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WEEKS 43-44 : 23.10.-05.11.2005 |
18.10.05,
disappeared
Following revelations from the IER concerning the discovery of graves
of victims from the secret Moroccan prisons, among whom a majority
were Saharawis (see weeks 41-42), President M Abdelaziz sent a letter
to the UN Secretary General asking him to shed light on the fate of
all the disappeared Saharawis, over 500 persons, and the 151
prisoners of war. [full
text SPS,
02.11.05]
24.10.05,
illegal immigration
The President of the Saharawi Republic sent a letter to the African
Union asking it to contribute to their taking in illegal immigrants.
In the Security Council, Mohamed Abdelaziz complained that "no
rigorous measure was taken to put an end to the inhuman practices
committed by the Moroccan government." Furthermore, he called for the
opening of an international inquiry on the same subject.
24-27.10.05,
Official visit of the Saharawi president to the Basque Country
The Saharawi President was received in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and
San Sebastian. During a reception given by the lehendakari Juan
José Ibarretxe in Vitoria, the latter declared that he hoped
the Saharawi people would not be the forgotten people of the 21st
century. The Saharawi President, for his part, expressed his concern
for the situation of Saharawi citizens in the occupied territory, in
southern Morocco and in the refugee camps. He considered that
relations between the two peoples &endash; Basque and Saharawi
&endash; would be very useful during the construction of the Saharawi
state after independence. Mohamed Abdelaziz denounced "Morocco's
intransigence" and reaffirmed that the problem of Western Sahara
should be resolved "in accordance with international law", in the
course of a reception organised in his honour by the Mayor of Bilbao,
Inaki Azkuna. The official visit of President Abdelaziz to the Basque
country finished with talks with political officials in the provinces
of Alava and Gipuzkoa.
27.10.05,
appeal
The Polisario Front launched an appeal to human rights organisations
around the world to "come to the aid of a people and a civil
population who have done nothing wrong except to claim their right to
freedom and a dignified existence", according to a statement issued
by the Polisario representation for Switzerland and the United
Nations.[statement
french]
01.11.05,SADR
Oil Licence Offering 2005 Update
The SADR government is pleased to announce that it has now received
multiple applications from a number of international companies. The
SADR government is currently evaluating these submissions with a view
to inviting successful bidders to enter negotiations.
[statement
by the Government of SADR,
01.11.05]
02.11.05,
Madrid
The Saharawi coordinator with the UN, Mhamed Khaddad, during a press
conference asked the Spanish government to be consistent over its
declarations in favour of self-determination for the Saharawi people
and to translate them into action, as Portugal did for Timor-Leste.
He denounced the misappropriation of aid from the European Union,
destined for the fight against illegal immigration, to reinforcing
the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
[Europa
Press, spanish,
02.11.05]
03.11.05,
anti-personnel mines
The Polisario Front, represented by the Minister for the Defence of
SADR, Mohamed Lamine Bouhali, signed Geneva Call "for the universal
renunciation of anti-personnel mines" and "respect for humanitarian
international law". He undertook to destroy some 6000 mines in his
possession. Geneva Call allows non-state actors to act in accordance
with the Ottawa Convention on the ban on mines, a convention which
Morocco has not signed. [communiqué
]
[statement]
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
Protest demonstrations reached schools and educational establishments on the eve of the celebration of Eid el Fitr, a traditional holiday. Students of secondary schools and high schools gathered inside and outside school buildings to protest against Moroccan occupation, shouting slogans for independence and displaying Saharawi flags. In class they sang the Saharawi national anthem instead of the Moroccan national anthem, which is obligatory every morning in all schools of the Kingdom. The head of the institution called the police, who intervened inside the school, hitting out blindly and arrested several people.
The schools
affected by these demonstrations include, secondary schools, El Ayoun
III, Allal Ben Abdallah, Bnou Abdillah, Attaawen, Kadi Ayad, El
Khansa, lycées Lamsalla, Hassan I, Lissane Eddine ben
Alkhatib, Ibn Batuta, Mohamed V, Hassan II, Alawda, as well as the
Institute for Applied Technology.
Students from the Green March lycée in Smara joined the action
and demonstrated on 26 October. After the usual brutal intervention
by the police forces, one student was put in custody.
Forces of
intervention were also widely deployed in the streets of El Ayoun
with a close watch on schools. The police set about sacking and
pillaging individuals' homes and arresting students in their homes,
as was the case for Boghambour Otman on 24 October. 14 students
were temporarily arrested. Several received a sentence of a fine. At
night, in the Saharawi quarters, they are still demonstrating, the
challenge is to hoist SADR flags on buildings or electric lightpoles
provoking the brutal intervention of the police.
