REMEMBER: for daily news go the Western Sahara
Newsblog: http://saharaoccidental.blogspot.com
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 27-28 : 27.06. - 10.07. 2004
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-2728.htm
- SADR
- NATURAL RESOURCES
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- SPAIN
- MOROCCO
- SOLIDARITY
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
26.06.04
The National Council (Parliament) adopted a law
on the exercise of the legal profession and will
examine its internal ruling. (SPS).
01.07.04
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz,
presided at the Chahid El Ouali military school
over a ceremony of promotion of under-officers
and troops from the Saharawi Army of National
Liberation, forming four new companies. (SPS)
30.06.-08.07.04
Summit of the African Union
3rd ordinary session of the African Union
Conference of Heads of State and Government
The African Union adopted the report of its
commission on the question of Western Sahara,
thus reaffirming its support for the UN peace
plan. The report deplored the attitude of
Morocco, which persists in its rejection of the
peace plan. (SPS
http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e030704.html)
The Saharawi Minister for Foreign Affairs
declared that the "election of SADR to the post
of vice-president of the Union is a mark of
respect and consideration for the Saharawi cause.
It's above all the consecration of the isolation
of Morocco and the expression of the refusal of
Africa to change its position in relation to the
last problem of decolonisation on the continent,
namely that of Western Sahara. It's another
failure for Morocco's policy."
The Saharawi President, Mohamed Abdelaziz had
talks with heads of state of South Africa,
Angola, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania,
Uganda, Sudan, Nigeria, Benin, Botswana, Tchad as
well as the Prime Ministers of Mauritius,
Ethiopia, the Vice-President of Kenya and the
head of the delegation from the Seychelles.
See also interviews of the Foreign Minister of
the kingdom of Lesotho, His Excellency Mr.
Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa (SPS
http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e080704.html#2
and of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Namibia, H. E. Mr. Marco Hausiku (SPS
http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e080704.html
05.07.04
Report and comments on the experience of a group
of unfortunate Asians with the Moroccan system of
oppression by Malainin Lakhal, Saharawi
journalist (full text with list
http://www.arso.org/LakhalimmAsia.htm#e (see also
weeks 25-26 http://ww.arso.org/01-e04-2526.htm)
NATURAL RESOURCES
30.06.04
New campaign http://www.arso.org/fugro04.htm
A dozen NGOs from the Netherlands, Great Britain,
France, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Italy,
Portugal, Australia and Switzerland launched a
new campaign against the pillage of hydrocarbons
in Western Sahara. In a letter sent to the
companies Fugro N.V., Robertson Research
International and Fugro SL limited (Svitzer) they
ask for clarification on their activities in the
field of oil research on the territory of Western
Sahara and accuse them of complicity with the
illegal occupation of this territory.
Relevant documents:
- Press release: http://www.arso.org/fugro04.htm#PR
- Lettter to Fugro: http://www.arso.org/fugro300604.htm
- Campaign to stop oil exploration in Western
Sahara, afrol News, 30.06.04:
http://www.afrol.com/articles/13488 / Campaña
para detener la exploración petrolífera en
Sáhara, afrol News, 30.06.04:
http://www.afrol.com/es/articles/13492
- Stop the Illegal Exploitation of the Saharawis' Riches !
Ali-Salem Tamek http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/TamekFugro.html#e
- Le Maroc ouvre le territoire du Sahara
Occidental à l'exploration pétrolière, dossier,
Philippe Riché, Association des Amis de la
R.A.S.D., Paris, juillet 2004.
http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/ressnat3.html
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
02.07.04
Historical heritage
Morocco begins the destruction of la Factoría de
Villa Cisneros (Dakhla), a 120-year-old Saharawi
heritage: Joint Press Release AFAPREDESA / UJS
http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/in_destruccionFactoriaDAJLA.htm
Marruecos inicia la destrucción de la - Factoría
de Villa Cisneros (Dajla), un patrimonio saharaui
de 120 anos, comunicado conjunto AFAPREDESA / UJS
http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/ca_destruccionFactoriaDAJLA.htm
06.07.04
Letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister
Saharawi human rights activists in the occupied
territories of Western Sahara sent an appeal to
the Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne
Bondevik, asking Norway to intervene to "bring
lasting peace" in their country, exhorting him to
defend the human rights of Saharawis under
Moroccan occupation. (SPS
http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e070704.html -
Sahara update
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1364
)
REFERENDUM
25.06.04
Morocco-USA
The Americans considered the words of the
Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs to be
offensive to James Baker. The Department of State
asked officially for an explanation from the
Moroccan government, who immediately replied that
the official position was that expressed in the
communiqué from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and not that contained in Benaïssa's statement
which expresses only his own opinion. (AL-OUSBOU
in Sahara -info of 02.07.04)
29.06.04
Confidence building measure- interim assessment
The UNHCR pointed out that this project which is
part of their confidence-building measures, is
very popular and much appreciated. 800 people
have been carried since March 2004, while 18,000
are on the waiting list... The action expected to
last until August could be extended if finance
can be found. The UNHCR would also like to extend
the telephone service which has enabled 3000
calls to be made of which 60% are by refugee
women.
