|
WEEKS 25-26 : 19.06.- 02.07.2005 |
03-10.06.05,
antipersonnel mines
Invited by the SADR authorities, a delegation from Geneva Call
visited the zones of SADR affected by mines and had talks with
"Saharawi political and military authorities, MINURSO, NGOs and
landmine victims". In a statement on their return, Geneva Call
indicates that the Saharawi authorities displayed their willingness
to belong to the Landmine Treaty to ban and destroy anti-personnel
landmines.
"Geneva Call hopes that Morocco, a non-signatory state to the Ottawa
Convention, will also encourage the dismantling of mine fields in
Western Sahara... It is urgent and crucial that Morocco adhere to the
Ottawa Convention", the statement concludes.
[Press
release]
18.06.05, new
letter to the UN
The Saharawi President has written a second time to the UN Secretary
General to criticise the passivity of the international organisation
in the face of "the precarious situation prevailing in the occupied
zone" and to ask "for the urgent intervention of the UN". Mohamed
Abdelaziz points out that the "Moroccan colonial authorities have
bought thousands of traditional Saharawi clothes to distribute to
officials in the Moroccan administration and forces, in order to
organise [fake] demonstrations."
25.06.05,
recognition
The Republic of Kenya and SADR announce, in a joint statetment from
the Kenyan capital, the establishment of diplomatic relations at
ambassador level between the two countries. Morocco recalls its
ambassador from Nairobi for "consultations".
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
Popular
demonstrations, which started on 21 May, have continued in El Ayoun,
Smara, Dakhla and Assa. Brutal arrests of human rights defenders,
torture, intimidation and beatings up continue. Trials have begun and
the judges, on the orders of the powers that be, send down sentences
completely out of proportion and not in accordance with the
jurisdiction.
New walis have been appointed by the king along security lines.
The campaign for the release of Saharawi political detainees has
begun.
In Spain, where the population as well as political circles are
particularly concerned, debate rages. A third and fourth delegation
of Spanish elected representatives are turned back at El Ayoun
airport. The position of the Socialist government, hotly contested,
becomes more and more uncomfortable. The decision to send a
parliamentary commission to the spot raises the fundamental question
of sovereignty over Western Sahara. A new move, the United States
rebukes Morocco for its attitude in the field of human rights.
Despite the media blockade put in place by Morocco, some journalists
get to the spot. [search
in Sahara Info]
CHRONOLOGY
19.06.05, El
Ayoun &endash; expulsion
Demonstration of settlers and Moroccan police dressed in traditional
Saharawi clothes, organised by the occupation authorities on the
tarmac of El Ayoun airport on the arrival of a delegation from the
Asturias. The demonstrators, surrounded by policemen and officials
approach the plane holding riot shields, Moroccan flags and photos of
the king, insulting members of the delegation with cries of Moroccan
Sahara, Long Live Morocco, Out Out.
Saharawi human rights defenders raise the alert that the office of
the Association for Victims of human rights abuses in Western Sahara
has been ransacked and its archives
confiscated.[An
Urgent appeal,
The Sahrawi human rights activists].
20.06.05, El
Ayoun
First appearance of 7 Saharawi detainees in court, who all defend the
right of Saharawis to self-determination.
171 Saharawi political prisoners start a 48-hour hunger strike to
demand the release of Aminatou Haidar and their immediate release.
Saharawi detainees in the Moroccan prisons of Tiznit, Aït
Melloul (Agadir), Salé, Kénitra and Boulemharez
(Marrakech) join in the action.
22.06.05,
Amnesty International
On the occasion of the opening of the trial of Saharawi
demonstrators, Amnesty International "calls on the Moroccan
government to ensure that all reports of torture and ill-treatment of
detainees...are fully and impartially investigated, and that all
those charged are guaranteed fair trials." The American branch of AI
denounces acts of torture and ill-treatment practised by police
forces. [Morocco/Western
Sahara: Justice must begin with torture
inquiries
, Amnesty International Public Statement, AI Index: MDE 29/003/2005
(Public), News Service No: 167]
22.06.05,
Appointments
The king appoints new walis/governors. For the "region of El
Ayoun-Boujdour-Saguiat-el-Hamra", Charki Dreis (Drais) replaces
Mohamed Rharrabi. The new-comer is a close associate of Mansouri,
head of the DST, the Direction of Surveillance of the Territory. He
had already worked in this field under Driss Basri, had been
governor-director "in charge of staff in authority in the Ministry of
the Interior", and then director of general affairs in the central
administration from 1999 to 2004. Heading the "region of Oued
Eddahab-Lagouira" (a locality under Mauritanian occupation!), it is
the present ambassador of Morocco in Norway, Mohamed Saleh Tamek, a
close relative of Ali Salem Tamek, who is appointed. Ahmed Himdi is
designated head of the "wilaya of Guelmim-Smara", replacing Amine
Demnati.
