"Which fish ends up at the Christmas table? Against a new fishery agreement between the EU and Morocco”. December 19th 2010, demonstrators gathered in front of the German foreign office and the French embassy in protest over the EU plundering of occupied Western Sahara.
Fourth Sunday of Advent, demonstrations were arranged in Berlin against the EU fisheries agreement, and the German government's uncritical relations with Morocco.
Germany in 2006 voted for an EU fisheries agreement politically supporting the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. The four year fisheries agreement will expire in February 2011. The EU tax payer's money have for these four years been paid to the Moroccan government, so that Spanish fishermen can fish in occupied Western Sahara in violation of international law. The people of Western Sahara were never consulted whether they wanted the EU fishing fleet offshore their territory, something which the international law prescribes.
In November, the foreign policy spokesperson of the Left Party in the Bundestag, Sevim Dagdelen, was brutally prevented by Moroccan authorities to enter Western Sahara to get a picture of the Moroccan terror against Saharawis who were protesting against the marginalization they experience in their rich homeland.
In contrast, German Minister Westerwelle, was received much more warmly by the Moroccan government, as he visited Rabat. In his press statement of 15 November 2010 Guido Westerwelle stated:
"Germany and Morocco have excellent relations. We want to strengthen them politically, especially economically. Our goal is a strategic energy partnership with Morocco. Morocco is a pioneer in renewable energy in North Africa. We have the technology, so we are great partners. Germany promotes the development of solar energy in Morocco with 40 million €, I have just pledged another three million Euros for the Moroccan solar plan."
During the manifestation the German Foreign Minister, Westerwelle, appeared dressed as Santa Claus, handing over his awards to the King Mohammed of Morocco.
Westerwelle aka. Santa, presents the award Mr. Westerwelle as Santa "Germany and Morocco have very excellent relations!"
The EU considers to pay Morocco to fish in occupied Western Sahara. An EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement from 2013 would be both politically controversial and in violation of international law.
The international Fish Elsewhere! campaign demands the EU to avoid such unethical operations, and go fishing somewhere else. No fishing in Western Sahara should take place until the conflict is solved.
