Boujdour (Refugee Camp), May 4, 2024 (SPS) - Journalists of different nationalities called on Friday in the Sahrawi refugee camp of Boujdour, at the end of the proceedings of the International Media Conference in Solidarity with the Sahrawi People, to join efforts in support of a free press capable of protecting the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people and defending just causes, away from the policy of double standards.
At the conclusion of this international conference organized by the Union of Sahrawi Writers and Journalists (UPES) in the Sahrawi refugee camp of Boujdour, the participants reviewed the content of the Bir Lahlou statement on balanced media work, which calls for "joining efforts for a better world that enjoys a free press in the service of freedom and human dignity."
The document emphasizes "the urgent need to join efforts to protect fundamental rights and defend just causes, which suffer from double standards," stating that any failure of a free press in its central role "opens the door to all kinds of abuses, especially with the impact of modern communication technologies (...) where bias and political interests prevail at the expense of the right to reliable information."
"Some seek to transform legitimate resistance into 'terrorism' and genocide crimes against civilians into 'self-defense'," denounce the signatories of the document.
Furthermore, the declaration establishing the Federation of Journalists in Solidarity with the Sahrawi Cause was read, which seeks to be "an international platform of solidarity reflecting the commitment of the media to the Sahrawi cause, which falls within decolonization."
Colombian journalist and activist Nestor Rosania was appointed president, and Algerian journalist Hamid Lotfi as secretary-general of the international office, with the deputy being the president of the Union of Sahrawi Journalists and Writers (UPES), Nafi Ahmed Mohamed, and representatives from various parts of the world.
This Federation will work to unify media efforts to enlighten the international public opinion about the facts and developments of the Sahrawi issue and contribute to breaking the media blackout imposed by international media "under the influence of Moroccan lobbies and their supporters."
It will also strive to create an international network for information exchange and monitoring the developments of the Sahrawi issue, disseminate reliable information about it, expose Moroccan propaganda and abuses, and defend Sahrawi journalists in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
Additionally, it aims to organize periodic coordination and evaluation meetings at the central and regional levels and utilize all available means for this purpose, including digital conferences, to assess performance and define future plans, as well as the creation of an international media platform to monitor developments in the Sahrawi issue.
At the end of the conference, journalists supportive of the Sahrawi cause from several countries such as Algeria and Lebanon were honored, and tribute was paid to deceased Algerian journalists who were advocates for this just cause, such as Ali Younsi (El-Massa newspaper), Tewfik Maouchi (APS news agency), and Amine Chikhi (press photographer).
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