In making these appointments the king chooses a security approach in
the place of economic development for which Rharrabi had been
responsible, a development which was supposed to help forget the
warning signals of the independence movement but which failed
lamentably. According to Maroc
Hebdo 657,
quoting a business man based in El Ayoun, "Our region is experiencing
an economic crisis at the moment without precedent" and unemployment
"could reach 50% of the population".
In an interview with the special envoy of El Mundo, published on 28
June, the new wali of El Ayoun downplays the demonstrations, "the
work of 150 persons". According to him, the police has not committed
any abuse and the persons detained have simply disturbed "public
order".[Sahara-info
28.06.05 ultimo articulo]
22.06.05, El
Ayoun
Skirmishes between demonstrators and police on Avenue Skeikima,
outside Aminatou Haidar's house.
22.06.05,
Assa
Peaceful demonstration of the Saharawi population in this locality in
southern Morocco, expressing solidarity with the population in the
occupied territories, carrying SADR flags and chanting slogans in
favour of the independence of Western Sahara and the release of
Aminatou Haidar and other political detainees. The Moroccan flag is
burnt, an action liable for a prison sentence of 6 months-3 years and
a fine of 10,000-100,000DH, certain civil rights may also be
curtailed including freedom of movement for 2-20 years. This
law was decreed by the government on 22 June as a reaction to the
events in El Ayoun. [Sur l'atteinte aux symboles nationaux voir
L'économiste]
As is customary, the police forces intervened brutally, using
truncheons, tear gas and rubber bullets.
As a result, over a dozen injured and several arrests made.
[photos]
For MAP, it was only a matter of "...an hour-long sit-in on Wednesday morning by about fifty pupils, who, disappointed in not having passed their baccalauréat exams, were claiming the right to see their marks...".
23.06.05, El
Ayoun, courts
10 detainees appeared in the morning before the court. They were Ayub
Lehbib (26137), Radi Maelainin (26138), Leboihi Jatar (26139), Alouat
Sidi Mohamed (26141), Rahali Hamou (26142), Farah Bachir (26143),
Taoubali Elhafed (26145), Day Abdelaziz (26147), Mahmud Abah (78479,
arrested in Marrakech), Bay Bachir. They declared themselves
prisoners of conscience and rejected all the crimes of which they
were accused. They call for the presence of international observers.
The lawyers ask for the proceedings to be postponed until 5 July,
which the court accepts. On leaving the court, the detainees shout
slogans calling for self-determination and for a Saharawi Republic
and for the Polisario Front. Members of GUS intervene violently.
In the evening, 6 Saharawi political prisoners are presented without
notice to the magistrate's court of first instance, they are given
sentences ranging from 1 to 5 years' loss of freedom, without either
respect for legal procedure or the assistance of a lawyer.
Abderrahman Bougarfa, 53 years, father of 10 children, living in
Shaila camp in El Ayoun, human rights activist, is sentenced to 5
years in prison for "being part of an armed mob". Chiahou (Chyaho,
Achiah) Brahim, 26129, and Chrih (Achrih) Hamou (Hamma), 26128, are
sentenced to 3 years in prison and a fine of 200 DH for "violence
against officials in the course of their duty, using firearms and
damage to private property",
Azley (Izili, Azili) Abdellah, 26131, and Salami (Sellami, Soullami)
Mohamed Salem, 26130, to 2 years of prison and Saaidi Salek, 26132, a
mentally ill young man to 1 year's suspended sentence.
Appeals and
declarations
Ali Salem Tamek launched an appeal
from Barcelona to the Swedish people, associations and civil society
and government to protect the Saharawi population.
The Rafto 2002 prizewinner for human rights, Sidi Mohamed Deddech, does the same in relation to the Norwegian Rafto Foundation and other similar organisations across the world to demand of the Moroccan government the "immediate and unconditional [release] of Saharawi political prisoners". [text]
The Rafto Foundation as well as 12 Norwegian NGOs write to their government on 28 June asking it to apply pressure on Morocco to put an end to the repression.[text]
European parliament: 104 MEPs sign a letter to the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to ask him to "put pressure on Morocco to stop its repression of [Saharawi] civilians immediately".(23.06.05) [letter]
On 29 June the spokesperson for the European Greens expresses the concern of her party for what she calls "serious Moroccan repression" in Western Sahara, and condemns the media blockade imposed on the Saharawi territory by the Moroccan colonial authorities. (SPS) The same day the president of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Martín Schulz, asks the president of the Parliament Josep Borrell to send a delegation of MEPs to Western Sahara in July, in order to avoid a "real infitada".
