Western Sahara Resource Watch rejoinder to Vigeo Eiris
"Re: Vigeo Eiris Maroc certification of bonds for energy production in occupied Western Sahara", 14 Feb 2017
[A]s [Vigeo Eiris's previous] letter to BHRRC fails to address the questions we raised in our letter to you, we take it for granted that this letter we now observe on BHRRC‘s website is not an answer to our letter to you of 23 December 2016. With this letter to Vigeo Eiris today, we underline that we look forward to receiving an answer to our letter and the questions that we raise. It is a matter of urgency to us and to the people of Western Sahara. While awaiting your response, we want to comment on some aspects of your letter to BHRRC...What we are questioning is how come Vigeo Eiris has proceeded to certify these projects in the first place. We contend that Vigeo Eiris does not have the right to facilitate Moroccan government projects in Western Sahara – outside of Morocco’s international borders – without first seeking the consent of the representatives of the people of the territory...Vigeo Eiris is applying even more pro-Moroccan terminology and representations of the conflict than it had already done in the past. We lament Vigeo Eiris’s continued use of such terminology...Based on your letter to BHRRC, we remain concerned about Vigeo Eiris’s minimising of its own responsibilities...WSRW would like Vigeo Eiris to forward to us the material and information that you send to investor and corporates regarding the bonds and projects in Western Sahara...