PRESS RELEASE

Norwegian delegation about to be expelled from Western Sahara


5 July 2005, 1 AM
Oslo, Norway
El Aaioun, Western Sahara
By the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara


A high level Norwegian delegation is at this moment about to be expelled
from Western Sahara by Moroccan authorities.

The delegation arrived El Aaioun in Western Sahara this morning in order
to attend court proceedings that will commence tomorrow, Tuesday 5 July.
The court will decide the verdict of 15 civilian Saharawis who have
participated in the last weeks’ demonstrations against the Moroccan
occupation of the former Spanish colony. Last week, similar cases ended
with sentences from 15 to 20 years of imprisonment.

The head of the delegation is the president of the Rafto Foundation,
Arne Lynngård. The foundation is a leading human rights organisation in
Norway that is highly recognised for their annual awards to human rights
activists worldwide. The winner of the 2002 price was the Saharawi Sidi
Mohammed Daddach, who was meant to host the delegation’s stay in Western
Sahara.

Other participants in the delegation are a national board member of
Norwegian Labour Party, a board member of the Norwegian Union of
Municipal and General Employees, as well as two board members of the
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.

The delegation was told by the chief of police in El Aaioun that “You
have no right to ask anything. Since you have been so careless, you are
being expelled from Western Sahara”. The three hours interrogation was
terminated one hour and 30 minutes ago.

At 1 AM CET, the delegation is still preparing for their departure that
will be carried out by taxi to Morocco.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed about the
episode. The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara demands that
the Norwegian government condemns Morocco’s behaviour towards both
Saharawi civilians and independent observers.

This is the fifth time during the last five weeks that an international
delegation has been expelled from Western Sahara.
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Pictures will be available in a few hours.

If you wish to speak with members of the delegation, please contact:
Ronny Hansen on +47 92808607 or
Rolf Wermundsen +47 93041983.

The
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara can also be reached in
Norway on +47 41045637.

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Forwarded by:

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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara

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