Sources:
- Family visits pilot project extremely popular,
UNHCR Briefing Notes, Geneva 29.06.04:
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/+AwwBmerKBvewxwwwwcwwwwwwwmFqnN0bIhFq\
nN0bItFqnDni5zFqnN0bIAFqnN0bIDzmxwwwwwwwGFqbbn5BnGDaIwrwGwahwMocOaVo5oB5adhhaBda\
hcOoDta5BwGB1FqnN0bI/opendoc.htm
- Western Sahara family visits off to flying start, UNHCR, 29.06.04
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/+xwwBme+0qvewxwwwwnwwwwwwwhFqnN0bItFq\
nDni5zFqnN0bIAFqnN0bIDzmxwwwwwww1FqnN0bI/opendoc.htm
avec / with web VIDEO
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/template/+nwLFq0rdMneUh5cTPeUzknwBoqeRSxxx\
Vomnd5eIybnM
- Gran éxito del progr, Noticias del ACNUR,
28.06.04
http://www.acnur.org/index.php?id_pag=2609
- Sahara Occidental: gran éxito del proyecto
piloto de visitas familiares, Notas breves ACNUR,
28.06.04
http://www.acnur.org/index.php?id_pag=2614
- Sahara occidental: Les familles séparées se
retrouvent, un reportage de Sébastien Jedor, RFI,
du lundi 5 au vendredi 9 juillet 2004.
http://www.rfi.fr/francais/actu/articles/055/article_29089.asp
07-08.07.04
Visit of M6 to Washington
A White House spokesman, speaking about Mohamed
VI and President George W Bush said, "The two
leaders agreed on the need to resolve the Western
Sahara problem as soon as possible in a manner
that best enhances the security and prosperity of
the people of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania.
".(press relase White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040708-16.html)
A spokesman of the American Department of State
made clear on 09 July that "the President and the
Secretary urged the King to work toward
rapprochement with neighbor Algeria, as a means
to create an environment conducive to settlement
of the issue. The Secretary expressed a
commitment to work with the United Nations and
with the parties to the conflict: Morocco,
Algeria, the Polisario Front and Mauritania,
along the lines of the peace plan that was put
forward by James Baker." (Daily Press Briefing,
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2004/34290.htm)
Declarations, appeals and messages published on the eve of the visit:
- News from Congressman Joe Pitts, Don't abandon Baker plan, 06.07.04.
http://www.house.gov/pitts/press/releases/040706r-wsahara.htm
-US- Western Sahara Foundation Calls on President
Bush to Use Influence with Moroccan King to Hold
Western Sahara Referendum, 06.07.04.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1361
- Morocco: Bush Should Criticize Backsliding on
Rights, Human Rights Watch , 08.07.04.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/07/morocc9021.htm
- Beyond diplomatic niceties, J. Pitts/D. Payne,
The Washington Times, 09.07.04.
http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20040708-083632-4736r.htm
09.07.04
SPAIN
24-25.06.04
San Sebastian
The Baker plan is not an "ideal solution, but a
process which opens new perspectives for the
region", Ahmed Boukhari declared at a colloquium
in San Sebastian, organised by 140 twinned
Spanish and Saharawi institutions and
communities. The permanent representative of the
Polisario Front at the UN explained that the
Baker plan does not constitute an "ideal"
solution, but that it represents a "way forward
for peace" based on the principle of
self-determination for the Saharawi people,
adding that the "success of this plan relies on
the position of Paris". In the final resolution
voted unanimously, the participants called on
France "to stop supporting the colonial and
expansionist politics of Morocco and to practise
in Western Sahara, the same doctrine as in Iraq
in relation to American occupation". They
demanded of the Spanish government once again
"active contribution" to the solution of the
(Saharawi) conflict in order to live up to its
responsibilities, knowing that for as long as the
conflict continues that "it perpetuates injustice
against the Saharawi people and seriously harms
peace in the Maghreb region and will have as a
result, profound repercussions in its relations
with its European neighbours".
