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WEEKLY NEWS |
original french
11.-17.08.2002
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
REFERENDUM
MOROCCO
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
12.08.02
The judicial police and agents of the DST are pursuing their
investigations among young Saharawis in El Ayoun, as part of their
inquiry into the attack against the police station (see
week
26).
They are also asked if they belong to the Forum of Truth and Justice
and are offered a reward if they will collaborate with the police.
(corr.)
REFERENDUM
10.08.02
In an interview with Europa Press, Mrs Palacio, Spanish
minister for Foreign Affairs, considered that in looking for a
solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, account must be taken of
the interests of neighbouring countries and "fundamentally of the
opinion of the Saharawi people". Recalling that the Security Council
had rejected the Moroccan proposal of the Framework Agreement, Mrs
Palacio believes that the position of her country is in harmony with
that of the international community.
MOROCCO
10.08.02
The official Kuwaiti agency KUNA, denied, quoting an official
source from the Saudi Ministry of Defence, the news in the Spanish
daily La Razon (see week
30)
according to which Saudi Arabia had sold to Morocco Apache AH-64
helicopters, the most powerful fighter helicopter and the most
sophisticated on the present-day market.
According to Middle East & North Africa Business News, reporting the news, the Saudi army only possesses 12 helicopters of this type, and the USA, which constructs the aircraft, would certainly not have approved such a transfer. Besides, the Moroccan army does not have the necessary logistical support for the functioning of these ultra-sophisticated machines.
HUMAN RIGHTS
15.08.02
54th session of the UN Sub-Committee for the promotion and the
protection of human rights: Point 6, a) and c) on the agenda
(questions concerning women, contemporary forms of slavery, as well
as specific questions such as terrorism, the promotion of democracy,
weapons of mass destruction in particular).
Abba Salek el Haissen, on behalf of the American Association of
Lawyers, declared that Saharawi women are victims of serious human
rights abuses perpetrated by the Moroccan forces of occupation in the
occupied territories of Western Sahara. Faced with this situation, he
called on the Sub-Committee to encourage monitors on specific
subjects, in particular the Special Monitor on violence against
women, to visit the occupied territories of Western Sahara and the
Saharawi refugee camps, where according to the report of Catherine
Lalumière, Vice-President of the European Parliament and
President of the ad hoc delegation, "the delegation had occasion to
see how the Saharawi people have organised themselves despite a total
lack of resources. It is the Saharawi women who, playing an important
role in the organisation of Saharawi society, assume the major
responsibility for the management of the camps, distributing the
food, setting up schools and hospitals, and the management of the
committees and associations. Despite the lack of products of primary
need, the enthusiasm and the energy shown by the Saharawi teachers,
doctors and nurses in their work impressed the European delegation.
The results obtained at the level of secondary and university
teaching also came across as equally impressive." (Full
Lalumière
Report
(Word format) or PDF format)
A dozen representatives from Moroccan NGOs allegedly "active in the field of human rights" arrived in Geneva, to exert pressure in favour of the "liberation" of those they call "the populations held hostage in the camps of Tindouf". Their aim is to lobby the special UN subject-specific monitors in order to get them to envisage various actions and measures leading to putting an end to "the shameful and unacceptable situation prevailing in the camps in Tindouf." (MAP)
HUMANITARIAN AID
14.08.02
Urgent appeal
The WFP spokesperson in Geneva, Mrs Christiane Bertiaume, launched an
urgent appeal for 10,000 tonnes of food for the vulnerable groups in
the Saharawi refugee camps. The programme for the organisation of UN
aid to the Saharawi refugees is not sufficiently subscribed
financially, the Saharawi people having been forgotten by the media,
she said. Food stocks have considerably diminished and the refugees
are receiving only 300 calories daily, whereas they should be
receiving at least 2,000. The WFP spokesperson revealed that young
children, women and old people are suffering from malnutrition, and
that there are many cases of anaemia. Serious consequences are feared
as a result of these deficiencies, on the health of these groups at
risk, she added.
COMING UP
21.08.02, 20 h 45, Arte-TV: Western Sahara : a 40 year-old war. (not confirmed, to verify in the programme)
31.08.02, Sants, Barcelona: Maratón de Vídeos "El Pueblo Saharaui - Caminando hacia la Independencia". A partir de las 18 h. Centre Social de Sants, c/ Olcinelles nº 30, Barcelona. Asamblea de Barrio, Sants, Org. Maratón de Vídeos, Info: mailto:solisahara@hotmail.com
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