The firm Leigh Day threatens legal action against the British government for importing from Western Sahara London, 04/12/2014 (SPS) - The law firm Leigh Day, representing the Western Sahara Campaign, has threatened legal action against the British Government, especially against the Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as against the British Office of Revenue and Customs for illegally importing from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, through trade agreements with Morocco. In a statement, the firm Leigh Day emphasizes that the Western Sahara Campaign UK (WSC UK) works to protect the rights and interests of the people of Western Sahara, in particular to promote respect for human rights and the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. The WSC UK ensures that products originating in Western Sahara are being imported to the UK and treated as Moroccans under the EU-Morocco Agreement. The WSC UK also states that may have been granted licenses to British fishermen to fish in the territories of Western Sahara under the Fisheries Agreement between the EU and Morocco. Leigh Day has advised the WSC UK in that both activities are illegal. In letters to the Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the UK Office of Revenue and Customs, Class Counsel indicated that Moroccan sovereignty does not include Western Sahara nor adjacent to its territorial waters. Therefore, goods and products made in Western Sahara should not be treated as originating in Morocco for the purpose of preferential tariff or any other benefit conferred by the Association Agreement. British companies should not exploit the natural resources of an occupied territory under an agreement to which the population [of the territory] is not part occupied. Doing so would undermine the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people and recognize as lawful a situation that is illegal under international law. Rosa Curling, the law firm Leigh Day, representing the Western Sahara Campaign, stated that: It appears that Morocco currently benefits from export of goods taken from the land and sea occupied Western Sahara, contrary of international law. at the Saharawi people being denied their right to self-determination over their land and natural resources. the United Kingdom, in particular Defra and HMRC must take immediate steps to ensure they are not complicit in these acts. John Gurría of the WSC UK said: Pay to Morocco or Moroccan natural resources of Western Sahara companies is supporting the Moroccan occupation and undermines the peace process in the UN. (SPS) SPS 090/011/04122014 TRD
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 21:35:43 +0000
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