WESTERN SAHARA

WEEKLY NEWS

 

WEEK 42

11.-17.10.1998

 

12.10.98
Human rights
The Moroccan authorities released 28 political prisoners and confirmed the death of 56 disappeared persons among 112 cases reported missing by relatives between 1960 and 1980. "The investigations are going on, declared the Minister of Justice, a follow-up committee has been created." This committee should settle all open cases in the next 6 months.

The 112 cases are divided in 3 categories:

  1. 56 deceaded, among them 30 militaries who died at Tazmamart and the militaries M'hamed Ababu, Chellat, Akka, M'zireg, executed after an attempt to escape from PF3, a secret jail in Rabat, with the warder Mulay Ali Fakim, who transmitted messages from Ali Bourequat to his mother;
  2. 12 individuals alive and free;
  3. 44 persons of unknown destiny, among them Milud Essedik, who according to Ali Bourequat, died at Tazmamart Oct. 23, 1986 (In the Moroccan King's Secret Gardens, 1998, p. 185. Available by the author or the ARSO). Watchman of the royal palace, "his only crime was having refused to allow one of the princesses who was dead drunk to enter because she couldn't remember the password."(ibid.)

The families of the disappeared declare they will ask for the truth about the circumstances of these disappearances and the responsibilities of these dramas. No Saharawi is on the lists.

12.10.98
Special political and decolonization committee (Fourth Commission) of the UNGA
The Moroccan representative said the problem of Western Sahara was not one of decolonization but one of territorial integrity... The outdated framework for dialogue should be abandoned and the settlement swiftly tackled by both sides...

13.10.98
Special political and decolonization committee (Fourth Commission) of the UNGA
By a draft resolution submitted by the Chairman on the question of Western Sahara (document A/C.4/53/L.4), the General Assembly would take note with satisfaction of the progress achieved and of the agreements reached between Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO, would call upon the two parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy, James A. Baker III, and his Special Representative, Charles Dunbar, in implementing the various phases of the plan and the agreements reached between Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO fully and in good faith. It would also urge the two parties to refrain from undertaking anything that would undermine the implementation of the settlement plan and the agreements reached for its implementation.
The Committee approved the text without a vote.
The representative of Morocco declared that since the issue was being considered in the Security Council, it was no longer within the purview of the Fourth Committee to deal with it. The representative of Antigua and Barbuda said his Government was not at all satisfied that there had been any significant thrust or meaningful progress on the issue of Western Sahara. Western Sahara was a matter of decolonization, unlike the other matters of self-determination taken up in the Committee, and it was time the Saharawi people moved forward towards their manifest destiny.

13.10.98
Moroccan lobbying in Spain
The seminar "Marruecos en el umbral del siglo XXI: Ambiciones y grandes reformas" opened by the Foreign affairs ministers of Morocco and Spain has been interrupted by friends of the Saharawi people entering the room with flags of the SADR and chanting slogans in favour of independence. The Moroccan ministers of Economy, Agriculture and Fishing, Justice and Communications were also present to promote a new image of Morocco. Minister Filali announced the UN SG will visit Morocco in November next.

14.10.98
W.S.: Repression
Civil servants manifested last week in El Ayun to clame for their outstanding salaries. As usual the police brake up the manifestants violently, hurting several persons, among them a woman severely.
At the same time about 100 unemployed graduate Saharawis manifested at Gulimine (South Morocco) asking the authorities to hold their last year promises of jobs. The police intervention caused several wounded.

14.10.98
Manifestations
After the police intervention at the manifestation of Rabat on Oct. 7 the Saharawi Ministry of Information informs that 4 participants have been seriously injured:

14.10.98
NEWS FROM THE SADR

The Saharawi President leaded the meeting of the Interministerial Committee, which examines the situation, prepares the electoral timetable and creates a national committee to prepare the next parliamentary elections. The elections take place every 18 months. The number of deputees is proportional to the number of inhabitants of every wilaya (SADR Ministry of Information).

Omar Ahmed Mohamed, a 49 years old Saharawi, joined the refugee camps in tle first week of October, coming from Bujdur where he lived (occupied WS). In a declaration at the Saharawi national radio he explained different violations of human rights the Saharawis in the occupied territories of Western Sahara are victims (SADR Ministry of Information)..

15.10.98
Referendum
The Secretary-General asked the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, to visit the Maghreb together with the Special Representative for Western Sahara, Charles Dunbar. The purpose of the visit is to consult with the parties and with their neighbours. Mr. Miyet's will visit Rabat on Oct. 17. He will meet also the Saharawi, Algerian and Mauritanian authorities. The Secretary-General prepares his next report on Western Sahara following Mr. Miyet's visit which would be issued around October 26. MINURSO's current mandate expires at the end of October.

15.10.98
Fifth Committee:Financing MINURSO
The Secretary-General asks the Assembly to appropriate and assess some $65.1 million gross for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999.

15.10.98
AFAPREDESA
The Saharawi Association of Human Rights Defence about the liberation of political prisoners: AFAPREDESA underlines that the problem of Saharawi prisoners and disappeared is still tabu in Morocco, also among some Moroccan HR NGOs. The organization told about 11 ex-disappeared Saharawis presently in Rabat to ask for their rights and to draw the attention of the Moroccan and international public opinion on their worrying situation. AFAPREDESA appeals to the international opinion and to the HR NGOs to stay watchful about Human Rights in Morocco and occupied Western Sahara.

Announce
The Saharawi music band LEYOAD is on tour in Germany from Oct. 21 to Nov. 20. They will play u.a. at Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfort, Munich, Bonn, Hannovre, Darmstadt, Kiel, Lübek, Husum, ...
From 29.10. to 1.11. the group will play at Stockholm.

Mrs Marisa Rodano, writers and Polisario representatives will present the novels of Umberto Romano at Rome Oct. 24 1998, in presence of the author.

VIDEO FOR SALE
"Khalil, son of the Sahara" (30'), German and English versions: DM 45.- + sending costs. Contact: Stephan + Reike Krause, Schilfstr. 5, D-82223 Eichenau, fax ++49 08 141 32 86 67

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