Italy: In Italy, the Refounded Communist Party (PRC) insists on the need to go to the help of the Saharawi people and condemns Moroccan repression. Democrats of the Left (DS) express their deep anxiety about the policy of repression holding sway in Western Sahara for some weeks. The officer responsible for international relations of the General Labour Confederation (CGIL), Titti Di Salvo, calls on the Italian Government and the European Union to intervene with Morocco to "put an end to the repression and to encourage negotiations which would guarantee peace and independence in Western Sahara".
France: The Communist Party expresses its feelings and consternation. [It calls] on French and European authorities to take the initiatives needed to check the tension and to obtain from Morocco a firm commitment to implement the UN plan and the organisation of a referendum of self-determination in the shortest possible time.[Déclaration]
In Denmark, the parliamentarian Rune Lund, foreign policy spokesman for the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) declares support for the struggle of the Saharawi people for its independence and condemns human rights abuses in Western Sahara.[Statement of Enhedslisten Danmark] (30.06.05)
24.06.05,
Smara
Families of students imprisoned in Casablanca, human rights activists
and sympathisers meet to demand the release of political prisoners
and condemn the repression. Slogans are shouted saying "Yes to
self-determination", "Common graves in Mahbès et
Chdéria» (alluding to Moroccan repression), etc. Several
are wounded after the usual brutal intervention of police forces, a
quarter of an hour after the group had assembled.
26.06.05,
Expulsion
A delegation of Andalucian MPs, university professors, a trades
unionist and representatives of solidarity associations with the
Saharawi people, goes to El Ayoun as human rights observers. The
Spanish and Moroccan governments are forewarned, the Spanish Ministry
for Foreign Affairs tells the delegation that its visit "is not
opportune".
27.06.05,
Dakhla
It was enough for a few young people on a roof to brandish the
Saharawi flag for the police to intervene and arrest them. It is the
trigger for demonstrations and clashes. 18 people are injured,
including the president of the local Committee against Torture.
Several arrests, several houses are ransacked.
Two days later, a two-hour sit-in outside the Moroccan colonial
administration offices to call for the release of Saharawi political
prisoners, respect for human rights and the organisation of a
referendum of self-determination.
International Campaign for the liberation of AMINATOU HAIDAR and of all Saharawi political prisoners
Campaña internacional para la liberación de AMINATU HAIDAR y de todos los presos politicos saharauis
Campagne internationale pour la libération de Aminatou Haidar et de tous les prisonniers politiques sahraouis
26.06.05,
launch
A steering committee consisting of human rights activists in occupied
Western Sahara, NGOs from the refugee camps and international
sympathisers calls for the release of Aminatou Haidar and all
Saharawi political prisoners, the end to repression, the condemnation
of those responsible for attacks on human rights, the withdrawal of
police forces from the towns, the free circulation of international
observers. A dossier on the human rights activist, former disappeared
and political prisoner in 1987-1991, at present imprisoned in the
Black Prison, and the other victims of police repression is published
on [arso]
[Cahiers
du Sahara Occidental]
[AFAPREDESA]
As its first action a letter is sent to the King of Morocco, to the UN and to heads of state in Spain and France [urgent action to send]. In parallel, signatures of support for the campaign and its demands are being collected on the sites of arso.org and Cahiers du Sahara Occidental
In Valencia
(Spain) associations of solidarity with the Saharawi people set up a
Saharawi tent. (29.06.05) (>>
photos)
In Barcelona a Catalan Committee for the release of Aminatou Haidar
and all the Saharawi political prisoners is created by several human
rights organisations, political organisations and committees of
solidarity. (30.06.05)
Three Euro MPs from the European Socialist party, Antonio Masip,
Karin Scheele and Ana Gomes present Aminatou Haidar as a candidate
for the Sakharov Prize 2005 for Freedom of Thought, which is awarded
by the European Parliament.(01.07.05)
On 9 of July, demonstration is anounced in Sevilla, Spain
28.06.05,
Arbitrary Sentences
Elhairach Hassanna, 19 years, student, Bouamoud Ahmed Salem, 18
years, and Daoudi My Omar, 31 years, carpenter arrested on 25.05.06,
are presented to the court, accused of forming a criminal gang,
putting obstacles on the public highway, violence to officials in the
exercise of their duties with premeditation (throwing stones, bottles
and a gas canister), use of firearms, taking part in armed
gatherings, destruction of the Moroccan flag, etc. (see
week
23-24).
