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WEEKS 05 - 06 : 28.01. - 10.02.2007 |
25-30.01.07, African Union, Executive Council and 8th Summit
The AU’s Executive Council, during its 10th ordinary session, examined
the report by the President of the African Commission, Alpha Oumar
Konaré. It noted recent developments on the question of Western
Sahara and adopted the report unanimously, which reaffirms the
responsibility of the United Nations towards the Saharawi people and
underlines that the solution to the conflict in Western Sahara lies in
the exercise by the people of Western Sahara of their right to
self-determination.
[Summit]
23.01.-31.01.07, Joint WFP/UNHCR Mission
A joint delegation of the World Food Program and the UN High Commission
for Refugees carried out a mission of evaluation in the Saharawi
refugee camps to assess low food stocks resulting from the exhaustion
of the security stock [see appeal by the Saharawi Red Crescent, week 03-04/2007].
It will “prepare a new program of food and non-food aid for the
refugees”, which should begin, in principle, from April.
Meanwhile, the refugees have to make do with 750 kcal, whereas
the minimal threshold set by WFP is 2100 kcal. Part of January’s food
aid has been distributed, although the refugees have not received
supplies for two months. The president of the Saharawi Red Crescent,
Yahia Bouhobeini, accused the WFP and UNHCR of not making enough effort
to replenish the stores. [SPS] [El Watan, 03.02.07]
31.01.07, Caracas
A group of Saharawi university students arrived in the Venezuelan
capital to undertake further studies as part of a bilateral agreement
signed between the governments of the two countries. [SPS]
04.02.07, appeal
In a letter sent to the new UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the
Saharawi president asked for the intervention of the UN to put an end
to the “flagrant violations of human rights committed by the Moroccan
colonial authorities in Western Sahara. He also appealed for the
“immediate release” of 38 political prisoners “on hunger strike since
30 January last.” [SPS]
05.02.07
During a press conference in Algiers, the Saharawi Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mohamed Salem ould Salek, revealed that the Saharawi president
will shortly meet the new UN Secretary General. He also announced that
a memorandum had been sent to the UN on developments in the question of
Western Sahara and described the Moroccan proposal for autonomy “null
and void”, since it violates international law”. [Liberté, Alger, 06.02.07] [AmbRASD Alger], 05.02.07]
OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
25.01.07, mines
After various fatal accidents due to landmines in the region of Smara and Bir Nzarane [see weeks 03-04/2007],
the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l'Homme,
CODESA , asked the Moroccan authorities to proceed immediately with
de-mining the zones at risk and to guarantee medical care for the
victims. He asked the international anti-landmine movement to put
pressure on Morocco to adhere to the Ottawa convention.
30.01.07
Saharawi political prisoners incarcerated in the Black Prison have
started an unlimited hunger strike, to protest against their conditions
of detention and to denounce the attacks to which they were subjected
on 19 January last. Several Saharawi prisoners were attacked again on 3
February by Moroccan common law prisoners.
05.02.07, Appeal
On the eve of the trial in El Ayoun of Saharawi human rights defenders,
Brahim Sabbar and Ahmed Sbai, Amnesty International expresses the hope
that these two persons may not be subjected to judicial harassment for
their work as human rights defenders and their defense of the
self-determination of Western Sahara. Amnesty International asks the
Moroccan authorities to ensure that the proceedings on 6 February
respect international norms for a fair trial. [Amnesty International Public Statement, Morocco/Western Sahara: Stop the judicial harassment of Sahrawi human rights defenders, 5 February 2007] [arabic]
06.02.07, Trial
Six Saharawi accused, Brahim Sabar, Ahmed Sbai, Loumadi Abdessalam,
Toubali El Hafed, El Ghasmi Mohamed Lehbib and Ahmeidatt Ahmed Salem,
appeared before the appeal court in El Ayoun. Their sentencing was
postponed until 20 February. The accused refused to respond to
questions until an inquiry has been carried out into the attack on them
on 19 January.[communiqué] [original arabic]
Phosphate
The ship, Delzoukre arrived on 30.01.07 at the port of Tauranga,New
Zealand, coming from El Ayoun and then went on 4 February to Timaru and
on 6 to South Port (Bluff) to unload its cargo of phosphate.
The ship, Santa Anna is expected on 3 March in Lyttleton, on 4 in
Napier and on 7 in Dunedin, also carrying phosphate sourced in Western
Sahara.
30.01.07
At a press conference during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa,
the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, declared that he hoped that the
issue of Western Sahara would be resolved between the parties concerned
through dialogue. [unofficial transcript]
01.02.07, MINURSO
The UN Secretary general has appointed Julian Harston, United Kingdom,
as Special Representative for Western Sahara and head of MINURSO.
Harston, who entered the United Nations in 1995 after a career in the
British foreign service, was until 2004 Director of the United Nations
office in Belgrade.
[UN Press release]
SPAIN
06.02.07, sale of arms
The Spanish government authorised the sale to Morocco of 1200 Rebeco
four wheel drive vehicles [equivalent of the American Hummer], of 800
military trucks and 10 patrol boats, for a sum of approximately 200
million euros. [España vende a Rabat 1.200 blindados como los usados en Afganistán,
El Pais, 06.02.2007]
[La venta española de 1200 blindados a Marruecos agrava la situación en el Magreb, José Daniel Fierro, Rebelión, 09.02.07]
08.02.07
The Saharawi government considers that the sale of arms by Spain to
Morocco constitutes an affront to Spanish public opinion and is a
disloyal and treacherous act similar to the Madrid Accords of 1975.
