|
WEEKS 15 - 16 : 10.04.-23.04.2005 |
Reactions in
Madagascar after recognition of SADR is frozen:
"Is this a decision dictated by a faulty perception of the Saharawi
question? We don't know, but in any case, it's another example of
this "disjointed diplomacy" which we have denounced. In exchange for
some crumbs given by Morocco on the cooperation front, we just cross
out the sacrosanct principle of the right of peoples to determine
themselves." [La
Gazette de la Grande Ile
09.04.05]
"In breaking off diplomatic relations with the Saharawis last week in
Morocco, [President Ravalomanana] advanced the following
reason: the UN does not recognise the Saharawi Republic, and out of
respect for the UN Charter and resolutions, Madagascar "freezes"
relations with the Saharawis. In fact, we are dealing with a pretext
of the kind "when you want to drown your dog..."
[La
Gazette de la Grande Ile,
13.04.05]
For an official from the Madagascan Ministery of Foreign Affairs,
the freeze signifies "the halt in bilateral cooperation and
diplomatic relations with closure of embassies, but without a break".
[JA/L'intelligent,
17.04.05]
12.04.05,
Declaration
During a press conference in Madrid, Mr Khaddad, Saharawi coordinator
with MINURSO, warns that a return to arms and a destabilisation in
Western Sahara "is closer than ever" if Morocco does not respect
international resolutions. He hopes that this eventuality will not
happen and insists on the Spanish government assuming its
responsibility for giving international law a chance.
13.04.05,
Sweden
Mhamed Khadad is received in Stockholm by Mrs Laila Freivalds,
Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs. Talks had bearing on the latest
developments of the question of Western Sahara and the prospects for
peace efforts of the United Nations on the eve of the next report to
the Security Council. [Communiqué
Ministère des Affaires étrangères de la RASD,
13.04.05]
15.04.05,
Warning
In an interview with the daily Dagens Nyheter (Stockholm), Khaddad
warns : "Open war is threatening in Western Sahara if the UN does not
immediately put pressure on the Moroccan government." [Dagens
Nyheter 15.04.05]
18.04.05,
National Secretariat
The National Secretariat of the Polisario Front: "Renews its
attachment to the Peace Plan for the self-determination of the people
of Western Sahara" (Baker Plan). [Press
release]
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
15.04.05,
Interview with Ali Salem Tamek
"I continue to believe that the referendum is the best democratic way
to permit the Saharawi people to express themselves (...) I would ask
[Mohamed VI] to provide the necessary assurance to permit the
Saharawi people to decide their fate and to construct a strong and
democratic Arab Maghreb (...) We believe in a Saharawi state, which
is modern and respectful of its citizens. The Saharawi state exists.
We have today a national government, a people and a member state of
the AU recognised by 70 sovereign states."
[Tel
Quel no 171,
French] [English
translation by SPS]
[in
Arabic]
15.04.05,
Intimidation
The military authorities in Tantan have forced a Saharawi citizen,
Mjaat Ahmed, to transfer to Guelmim (Goulimine). A member of the
Royal Armed Forces, he was given no notice or request. Mjaat was
interrogated a few months ago by the royal gendarmerie on his
relations with Saharawi human rights activists.
17.04.05,
Repression
Forces of order intervened violently to disperse a demonstration of
Saharawi citizens on Place Djeira in El Ayoun. Some wounded people
were taken to hospital emergency among them old men and some women.
[see Arabic text at Cahiers du Sahara]
[1]
and [2]
18.04.05,
Sit-in
Over 90 young Saharawis, mostly former officials recruited in 1987 as
part of the Moroccan campaign for massive transmigration of young
Saharawis, organised an unlimited sit-in outside the Moroccan
Ministry of the Interior in Rabat, to claim their right to work and
their wages. Among them were some who have lost their jobs and others
who have not been paid for several months.
