WEEKLY NEWS

 

WEEK 50

09. - 15.12.1996

 

Headlines

Germany: Parliamentary debate

Autonomy or independance ?

Eastern Timor - Western Sahara

Human Rights in Morocco

Fishing agreement

17.10.96
Germany: Parliamentary debate

A parliamentary motion of the German deputee E.Brecht (SPD), who directed the German parliamentary mission in W.S. in April 1996, asks to the government to intensify its initiatives, particularly inside the European Union and the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue, in order to move on the implementation of the peace plan in W.S..
In his answer the Minister of Foreign Affairs declares that the governement shares the concerns expressed by the motion. The German Governement has sustained the efforts of the UN in order to restart the peace process. In its mind the UN have still to play a central role for the solution of this conflict. It will work in the Security Council in favour of the maintain of the MINURSO. A total withdrawal would be dangerous. War could start again. The German government will work for the continuing and intensifying of the efforts of the UN. It will maintain its strict neutrality, its contacts with both parties and favor the direct dialogue. In its mind the problem of the POWs must be resolved urgently for humanitarian reasons, in the frame of the UN peace plan. ( 66 POWs have been released meanwhile)

Answering to a question the German government declaredthat the humanitarian support of Germany for the years 1988 to 1996, mainly food for the refugee camps near Tindouf, amounts more than 6 millions $.

05.12.96
Autonomy or independance ?

Ahmad Alaoui, councelor of King Hassan II declares that the King offers the regional autonomy of the territory of Western Sahara to the Polisario Front, in condition of its renouncement of total independance. This proposal was already discussed in occasion of the contacts between Moroco and the Polisario Front last September and is connected with the Moroccan project of regionalization which divides the kingdom in 16 provinces with economical, social and cultural autonomy. A Polisario representative in Madrid rejects the Moroccan offer, saying his organisation is fighting for independance and a referendum has to take place. (El Pais)

10.12.96
Eastern Timor - Western Sahara

In occasion of the attribution of the Nobel Peace Prize to him and to bishop X. Belo, Mr. Ramos-Horta, spokesman of the Resistance in Eastern Timor, said: "In the process of decolonization of non-autonomous territories, self-determination allowed nearly always the independance of those territories. But it is not the case in the majority of the conflicts remaining today. The case of Western Sahara and Eastern Timor are two examples. In the case of W.S. the UN make themselves accomplice of a minor regional power."

10.12.96
Human Rights in Morocco

According to OMDH ( Organisation Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme) the human rights situation has worried in 1996 after 3 years of improvement. In a declaration of 32 pages a lot of violations of human.rights are listened. The Moroccan H.R. organisation announces a 3 monthes campaign against torture used by the security forces. An other Moroccan H.R. organisation, AMDH (Association Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme), numbered 9 individuals died in 1996 after torture and illtreatment in the police stations, 57 "disappeared" and 70 persons still jailed as political prisoners.

10.12.96
Fishing agreement

Morocco will not renew its fishing agreement with the European Union (concluded in december 1995 for 4 years) for ecological but nor political reasons. The Moroccan government just signed a cooperation agreement with the United States in which it commits itself to protect marine wealth in return of support for the renewal of its fishing fleet.

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