--> Photos
27. - 29.10.05
--> Photos
30.10.05
In the night
of 30 to 31 October in El Ayoun events took a dramatic turn. When a
Saharawi flag was hoisted on a buidling in Smara Avenue, police
forces intervened and isolated a small group of young Saharawis whom
they beat relentlessly . One of them, Hamdi Lembarki, lost
consciousness following blows received on the head. Taken to hospital
and operated on, he was officially declared dead on the 31st about
16.00h.
As soon as this sad news broke, other demonstrations erupted, both in
El Ayoun and in Smara and Boujdour. They continued the next day
despite huge deployments of police. Numerous people were injured
during new interventions by the police, who also proceeded to arrest
people.
The family of the deceased refused to bury the victim, demanding an independent inquiry. They were taken by force from their house, in order to stop new demonstrations of sympathy breaking out, and were isolated in an outlying district of the town.
The authorities are claiming that it was an accident and that Lembarki was hurt by stone throwing. An inquiry has however been opened and a first autopsy concluded that death was due to cranial traumatism. The results of a second autopsy are awaited shortly.
This death has
unleashed numerous reactions, both from the Saharawi authorities and
from the solidarity movement.
Mhamed Khaddad called on the UN special representative, Francesco
Bastagli, telling him that the UN's indifference was intolerable. For
the Minister of the Occupied Territories, Khalil Sidi M'hamed, it is
a matter of an assassination, which according to the Saharawi
Ambassador in Algiers, M. Beissat, bears the signature of the
Moroccan state. The Saharawi government has ordered a national day of
mourning and the Polisario Front has seized the Security Council with
the matter to put an end to human rights abuses by
Morocco.
The Moroccan
HR organisation AMDH has demanded an independent inquiry, the
Association of the Moroccan Sahara and and others have protested
. The OMCT
- World Organisation against Torture - has launched an urgent appeal.
[french
]
For more infos and reactions on the death of Lembarki Hamdi and the
events of 30.10.05, see special
page.
Meanwhile arrests continue. This is how Brahim Dahan, President of the Association of Victims of Human Rights abuses committed by the Moroccan state was apprehended on 30 October, while demonstrating after the death of Lembarki. Questioned by the public prosecutor, he was held in custody at the Black Prison for belonging to a criminal group, holding explosive devices and refusal to cooperate with the Moroccan authorities, according to his lawyer,
Lahbib R'guibi, quoted by AFP. According to the Spanish daily ABC, the prosecutor was interested in his contacts with the political adviser to the American Embassy in Rabat and with the journalist, Luis de Vega.
On 31, the police arrested the young, Sahraoui Badda Mohammed Badda, born in 1974, also for participation in demonstrations condemning the assassination of Lembarki Hamdi. The young man has been imprisoned in the Black Prison since 2 November 2005.
The Observatory for the protection of human rights defenders, joint program of the World Organisation against torture (OMCT) and the international Federation of Leagues of Human Rights (FIDH) launched an appeal following acts of violence perpetrated by the Moroccan police force and the arrests, including that of Brahim Dahan. [Appel urgent de l'Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits de l'Homme. Détention arbitraire / Poursuites judiciaires. 03.11.05]
03.11.05,
arrest
Boughanbour Abdelbaki Salek Abdelbaki born in 1945 was arrested by
the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie in the area of Um Draiga, while he was
looking for his camel herd. He is accused of being implicated in
illegal immigration traffic.
03.11.05,
Testimony
According to the Spanish journalist Luis de Vega
[ABC
03.11.05]
a leaden atmosphere reigns over El Ayoun. The day before the 30th
anniversary of the Green March, the deployment of uniformed police
and above all plain clothes police, prevents any independence
demonstration. Even at night, the young people cannot get together
any more. Often people approach a journalist to tell him discreetly
"we are not Moroccans", "this is not Morocco" or even "Viva el Frente
Polisario". The young ones use the internet to avoid using mobile
phones, which are listened to.
On 3 November, the Saharawi political detainees suspended their second hunger strike, started on 20 October, after the management of the Black Prison undertook to respect the right to visits without searching or intimidating the visitors.
21-23.10.05
The European Greens called on the United Nations and the European
Union to undertake the necessary measures equal to the task of
putting an end to Moroccan human rights violations in Western Sahara,
according to a resolution adopted during the 3rd conference of their
Council, held between 21-23 October in Kiev.
