Panama: French Position Illegitimately Denies Sahrawi Right to Self-Determination (Association)
Panama, August 9, 2024 – A Panamanian Association for Solidarity with the Sahrawi Cause has asserted that French support for the so-called “autonomy plan” in Western Sahara under purported Moroccan sovereignty bolsters occupation and denies the Sahrawi people their right to self-determination and independence.
In a statement reported by the Sahara Press Service (SPS) on Friday, the association emphasized that “France’s intervention in supporting Morocco, while disregarding United Nations resolutions calling for a referendum to determine the fate of the Sahrawi people, constitutes a betrayal of international law principles and a disregard for social justice.”
Members of the Panamanian Association visited the French Embassy in Panama City on Thursday to deliver a statement condemning the French government’s position as “contrary to the principles of international law and pertinent UN resolutions.”
Gloria Esther Castillo, president of the Panamanian Association for Solidarity with the Sahrawi Cause, declared, “The disgraceful French stance deserves severe criticism, as the proposed solution plan supported by France perpetuates the occupation and contradicts the democratic values France claims to uphold, thereby tarnishing its credibility on the international stage.”
Castillo added, “Self-determination is a fundamental right enshrined in the United Nations Charter and numerous resolutions from its bodies, including the Security Council.”
Furthermore, the Panamanian Association highlighted, “France’s support for Morocco is concerning as it will exacerbate the policy of repression and abuse against unarmed Sahrawi civilians and increase human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.”
