OCCUPIED WESTERN SAHARA

Early day motion 515, tabled 6 July 2005 by David Drew (Labour). Signed by 55 members.

That this House notes with concern recent reports of demonstrations and arrests in the occupied territory of the Western Sahara, while noting with particular concern credible reports of disappearances and torture of Saharawi students, activists and human rights workers by Moroccan security forces; calls on the Government publicly to condemn these actions by Morocco immediately, to insist that MINURSO investigate and report on the recent turmoil, and to reinvigorate its and UN efforts to find a solution to the Western Sahara dispute; further calls on the Government, under the UK's responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to propose at the UN Security Council a deadline for Morocco to accept the so-called Baker Plan, which was fully endorsed by the Security Council in 2003 (resolution number 1495 (2003)) and which has since been rejected by Morocco, because this plan represents the last best chance for a diplomatic settlement, and has been accepted by the Polisario front, representatives of the Sararawi people; and further calls on the Government to act to implement the plan and not to allow Morocco to evade its obligations under international law.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2.