05.07.04
Government
The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miguel
Angel Moratinos, affirmed that his country "wants
to contribute positively to a political solution"
to the Sahara question, in such a way as to
"permit the parties to get out of the present
impasse". This question constitutes "a concern"
for the head of the Spanish government and the
government pays a great deal of attention to it
during this period marked by "contact with the
different regional actors", the Minister declared
in an interview published by the daily "Al
Ittihad Al Ichtiraki" quoted by
MAP.http://www.map.co.ma/mapfr/depeches_2004/moratinos_sahara_ittihad.htm
07.07.04
Parliament
All the parliamentary groups represented in the
Congress demanded the government to continue to
be actively involved, in order to find a "quick,
fair and lasting solution" to the conflict in
Western Sahara within the UN framework. (EUROPA
PRESS
http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20040707190312&tabID=1&ch=\
69
)
09.07.04
Diplomatic Ballet
The President of the Spanish government Zapatero
will travel to Algiers on 14 July, preceded on 12
and 13 July by the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs Michel Barnier. Michèle Alliot-Marie,
French Minister for Defence, will be in Algiers
on 17 and 18 July, and Nicolas Sarkozy, French
Minister for the Economy and Finance is announced
for the end of the month. (agencies)
MOROCCO
02.07.04
Senegal, Morocco and Mauritania decided on the
creation of a "Forum for African countries of the
North Atlantic", the Senegalese President, Me
Abdoulaye Wade, announced. (agencies)
02.07.04
Joint Manoeuvres with NATO
20,000 troops from 10 NATO countries and Morocco
will take part in air and naval manoeuvres, which
will take place from 11 to 16 July between
Madiera and the Moroccan coast. (EUROPA PRESS)
http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20040702140253&tabID=1&ch=\
66
INTERNET
- No a la explotación economica del Sahara, Carta
al Sr. Adán Martín, Presidente del Gobierno de
Canarias.
http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/Canarias704.htm
- Blog de la Asoc. Umdraiga: http://draiga.blogia.com/
- Novedades en la web de Cantabria por el Sáhara:
<http://www.labarored.org/interpueblos/Sahara/novedades/index.htm>
OPINION
- Democracy's perplexity: USA' alliance with
Morocco, Sid Hamdi Yahdih.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa20048.htm
- Baker dimiteix, Salvador Pallarès-Garí.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/safor20042.htm
- UN: the other face of failure, Sid Hamdi
Yahdih.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa20049.htm
- El Fuerte es de todos, María Jesús Alvarado
(Suerte Mulana)
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/MJfuerte.htm
- Le F. POLISARIO et la culture du peuple
sahraoui, L'art et la révolution, 1ère partie,
S.Khatri.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SKhatri1.htm
- Mariam Hassan: The voice of the Sahrawis, Sid
Hamdi Yahdih.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa200410.htm
- Appel à tous les Nationalistes Sahraoui(e)s.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/FPelualifr.htm
( ou http://www.fpeluali.org/fr.html)
- Llamamiento a todos los patriotas saharaui.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/FPelualies.htm
(ou http://www.fpeluali.org/es.html)
- Original en arabe: http://www.fpeluali.org/ar.html
- Commentaires sur l'appel - Comentarios sobre el
Llamamiento.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/FPcomment.htm
Nuevos sitios
- Sahara un Pueblo en el exilio: http://silviafiguerola.com
- Amal Istiklal, en arabe: http://www.geocities.com/amelalistiklal/
- FP El Ouali, <http://www.fpeluali.org>
- SAHARA NEWS PAPERS Nº7
<http://bdrockartsahara.webcindario.com/revista07.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
>> Revue de la presse internationale francophone
>>http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/revue-de-presse-sahara-occidental/messages
- Les ghettos du Sahara, TelQuel online, No 133, 26.06.04
Camp Al Wahda : La caution sahraouie - Camps des
ralliés : Marocanité en sursis - Villages de
pêcheurs : Une prison "vue sur mer"
<http://www.telquel-online.com/133/couverture_133_1.shtml>
- Dossier Sahara Occidental, Z'hor Chérief , Les
Débats No 136, Cahier spécial, semaine du 23 au
29 juin 2004
Exils et identité + Le président de l'Afapredesa
aux Débats: «L'exil est une façon de résister
contre le génocide du peuple sahraoui».
