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WEEKS 37 - 38 : 11.09.-24.09.2005 |
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
HUNGER STRIKE
The state of health of the hunger strikers gets progressively worse. Every day strikers are hospitalised for examination and treatment following loss of consciousness, heart or digestive troubles or other symptoms. Among them, Aminatou Haidar, Hmad Hamad and Ali Salem Tamek have been hospitalised several times.
Abderrahman Bougarfa, Eljanhawi Lakhlifa, Badda Alamine, Aalouate Sidi Mohamed and Bouchama Naffaa are temporarily admitted to hospital.
Some are given a drip against their will. All are subjected to pressure to give up their strike, but refuse so long as their demands are not met. The majority are sent back to prison after a few hours. To pick out the most serious cases, there are Taoubbali Elhafed and Baba El Arabi, incarcerated at Aït Melloul and hospitalised for ten days at Inzegane; Ameidan Elouali, who had just undergone surgery, was attacked by police from GUS in his hospital room, who beat him and knocked him out of the bed, pulling out his drip. Despite his cries , the four policemen in charge of supervising him do not intervene. These facts are denounced by the family to the public prosecutor.
On 14.09, Lehsen Zreiguinat, in a very bad state of health in the Black Prison, was taken before the tribunal on a stretcher carried by four common law prisoners, according to AMDH. The president, considering that his state of health was so precarious, sends him back to the public prosecutor, who sends him to prison, who then send him home...His family then hospitalise him. [photos]
Family visits are alternately suspended, permitted and then forbidden again.
Photos taken
inside the Black Prison of El Ayoun show the claustrophobic
conditions prevailing in that extremely crowded penitentiary -->
PHOTOS.
(In May 2004 already, the CCDH noted that the number of prisoners
housed in this prison amounted to 407% of its capacity.
Weeks
19-20/2004)
The General Prosecutor of Laayoune appellate court orders a judicial
inquiry on 23.09.05 to identify the origin of the pictures from
inside the prison, he qualified as "a sheer montage".[MAP]
The Saharawi political prisoners by the voice of their
spokesperson Ali Salem Tamek issued an explanatory
statement.
see also detailed chronology
see also List of the Saharawi political prisoners of the intifada - detailed list - hungerstrikers list
DEMONSTRATIONS - REPRESSION
11.09.05, El
Ayoun
Demonstration by several dozen young Saharawis in Mezwar Street.
Immediate police intervention.
11.09.05,
Assa
Popular march from Lawina Street, re-named Mohamed Elmoutaouakil, to
the central square renamed Ali Salem Tamek. Heavy concentration of
police. The demonstrators call for immediate satisfaction of the
demands of the Saharawi political prisoners. At the end of the
demonstration the former political prisoner from the 1992 intifada in
Assa, Baj Elhoucine, reads an appeal of solidarity with the strikers.
[photos]
12.09.05,
Goulimine
Khadija Moutik is sacked from her job in the municipality of
Goulimine for having taken part in the march in Asrir. She had
already been subjected to considerable pressure.
16.09.05, El
Ayoun
New demonstration of several dozen young Saharawis against the
Moroccan presence, very rapidly dispersed by police
forces.
17.09.05,
Tantan, Southern Morocco
The secret services summon a Saharawi citizen, Hassana Mohamed
Elhafed, at the entrance of the Mougar. He is interrogated for 2
hours on the subject of his brother, a former disappeared, on his
relations with Saharawi human rights activists as well as on the
reasons for his repeated visits to the Mougar. The Mougar, a famous
traditional cultural festival and tourist attraction of repute, which
runs from 14-18.09.0, is placed under strict security
control.
19.09.05,
Dakhla
A demonstration in favour of the release of the political prisoners
is brutally dispersed. Aoulad Chij Elmahyoub is beaten up and suffers
multiple hematomas (bruising). He is a human rights activist, a
member of the Committee against torture in Dakhla, a former prisoner
and brother of a disappeared, forbidden to travel to Geneva for the
session of the Commission of Human Rights in March 2003. Mustafa
Tekhrour, another human rights activist, presents head wounds,
several broken teeth and multiple hematomas. Summoning of a dozen
persons. Boycott of classes in the high schools.
[photos]
19.09.05,
Fask, Southern Morocco
Demonstrations in favour of the release of political
prisoners.
