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WEEKS 37-38 : 10.09.-23.09.2006 |
10.09.06, South Africa
The ANC secretary general for youth, Snuki Zikala, at the celebrations
marking the 62nd anniversary of the creation of ANC Youth, renewed the
“unconditional support” of the organisation for the legitimate struggle
of the Saharawi people for freedom and independence.
11-12.09.06, Latin America
The permanent Conference of political parties of Latin America and the
Caribbean, [Conferencia Permanente de Partidos Políticos de
América Latina y el Caribe] COPPPAL,
, meeting in Managua, expressed itself in favour of the right to
self-determination of the Saharawi people and the UN peace plan. They
asked the governments of the region to strengthen their diplomatic
relations with SADR, represented by the President of the Parliament,
Mahfoud Ali Beiba. COPPPAL, created in 1979, brings together 52
political parties.
14.09.06, European Union
Mhamed Khadad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, was received in
Brussels by the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tumioja,
who reaffirmed the position of his country “for the respect of the
right to the Saharawi people to self-determination” and recalled “the
interest that his country takes in the respect of human rights in
Western Sahara, and the continuance of the exchange program of visits
between Saharawi families as well as humanitarian aid to the Saharawi
refugees.” Finland is the current President of the EU.
16.09.06, European Union
An ad-hoc delegation from the European Parliament, charged with
inquiring into human rights abuses in Western Sahara as an application
of resolution RC6-0561/2005, visits the Saharawi refugee camps.
Led by the former Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister, Joannis Kasoulides,
a member of the European Popular Group, the delegation is composed of
seven MEPs from different groups.
The Saharawi President rejected, during discussions with the
delegation, “any form of negotiations” with the Moroccan government
“which are not based on the Settlement Plan (Baker II) or on the Peace
Plan for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara”. The
delegation will travel, at the beginning of October, to Western Sahara.
[SPS]
[resolution RC6-0561/2005 of 27.10.05]
18-21.09.06, South Africa
A
SADR delegation and representatives of the UGTSARIO, Saharawi
Trade Union, participated to the 9th Congress of COSATU, the union of
south african trade unions. The resolution concerning Western Sahara
calls for an increase of the solidarity to the Saharawi people and the
Saharawi workers and to continue the support to the anticolonial
struggle thy fight against Morrocan occupation.
OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
Arrests – violence
Arrests continue, between 8 and 11 September eleven Saharawi citizens
were called in for questioning, in some cases following demonstrations,
sometimes several times and were violently mistreated. [See testimony of Mohamed Chrif]
On 14 four other questionings in El Ayoun, in Smara a child of 13 years was abducted and underwent bad treatment. [fr/arabic].
13.09.06
Moroccan general intelligence agents abducted the activist and human
rights defender, Yahdih Ettarrouzi in Tan Tan, sought for over a year
because of his activities at the time of the intifada. Yahdih is a
member of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders, of the
Forum for Truth and Justice and the AMDH, he has taken part in meetings
with foreign journalists and NGO delegations. On 16 September, Yahdih
goes before the instructing magistrate in El Ayoun and taken off to the
Black Prison, accused of numerous offenses. During the three days of
his disappearance he was interrogated and tortured in Tan Tan, then by
the Criminal Investigation Department in El Ayoun and forced to sign
under threat a fabricated police record.[Dossier]
Appeals - sentences
11.09.06, El Ayoun
The court of appeal reduced to one month’s prison, the sentences handed
down to Torgui Ali and Laaraibi Mohamed Ali, arrested on 12 August and
sentenced to two months in prison on 16. They were released having
served their sentence.
19.09.06, Agadir
The court of appeal sentenced Tamek Mohamed and Najiaa Bachir, to 4
years’ prison, Kajout Brahim and Mansouri Driss, to 3 years, while
Waissi Elkharchi was acquitted. Bouregaa Omar and Banga Cheikh being
minors, the presence of their parents was obligatory, their sentencing
was postponed to 26 September, that of Lefkir Lahsen to 10 October. The
French barrister, Aline Chanu attended as an observer to the hearing.
Hunger Strike
The unlimited hunger strike of Saharawi prisoners in the prisons of El
Ayoun, Inezegane, Aït Melloul, Kénitra, and Tiznit which
started on 4 September, continue. The prison management is not
addressing their demands. The state of health of the majority of the
detainees has seriously worsened, necessitating their transfer to the
prison clinic, then to hospital, where they maintained their strike.
