Following the Moroccan government’s announcement last Tuesday that it plans to double its tourism in the next 10 years activists today launched a new campaign aimed at highlighting human rights abuses in occupied Western Sahara and asking tourists to boycott holidaying in Morocco.
The new action dubbed "Don’t Go to Morocco" was launched in London today by the Western Sahara Campaign and the Free Western Sahara Network at a meeting in Piccadilly. A handful of dedicated campaigners then braved freezing temperatures outside Morocco’s main tourism office in Regents’ Street and the offices of Royal Air Maroc in Gosfield Street handing out leaflets detailing the discrimination, abuse and violence suffered by the native Saharawi population under Morocco’s 35 year occupation of their country.
Earlier this week Moroccan tourism minister Yassir Znagui unveiled a tourism development plan which would see the expansion of tourism over the next decade in eight regions including Western Sahara.
Morocco annexed Western Sahara after Spain pulled out of its former colony in 1976, and despite widespread international criticism and numerous United Nations resolutions requiring a referendum on self-determination the referendum has yet to be held.
Cities on Western Sahara’s Atlantic coastline such as Dakhla will be developed into thriving tourist destinations. This announcement comes just weeks after violent clashes in Western Sahara which resulted in several deaths, over one hundred injuries and many arrests.
A report from Human Rights Watch last Friday found that Saharawi detainees had been beaten and abused. The violence in El Aaiun has been condemned by the United Nations Security Council and last week the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for an independent UN investigation into the violence. This call has so far been rejected by Rabat.
“Western Sahara is a beautiful place but whilst the brutal occupation continues we do not feel it is an appropriate tourist destination", said Natalie Sharples of the Western Sahara Campaign.
"The Saharawi people face daily discrimination with those daring to challenge the occupation facing detention, abuse and torture. If holiday-makers knew about the situation in Western Sahara we are confident that many would chose to holiday elsewhere."
Cathy Jamieson, MP for Kilmarnock & Loudoun agreed. “Raising awareness of what has been happening over the years of Moroccan occupation is vital, particularly in light of recent events. Every effort must be made to get a fair and just solution for the Saharawi people and hopefully this campaign will show the real strength of feeling" she said.
Whilst Morocco will no doubt continue to be a popular tourist destination the campaigners hope that their slogan “sun, sea, sand and torture” may well put some people off holidaying in Western Sahara.