The accused reject these charges. Elhairach certifies that he was not
in any demonstration, that the police entered his house and took him
off to the police station, beat him and that he woke up in hospital.
His family had no news until a few days later. Bouamoud declares that
he took part in a peaceful demonstration for the freedom of the
Sahara, denying he fought or burnt a flag.
Elhairach is sentenced to 20 years in prison, Bouamoud and Daoudi
each to 15 years in prison. No witness was presented by the
prosecution, no proof was brought, leaving aside the declarations
signed by the accused extorted under torture. The court implemented
antiterrorist laws to discourage new demonstrations in the coming
days. [Marruecos
condena a 3 saharauis a 50 años por agredir a
policías.
Eduardo del Campo, Enviado especial El Mundo,
29.06.05]
30.06.05,
Solidarity
32 Saharawi political detainees arrested on 21 May 2005 start a 48
hour hunger strike to protest against the arrest of Aminatou Haidar,
to demand respect for the dignity of hundreds of detainees in the
"Black Prison" and to denounce torture and arbitrary sentences handed
down by the court of appeal in El Ayoun.
30.06.05, more
declarations
The Andalucian Parliament adopts an "institutional declaration" in
which it expresses its "concern" over the deterioration of the human
rights situation in Western Sahara and reiterates its support for the
right to self-determination and independence for the Saharawi people.
Andalucian members of parliament recall that all the UN resolutions
recognise the Saharawi people's "right to decide its future through a
referendum of self-determination defined in the Baker Plan, supported
by international organisations". [SPS]
The Parliament of Catalonia does the same asking the central
government to put pressure on Morocco to protect the rights of the
Saharawi population.
The Western Sahara Foundation USA, writes to the Secretary of State,
C. Rice: the USA must ask Morocco to stop its brutal occupation of
Western Sahara and allow the referendum of self-determination.
[Letter
of US Western Sahara Foundation to Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice.]
In Australian the national branch of the International Commission of
Jurists expresses its deep concern for the situation in Western
Sahara. [media
release 01.07.05]
http://www.arso.org/ICJAustr2005.htm
Italian NGOs Auser-ONLUS and NEXUS from the region of Emilia-Romagna
express their "indignation" at the brutal repression exercised by the
Moroccan colonial authorities against the Saharawis in the occupied
territories and in Morocco. (SPS, 01.07.05)
21.06.05
The Progressive Union of Spanish public prosecutors "reiterates its
unconditional support for the right of the Saharawi people to
self-determination in accordance with the agreements of the parties
to the conflict within the framework of the UN and the settlement
plan of 1988 and in accordance with the Pact of Civil and Political
Rights of 1966", which is underlined in a resolution of the XXth
congress of the organisation held recently in Logrono.
(SPS)
22.06.05
The Spanish minister for Foreign Affairs has talks in Brussels with
Kofi Annan and asks him to get the UN more involved in finding a
speedy solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.
30.06.2005
On the occasion of a visit to the German parliament of a Saharawi
delegation, led by the president of the parliament Mahfoud Ali Beiba,
the president of the Committee for Cooperation and Development,
Rudolf Kraus (CSU), declares that the time has come to find a
solution to the conflict within the framework of the United Nations
and based on SC resolution 1495. [communiqué]
30.06.05.
Oil
The last Norwegian investors Storebrand Insurance and KLP Insurance
announce they have sold their stocks in the petroleum company
Kerr-McGee, following Skagenfondene (May 2003) and the Petroleum Fund
(June 2005) . This is a great victory of the Norwegian Support
Committee for Western Sahara. [Aftenposten
30.06.05]
05.06.05,
Annahj Addimoucrati
The National Council for the Democratic Way, a Moroccan political
party, meeting in Casablanca expresses its unconditional support for
the protest movements and condemns the savage repression which the
region has seen; makes clear that the solution of the problem could
only be envisaged through a referendum or through direct negotiations
with the Polisario; [demands] the release of abducted
Saharawis and prisoners of war on both sides.
