Hunger strike helps Western Sahara

The hunger strike of Aminatou Haidar, activist for human rights and the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco, has already achieved more than several decades of diplomatic efforts, the daily Diário de Notícias writes: "Individual action is often the most effective way to attract the attention of the international community to a cause that seemed forgotten. This is Aminatou Haidar's victory, who ... is showing the world that her people continue to be oppressed by their powerful neighbour [Morocco] ... . In this case former colonial power Spain has so far pursued a realpolitik in order to avoid harming its good relations with Morocco - or in other words it is trying to avoid conflict with Rabat because of Ceuta and Melilla, the Spanish enclaves in Morocco. But the similarity with the situation in East Timor, which was occupied for 24 years by Indonesia … is too obvious for Portugal to ignore. ... The Western Saharawis have the same right to self-determination as the Timorese. Everything must be done … to save Aminatou's life, who in 30 days has done more for Western Sahara than three decades of fruitless debates on the international stage of diplomacy."

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