Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

Stein Halvor Jupskås

16 June, 12.03 h.

[Translated by the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara]

Journalists of Stavanger Aftenblad thrown out of Morocco

The Aftenbladet journalists Tor Dagfinn Dommernes and Fredrik Refvem were this
morning declared unwanted in Morocco, and taken to the airport to be deported
from the country.

The two journalists travelled to the North African country this Sunday, and
planned to stay until coming Monday.

The journalists had press visas to enter Morocco, issued by Moroccan
authorities.
The aim of the reportage journey was to write articles on different topics, such
as the Western Sahara conflict. They were also to make articles on the political
situation in Morocco, and about Africans travelling to North Africa in order to
enter Europe.
Dommersnes had an appointment to meet an opposition politician to discuss the
Western Sahara issue this morning.

-We were woken up by the police ten to six this morning at our hotel in Rabat.
Four men from the security police knocked on the hotel door. Now we are being
escorted to the airport to be put on a plane to Paris, reports Tor Dagfinn
Dommernes on telephone from Rabat.

Editor in chief, Tom Hetland, sees the case as serious.
-At this moment, we do not know anything sure about the reason for the
expulsion. But it is very serious when authorities tries to prevent free press,
says Hetland.

- Inacceptable
This morning, the press spokesman of the Norwegian Foreign Department, Karsten
Klepsvik, was in contact with Norway?s embassador to Morocco, Arne Aasheim.

-The Embassador is in contact with the Aftenbladet writers in Rabat, says
Klepsvik to Aftenbladet.

-He would like to point out to the Moroccan authorities that he finds it
unacceptable that the journalists are deported from the country, since their
papers are in order, and what they do are perfectly legal.

He will ask that they are not deported, but that they on the contrary get the
permission to complete their mission in Morocco, says Karsten Klepsvik

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Source: http://aftenbladet.no/nyheter/article.jhtml?articleID=202985
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Forwarded by:
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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
wsahara@...

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