http://site.voila.fr/arso.org/ExIdent.htm
- Les raisons de la démission de James Baker:
Jeux troubles à Paris et Madrid, Z'hor Chérief,
Les Débats, No 136 , Alger, 07.07.04. PDF
http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/16.pdf
- Sahara Info, Bulletin de l'Association des Amis
de la RASD, France, No 126, avril-mai-juin 2004.
PDF http://www.sahara-info.org
- Nouvelles sahraouies No 112, bulletin du Comité
suisse de soutien au peuple sahraoui, juin 2004 .
PDF
http://NouvellesSahraouies.site.voila.fr/0604NS.pdf
- La question du Sahara occidental : une approche
sociologique, Keltoum Irbah, thèse de doctorat ès
sciences économiques et sociales, mention
sociologie, Université de Genève, 09.07.04 [la
soutenance a donné lieu à un intéressant échange
d'idées avec les experts, les prof. V.-Y. Ghebali
et W. Ossipow, et les directeurs de thèse les
prof. F. Schultheis et Jean Ziegler]
English
English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Solar Engineer Looks at Solar in the Western
Sahara, Solar Progress, Vol 25, No.2, June 2004.
http://www.awsa-westernsahara.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&\
sid=62&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
- Desert Relief, Sarah Wilson, uniken, issue 15, July 2004.
http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/uniken/uniken0407/Uniken15.pdf
- Sahara Analysis, Western Sahara Campaign UK, Number 36, July 2004.
Castellano
Revista de la prensa en español
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
- Brahim Gali, representante saharaui en España:
"Zapatero tiene que mojarse por el Sahara",
Esther Jaén, El Confidencial, 10.07.04.
http://www.elconfidencial.com/laentrevista/indice.asp?fecha_d=10/07/2004&dia_s=S\
abado&psw=¬icia=1
- Entrevista con Miguel Angel Moratinos:El
Ministro de Exteriores lidera el vuelco de la
diplomacia española , que apuesta por Europa
antes que por EEUU. Moratinos no occulta su
«Caracter afrancesado» y se compromete a
implicarse mas en el Maghreb, Pedro G.Cuartango,
El Mundo, 11.07.04
- Marruecos: POLITICA DE ZANAHORIA, Editorial,El
Mundo, 11.07.04. [Texto mecanicografiado,
transcripción literal de la edición impresa por
Sahara-Info.
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2724
]
Nuevo Libro:
- Fernando Pinto Cebrián, ADIVINANZAS SAHARAUIS,
Colección: Libros de los Malos Tiempos, Miraguano
Ediciones, 2004, p. 144.
Catala
- Tomas Callau, EL SÀHARA OCCIDENTAL, Historia i
actualitat d'un poble, Ed. Llibres de l'Index,
Barcelona, 2004.
Italiano
A Parma per 10 giorni, Dai campi profughi i bimbi
del Sahara, Chiara Cacciani, Gazzetta di Parma,
09.07.04.
http://www.gazzettadiparma.it/gazzetta%5Csito%5CArticoli.nsf/0/cb0dd5db02467d14c\
1256ecc0024ea40?Open
Arabe
SAHARA LIBRE, mensuel en arabe, No 395, juillet
2004. http://www.essahraelhora.com
Deutsch
- Die Uno scheitert in der Wüste, Jacob A. Mundy,
WOZ Die Wochenzeitung, Zürich, 01.07.04.
- Sahara-Info, Bulletin des SUKS, Bern, Nr. 91, Juli 2004.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-2526.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 25-26 : 13.06.-26.06.2004
SADR
NATURAL RESSOURCES
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
MOROCCO
CONFERENCE
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
14.06.04
Withdrawal of recognition by Ecuador
Ecuador is reported to have withdrawn its support
of SADR. This country recognised SADR in 1983.