Loumadi Saïd, on hunger strike since 7 August in Inezegane, is in
a particularly worrying state. NGO appeals in favour of the
hunger-strikers increase. The representation of the Polisario Front in
Switzerland and the United Nations in Geneva called on the UN Council
of Human Rights. The President of SADR wrote to the Secretary General,
Kofi Annan. One action has been launched of sending letters to the
Moroccan Minister for Justice and to the Directors of Prisons. [more info]
13-15.09.06, Washington
Aminatou Haïdar is visiting the USA as the guest of members of
Congress and officers of American human rights organisations and
humanitarian associations. During meetings with members of the
Congress, officials from the Department of State and representatives
from human rights NGOs, she was able to offer her testimony on the
violations of the elementary rights of the population of Western Sahara.
In the course of a reception organised in Capitol Hill, the seat of the
Congress, the Freedom Award 2006 was presented to her by the Defense
Forum Foundation for her fight for the respect of human rights and
international law in Western Sahara. Aminatou Haidar considers that her
meetings received “favorable reactions” from her audience, who showed
themselves to be “very aware” of the fate befalling the Saharawi
population in the territories occupied by Morocco”.
The jury of the Premio Marenostrum (Italy) awarded Aminatou Haidar its
2006 prize in the category of solidarity, which will be presented to
her on 7 October in Viareggio. [more in Italian]
Death of Hassena El Karcha, who fought against Spanish colonisation and
resisted the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. Born in 1934, he
suffered detentions and harassment and was expelled twice from El
Ayoun, living under surveillance in Tan Tan for 2 years, then in
Goulimine in 1993. Members of his family have also suffered
imprisonment, including his son, Hammadi El Karcha.
01.09.06, Norway
Norway's Global Pension Fund (formerly called Norwegian oil fund) ,
which had withdrawn its investment in Kerr McGee for ethical reasons,
has revised its attitude now the American enterprise has withdrawn from
Western Sahara. [Easybourse.com] [Aftenposten]
11.09.06, fishing
A fishing agreement with Russia has been renewed during the last visit
to Morocco of President Putin. 12 ships are authorised to fish south of
Boujdour, from 15 October and for a period of 3 years. The agreement
renews an earlier agreement which expired in 1999, a second had been
renewed in 2002. [L'Economiste]
14.09.06, oil
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, ratified three oil
and gas agreements signed last March in Tifariti with three British
firms, Maghreb Exploration Limited, Osceola Hydrocarbon Limited and
Nighthawk Energy Limited. [SPS]
18.08.06, Denmark
The Foreign Affairs Minister replied to a member of parliament that
Denmark supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General towards a
solution acceptable to all. The right to self-determination should be
the corner stone of any proposal concerning the future of Western
Sahara.”
07.09.06, MINURSO
The present military commander of MINURSO, General Kurt Mosgaard, decided to extend his mission in Western Sahara. [Statement]
14.09.06, USA
The new American Ambassador to Algeria, Robert Ford, clarified the
American position: “...for there to be progress on the question, there
must be direct negotiations between all the parties concerned...the
Moroccan government has proposed the alternative of autonomy, but we
have encouraged them to make proposals which guarantee the greatest
prerogative possible to Saharawi officials”. [Liberté, Alger, 14.09.0]
11-16.09.06, Non-Aligned Movement
The 14th summit of the NAM reaffirmed the right of Western Sahara to
self-determination, after four days of hard negotiations, the most
bitter the movement has seen between Algeria, favouring
self-determination, and Morocco, opposed to any form of independence.