[SPS]
18.04.05,
Phosphate workers
Former workers from the company Phosbucraa in El Ayoun, organised a
sit-in to protest against the refusal to accept their legitimate
demands for compensation. They are claiming a payment into their
salary "in accordance with the agreement passed by the company
Phosbucraa with the Spanish Institute for Industry and the Royal
Office of Phosphates". [SPS]
19.4.05,
Refusal
A Saharawi detainee, Haddi Ahmed Mahmoud El Kainnan rejects Moroccan
identity. In the Black Prison where he is serving his sentence, he
sent all his Moroccan identity papers to the public prosecutor in El
Ayoun, declaring that he "rejects Moroccan identity, and does not
recognise Moroccan sovereignty on Western
Sahara".[press
statement from UPES, Union of Saharawi Journalists and Writers ,
19.04.05]
17-20.04.05,
Misadventure of two Norwegian journalists
Norwegian journalists visiting El Ayoun, were twice taken to the
police station to undergo long periods of interrogation. Radmund
Steinsvag was taken the first time on 17 April while he was observing
a demonstration outside Hotel Negjir when he tried to take
photos. He was apprehended a second time accompanied by his
colleague, Anne Torhild Nilsen Skuland just as they were entering the
general quarter of MINURSO, where they had arranged meetings. After 3
hours of questioning, they were taken by the police to Hotel Parador,
where two people were waiting for them, "who defend the Moroccan
position on Western Sahara" with a translator. It is only after two
hours of talks with these persons that the journalists regained their
freedom of action. [Press
release Union of Saharawi Journalists and
Writers,UPES]
[Arabic]
11.04.05,
Spain
Mohamed Salem ould Salek, in charge of Foreign Affairs for the
Polisario Front, and its representative in Spain, Brahim Ghali, are
received officially (for the first time) by the Spanish Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Miguel Angel Moratinos. Coming out of the meeting,
Ghali declares that Spain supports the Baker plan and backs the
designation of a new personal representative of the UN Secretary
General, who would fill the post formerly occupied by James Baker.
[Communiqué
from the SADR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs,
12.04.05] [Comunicado
del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de España,
11.04.05,
which does not mention the Baker plan nor the nomination of a new
personal representative]
12-13.04.05,
European Parliament
Members of the committees of support for the Saharawi people from
Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Senator Pierre
Galand, president of EUCOCO, as well as Saharawi parliamentarians and
Mohamed Sidati, Minister Delegate for Europe, were present in the
European Parliament in Strasbourg during the plenary
session.[note]
14.04.05,
Resolution
Considering the appeal to donor countries on 26 February 2005 by the
World Food Program in which it is emphasised that "from May 2005 the
WFP will not be in a position to assure a complete ration of 2100
kcal to 158,000 Saharawi refugee beneficiaries through the lack of
generous contributions and outside assistance", the European
Parliament asks the European Commission, in a resolution, "to
increase and diversify its [humanitarian] aid" to the
Saharawi refugees, taking account of the fact that this population is
in forced exile "because of an incompleted decolonisation".
[Resolution]
[declaration
of M. Sidati]
19.04.05
Report of the Secretary General, S/2005/254, (19.04.05)
[HTML]
- [PDF]
- [Arabic]
Kofi Annan gives an account of the development of the situation since
27 January 2005. He notes at first that "the parties have not reached
an agreement", next he dwells for some time on military
activities, noting "a serious deterioration in respect for the
military agreement No 1":
the Moroccan army has installed new radar and surveillance capability
in over 40 sites the whole length of the wall (1690 miles, 2700 km)
and has upgraded those already in place (with funds granted by the
European Union for the fight against illegal immigration?), it has
improved the defense infrastructure and built a second strand of the
berm (where and of what length is not made clear). Faced with these
massive reinforcements, Annan points out that the Polisario Front has
deployed one anti-aircraft unit in the area known as the "Spanish
fort", and has reinforced this position with concrete (David and
Goliath...).
In the chapter devoted to the refugees, Annan notes that "the food
situation will remain critical until the end of the year" and that
confidence-building measures will begin again "later this month".
In his final observations, the secretary general talks of a
"general improvement in the political climate at a regional
level", which has not yet had an effect on the parties to the
conflict. He says he is still ready to "help the parties reach a
just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution". Without one concrete
proposal nor mention of the Baker plan, nor the nomination of a
personal envoy. He considers that MINURSO should be maintained, even
reinforced, given the increased risk of return to war. Annan is
persuaded of the "crucial role" that MINURSO plays and recommends the
extension of its mandate for 6 months. [UN
News, 22.04.05]
12.04.05,
Sentencing of Ali Lmrabet
The Moroccan journalist has been sentenced by the magistrate's court
in Rabat to a ban of ten years on practising journalism and to a fine
of 50 000 dirhams (about 4 500 euros). The charge against the
journalist was brought about by his declarations, published on 12
January 2005 by the Arabic language Moroccan weekly, Al Moustakil, on
the subject of the Saharawi refugees in Tindouf. He declared that
these Saharawis are not "hostages", as the official Moroccan position
affirms, but "refugees", in the words of the UN. This scandalous
verdict has aroused widespread disapproval except for the plaintiff,
a defector from the Polisario, who finds that "the sentence was too
lenient". [Reporters
Without Borders 12.04.05]
[Committee
to Protect Journalists 12.04.05]
[Khaleej
Times , 13.04.05]
61st session
of the UN Commission for Human Rights
Various interventions concerning Western Sahara: >>
see
special page
Contrary to preceding years, the adoption of a resolution on the
right to self-determination of Western Sahara was postponed to the
next session, through lack of consensus.
