Ireland-based oil company, San Leon Energy, is facing a
potential legal challenge over its proposed drilling activity in the disputed
North African territory, which Morocco describes as its Southern Provinces. Human
rights group opposed to the drilling say oil exploration should be suspended
while the future of Western Sahara is in dispute. Global Legal Action Network
(GLAN), a human rights non-governmental organisation run by Irish lawyers say
they will take a legal action against the company over the
plan.
The Irish Government has previously called for a referendum
to decide the future of Western Sahara. Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie
Flanagan said: "Under international law, the economic resources of a
non-selfgoverning territory may only be exploited for the benefit of the people
of the territory, on their behalf or in consultation with their representatives.
"Any exploration and exploitation activities that
proceed in disregard of the interests of the people of Western Sahara would be
in violation of the principles of international law."
San Leon's executive chairman Oisin Fanning said its
activities are legally sound.
Ruairí McDermott of GLAN however told the Irish Independent "The
right of a people to choose how or even whether to use their natural resources
is one of the cornerstones of international human rights law."
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