23.10.05,
Italy
The Italian government reiterates its support for the implementation
of the United Nations peace plan in Western Sahara, the
under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Luigi Mantica,
declared in response to a question to the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the Chamber of Deputies.
26.10.05,
Italy
110 Italian deputies and senators, of all political tendencies, sent
a letter to the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI and to his government
demanding an inquest into the serious crimes committed against human
rights defenders in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and
that those responsible for these acts should be brought to justice.
They also demand the implementation of the resolutions of the United
Nations concerning the referendum of self-determination.
[Full
Text SPS]
26.10.05,
Finland
Seven Finnish organisations called the member states of the Security
Council to "deploy all their diplomatic effort" to bringing Morocco
to put an end to its systematic violations of human rights in Western
Sahara and to implement the Baker Plan. The letter is signed by the
Finnish Peace Committee - Suomen Rauhanpuolustajat, Peace Union in
Finland - Suomen Rauhanliitto - YK-yhdistys, Committee of 100 in
Finland - Suomen Sadankomitea, Finnish Psychologists for Social
Responsibility - Suomen Psykologien Sosiaalinen Vastuu, Finnish UN
Association - Suomen YK-liitto, Finnish Refugee Council - Suomen
Pakolaisapu, International Solidarity Foundation -
Kansainvälinen Solidaarisuussäätiö.
26-27.10.05,
European Parliament
While the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in Morocco, Tayeb Fassi
Fihri, was at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and met several
European commissioners and members of parliament involved in
relations with the Maghreb, the President of the Parliament, Josep
Borrell, a socialist, proposed to the conference of chairs of groups
not to conclude the debate on the topic of human rights abuses around
the world and in particular in Western Sahara, by voting on a
resolution. According to Le Soir d'Algérie, the Spanish
socialist parliamentarians proposed to Morocco a political
transaction, to delay the debate on Western Sahara in exchange for
strong and meaningful gestures by Rabat. Morocco's response did not
arrive. The European Parliament therefore finally expressed itself by
voting on a resolution presented by the principal parliamentary
groups (PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, Verts/ALE et Gue/NGL).
The resolution underlines the concern of the European Parliament at
the serious violations of fundamental rights of the human being and
demands "the protection of Saharawi populations and respect for their
rights", in particular, "the freedom of expression and freedom of
movement". It "asks the Moroccan authorities to release immediately
the human rights defenders, Aminatou Haidar, Ali Salem Tamek and the
35 other Saharawi political detainees." [full
text Resolution of the Europan Parlament,
26.10.05]
[Déclaration du ministre sahraoui
délégué pour l'Europe Mohamed Sidati,
french
or spanish]
28.10.05,
Security Council Resolution S/RES/1634
(2005)
The Security Council unanimously extended MINURSO's mandate to 30
April 2006 and reaffirmed "its desire to help the parties reach a
just, durable and mutually acceptable poltiical solution, which would
permit the self-determination of Western Sahara within the framework
of arrangements suitable for the aims and principles enunciated in
the United Nations Charter."
The Polisario Front declared itself satisfied with the resolution, according to a written statement by Boukhari Ahmed, the Saharawi representative with the UN, which pointed out that the Council had reaffirmed its "support for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination" and refused the Moroccan proposals aiming to "alter the nature and direction of the UN involvement in the solution of a conflict of decolonization". [SPS].
The spokesman for the French ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that "France supports the search for a political solution agreed by all the parties, in the framework and under the aegis of the United Nations. It hopes that these six months can be used profitably by the parties to work with the Secretary General as well as with his new personal envoy, and between them to a mutually acceptable settlement."
29-30.10.05,
Athens First Congress of the European Left
Delegates adopted a resolution, despite the attempts by Moroccan
delegations to prevent it, affirming that the conflict of Western
Sahara is a problem of decolonization, supporting the legitimate
struggle of the Saharawi people and the UN resolutions, condemning
the "policy of oppression and repression being carried out by the
Moroccan authorities", and demanding the immediate release of
Saharawi prisoners. Addressing itself to the EU, the European Left
asks it to support the UN and to condemn Morocco by using the clauses
of the agreement of association relating to human rights.
29.10.-03.11.05,
Sweden, 39th congress of SAP
The Swedish Social Democrat Party, in power, and member of IS, called
its Government to commit itself within the European Union and the UN
in favour of the "right of the Saharawi people to self-determination"
and to use its contacts with Morocco "to put an end to its
occupation" of Western Sahara. A Saharawi delegation was invited to
the congress.
26.10.05
The Congress of Deputies (lower house in the parliament) and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs have "definitively renounced" the idea of
sending a delegation to Western Sahara to inquire into the situation
of human rights, because of the conditions imposed by
Rabat.