Morocco had taken a large delegation to Havana, comprising, among
others, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the
Vice-President of the Royal Consultative Council for Saharan Affairs
(CORCAS). During the preceding summit in 2003 and during ministerial
conferences in 2004 and 2006, the NAM had not reached a consensus,
Morocco insisting on the mention of direct negotiations and the revival
of CORCAS.[Final document] [see also Ministerial meeting of the coordinating bureau of the non-aligned movement, Putrajaya, Malaysia, 27-30 may 2006]
19-29.09.06, UN 61st General Assembly
The Tanzanian and Namibian Presidents launched on the occasion of the
holding of the UN General Assembly, an appeal for the settlement of the
conflict in Western Sahara, affirming the right of the Saharawi people
to independence. The Mauritanian and Spanish Foreign Ministers
pronounced themselves in favour of a political solution within the
framework of the United Nations. [SPS]
13.09.06, dismissal
General Hamidou Laanigri, head of security, was dismissed and appointed
by the king, inspector general of the Auxiliary Forces, a second
ranking position. Charki Draïss, wali of El Ayoun since June 2005
(week 25/26 2005), replaces him at the head of the DGSN. (spécial Sahara-Info) SPAIN
14.09.06, penal complaint
The Association of Families of Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeared,
AFAPREDESA, the Federation of Associations for the Defense and
Promotion of Human Rights, FDDH, the Spanish Association for Human
Rights, APDHE, the Public Federation of Institutions in solidarity with
the Saharawi People FEDISSAH, the Public Coordination of Associations
in solidarity with the Saharawi people CEAS-Sahara, presented, in
virtue of the principle of universal jurisdiction of courts of justice,
a penal complaint before the National Audience against 31 Moroccan
leaders and soldiers for their responsibility in the genocide, torture,
illegal detentions, abductions and disappearances practised by the
Kingdom of Morocco against the Saharawi people since October 1975. [AFAPREDESA, Spanish]
15.09.06, further postponement
The visit of the head of the Spanish government to Rabat has been once
again postponed until “after Ramadan”, which is after 23 October.
01.09.06, European Union Council
In response to three questions bearing on cases of human rights abuse
in Western Sahara (7 April 2006), the Council expressed its concern and
desire to discuss these problems with Morocco. [Réponse]
18.09.06, UN, Geneva, session of the Human Rights Council
A Saharawi delegation follows the proceedings of the Council. They hand
the chair a report from the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights
Defenders in the “Occupied Territories of Western Sahara”. [original French, PDF]
15.09.06, European Union
The European Commission granted humanitarian aid worth 10 million euros
to the Saharawi refugees. 60% of the funds will be allocated to food.
The rest is destined for basic services, in particular, water, health
and hygiene. This new allocation brings the Commission’s total aid for
the Saharawi refugees to over 128 million euros.
11.09.06, Fiesta Nacional de Catalunya
Representantes de la Delegación del Frente Polisario en
Catalunya, presidida por el delegado Emboirik Ahmed, junto con
representantes de organizaciones catalanas de solidaridad con el pueblo
saharaui, realizaron el pasado 11 de septiembre la tradicional ofrenda
de flores al monumento a Rafael Casanova de Barcelona, símbolo
de la lucha por las libertades del pueblo catalán.
19.09.06, Algeria
On the occasion of the anniversary of the constitution of the
provisional government of the Algerian Republic (CPRA), the
Algerian National Committee of solidarity with the Saharawi people
organised a conference chaired by Rédha Malek around the theme
of “solidarity action with SADR and the popular resistance in the
territories of Western Sahara still under occupation”.
COMING
UP...
23.09.06, Festival
Sahara suena 2006, plaza de toros de torrijos (Toledo). Organiza:
Asociacion amigos del pueblo saharaui de Toledo y Torrijos.
Más información www.festivalsaharasuena.com
27-28.09.06, las Asociaciones solidarias con la R.A.S.D. de Euskadi
convocan a las siguientes concentraciones: VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Plaza
Correos, C/Dato 27 septiembre 19.30, BILBO Plaza Elíptica,
frente a la Subdelegación de Gobierno 28 septiembre 19.30.
Teléfono de contacto: 945 147853 (Joxe)
29-30.09.06, Madrid. En solidaridad con los presos y detenidos
saharauis en huelga de hambre indefinida, huelga de hambre de 24 horas
desde el viernes 29 de septiembre, 12.00 horas, hasta el sábado
30 a las 12.00 horas frente al Ministerio de Asuntos
Exteriores, Plaza de la Provincia (Junto a la Plaza Mayor de Madrid).
Infos: ceas-sahara@ceas-sahara.es
3, 4 et 5.11.06, Vitoria-Gasteiz, EUCOCO 2006, 32a Conferencia Europea de Coordinación del Apoyo al Pueblo Saharaui.
NEW
PUBLICATIONS
[External
links to newspapers may not be valid after some days because the
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Français
>> Revue de la presse internationale francophone http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/revue-de-presse-sahara-occidental/messages
Nouveau
livre: Les officiers de Sa Majesté, Les dérives des
généraux marocains, 1956-2006, Mahjoub Tobji, fayard
2006, 319p
English
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Castellano
>> Revista de la prensa en español http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
Arabe
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