20.09.05, El
Ayoun
Questioning at their home, rue Rass Alkhaima, of Ettarki Maalainine
and the husband of his sister, Mohamed Salem Zraiguinat. The
two Saharawis are interrogated for a long time about the
demonstrations. Ettarki had tried, in 2003, to get to the Saharawi
refugee camps in Algeria.
REACTIONS -INTERVENTIONS - APPEALS
11.09.05,
Algiers
For the Saharawi ambassador in Algiers, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat,
"Morocco and the UN alone assume responsibility for the deterioration
in the state of health of the 37 Saharawi hunger strikers". He calls
on the international community and international public opinion to
intervene urgently to "save the lives of the Saharawi political
prisoners", on hunger strike for the 34th day already."
12.09.05,
USA
Letter
http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e130905.html#5 in favour of the Saharawi
political prisoners by eight congressmen and a senator to the
Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, joined on 15.09.05 by another
member of the Congress, Cynthia McKinney.
[PDF]
12-15.09.05,
Great Britain
During its annual congress, the British Trades Union Council condemns
the recent violence of the Moroccan State against the Saharawi
citizens starting 25 May 2005 within the occupied territories of
Western Sahara in El Ayoun.[motion
78]
13.09.05,
Spain
A resolution is adopted unanimously by the parliament. It condemns
the repression against the Saharawi population, demands that it ends
immediately and calls for the release of Saharawi political
prisoners. It asks for the intervention of the UN, EU, AU to put
pressure on Morocco to require the opening of the territory to
international observers. It pronounces itself finally favourable to
the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people.
[SPS]
13.09.05,
Morocco
In its response to the AMDH, which had expressed concern over the
fate of the Saharawi prisoners, the Minister for Justice declares
that the prisoners are enjoying medical treatment and the same rights
as all the other prisoners in Morocco.
14.09.05: The European parlamentary Intergroup writes to the president of the EP before his visit to Morocco. [spanish]
14.09.05: The "Collective of the Saharawi human rights' Defenders in the Occupied Territories of Western Sahara" addressed a letter to the UN Secretary General and the 15 permanent of the UN Security Council's member States.
14.09.05: A delegation from Canary Islands elected politicians is is not authorised to disembark at El Ayoun airport.
14.09.05, Basque Country: Demonstrations in Bilbao and Vitoria.
14.09.05, Stockholm: Demonstration outside the Moroccan embassy against the occupation of the Sahara and human rights abuses. Several Swedish politicians associate themselves with the protest.
15.09.05,
Spain
Through a statement
the Spanish Committee monitoring the hunger strike sends information
about the serious situation of the strikers.
15.09.05,
Brussels
Mohamed Sidati, Saharawi Minister delegate for Europe, member of the
National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, is received at the
European Commission by the Director General of International
Relations, Eneko Landáburu. The humanitarian, legal and
political aspects of the conflict in Western Sahara are tackled in
the course of this meeting. [SPS]
15.09.05,
SADR
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, sends an open
letter to the world leaders meeting for the 60th UN summit in New
York, in which he appeals for the decolonization of Western Sahara
and for the release of Saharawi political prisoners in Morocco.
[SPS]
15.09.05,
Spain
The delegate for Western Sahara of the Spanish Bar Council,
Inès Miranda, spoke about the critical situation of the
Saharawi prisoners in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), on the occasion of
the Juan María Bandrés prize-giving. A special mention
was made to the Council for its work for Saharawi human rights
defenders in prison.
15.09.05,
Morocco
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) responds, in a long
statement, to the allegations of the Minister for Justice. It
reaffirms that the hunger strike is still going on and that the
strikers are "in a dangerous and potentially tragic situation",
because of "the negative and inhuman"and "irresponsible" way of
managing the situation by the Minister for Justice. The AMDH asks the
Minister to permit international human rights organisations and the
national and foreign press to visit the civil prisons of El Ayoun,
Ait Melloul and Oukacha in Casablanca, to "judge for themselves the
veracity of the statement by the Moroccan Ministry for Justice".
[Reuters,
16.09.05]
[EFE,
16.09.05]
15.09.05,
Letter to the Moroccan Minister for the Interior
The President of the Human Rights Committee of the Swedish
Parliament, Veronica Palm, expresses her deep concern about the
Moroccan human rights abuses in the occupied territories of Western
Sahara, calling on Rabat to respect the right of Saharawi political
detainees to a fair sentence and decent treatment.
