[TimorLesteStudies] Timor-Leste + Western Sahara-parallel struggles

[Australia-East Timor Association]

Many will know that the parallels between the stories of Timor-Leste and
Western Sahara are compelling.

A film night on Oct 7 in Melbourne is an opportunity to understand more
about the issue of Western Sahara. Please see below for the detailed
programme (leaflet for the event is also attached).

It is interesting to note that The International Platform for Jurists for
East Timor (IPJET) having achieved their aim of assisting East Timor gain
self-determination have recently published a very timely publication:
'International law and the question of Western Sahara'
Edited by Karin Arts and Pedro Pinto Leite
Leiden: IPJET, 2007
This book includes revised versions of papers presented at a IPJET / ISS
conference 'International law and the question of Western Sahara' held
at the Hague in 2006.

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** Whatever happened to the Spanish Sahara? **
 
When: Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 7.30pm
 
Where: ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)
Federation Square, Melbourne
 
All welcome
 
An evening of films about Western Sahara (former Spanish Sahara) at ACMI
presented by Melbourne Filmoteca: Latin American, Spanish & Portuguese Film
Group and the Australia Western Sahara Association.
 
The films are to be introduced by Lyn Allison (formerly a Democrat Senator
for Victoria). She visited the Saharawi refugee camps, has raised questions
in parliament about their plight and is now president of the Australia
Western Sahara Association.
 
Background:
>From the late-1880s until the mid-1970s Spain laid claim to Western Sahara
in North West Africa naming it Spanish Sahara (Sahara Español). Saharawi
resistance to Spanish colonial rule was strong. In May 1973 the Saharawi
liberation movement the POLISARIO Front (Frente Popular para la Liberación
de Saguia el-Hamra y Río de Oro) was formed and Spain moved towards holding
a referendum of self-determination in keeping with United Nations practice
for decolonisation.  Before this took place the two neighbouring African
countries invaded and a war ensued. On 27 February 1976 the Saharawi
Republic was declared and POLISARIO formed a government-in-exile. It
represents the Saharawi people in UN negotiations with Morocco
(the occupying power) to resolve the sovereignty of Western Sahara.
 
The films show how the Saharawis are continuing to build their movement for
self-determination partly through education.  However, their tragic
predicament is still a harsh daily reality.
 
Cubarawi Women 
Dir Antonio Marquez, Spain 2006, 58 min (Spanish & Arabic with English
subtitles) Every year Saharawi students living in refugee camps in
south-west Algeria go to Cuba to study from secondary to university level.
It is a formative experience for them living in a very different environment
both physically and culturally. The film follows women training in Cuba
and talks to others who have returned to the camps. This film discusses the
role of women in a Muslim Arabic society and shows the Saharawi women to be
proud to take a leading role.
 
Lalia
Dir Sylvia Munt, Spain 1999, 12 min (Spanish)
"If you close your eyes you can see anything". This award winning short film
is told through the voice of a Saharawi girl named Lalia who has never seen
her homeland. She imagines what it will be like when she can return and
discover it for herself.
 
Q & A and discussion afterwards with Lyn Allison and other AWSA members.
This will be an opportunity to discuss the films and also the strong links
between the Saharawis and the Spanish people that exist today.
 
Admission: 18+
Tickets: $13, $10 (concession) on sale at box office: 8663 2583
or online at www.acmi.net.au/ticketing

Melbourne Filmoteca: www.melbournefilmoteca.org

Founded in 1999, Melbourne Filmoteca is an independent, non-profit,
volunteer-run group which aims to provide a meeting place for people with a
broad range of interests and backgrounds to learn about and appreciate not
only film, video and screen culture from the regions, but also
the language, music and cultures of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking
world.Melbourne Filmoteca @ ACMI screenings are presented by Melbourne
Filmoteca in partnership with ACMI Cinemas, Australian Centre for the Moving
Image.
 
Filmoteca Principal sponsor: FedEx Express
In partnership with: ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image
 
We encourage you to send the above information about this event to your
network. 
 
For further information and media enquires please contact:
 
Cate Lewis
Australia Western Sahara Association (Victoria)
inc no: A0047692T
post: P O Box 164, Clifton Hill 3068
m: 0407 288 358
e: awsamel at alphalink.com.au
w: www.awsa.org.au 

*******************************************************
Posted by:
 
-------------------------------------------
Australia-East Timor Association (AETA)
PO Box 93
FITZROY VIC 3065
AUSTRALIA
Tel.: 61 3 9416 2960
E-mail: aetamel at aetamel.org  

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