Madrid (Spain)- Thousands of people demonstrated this Saturday in favor of the freedom of Western Sahara, demanding that Spain assume its “historical, legal and moral responsibility” for this territory decolonization and put an end to the “torture, oppression and plunder of its resources by Morocco, the illegal occupier of this last colony in Africa.
A former Spanish colony, Western Sahara is a Non-Self-Governing Territory registered in the UN Decolonisation list since 1963. Instead of implementing UN resolutions asking for a referendum and independence of its people, Spain betrayed the trust of the international community and abandoned its colony to a double invasion by Morocco and Mauritanian back in 1975, thus aborting hindering its total freedom and development.
Called by its organisers as the March for the Freedom of Western Sahara, several regional marches began a month ago, exactly on the 18 May 2021, in several provinces in Spain, with the support of more than 200 organizations. Participants decided to march towards the Spanish capital, Madrid, where they agreed to meet on the 18th June and to gather in a massive demonstration and massive march in Madrid This Saturday 19th June.
This solidarity initiative by people from all over Spain is an expression of a feeling that goes beyond ideologies in the Spanish society, and a sound cry of the Spanish people and Spanish civil society against their government’s inaction and lack of leadership as a former colonial power.
It is also a wake-up call to the world that it is big time to decolonise the last colony in Africa and end Moroccan violation of international law.
The marches were organized by grassroots organisation and spontaneously, and marched for hundreds of kilometers. They were met with solidarity and support from normal citizens and local authorities. They crossed many small towns and villages contributing thus to raising the awareness of Spanish citizens about the Saharawi legitimate struggle for freedom.
“Saharawi people are not alone! Saharawi people must receive the just freedom they have been denied!” “Morocco is guilty, Spain is accountable!” participants chant and declare.
Organisers further consider that this popular cry for justice must be honored and respected by the Spanish government, but also by the European Union and the United Nations.
It should be recalled that the march has started while Morocco was putting pressure on Spain because the Spanish Government facilitated medical care for the Saharawi President, Mr. Brahim Ghali, who had complications of Covid-19 infection.
The Moroccan regime opened its borders wide-open to thousands of Moroccans and migrants from other nationalities allowing them to cross to Spanish city, Ceuta, causing an international crisis of migration and borders violation.
This is one of the reasons why Spanish organisations and people decided to march to show support to the Saharawi people and also show to Morocco that they will not be intimidated by its attempts to pressure Spanish Government to force it support Moroccan illegal claims on Western Sahara.
