|
WEEKLY NEWS |
original french
29.06.-05.07.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- HUMAN RIGHTS
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
28-29.06.03
Algiers - International meeting on the exploitation of Western
Sahara's natural resources
Several international lawyers as well as representatives of SADR and
European Committees of solidarity with the Saharawi people took part
in this meeting, organised by the Algerian Committee of solidarity
with the Saharawi people. In his opening address the Saharawi
President reaffirmed the attachment of the Saharawi people to the
referendum. In the final document, the meeting denounced Morocco's
colonial policy, and "the attitude of certain multinational companies
in their projects of plunder of the resources of Western Sahara", and
"welcomed the withdrawal of the Norwegian company TGS-NOPEC from the
consortium of companies active" in occupied Western Sahara. The
meeting decided to refer the matter to representatives of the
international community asking them to act in favour of the respect
of UN resolutions and the immediate cessation of all exploration and
exploitation of Western Sahara.
01.07.03
Referendum
Speaking on a broadcast from Channel 3 on Algerian TV, the Saharawi
president ruled out the option of returning to war: "I don't think
that there could be a return to hostilities in the region", he
declared, pointing out that "political action has taken over from
military action" and that "the Saharawi leadership is sticking to the
organisation a referendum of self-determination". (Le Jeune
Indépendant, Algiers)
02.07.03
Oil
According to Africa Energy Intelligence, Total has for the
moment put on hold its activity in offshore Western Sahara. The
French group, holding a reconnaissance permit offshore from Dakhla...
last year carried out a seismic survey of the area, of which the
results are believed to be disappointing, and a new study, planned
initially, has been postponed, or even cancelled. According to
Upstream, "the growing brouhaha over whether Morocco has the right to
manage exploration and production activity offshore" is not
unconnected with this decision. Kerr McGee... may also be slowing
down its reconnaissance work in the area. (Africa
Energy Intelligence -
Edition française N° 466)
Meanwhile the director of the Norwegian seismic survey company
Multiwave says it will not undertake surveys in disputed territories
such as Western Sahara.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
29.06.03
Ali Salem Tamek
The political prisoner, Tamek Ali Salem, is continuing his
intermittent hunger strikes to claim his rights, the last was on
27-28 June. In an appeal, the Committee of Action for the release of
Tamek Ali Salem and all Saharawi political prisoners makes it known
that the health of the Saharawi political detainee keeps getting
worse and gives rise to concern.
Tamek himself in "A
Call from Darkness"
exposes his conditions of detention and "launches an urgent appeal to
all human rights defenders, to all human rights organizations and to
all peace-loving people everywhere to intervene to bring pressure to
bear on the Moroccan authorities and help save my life. " A Call from
Darkness
01.07.03
Dissolution of the Sahara Section of the Forum for Truth and Justice
(FVJ).
The Moroccan Forum for Truth and Justice denounced the dissolution of
its branch in Western Sahara on the occasion of the presentation of
its annual report for 2002 on the human rights situation in Morocco.
Its president, Mr Sebbar pointed out that the accusations of
spreading pro-Polisario propaganda were not supported by any proof.
In his opinion the court confused a moral agent, the FVJ, with
physical persons. (the legal documents are available in
Arabic
and summarised in French
and English
)
Amnesty
international
The Amnesty international woldwide appeal for the month of July is
dedicated to " Western Sahara civil society activists", in particular
the political prisoners Moussaoui Dkhil, Salek Bazaid and Ahmed
Nasiri . (AI
Appeal
)
02.07.03
Manipulated verdict
The Appeal Court of El Ayoun passed sentence on the prison warder
accused of having caused the death of Mohamed Boucetta and two
Saharawi common law prisoners who helped him.
(full
story
)
The verdict is quite different than expected: the prison warder was
acquitted, while the two co-detainees were sentenced to two years'
imprisonment and a fine of 5000 dirhams (500 US dollars). It seems
that this is the way the Moroccan authorities, which would be
responsible for the actions of state officials, can get out of having
to pay compensation to the family of the victim.
04.07.03
Human rights defenders
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in a
statement on the sentencing of Dkhil El Moussaoui, member of the
Forum for Truth and Justice (FVJ), by the Appeal Court of El Ayoun,
to one year in prison and 5000 dirhams' fine for "incitement to
disturbances in public order", (see week
25/26/2003)
recalls the context of continual harassment of defenders denouncing
human rights abuses in Western Sahara and calls for the immediate
release of all persons arrested arbitrarily because of their work
defending and promoting human rights in Western Sahara, the end of
harassment of members of the Sahara Section of the Forum for Truth
and Justice, the lifting of the ban on this same branch, a guarantee
for all human rights defenders to be able to exercise their freedom
of expression in accordance with the international instruments of
human rights defence and the Declaration of human rights defenders
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December
1998.(Statement
in French:
)
REFERENDUM
01.07.03
Spain
In his speech during an exchange of toasts with the Mauritanian
President Mr. Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, King Juan Carlos 1
emphasised that Mauritania and Spain both want a quick and agreed,
fair and workable solution for all concerned on the question of the
Sahara within the context of the United Nations.
02.07.03
European Parlament
Meeting of the EP Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people":
Statement
in French
- Comunicado
en castellano.
02.07.03
Spain
On the occasion of the start of his office as chair of the Security
Council for July, Inocencio Arias, Spanish Ambassador at the UN, gave
expression to the Spanish position on Western Sahara. (see
Spanish
press)
03.07.03
Algeria
In an interview, the Algerian minister for African Affairs, Messahel
stated that "Algeria considers that the new proposal of Mr James
Baker, in so far as its implementation would guarantee the exercise
of the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to
self-determination..., constitutes a constructive approach which
includes interesting elements and which creates a new dynamic in the
search for a just, fair and definitive solution." (El
Watan)
HUMAN RIGHTS
04-11.07.03
Badajoz, Spain
In the course of "Study Days on Western Sahara, the legal antecedents
and the present situation of the conflict", organised by the College
of Lawyers in this town, the Observatory for human rights was
inaugurated, there were also various activities, lectures,
exhibitions etc. Contact: mailto:observatorio_2@hotmail.com
SOLIDARITY
«Un alumno unladrillo - Ikasle bat, adreilu bat» Proyecto de EHIGE para el SAHARA. "Euskal Herriko Ikasleen Gurasoen Elkartea", Federaciones y Asociaciones de Madres y Padres de Alumnado de los Centros Públicos de Euskal Herria. Web: http://www.ehige-sahara.org/
COMING UP
12.07.03, 12 h., Madrid, Plaza Mayor: Fiesta de solidaridad y encuentro «Los niños y niñas saharauis exigen paz y libertad». Para apoyar esta fiesta y conseguir su objetivo entregaremos al Presidente del Gobierno un manifiesto firmado por las familias acogedoras y simpatizantes de la causa saharaui.
Refugee camps: Film Festival 13 -16.11.03. Contact: info@festivalsahara.com
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External
links to newspapers may not be valid after some days because the
servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol): http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
English
English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
Castellano
Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés): http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
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