carrying a cargo of phosphate rock
destined for Canada from occupied Western Sahara.


Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara (18 May 2017).  The government of the Saharawi
Arab Democratic Republic (the SADR) and the Saharawi national liberation
movement, the Polisario Front, announced today the detention of a second
vessel carrying a cargo of phosphate rock illegally mined and sold from
occupied Western Sahara.  The motor vessel Ultra Innovation, was
detained last night in Panama under court order while transiting the
Panama Canal en route to Canada.

 The motor vessel is carrying phosphate rock, estimated at 55,000 tonnes
and valued around $6 million USD is considered to be bound for Agrium
Inc. through the Port of Vancouver, consistent with a pattern of
shipments for the company and a chartering of vessels managed by the
Danish firm Ultrabulk A/S.  The m.v. Ultra Innovation, part of a fleet
of bulk carriers constructed with financial assistance from Canada’s
Canpotex potash export consortium, of which Agrium is a part owner, had
been tracked prior to its arrival late last month at El Aauin on the
coast of Western Sahara. Ultrabulk ships have featured in about
one-third of shipments to Agrium since the company announced in
September 2011 that it would begin imports from “Morocco”.

 Mr Emhamed Khadad, member of the Frente Polisario, the Saharawi
independence movement, leadership and the senior SADR official
responsible for natural resources, remarked that: “We are optimistic
this second recourse to applying the law to bring an end to the blatant,
theft of a resource belonging to a people under occupation will
demonstrate our resolve.  The May 1 interdiction of a cargo passing
through South Africa and today’s step in Panama, are part of ongoing
measures to seek justice against in the illegal exploitation of the
natural resources of Western Sahara and enhance the rule of law in the
advancement of self-determination for the Saharawi people.”

 From the outset of shipments for the company into the Port of Vancouver
in the second half of 2013, the SADR government has attempted to engage
Agrium, routinely protesting individual shipments and in 2016 rejecting
an inadequate human rights evaluation done on request of the company as
failing to explain the essentials facts of occupation and serious human
rights abuses in that part of Western Sahara held by Morocco.

“A basic starting point to thinking about Western Sahara”, remarked
Khadad, “is the conclusion of the International Court of Justice in 1975
that Morocco does not have ‘any’ territorial right or claim to Western
Sahara.  Then add to this the pronouncement of the UN General Assembly
that the territory is occupied.  There’s nothing complex about
territorial annexation and a selling of what is stolen property – in the
face of our repeated constant protests – out the front door of our
house.  After years of calling for an end to this trade and seeking
creation of United Nations oversight of our resources until its
commitment to provide a referendum of self-determination of the Saharawi
people is fulfilled, it was time to resort to the rule of law in the
international order.”

 The detention of the two vessels, that in South Africa on May 1 and was
bound for the New Zealand importer Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited
(54,000 tonnes; $7 million NZD), follows a case brought for the Saharawi
people in the Court of Justice of the European Union.  The case, with an
appeal issued by the full court, concluded that Morocco had no
territorial rights or claim in Western Sahara, and that a European Union
free trade agreement could not extend to operate in the territory.  The
court particularly noted that the consent of the Saharawi people was
needed for the trade or otherwise agreements concerning such things as
natural resources.

 Khadad explained that: “The Saharawi people wanted their government to
act.  We could no longer tolerate the myth that the mining and export of
phosphate rock was somehow a benefit to that part of our people under
occupation inside Western Sahara.  And our people in the refugee camps
haven’t seen anything from the trade.  Consider this: A high quality
phosphate rock for agricultural fertilizer is sold at a profit and
benefits the nutrition of children in countries such as Canada and New
Zealand.  Meanwhile, the rightful owners of the resource, including
Saharawi children, face poor food security in refugee camps.  The
injustice of this situation could not be more apparent.”

 It is expected following such legal steps that Saharawi government
authorities would take legal action against all the conspirators in the
illegal trade of resources of Western Sahara and would pursue individual
ship owners for future cargos, including later civil claims against them
in specific countries where port calls are made.

 The detention of the cargo aboard the Ultra Innovation comes one day
before the South Africa High Court is scheduled to consider its May 1
direction for interdiction of the New Zealand bound cargo.


#       #       #
For additional information and media contact:
 Mr. Kamal Fadel
Saharawi Republic representative for Australia and New Zealand
and member of the SADR Petroleum and Mining Authority
T: + 61 2 92 65 82 58
E: kfadel op sadroilandgas.com