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WEEKS 21 - 22 : 20.05. - 02.06.2007 |
16-18.05.07
A delegation from the United Social Democrat Party of Guinea Bissau, a
member of the ruling coalition, is on a visit to SADR. [Joint statement, SPS,French]
07-19.05.07
The Panafrican Parliament adopted at the closing of its 7th session, a
resolution upholding the right of the Saharawi people to
self-determination and independence, “called on the African Union and
Security Council to assume their responsibilities towards a speedy
decolonization of Western Sahara”. [BuaNews
(Tshwane, ZA), 20 May 2007]
19.05.07
The president of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, received a delegation
from Cuba led by the deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marcos
Rodriguez Cortas. [SPS]
19-21 mai 2007, Mijek
34th anniversary of the start of the Polisario Front’s armed struggle
of liberation.
Speech of the Saharawi president: Mohamed Abdelaziz deplores the lack
of encouraging signs from Morocco about the negotiations. [SPS,
20/05/2007-French]
Press conference: Morocco is afraid of the negotiations, the Saharawi
president believes. [SPS,
21/05/2007, French]
Participation of Abdelaziz Menebhi, Moroccan former political prisoner,
long-time opponent (member of IIal el-ammam, first president of the
Moroccan National Union of Students), who stated that “the Moroccan
autonomy proposal is nothing but an attempt to prolong the Saharawi
question indefinitely”. [SPS,
20/05/2007, French]
A Moroccan in Mijek, blog WSahara Info, 24.05.07: http://w-sahara.blogspot.com/2007/05/moroccan-in-mijek.html
21.05.07
Annual conference of the Saharawi diaspora of the South (Mauritania and
sub-Saharan Africa) : affirms its support for the “intifada of
independence”. [SPS,
21/05/2007, French]
Commemoration of the 2nd anniversary of the peaceful intifada in the
occupied territories of Western Sahara celebrated in Mijek. [SPS,
21.05.07. French]
Photos of the celebrations in Mijek: http://www.rasd-state.ws/20mayofotos.asp
29.05.07
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, attends investiture
ceremonies for the new Nigerian President, Oumarou Mousa Yar'adoua, in
Abuja. [SPS]
OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
17-28.05.07, the
former political prisoner and human rights activist, Fatma Ayach is
carrying out a tour of South Africa. She met members of parliament from
the different South African parties, government ministers and officials.
From 16-24.05.07 in Pretoria a week of solidarity with the Saharawi
people takes place, on the initiative of parties from the ruling
coalition and important people in South African civil society.
24.05.07, Pretoria, demonstration outside the Moroccan embassy in South
Africa. [Protesters
call for a free Western Sahara,
Sapa, 24.05.07]
25.05.07, seminar on the conflict in Western Sahara, organised by the
South African Human Rights Commission. It results in the creation of
the South African Forum for solidarity with SADR, which includes
members of the government Alliance, representatives of the Union of
South African NGOs, leading members of women’s and youth
organisations linked with the ANC or with the South African Communist
party, members of the South African Council of Churches, members of the
South African Commission for Human Rights, and members of the Union of
South African Students, lawyers, doctors and journalists. [SPS]
Human rights abuses –
Repression of Saharawi students in Moroccan
universities
Police exactions
and violence continue, accompanied by a campaign of
intimidation and arrests against Saharawi citizens and particularly
human rights defenders.
Some documents:
Témoignage d'une victime. [ASVDH
25.05.07]
Le CODESA proteste contre de multiples agressions contre des
prisonniers politiques, communiqué, 25.05.07:
http://www.arso.org/CODESA250507.htm
Testimony of
Bneyna ment Maatallah Achtouki
[ASVDH]
Repression, arrests and violation and spoliation of houses in
El-Ayoune, [ASVDH] 25.05.07
Morocco police beat W.Sahara activists-campaigners, Reuters, 25.05.07: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23343249.htm
Relato de un viaje a los territorios ocupados del Sahara Occidental,
Keico Shingo: http://www.arso.org/opinions/KeicoShingo2007.htm
17.05.07, El-Ayoun
Attack on the home of Eddia Sidi Ahmed, whose son had just been
arrested in Rabat, by an intervention group from the town of El Ayoun.
[Corr.]
18.05.07, Smara
Gathering dispersed violently by police during the welcoming of a
family coming from the refugee camps. The UNHCR opens an inquiry. [SPS]
18.05.07, Tiznit
Attack in Tiznit prison on Saharawi political detainees Tamek Mohamed,
Kajjout, Najiâa and Mansouri Driss. They start a hunger strike
demanding their separation from common law prisoners, an inquiry and an
improvement in the conditions of imprisonment. The Prosecutor General
orders an inquiry. [ASVDH]
18.05.07, Inzegane
Five Saharawi students, held in the local Inzegane prison on hunger
strike to denouce the inhuman conditions of their detention and to
claim the right to be regrouped and isolated from common law prisoners.