20.04.05,
Appeal
A delegation from BIRDHSO to the office of the UN Secretary General's
Special Representative for defenders of Human Rights, Mrs Hina
Jilani, handed over signatures on the appeal "For the defence of
Saharawi Human Rights Defenders". Ali Salem Tamek represented all
Saharawi human rights defenders from the occupied zones of Western
Sahara who are not authorised to travel. [Communiqué
du Bureau International pour le Respect Des Droits de l'Homme au
Sahara Occidental, 21.04.05]
21.04.05,
Human rights
Ali Salem Tamek spoke in Geneva during a conference-debate organised
as a fringe event to the 61st session of the UN Commission of Human
Rights. [Communiqué
du Collectif sahraoui des droits de
l'homme]
Norway
31.03.-03.04.2005
The National Congress of the Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Socialist
Left Party) declares itself to be "in favour of the right of the
Saharawi people to self-determination" and considers that "Norway
should not take part in the Moroccan strategy of commercialising
their occupation" of Western Sahara. It should "therefore actively
discourage commerce in products originating from Western Sahara, in
accordance with the desires and interests of the Saharawis". The SV
calls on "the two parties to release prisoners of war and the
disappeared and to allow them to be reunited with their families."
[Norwegian]
[english]
07-10.04.2005
During its national congress Det norske Arbeiderparti (The Norwegian
Labour Party), adopts a resolution supporting the Baker Plan and
exhorts Norwegian economic actors not to invest in anything "in the
occupied territories, nor to engage in activities relating to oil
prospection in Western Sahara". The text calls on "Norway to exercise
more pressure on Moroccan authorities so that they improve the
situation of human rights for the population of Western Sahara".
[Norwegian]
[english]
19.04.05, Madrid: "Otro mundo es posible con el Sáhara libre " Con la participación de: Abdulah Arabi (Delegado del Frente Polisario para Madrid), José Taboada (Presidente de la Coordinadora Estatal de Asociaciones de Amistad con el Sáhara)
Italia
Tempio della pace di Firenze: "Voci della speranza: Donne per la
pace", un ciclo di incontri con donne testimoni e portatrici di pace
dei nostri giorni.
Il 28 aprile sarà la volta di Souadou Lagdaf, ex rifugiata nei
campi Saharawi nel deserto algerino, laureata a Catania in Scienze
politiche, esperta del conflitto nel Sahara occidentale e sulla
situazione delle donne del suo popolo nei territori occupati e nei
campi dei rifugiati. Il tema, svolto dalle 21, "Il ruolo della donna
nei campi profughi Sharawi"
Austria
Wien: 10 Mai
"Hoffnung für die Westsahara? Der vergessene Konfikt in
Nordwesten Afrkas": Gastvortrag von Nadjet Hamdi, Vertreterin der F,
Polisario in Oesterreich anläslich der Generalversammlung von
Süd Wind, anschl. Diskussion.
Ort: Volkshochschule Alsergrund 9 Galileigasse. Zeit 19.30
Innsbruck :
13.06.05
"Westsahara: 30 Jahre eines vergessenen Konflikts" ein politischer
Dia- Abend mit Nadjat Hamdi, Vertreterin der F. Polisario in
Österreich
Ort: Sitzungsssaal der SPÖ-Tirol, 4 Stock, Salurnerstraße
2, Innsbruck Tirol
Anmeldung: Renner-Institut Tirol, Tel: 0512 536618
RASD
II MARCHA INTERNACIONAL AL MURO DE LA VERGÜENZ
El viaje esta programado del Jueves 19 al Domingo 23 de Mayo de 2005.
Info sahara-coord.estatal[at]wanadoo.es
o fedissah[at]fedissah.org.
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