16.09.05,
Geneva
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) expresses its "deep
concern as to the security and physical and psychological well-being
of the Saharawi political prisoners on hunger strike since 9 August
2005". It calls on the Moroccan government to take the necessary
measures to give the strikers "access to free adequate medical
assistance, and that their demands should be taken into account as
soon as possible. [Seguimiento
Caso MAR 020905]
18.09.05, Barcelona: A token hunger strike in solidarity with the 37 Saharawi political prisoners ended on this Sunday at 12 o'clock after a 24 hour fast. [pictures: [1] [2]
19.09.05, Finland: The Human Rights Committee of the Finnish Parliament sends a letter to the Moroccan Prime Minister asking for the immediate release of Haidar and Tamek.
19.09.05,
Casablanca, Oukacha
A delegation of the CCDH (Consultative Council on Human Rights - an
institution set up by the king) pays a visit to the four activists
imprisoned at Oukacha. They explain the situation and their demands
and say they would agree to stop the hunger strike if these are met
(improvement in the conditions of incarceration, return of all the
prisoners to El Ayoun).
19.09.05,
Algiers
The Saharawi Ambassador to Algeria, Beissat, expresses the view in a
press conference that "the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, his
Government and the powers that support him", are responsible for the
danger of death faced by the Saharawi political prisoners.
19.09.05,
UN
The Polisario Front representative with the United Nations, Ahmed
Boukhari, calls on the President of the Security Council, Mr. Lauro
L. Baja, to require the Moroccan Government to release all the
Saharawi political prisoners and to reveal the truth about the 500
disappeared Saharawis and the 151 prisoners of war.
20.09.05,
Morocco
The Minister for Justice, in an interview, finally acknowledges the
existence of the Saharawi prisoners' hunger strike, whom he refuses
to recognise as political. They are suspected of criminal acts. Their
transfer from the Sahara to Morocco allegedly took place at their
request. He qualifies their demands of lifting the state of siege in
Western Sahara and of the immediate release without trial as aberrant
and unacceptable. According to him, the conditions of incarceration
have been improved. Legal system holidays being now over, the case
will be open and the detainees transferred to El Ayoun.
[Aujourd'hui
le Maroc]
21.09.05,
UN
A UN spokesman, Stephan Dujarric declares that the high commissioner
for human rights, Mrs Louise Arbour, as well as the Human Rights
Commission, are concerned about the problem of the Saharawi prisoners
on hunger strike. [Reuters]
[EFE
/ Terra.es]
21-22.09.05,
El Ayoun-Casablanca
A delegation from Galicia (Spain), made up of members of the regional
parliament of Galicia and representatives of social and trades union
organisations, who wished to travel to El Ayoun to get a picture of
the situation, is not authorised to disembark, but is turned around
in Casablanca, where the police confiscate their passports during a
wait of 10 hours and prevent the 13 members of the delegation from
leaving the plane. It is the eighth Spanish delegation turned
back.
21.09.05, El
Ayoun
In an appeal to international human rights organisations and to world
opinion, the families of Saharawi prisoners demand that pressure
should be exercised on Morocco to open negotiations with the strikers
in order to avoid a human tragedy. The families point out that out of
37 prisoners 15 still await trial since 25 May.
[english]
21.09.05, Belgium: "Belgium should bring the situation up with the Moroccan authorities" - Press statement from the Young Socialists of animo and MJS.
21.09.05,
Spain
Writers are mobilising in favour of the Saharawi
prisoners:['Escritores por el Sáhara' instan a la sociedad
y a la ONU a actuar en favor de los prisioneros
políticos.[Llamamiento
a
la sociedad del grupo "escritores por el sáhara"]
[El
Mundo,
22.09.05]
21.09.05, Basque Country: Demonstration in Leioa.
22.09.05,
Polisario Front
The Polisario Front representative in Spain accuses the Moroccan
government off having something to hide, since he continues to expell
delegations attempting to travel to Western Sahara.
22.09.05,
Morocco
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice declares on Moroccan
TV that the situation of the Saharawi prisoners is no different from
that of other prisoners in the kingdom. They benefit from medical
care for the slightest symptom and at the least sign of fatigue,
"there is nothing to be worried or concerned about".
24.09.05
The letter
of amnesty international Spain to be sent to the Moroccan minister of
justice
to denounce detention and torture of the HR activistsreached 29'223
signatures untill now. It can be signed on : http://www.es.amnesty.org/actua/sahara_sep05/
14.09.05,
Morocco-Europe
The President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell declares in
Rabat that the Baker plan for the self-determination of the Saharawi
people "is the only plan recognised on an international level in the
framework of the United Nations". The European Parliament takes up
and "is concerned" about the question of Western Sahara, "but we
think that the solution should be provided by the UN".
