At the still ongoing Party Congress of the Social Democratic Party in Sweden, there were a number of motions pleading for strong Party action to support the struggle for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
The party ended up demanding a Swedish recognition of Western Sahara should the party win the coming 2010 elections.
The Party Executive had recommended Congress accept some of the demands for stronger actions, including an extended mandate for MINURSO to monitor the human rights situation in the territory, but was hesitant to exclude Western Sahara from all EU-Morocco agreements, and said no to demands for recognition.
After a tough debate late Thursday 29th, however, the Congress accepted most demands in the motions, including that the Party, if they are elected to Government, will recognize the SADR, and work for a recognition within the EU.
- Today's decision is historic, said Jytte Guteland, chairperson of SSU, the Youth League of the Social Democratic Party. It is a first step towards a Swedish recognition of Western Sahara, which for long has been an issue between us and the Party.
- This is something we have worked for within all sections of the Party, said Johan Buser, International Leader of the SSU. Now we have to win the elections. In that case, Sweden will be the first member state of the EU to recognize Western Sahara. It shows that SSU's commitment to an issue can be decisive.
SSU is one of 26 member organisations of the Swedish Western Sahara Action.
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
