PRESS RELEASE

Human rights activist missing after Norwegian delegation visit to
Western Sahara.

Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
Oslo, Norway
Laayoune, Western Sahara

05 July 2005 05:45 AM

At 2 AM this morning, a Norwegian delegation was expelled from Western
Sahara by Moroccan authorities. The delegation was lead by the chair of
the Rafto Foundation, Arne Lynngård. The other participants were
representatives of the Norwegian Labour Party, the Norwegian Union of
Municipal and General Employees, as well as the Norwegian Support
Committee for Western Sahara.

The Saharawi human rights activist, Mr. Allal Latif is still missing
after the Norwegian visit. Latif functioned as an interpreter for the
delegation, and several independent sources observed him being
apprehended by the Moroccan police yesterday at 6 PM local time. When he
was taken in, he was questioned on the agenda of his Norwegian guests.

The Norwegians immediately approached the police station in the Western
Sahara capital, El Aaioun, to demand his release. The Moroccan chief of
police denied to the delegation that they had him in their custody. Now,
the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara fears for Latif’s
safety and demands his immediate and unconditional release. Several
prisoners have been severely tortured during the last weeks. See photos
here: http://www.vastsahara.org/intifada.html.

The delegation resisted being expelled as long as possible, hoping for
Latif’s reappearance. At 2 AM tonight, the chief of police personally
intervened, forcing the members of the delegation into the awaiting
taxis.

25 police officers participated in the expulsion. Some 200 police troops
were observed waiting in the area outside the hotel, probably expecting
subsequent demonstrations by the Saharawis. A Spanish photographer
working for the newspaper ABC documented the entire episode. His camera
was later confiscated.

Today at 4 AM, the delegation crossed the border to Morocco. The group
has police escort all the way to Agadir. They are expected to arrive
around 12 AM CET.

For a picture of missing Allal Latif, see
http://www.saih.no/cgi-bin/file.cgi?id=2611&action=download

For further comments, please contact the Norwegian Support Committee for
Western Sahara:

Ronny Hansen (on his way to Agadir) tel +47 92808607
Rolf Wermundsen (on his way to Agadir) tel +47 93041983.
Sigmund Valberg (in Norway) tel +47 41045637

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Forwarded by:

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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara

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