[ASVDH]
20.05.07, El-Ayoun
Questioning and holding for several hours in police stations of several
human rights defenders and activists from civil society: Douihi
Hassanna, Brahim el Ansari, member of the Moroccan Association for
Human Rights, Asfari Naama, co-president of CORELSO, Sidahmed Lamjeyid,
president of the Committee of Support for the United Nations Resolution
and for the Protection of Natural Resources of Western Sahara. Attempts
to arrest Daha Errahmouni, ASVDH executive member, Naseur Salmani,
member of AMDH and the FVJ and Brahim Farah, member of AMDH and
the union of phosphate workers. [ASVDH] [AP,
20.05.07].
[CODESA 25.05.07, French]
23.05.07,
El-Ayoun
Two members of CODESA, Yahdih Tarrouzi and Amidane Elwali and Saharawi
political detainees, Toubali Elhafed and Bahaha Mohamed Salem are
attacked by common law prisoners in the Black Prison. [CODESA 25.05.07,
French]
27.05.07
Four Saharawi political prisoners imprisoned in Inzegane launch an
appeal to the big human rights associations and demand a commission of
inquiry into the human rights abuses committed in regard to them.
[EFE]
Protests
18.05.07, Sweden
The official spokesperson for foreign affairs for the Swedish Liberal
Party, Birgitta Ohlsson, asks the Minister for Foreign Affairs to
intervene to stop the repression against Saharawi students. The youth
organisation of the same party made a similar request in a statement
from its president, Johansson Metso. [Statement in
Swedish]
20.05.07, Report on the repression of the Moroccan authorities to the
Sahrawi students in the Moroccan universities by CODESA,
Collective of Saharawi human rights defenders: http://www.arso.org/CODESAreportmay2007.htm
21.05.07, session of the European Parliament; MEP Willy Meyer accuses
Morocco of “systematically abusing international law” and calls on
European institutions not to turn their eyes away from the situation
prevailing in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. [A
European
Parliamentarian accuses Morocco of "systematic violation of
international law", UPES,
22/05/2007]
22.05.07, European Parliament : the European parliamentary intergroup,
Peace for the Saharawi people condemns the repression of Saharawi
students in Moroccan universities. [Declaracion]
23.05.07, Norway
Stop the attacks on the Sahrawi students! Open letter to the Moroccan
government, signed by 43 Norwegian civil society organisations.
23.05.07: http://www.vest-sahara.no/index.php?parse_news=single&cat=1&art=488
23.05.07, European Union Council
Written question from MEPs, Napoletano, Carnero González,
García-Pérez, Guardans, Meyer Pleite, Romeva and Scheele
to the Council concerning the repression of Saharawi students.
Other associations, l'AARASD, l'AFASPA (France), Jaima saharawi
(Italy), etc. also protest. CORELSO writes to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, B. Kouchner.
28.05.07, the Collective of Saharawi human rights defenders launches an
appeal. [French]
29.05.07
The Saharawi President, Mohamed Abdelaziz, calls on the UN Secretary
General, Ban Ki-moon, to intervene urgently with the Moroccan
authorities, to guarantee respect for human rights and the most basic
freedoms of Saharawis in the occupied territories, in southern Morocco
and in Moroccan universities. [SPS]
Trials of human rights
defenders and Saharawi student protesters.
21.05.07, El-Ayoun
The co-president of CORELSO, Ennaâma Asfari’s suspended
sentence of two months’ prison and a fine of 500 dirhams is maintained
on appeal. [SPS]
22.05.07, El-Ayoun
Brahim Sabbar, secretary general of ASVDH and Ahmed Sbai, member of the
coordinating council, sentenced on 6 March 2007 in the Court of First
Instance to one year’s prison, saw their punishment lengthened by six
months. The three year prison sentences of Elhafed Toubali, Mohamed
Lehbib Elgasmi and Mohamed Salem Ahmeidat were confirmed on appeal. [Morocco
lengthens prison terms for Western Sahara activists, colleague
says, The Associated Press,
Tuesday, May 22, 2007.]
25.05.07,
Marrakech
Sultana Khaya is sentenced to 8 months’ prison, the six fellow students
accused with her to 12 months’ prison. Two Spanish observers attend the
trial. The families of students and their friends having been banished
from the court room, the lawyers retired. [Compte-rendu,
French]
29.05.07,
El-Ayoun
On appeal sentences of Elwali Amidane, Yahdih Ettarouzi and Bachri
Taleb are maintained. The former Saharawi political detainee, Lamine
Bada is sentenced to 18 months in prison. [ASVDH]
30.05.07, Agadir
Five Saharawi students are sentenced to two months’ prison and a fine
of 500 dirham for attacking, wounding and inciting to violence. [
ASVDH]
Pillage of
phosphate – campaign against FMC-Foret - documentation:
DOSSIER:
FMC FORET
EXPOLIA LOS FOSFATOS DEL SAHARA - INFORME: con fotogalerias y
anexos. [Sahara Libre.es]
NGOs
supporting Western Sahara accuse the firm FMC Foret of plundering
500.000 tonnes of phosphates yearly, EUROPA PRESS, 17.05.07
(translation)
22.05.07
Algeria and Cuba expressed their “firm support” for the efforts of the
United Nations Secretary General to implement Security Council
resolution 1754 on Western Sahara. [SPS]
22.05.07, Spain
The Coordination of Associations in solidarity with the Saharawi people
(CEAS-Sahara) called on Spanish citizens to take account of the
question of Western Sahara during municipal and regional elections due
on 27 May.