14.09.05,
American statements
The American Senator, Lugar, when he welcomed the Moroccan prisoners
to Agadir, expressed the hope that "a happy outcome for this
humanitarian problem would inspire renewed efforts to work for a
political solution, within the context of the UN" and called on
Morocco and Algeria to "seize the opportunity presented by the
liberation of the last remaining prisoners to create a regional
climate favourable to a settlement of the question of the Sahara"
[Rabat, 18.08.05].
The US Ambassador in Morocco, Riley, declares on the subject of the
problem of Western Sahara that "we think that its a regional problem
between Morocco and Algeria and that these two countries should find
the solution together", and adds : "We are happy to help and
encourage and we will try to strengthen their relations"
[Rabat, 8.9.05]
The deputy spokesman of the Department of State, Adam Earley, affirms
in an interview that "the American government will continue to work
with Morocco and Algeria in order to reach a political settlement on
the question of the Sahara, within the framework of the United
Nations", and that Washington will continue "to work with the United
Nations and with our friends in North Africa to support and advance
in the American process. But for the moment, I do not think that we
have precise initiatives".[Rabat, MAP,
14.09.05]
15.09.05,
Spain
The Spanish Prime Minister, Rodríguez Zapatero, during a press
update at New York at the seat of the UN, considers that the solution
to the Saharawi conflict lies in the hands of the UN and that Spain
has only a secondary role to play.
19.09.05,
Spain
Press conference of the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miguel
Angel Moratinos, at the office of the Spanish representation in New
York.
Aftern meeting the Saharawi Ministger for Foreign Affairs, Ould
Salek, Moratinos expresses the view that there is at present a more
favourable climate for the UN to be able to resolve the question of
the Sahara. "A new dynamic must be given to the problem, it is urgent
and it is necessary", he declares. He announces for the start of
October the visit to the Maghreb and Madrid of the new UN special
representative. Moratinos undertakes to pass on to Morocco the
concerns of the Saharawi minister about the Saharawi
prisoners.
20.09.05,
UN
In his speech before the UN during the General Assembly on the
occasion of the 60th anniversary of the international organisation,
the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs asks the world to give high
priority to directing its attention to the conflict in the Sahara, so
as to reach a solution within the framework of the United Nations.
(agencies)
11.09.05
A delegation representing the Polisario Front and the Saharawi people
successfully took part in the Peace Race, organised annually in
Göthenburg City in Sweden which is attented by thousands of
people from inside and outside Sweden.
22.09.05
A delegation of the Saharawi Women's Union is on tour in Great
Britain. It has met representatives of political parties and members
of parliament as well as NGOs and trades unions. It will participate
in the annual congress of the Labour Party from 25 to
29.09.05.
Special
Screening on Capitol Hill , Washington, USA
Friday, September 30, 2005 9:30 AM-10:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time
(US & Canada), 2200 Rayburn House Office Building: "Western
Sahara: Africa's Last Colony"
A Documentary on the Experiences of the Struggles of the Sahrawi
People. Filmmaker JoMarie Fecci will be present. For more
information
SOLIDARITE JEUNESSE: Chantier Franco-Allemand-Italien en Languedoc Roussillon soutenu par l'OFAJ du 1er au 22 octobre (Office franco-allemand pour la Jeunesse/ Deutsch-französisches Jugendwerk) http://www.ofaj.org/ Contact: workcamp@solidaritesjeunesses.org
Congrès
de la Jeunesse sahraouie UJSARIO - Campements de
réfugiés 19-26.11.05
Le comité de jumelage de Rossignano Marritimo /Livourne
organise un vol charter depuis Rome. Info: Comitato di Gemellaggio di
Rosignano Marittimo: cogemel@gemellagiorossignano.191.it o
ANSPS ansps@libero.it
CONCENTRACIONES: Miercoles 28.09.05, dia de accion defensa de los derechos humanos y solidaridad con los presos politicos saharauis en hulga de hambre
The report
from El Aaiun in February 2005 that was published in the Swedish
magazine "Arbetaren" No. 19/2005, has now been translated into
English:
«A
minority in their own country»,
Report from El Aaiun, occupied territories. Western Sahara. Joakim
Blom, Martin Wikström, February 2005.
OPINION
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