The press release says that, while the controversy over Moroccan occupation of the Western Sahara is preoccupying meetings of the Organization of African Unity, a group of Americans has issued a statement calling on the United States to halt further military sales to Morocco. The statement was initiated by the American Committee on Africa (ACOA and TransAfrica and was signed by individuals from academic, church, civil rights, legal and trade union backgrounds. Jennifer Davis and Randall Robinson, executive directors of ACOA and TransAfrica, respectively, also sent a protest to the White House about reported sales of anti-personnel weapons to Morocco. The press release says the U.S. has formed...
The press release says that, while the controversy over Moroccan occupation of the Western Sahara is preoccupying meetings of the Organization of African Unity, a group of Americans has issued a statement calling on the United States to halt further military sales to Morocco. The statement was initiated by the American Committee on Africa (ACOA and TransAfrica and was signed by individuals from academic, church, civil rights, legal and trade union backgrounds. Jennifer Davis and Randall Robinson, executive directors of ACOA and TransAfrica, respectively, also sent a protest to the White House about reported sales of anti-personnel weapons to Morocco. The press release says the U.S. has formed a joint military commission with Morocco, has announced plans to train Moroccan counter insurgency units, and has sold cluster bombs to Morocco. The Reagan administration has proposed to more than triple U.S. arms sales to Morocco from $30 million to $100 million; the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to slash the administration's request in half earlier this year. The press release says Polisario guerrillas have been struggling for the country's independent since 1973, first against Spain and now against the Moroccan military. OAU efforts to settle the conflict have been blocked by Morocco's refusal to negotiate a ceasefire with the guerrillas. The OAU voted to seat the Polisario-formed Sahara Arab Democratic Republic earlier this year, which led to the current Moroccan boycott of the OAU summit. The press release discusses King Hassan's forces, the NAACP, the Washington Office of The Episcopal Church, the director of African studies at Michigan State University, a vice-president of the United Auto Workers (UAW), the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Sahara Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and Paul Irish.
