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What role should Amigos de Bolivia y Peru take as
opportunities arise for advocacy? Should we participate
in the advocacy program of the NPCA? Or, should Amigos
establish separate advocacy projects?
These questions
arise periodically and surfaced again recently with the
arrival of a letter from the Friends of the Western Sahara [PO
Box 85318, Seattle, WA 98145-1381]. At this time, Amigos
de Bolivia y Peru does not formally support or oppose this
initiative.
If you have an opinion on the questions in
the initial paragraph, you may communicate with the Amigos
leadership by e-mailing
boliviayperu@earthlink.net.
*****
August 20, 2002
Dear Members of Amigos de
Bolivia y Peru:
We are writing to seek your support
for a new RPCV organization established recently by RPCVs from
Morocco to advocate for the human rights of the people of the
Western Sahara, in particular their right to participate in a
free, fair and transparent referendum to choose whether to be
an independent country or be part of Morocco.
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Over twenty-five RPCVs from Morocco have organized
Friends
of the Western Sahara to express our belief that
an internationally monitored referendum is the only means to a
just and definitive resolution to the conflict between the
Sahrawi people and the Kingdom of Morocco.
FWS aims to
assert grass-roots pressure upon domestic and international
policy makers towards a referendum to be administered by the
United Nations as outlined in the 1991 Settlement Plan.
Regardless of a volunteer's country of service, all
RPCVs understand from personal experience that respect for
human rights is a fundamental condition for policies of
equitable development to be effective. It is our
responsibility, as a group of Americans particularly
knowledgeable about these important international issues, to
inform and guide policy makers who have the power to influence
positive change.
In reaching out to ABP, it is our hope
that your organization, as a whole, will become a signatory
member of FWS. We also welcome individual membership. If it is
possible, we request that you publish or make known this
letter and our mission statement to your organization.
If
ABP or any individual members would like further information
about FSW, please visit our website at
www.friendsofthewesternsahara.org.
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