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Article

27 Nov 2016

Author:
Western Sahara Resource Watch

Morocco/Western Sahara: Refugees protest against Siemens and Enel for use of Sahrawi land without local consent

Here are the people Siemens doesn't bother to talk to, 6 November 2016

[On 6 November 2016], refugees from Western Sahara organised a demonstration against the energy companies Siemens and Enel. The two companies refuse to follow UN demands of seeking Saharawi consent as they are building windmills for Morocco on their occupied homeland … The two companies [...] are winning tenders for energy production in the occupied territory, in partnership with a company of the Moroccan king, Nareva…  

Western Sahara Resource Watch (“WSRW”) has for several years tried to get answers from Siemens on what it has done to seek the consent of the Saharawis, but the company fails to respond… Siemens windmills alone supply 95% of the energy required by Morocco to plunder the non-renewable mineral resources of the land, according to a new WSRW report

The demonstration [, which took place in the Smara camp, called] on all attendees of COP22 climate talks in Marrakech these weeks to take the opportunity "to learn about the injustice committed by the Moroccan government" against the Sahrawis both in the past as well as regarding the current "sustainable" energy projects, which are seen by many as cementing the occupation. 

[Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Siemens and Enel to respond. Siemens indicated they will be sending a response. Enel has not yet responded. We will indicate whether they respond on this page.]