30.10.05,
Madrid Accords
In reply to a question from a member of parliament, the government
declares that the Madrid Accords of 14.11.75 handed over the
administration of the territory to Morocco (and Mauritania) but not
sovereignty over Western Sahara. According to the UN, Hans Corell
report in 2002, Spain could not hand over its position as
administrative power, but only the power to administer the
territory.
28-29.10.05,
Rome
Third trades union Conference of solidarity with Saharawi workers and
for a peaceful future for Western Sahara. This conference bringing
together 25 trades union organisations, including trades unions from
Morocco, adopted a final declaration in which it expressed its
profound concern for the living and working conditions and the
repression which is rife in the territory of occupied Western Sahara.
The unions ask for the full implementation of the Charter of Human
Rights and international conventions for all men and women who work
in Western Sahara. The conference would like to open a dialogue with
Moroccan trades unions, which took part in the conference. It was
decided to send a joint mission to the area.
[SPS]
A teacher from the Institute of Applied Technology in El Ayoun, Sidi Brahim Eddia, was arbitrarily excluded from his union, UMT, because of his union activities in favour of Saharawi workers and because his father intended taking part in the union conference in Rome.
13.10.05,
attack
A Saharawi student, Lakhiar Abdellah Ghali was attacked at night in
Rabat by Moroccans trying to assassinate him. He underwent emergency
surgery because of the injury to his liver. Saharawi students in
Rabat have denounced this acts and demanded protection of the
authorities in the face of the discrimination they are subjected to,
a widespread attitude in the numerous universities of Morocco.
[photos]
26-30.10.05, Mariem Hassan at WOMEX (International World Music Fair) at Newcastle: starting with a mawal a capella (free introduction) Mariem Hassan impressed the professional ambience coming from every corner of the the planet to celebrate the most important tradefair of World Music 2005 in Newcastle. In the filled up New Rock Foundation Hall she gained the audience with her intense voice pulling her musicians with bursting energies, surprising with incursions into blues and other less usual atmospheres, with an outstanding version of La Intifada and a dance of Vadiya, amazing and sensual. A memorable concert for Mariem being back on stage after having been stopped by grave health reasons.[corr.]
5-12.11.05,
Ravenna
DONNE SAHRAWI, VOCI DAL DESERTO
Mostre, libri, spettacoli, cinema, fiabe, incontri e dibattiti
dedicati al popolo Sahrawi
Info: PDF
MADRID : 11 Y
12 DE NOVIEMBRE 2005 - 30 AÑOS BASTAN
CONFERENCIA INTERNACIONAL - MARCHA POR LA LIBERTAD DEL PUEBLO
SAHARAUI
Manifestación para denunciar los Acuerdos tripartitos de hace
30 años entre España, Marruecos y Mauritania sobre el
Sáhara.
Programa
Declaracion
de Madrid
FESTIVAL DE
CULTURA SAHARAUI 2005 Campamentos de refugiados saharauis, 23, 24 y
25 de noviembre
vuelo Barajas-Tinduf-Barajas Fecha de salida: domingo, 20 noviembre a
las 23,30h. fecha de regreso: domingo, 27 noviembre a las 23,00h
Info: Mohamed Ali Ali Salem, Responsable de Cultura,
Delegación Saharaui para España, Móvil: 690 85
72 78 Fax: 949887552 Email: saharacultura[at]yahoo.es
VIº
Congresso della Gioventu Sahrawi 19. - 26.11.05
ai campamenti profughi di Tindouf
per informazioni: Comitato di Gemellaggio di Rosignano Marittimo:
cogemel[at]gemellagiorossignano.191.it
o ANSPS ansps[at]libero.it
VIème Congrès de la Jeunesse sahraouie UJSARIO -
Campements de réfugiés 19-26.11.05
"EL PATRIMONIO
CULTURAL DEL SAHARA OCCIDENTAL. THE WESTERN SAHARA CULTURAL
HERITAGE"
Del 6 al 9 de febrero de 2006. Campamento del 27 de Febrero, en los
campamentos de refugiados (Argelia) y en el sahara occidental
(República Árabe Saharaui Democrática)
Ministerio de Cultura de la República Árabe Saharaui
Democrática, Museo Nacional del Pueblo Saharaui
Institut del Patrimoni Cultural de la Universitat de Girona
Infos: Narcís Soler i Masferrer
Universitat de Girona - Facultat de Lletres, Plaça Ferrater i
Mora, 1, 17071 GIRONA 0034 972418788 / 972418200 fax:
972418230
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