(AFP)
21-23.06.04
Moroccan prisoners of war
The Polisario Front released 100 Moroccan
prisoners of war at the request of the Republic
of Ireland, the current chair of the European
Union, which received emissaries from the
Polisario Front last April, as well as by the
Spanish government, which had recently dispatched
a high ranking delegation to the camps. This
release coincides with the visit to the camps of
the Irish Minister of State at the Department of
Foreign Affairs with Responsibility for Overseas
Development and Human Rights, Tom Kitt. The ICRC
proceeded with the repatriation of the prisoners
on 23.06.04.
This release, the second this year, brings the
number of Moroccan prisoners still being detained
down to 412.
On this occasion the Polisario Front regretted
that no gesture had been made on the Moroccan
side to clarify the fate of some 150 Saharawi
soldiers captured during the war and 500
civilians disappeared under Moroccan occupation.
(ICRC News, 23.06.04: 100 Moroccan prisoners
repatriated
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/628HKK?OpenDocument)
22.06.04
Cuban visit
The Cuban Ambassador in Algeria, accredited for
SADR, Alberto Blanco, carried out a working visit
to the refugee camps, where he was received by
President Mohamed Abdelaziz. He had talks mainly
on bilateral relations of cooperation in both
social and cultural fields. He also visited the
Cuban mission resident in the refugee camps which
is working in the field of health.(SPS)
23.06.04
Illegal immigration tragedy
According to an eye-witness account from a Basque
fieldworker, returning from an archeological
research trip conducted in the liberated
territories of Western Sahara from 7-13 June
2004, the Moroccan army recently expelled 25
illegal Asian immigrants by driving them out over
the other side of the wall and abandoning them,
without food or papers to their sad fate. Three
were gunned down. These unfortunate individuals,
coming from Bangladesh and India, through the
various ways and means of international mafia
were intercepted by a Polisario Front patrol in
the region of Mijek. It seems the UN, although on
the spot through its mission in Western Sahara
(MINURSO), had been reluctant to take action, as
this matter does not fall within its
responsibility. A solution would seem to be
emerging thanks to the intervention of the
President of the Saharawi Parliament and the
Prime Minister.
These facts only represent the tip of the iceberg
of all the crimes committed towards migrants from
the third world in transit countries to Europe.
In Morocco and in the occupied territories of
Western Sahara, favourite last staging posts for
entry to the "European Eldorado", immigrants are
caught practically on a daily basis and they are
turned back without pity, under pressure from the
European destination countries, who also bear a
responsibility. >> Veinticinco emigrantes
asiaticos recogidos por una patrulla des Frente
POLISARIO en los territorios librados Testimonio
original en español trasmitido por la Asociación
de Amigos y Amigas de la RASD
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/myjec2004.htm
- traduction en français
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/myjec2004.htm#fr.
NATURAL RESSOURCES
23.06.04
Oil
In May 2004, the oil company Kerr-McGee du Maroc
Ltd. (KMG) continued its off-shore seismic survey
in the Boujdour region, using the companies Fugro
and Svitzer. KMG considers that this zone looks
as if it could be as profitable as the Gulf of
Mexico. ( Source: IHS Energy in Sahara update:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1352)
REFERENDUM
After Baker's resignation:
11.06.04
Kofi Annan's letter to the Security Council
The UN Secretary-General decided that in his
capacity as Special Representative for Western
Sahara, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, "will continue to
work with the parties, and neighbouring
countries, in pursuit of a just, lasting and
mutually acceptable political solution, which
will provide for the self-determination of the
people of Western Sahara in the context of
arrangements consistent with the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations".
(Letter dated 11 June 2004 from the
Secretary-General addressed to the President of
the Security Council, S/2004/492
http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/110604letterannan.pdf)
14.06.04
Ahmed Boukhari, Polisario representative at the
UN, to the Canary Islands press:
"Only another American will be acceptable in the
eyes of the Polisario Front to replace the former
Secretary of State James Baker as a special envoy
of the United Nations Secretary General for
Western Sahara, otherwise Morocco will not
respect him..." Boukhari also called on Spain to
act as Portugal did for Timor in order to
accomplish the decolonisation of its former
colony. (agencies)
15.06.04
Canary Islands
The affiliated groups of trades unions UGT, CC.OO
and Intersindical Canaria, published a common
manifesto of solidarity and support for the just
struggle of the Saharawi people for their freedom
and right to self-determination. They condemn the
blockage to the peace plan by Morocco and call on
Spain to shoulder its responsibilities.