22.06.05,
Reprisals
45 Saharawi students from the university city in Casablanca are the
target of acts of brutality from Moroccan employees and student
police under instructions from the director of the Cité
himself. Many students are injured and their rooms devastated. In the
morning the director had threatened young women with rape by the
Moroccan security forces if they took part in anti-Moroccan
demonstrations. (SPS) (photos)
In Marrakech on 17 June the abduction of a Saharawi student, Raji Mohamed.
30.06.05,
USA-Morocco
The American Minister of Foreign Affairs, Condoleezza Rice, publicly
warns the King of Morocco not to pursue repression of those who
criticise the lack of freedoms and human rights abuses in Morocco.
"One cannot make progress on the road to democracy without
guaranteeing these freedoms", the note from the Department of State
concludes.[Rice advierte a Mohamed VI de que no siga por la
vía de la represión,Pedro Canales,
La Razon,
30.06.05].
The Spanish
paradox...
Quotation: ...Spanish citizens wish to go to a territory of which
Spain is the administrative power and are expelled from it by a state
which occupies it illegally. (Enrique Gomez, Asociación Um
Draiga)
[original:... unos ciudadanos españoles quieren visitar un
territorio del que jurídicamente España es potencia
administradora y son expulsados del mismo por un país que lo
ocupa ilegalmente (Enrique Gomez, Asociación Um
Draiga)]
Parliament
Successive expulsions of delegations of elected Spaniards, who wished
to travel to the Sahara to take note of the situation, have caused a
stir and a variety of parliamentary interventions.
The dealings between the Spanish and Moroccan governments on the
sending of an official parliamentary delegation also provoke
controversy. They arise in part from the practical conditions of the
visit, freedom of movement, contacts etc, and on the other hand, over
the legitimacy of Morocco to authorise such a visit or not, which
puts the legal status of Morocco on the agenda, the occupying power
according to the UN, and recalls that Spain, which has not finished
the decolonisation of the Sahara, remains the administrative
power.
In his legal
opinion
Hans Correll http://www.arso.org/UNlegaladv.htm had made clear that
"The Madrid Agreement did not transfer sovereignty over the
territory, nor did it confer upon any of the signatories the status
of an administering Power - a status which Spain alone could not have
unilaterally transferred. The transfer of administrative authority
over the territory to Morocco and Mauritania in 1975, did not affect
the international status of Western Sahara as Non-Self-Governing
Territory.[PDF]
http://www.arso.org/olaeng.pdf
Concerning the practical conditions, the Spanish government accepts
that the Moroccan parliament should organise the trip.
The Saharawi Government reminds Moratinos that his country remains the Administering Power of Western Sahara. [ SPS]
The Coordination of Associations of Solidarity in Spain warns that "The Spanish Parliamentarians' visit to Western Sahara may legitimise Rabat's colonial status [SPS]
30.06.05,
Spanish-Moroccan summit
Zapatero asked Morocco to "facilitate a solution for Western Sahara".
It is the only result of the meeting in Madrid of the president of
the Spanish government with his Moroccan counterpart, Driss Jettou.
Madrid pursues its policy of consideration and tolerance towards
Morocco and asks each of the parties involved in the Saharan conflict
to "look for a political solution and a lasting agreement within the
framework of the United Nations".
25.06.05,
Expulsion
Two members of the Association Moroccan Sahara, who wished to travel
to the Saharawi refugee camps, and four Moroccan journalists coming
to cover the event, are turned back at the airport in Algiers. The
delegation was held for a long time by the security forces before
being sent back to Rome.
03.07.05: President M. Abdelaziz participates to the 6th African Union summit at Syrte (Libya).
FESTIVAL
MAGOSTA 2005
1, 2 y 3 de Julio Castañeda - Cantabria: Exposición de
fotografías "Sáhara Occidental, la Patria arrebatada",
de la ONG Cantabria por el Sáhara, en el auditorio del Palacio
Larrinaga, del 1 al 3 de julio mañanas y tardes. Durante las
jornadas del festival se proyectarán vídeos
documentales sobre el Pueblo Saharaui.
Domingo 3 de julio a las 20:00 horas: RECITAL DE POESIA SAHARAUI,
presentación en Cantabria del libro "Los versos de madera" por
el poeta saharui LIMAN BOICHA ...y el músico saharui Imbarek
Massoud.
- Intifada y violacion de los derechos humanos, conferencia de Ali
Salem Tamek, 5 de julio, a 20 horas, Ateneo popular Jiribilla (Paseo
de S. Antonio, 11 - Las Palmas). Org.: Plataforma Canaria de
Solidaridad con los Pueblos.
NEW
PUBLICATIONS
[External
links to newspapers may not be valid after some days because the
servers are restarted]
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