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WEEKLY NEWS |
original french
13.-19.10.2002
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- MOROCCO
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
12-15.10.02
The 11th Festival of Popular Culture and ARt took place in the wilaya
of Dakhla, in the presence of many many members of the National
Secretariat, the government, the National Council (parliament) and
the Consultative Council. The festival, which coincides with
the 27th anniversary of National Unity - proclaimed on 12th October
1975 at Ain Ben Tili, took place over four days, during which various
artistic and folk groups performed. This festival was dedicated
to the memory of Mohamed-Fadel Ismail, Saharawi intellectual and
diplomat who died at the beginning of May in London. The
president of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, accompanied by members
of the executive, inaugarated a 12 hectare vegetable garden, financed
by the province of Estramadura (Spain), which employs drip-feed
irrigation. The head of state also opened a water-supply system
for two dairas of the wilaya, built by Saharawi civil
engineers. Craft exhibitions were also organised.
(SPS)
13.10.02
Five Saharawi athletes took part in the the Munich Marathon.
Mohamed Salem Brahim Breigh, placed 74th, ran the 27 miles (42 km) in
2h 56min. The other Saharawi athletes followed a few minutes
later. (SPS)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
16.10.02
Trial in El Ayoun
After a hearing of several hours, the court at El Ayoun acquitted and
freed Abdessalam Eddymaoui. Observers appointed by human rights
organisations and a foreign journalist were present at the
trial. A member of the Sahara Section of the Truth &
Justice Forum, Eddymaoui was arrested on the 28.08.02 at Goulimine,
accused of having organised demonstrations in Smara in November
2001.
In front of the court, Eddymaoui, described his arrest as belonging
to a pattern of Moroccan state intimidation aimed at reducing
defenders of Saharawi human rights to silence. He expressed his
determination to continue, without cease, his activities in defence
of human rights in Western Sahara with his comrades, until the truth
is etablished. Eddymaoui enumerated numerous violations
commited: "kidnapping of Saharawis, of all generations and positions:
men, women, even pregnant women, infants, etc, live burial of
Saharawis in mass graves, throwing of Saharawis out of helicopters by
the Moroccan army, hundred of forced disappearances, barbaric
tortures....". He also recalled before the court the
harrassment suffered by Saharawi human rights activists, in
particular those from the FVJSAH: "unfair dismissal, unfair transfer,
stopping of their wages, arrests, etc". (corr.)
17.10.02
Agadir: Appeal comes to court
The appeal of Ali Salem Tamek, member of the national council of the
Truth & Justice Forum and of the Sahara Section office, took
place in the presence of a great number of members of the public come
from the occupied territories, together with many Saharawi students
from Moroccan universities and foreign observers. In his plea,
Tamek denied any link with the Polisario Front network.
Spelling out in detail violations of human rights in Western Sahara,
he justified his promotion of human rights and the self-determination
of his people. The state prosecutor, rather than develop a case
around the principal charges, instead launched into a plea for the
territorial integrity of Morocco. Lawyers, among them the
president of the Truth & Justice Forum, Me Mohammed Sabbar,
showed that the charges against Tamek were without foundation.
Judgement is expected on the 24th October.
Ali Salem Tamek, arrested on the 26th August in Rabat, was found
guilty of threatening the security of the state and sentenced to two
years of closed prison and a fine of 10,000 Dirhams on 10.09.02 by
the magistrate's court in Agadir. (see week
35
)
MOROCCO
14 -
17.10.02
Visit of the King of Morocco to Russia
The King of Morocco was hoping that his official visit to Russia
would produce a change in the Russian Federation's position on
Western Sahara. On the eve of the arrival of Mohammed VI, the
spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Minister declared: "As to the
Western Sahara issue, Russia continues to stand its ground in
resorting to political and diplomatic measures to settle the problem,
assisted by UN efforts in adjusting this dragging dispute, first of
all by the UN Peace Plan. At the same time, we welcome all other
alternatives of political settling which would bring the conflicting
sides to a voluntary agreement."
An accord of cooperation in fishing matters was concluded between the
two countries, replacing the previous accord which expired on 31st
December 1999. The new accord permits the formation of mixed
companies to fish in Moroccan and Saharawi waters. Morocco, in
signing this accord, broke with its fisheries policy of not allowing
foreign boats to fish in Moroccan or Saharawi waters. It is
this strategy which led to the non-renewal of the fishing accord with
the EU. (press agencies)
16.10.02
Moroccan army
In a press release, an action committee of free officers of the
Moroccan Armed Forces, recently created, denounced corruption in the
army. According to Moroccan exiles living in France, it
concerned young officers serving in Western Sahara. The
signatories of the statement denounced "the power of the current
generals and certain superior officer" who drew "on the funds of the
different corps of the army (...) to the detriment of the troops and
men who have suffered a steady deterioration in their standard of
living in their barracks". The movement threatens to "move on
to direct action" and asks the King to hear their demands, among
which are the dismissal of the current heads of the army, control on
the social expenditure of the army and the release of officers
condemned for having exposed corruption in their units.
(press agencies)
COMING UP...
Vuelo a los campamentos: Barcelona - Tindouf: 04.12 - 08.12.02 o 05.12-09.12.02. Info: ACAPS Vilanova y Geltru, afont@pie.xtec.es
INTERNET
OPINION
Moisés
Benevolencia Divina: profeta del siglo
XXI,
Luis Hernández Rocha
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