21/5/2001

An election voice in the wilderness

A group of young people who have recently returned to Wales from the Western Sahara refugee camps are making their voice heard during the election campaign.

They believe that election issues are parochial and selfish and that it needs more than a punch from John Prescott to make the election relevant and dynamic.

Having returned to their communities and villages in North Wales from the refugee settlements of the Saharawi people, they believe that real politics should be relevant to life in a global village.

Morocco invaded and occupied Western Sahara in 1975 and since then many of the Saharawi people have been living in camps in Algeria : 180,000 of them. The UN has recognised the rights of the Saharawi people for self-determination and a return to their own country - but nothing has happened.

Morocco has build a 1500 mile-long wall, occupied by 150,000 troops in order to 'secure' their occupation of Western Sahara.

Britain has, in the past, tried to play a neutral role and supported the UN's call for a referendum for the Sarahawis to determine their own future.

But now, all that has changed because Britain has allowed an arms supplier in Britain to secure a contract with the Moroccan government.

Llinos Morris, one the the youth delegates from Caernarfon said "I was in one of the refugee camps when I heard the news about the arms deal... and I felt ashamed of Britain. They wanted us to speak on their behalf when we returned home."

This is why the young people will be meeting many Assembly members at the Assembly tomorrow. They want politicians to bring pressure on the British government to fulfill their promise of an 'ethical foreign policy' regarding the Saharawi people.

Another of the young people, Nia Dwynwen from Llanfairfechan said: "I could only admire their achievemnets in health and education at their camps - all channelled towards one goal of returning to their homeland."

The young people are supported by the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales , the Western Sahara campaign in Wales and the Ontheline millenium awards.

Mohammed Chekh, the general Secretary of theSaharawi Trade Unions will also address the meeting at the Welsh Assembly.

While in Wales, he is meeting with trade union leaders from the TUC, UNISON, TGWU, the NUT and the Cardiff Trades Council. He said:

"We are asking the people of Wales to use their influence in Westminster and Europe to ensure that Morocco removes the obstacles that prevent the referendum taking place."

Eurig Wyn MEP has visited the Saharawi camps himself. He has promised to take any message from the Assembly to the European Parliament.

He said: "The concept of an ethical foreign policy seems long forgotten. All the reports I have had indicate that the situation in Western Sahara is on a knife-edge. I urge everyone to take note of what these young people from Wales have to say."