Supporters of Western Sahara gathered at Leichhardt Town Hall for a flag raising ceremony to mark 50 years since the Sahrawi people established their own sovereign and independent state, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
It also marks 50 years of resistance to Morrocan occupation and the struggle for self-determination for the Sahrawi people.
Morocco invaded the territory in 1975 following the withdrawal of Spain. But the International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of October 16, 1975, clearly concluded that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Since then, the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council have consistently reaffirmed the right of the Sahrawi people to decide their future.
However the United States has recognised Morocco’s “sovereignty” and the European Union continues to trade with the Moroccan occupation.
The flag raising was organised by the Australian Western Sahara Association. Kamal Fadel, Polisario Front representative of the SADR to Australia and New Zealand, addressed the gathering.
He said the flag had been raised over Leichardt Town Hall for about 20 years, in particular after the then-Leichhardt Council passed a motion to raise the Western Sahara flag in 2009.
He said similar celebrations were being held in Saharawi refugee camps and in the occupied territories, as well as solidarity events around the world.
"It is interesting that last October the UN Security Council passed a resolution asking again for the resolution of the issue in a peaceful manner ... that would provide the right to self-determination.
"The current US administration has taken great interest in trying to make progress, and prelimary talks are underway."
Fadel said the talks were being held in secret, but he imagined the Saharawi delegation would be “insisting on respecting the international legality of the UN resolutions supporting the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination”.