Through this act Spain has excluded itself from the group of friendly
countries for the peace process and any future mediation. [original text]
25.01.07
Maghreb Confidential reveals that the Moroccan government and the
Office chérifien des phosphates OCP have engaged Avatar
Enterprises Inc, a powerful American lobbyist, to “raise the awareness
of American officials concerning questions involving Morocco and the
United Nations and OCP’s business.”. The contract is said to have cost
the sum of US$40,000. [Maghreb Confidential N° 772]
29.01.07
The Moroccan party Annahj Addimoucrati points out, in a long memorandum
on the conflict in Western Sahara, that “the Saharawi people should
exercise their right to self-determination under the aegis of the
United Nations”. [SPS]
29-30.01.07
The King of Morocco informed the Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, the
President of the Chamber of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, the
President of the Chamber of Councillors, Mustapha Oukacha, and the
President of CORCAS, Khalli Henna Ould R'Chid, of the progress of the
autonomy proposal. Talks continued over 31 January, 1 and 2 February
with the heads of the different political parties.
01.02.07
the Prime Minister informed the government of progress on the autonomy
proposal. Rabat plans to organise a campaign of explanation with all
the members of the UN Security Council.
09.02.07: Els Drets
Humans al Sahara Occidental, Exposicio de fotografies, Audiovisual
d'Aminetu Haidar, Taula rodona. Comitè Català Aminetu
Haidar per l'Alliberament dels Presos Polítics Sahrauís,
el 9 de febrer a les 7 de la tarda, al Centre Cultural Can Fabra,
Barcelona. Infos: joaquimcarreras@terra.es
09.02.-23.03.07, photo exhibition on the Saharawi People, Institute of
Social Studies, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague: Danielle Smith
(Belgium/UK), Nicolien Zuijdgeest (Netherlands), Simon Thorpe
(Zambia/UK), Dimitrios Tsironis (Australia) and Pedro Pinto Leite
(Portugal/Netherlands). Infos: Martin Blok blok@iss.nl
Sandblast London: February 1st-17th 2007 Photo exhibition on Western Sahara, Host Gallery, London.
Wed, Feb 13th, 7-8pm, Film screenings of Western Sahara: A Forgotten
War (1998) A BBC 2 Correspondent film (52min). Tim Braunholtz of
Western Sahara Campaign will present and do Q&A. <http://www.sandblast-arts.org/> (go to: events - forthcoming)
12-23 de febrero de 2007, GRANADA : exposición de paneles y
fotografías: "Sahara Occidental, soñando con el
reencuentro: 17:00 a 20:00 horas, Salas de Exposiciones, CENTRO
CIVICO ZAYDIN, C/ Pintor M. Maldonado.
13.02.07, INAUGURACION: 13 de febrero, 19:00 horas
VIDEO FORUM: "Lalia", de Silvia Munt, 20 de febrero,19:30 horas
http://www.aspa-andalucia.org/ Infos: aspa.cordoba@nodo50.org
16.02.-04.03.07, Melbourne : Australia Western Sahara Association
presents, Images of Western Sahara: A picture tells a thousand words.
Paintings from Saharawi artists in the refugee camps. Photographs of
land mine victims by Simon Thorpe. Photographs by Georgia Vlassopoulos,
at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, to be opened by Maria Vamvakinou, MP.
Details: www.bundoorahomestead.com and <http://www.awsa.org.au> .
16.02.07, CONCENTRACIÓN DEL MOVIMIENTO DE SOLIDARIDAD CON EL
SÁHARA EN APOYO A LOS PRESOS POLÍTICOS SAHARAUIS, frente
a la embajada de Marruecos en Madrid c/ Serrano, 179 (metro
república Argentina) desde las 17:00 horas hasta las 20:00 horas. Asociaciones de Amistad y
Solidaridad con El Pueblo Saharaui - Comité de seguimiento
de los presos políticos saharauis. Teléfono de contacto:
91.531.76.04. e-mail: ceas-sahara@ceas-sahara.es
17-24.02.07, RASD, protección juridica de la zona arqueologica
Una comisión de juristas y arqueologos, viajara al Sahara, a los
territorios liberados. Dicha misión está organizada
por el Observatorio de derechos humanos del Colegio de abogados de
Badajoz. El objetivo de la misma es una toma de contacto por
especialistas sobre el terreno, con el fin de recabar toda
la información posible para estudiar formas de protección
juridica (ante los organismos internacionales como Unesco), de la zona
arqueologica, así como realizar prospecciones cientificas de los
yacimientos
Infos: "observatorio de derechos humanos" <hafdala@icaba.com>
26.2.07: VII. Sahara Marathon
English: http://www.saharamarathon.org/desktopdefault.aspx
Espanol: http://www.saharamarathon.org/desktopdefault.aspx?lg=3
Deutsch: http://www.lauftreffreisen.de/html/besuch_bei_den_kindern_der_wol.HTM
Italiano: http://www.saharamarathon.org/desktopdefault.aspx?lg=1
27.02.07, Tifariti
Commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the proclamation of SADR
International Conference of solidarity with the Saharawi people
International Meeting of towns in Europe and Africa twinned with Saharawi dairas
Protest demonstration at the wall of shame
Site web ASVDH, mis à jour (témoignages , rapports): http://www.asvdh.net/
Documents
NEW
PUBLICATIONS
[External
links to newspapers may not be valid after some days because the
servers are restarted]
Français
>> Revue de la presse internationale francophone
http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/revue-de-presse-sahara-occidental/messages
English
>> English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
Castellano
>> Revista de la prensa en español http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
Italiano
Arabe
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