27.05.07, Norway
The Norwegian Committee of support for the Saharawi people has the
ambition to create an international solidarity movement with the
Saharawi people like the anti-apartheid movement, Ronny Hansen,
president of this committee, indicated to APS.
30.05.07, Paris
According to the French foreign ministry spokesman, the visit of Mr Van
Walsum to Paris comes within the framework of the implementation of
resolution 1754. The French position on Western Sahara has not varied,
he added. [Echorouk
online engl. ed.]
31.05.07, negotiations
The UN fixed 18 June as the start of the negotiations between Morocco
and the Polisario Front. According to the Madrid daily, ABC, they will
take place near New York. [ABC] Confirmed by the
arabophone newspapers "El Charq El
Aoussat" et "El Qods El Arabi", place is Manhasset 27 km far from
New-York , four negociators by each of the parties.
31.05 07, diplomacy
On the occasion of the visit of the French President, Sarkozy, and the
head of the US State Deparment Rice in Madrid, the Coordination of
associations in solidarity with the Saharawi people in Madrid sent them
letters. It also set going a letter and fax campaign to the United
Nations Secretary General, visiting Madrid on 5 and 6 June. As well, a
demonstration is planned for 6 June outside the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in Madrid.
In France, CORELSO sends letters to political parties presenting
candidates at the legislative elections.
01.06.07,
diplomacy
Visit of Moroccan Foreign Minister Benaissa with Fassi-Fihri to France
is anounced for June 4. [déclaration]
22.05.07,
military and police forces
According to El
Pais, the Moroccan army consists of 180,000 men, of
which 120,000 are deployed on the defensive wall. Police numbers exceed
40,000 men, to which must be added 30,000 members of auxiliary forces
and 22,000 gendarmes.
26.05.07,
censorship: Maroc Telecom blocked access to Youtube site for
five days. [Reporters
without Borders, 28.05.07].
[BBC]
29.05.07,
Morocco offers the USA to accommodate the future centre of
command of the American army in Africa. AFRICOM.
[ Middle
East Newsline]
30.05.07, The
Spanish daily, El
Pais reveals that Spain sold for
600,000 euros riot control gear to the Moroccan police.
20.05.07.
Le président de l’Alliance d’Europe Centrale et Orientale
de Solidarité avec le Peuple saharaoui, Matyas
Benyik, adresse une lettre au président français
Sarkozy.
18.05.07, Suède
The Swedish human rights organization SILC (Swedish International
Liberal Centre) has released a statement saying: "Freedom for Western
Sahara!": http://www.silc.se/article.rhtml?id=286
28.05.07, Alger
Le centre culturel sahraoui Mohamed Fadel Ismail à Alger
héberge une exposition de la photographe Malika Taghlit
consacrée aux enfants sahraouis.
[El
Watan, 30.05.07] [Gallerie
d'images ] [Amb
RASD Argel]
Concentración
de apoyo al pueblo saharaui, con motivo de la llegada a Madrid del
Secretario general de la ONU, Miércoles, 6 de Junio, de 16.30 a
18.00 h. Frente al Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Plaza de la
Provincia, Madrid.
Concierto de la cantante saharaui Mariem Hassan, el dia 8 de junio, a
las 23horas, en La Capsa. Ens pots trobar a l'Avinguda Pare Andreu de
Palma, número 5-7. Org: ACAPS-PRAT : http://sahararesiste.blogspot.com/2007/06/8-de-junio-de-2007-acto-solidaro-en-el.html
Juny 2007. Jornades de cooperació a Premià de Mar :
http://sahararesiste.blogspot.com/2007/06/juny-2007-jornades-de-cooperaci-premi.html
ARTIFARITI 2007
I Encuentros de Arte en Territorios Liberados del Sahara Occidental,
TIFARITI (SAHARA LIBERADO), 10 al 27 de Octubre 2007
E-mail: 2007@artifariti.org - artifariti2007@yahoo.es, http://artifariti.blogspot.com/
- http://www.artifariti.org
Nuevos sitios-
Nouveaux sites - New Sites
Nuevos blogs
Best of blogs:
Video
Debate en Libertad Digital :
Sáhara, treinta años después (1ª Parte):
http://www.libertaddigital.tv/ldtv.php/programas/ver-debatesenlibertad/sahara_treinta_anos_despues/
Sáhara, treinta años después (2ª Parte):
http://www.libertaddigital.tv/ldtv.php/programas/ver-debatesenlibertad/sahara_treinta_anos_despues_2_parte/
Rainbow Rovers: Sahara Convoy 2007 - Be Part Of It! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54anMJkGuKE
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
NUEVO LIBRO:
Sáhara en el corazón, Sas Nah Larosi, 64 p.,
Gráficas Almeida, Madrid, español-árabe. http://www.graficasalmeida.com/
Italiano
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