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Article

21 Dec 2007

Author:
Sydney Morning Herald

Making a meal of human rights

Almost every time Australians sit down at the dinner table, they are eating the fruits of Morocco's illegal invasion of Western Sahara. This unlikely connection exists because of phosphate, which is imported from occupied Western Sahara by three Australian companies [Incitec Pivot, Impact Fertiliser, CSBP (part of Wesfarmers)]…The United Nations has not imposed sanctions but has condemned the trade, while some overseas companies have imposed boycotts…[E]xiled Western Saharans and their supporters [claim] that [the trade] supports an oppressive regime, and that Australian money helps to sustain the Moroccan occupation…Incitec Pivot…said it was satisfied that it was not breaching international law…Ian Hansen, the managing director of CSBP, said the company was examining technology that would allow phosphate to be extracted from other sources.