20.06.04
The Austrian Head of State, in a letter to the
President of SADR, expressed his concern about
the "political developments in Western Sahara",
deploring "the serious difficulties that the
Saharawi people is undergoing" because of the
illegal occupation of its territory by Morocco.
(SPS)
21.06.04
Letter from Annan to Abdelaziz
"While regretting the departure of Baker, I wish
to assure you that I remain firmly determined to
help the parties towards a political, just and
lasting solution which would be mutually
acceptable and would assure the
"self-determination of the people of Western
Sahara", writes Kofi Annan in a letter sent to
Mohamed Abdelaziz. (SPS)
22.06.04
Danish parliament
In reply to a question from a member of the
parliamentary group Enhedslisten, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Soern Soendergaard, assures
him that his Government "does not recognise the
occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco",
considering that the presence of the latter on
Saharawi territory is illegal and unacceptable.
(SPS)
22.06.04
UN
Alvaro de Soto, special representative for
Western Sahara charged by the UN Secretary
General to continue the work of James Baker,
starts a consultation tour. In Madrid he met the
Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and affirmed
at the end of discussions that the UN "maintains
the Baker Plan as a basis for the search for a
peaceful solution to the conflict in Western
Sahara, considering that this plan remains a
viable solution to reach this goal." (agencies)
23.06.04
Spanish Diplomacy
The Madrid daily La Razon let it be understood
that the head of the Spanish government, Zapatero
would suggest he would organise an international
conference on Western Sahara (like the
Israel-Palestine conference in 1991), which would
bring together Morocco, the Polisario Front, the
neighbouring countries of Algeria and Mauritania,
as well as France and the USA. The French
proposal of a meeting between Morocco and Algeria
was immediately refused by Algeria not long ago.
(La Razon, 15.06.04 :Zapatero y Mohamed VI
preparan una conferencia en Madrid sobre el
Sahara, Pedro Canales
http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2004-06-15/noticias/noti_int11.htm)
A spokesman for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs as well as other sources denied these
allegations.(El Confidencial, 23.06.04:
Exteriores desmiente: no habrá conferencia de paz
en Madrid para resolver el conflicto del Sahara
Occidental,
http://www.elconfidencialdigital.com/mundo/nmundo1.htm)
The Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs León declared that the right place for
resolving the question of Western Sahara remained
the United Nations and that his government was
not in favour of a "bilateralisation". (Europa
Press)
In mid-July the head of the Spanish Government
Zapatero will go to Algiers. (abc 23.06.04)
24.06.04
German parliament
The German parliamentary group CDU-CSU
(opposition) notes in a statement that, following
the resignation of James Baker, the settlement of
the conflict of Western Sahara risks further
postponement. It asks for the immediate
appointment of a new envoy of the Secretary
General to show the people of this troubled
region that the exercise of their right to
self-determination is in the interests of the
international community and peace in the region.
(Pressemitteilung
http://www.pressrelations.de/i.cfm?r=159955)
On next day the SPD Parlamentary group
(Social-democrats) in its pressstatementdans also
asks for a new Special envoy of the
Secretary-General, whose authority is accepted by
both parties and who wil work seriously for a
resolution of the conflict. (Pressemitteilung
http://www.pressrelations.de/i.cfm?r=160106)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
20.06.04
Sidi Mohammed Daddach, Tamek Ali Salem and Hmad
Hammad, Saharawi human rights activists, were
followed by cars belonging to the Moroccan
administration in Boujdour when they tried to
meet families from the camps coming on the
exchange visits organised by the UNHCR. The three
Saharawi activists claimed that the governor of
the town had called the host families in to ask
them not to receive any Saharawi activist and
threatened them with prison and job loss. The
three activists issued a public statement in
which they recall that the Moroccan authorities
watch all movements of Saharawi activists very
closely and try to prevent any contact being made
with the families coming from the refugee camps,
adding that these hindrances to freedom of
circulation are very serious and do not affect
only the activists. They call for the urgent
intervention of the international community to
put an end to this repeated practice.
MOROCCO
Summary of a debate in Morocco about the conflict in the Sahara (French):
Un conflit...ensablé, La Nouvelle Tribune,
17.06.04
http://www.lanouvelletribune.com/actualite.asp?ids=0&idg=0&idn=4
Interview with M. Mustapha Naimi, anthropologist,
Sahara, a process towards a relevant type of
autonomy is needed, La Nouvelle Tribune,
17.06.04.
http://www.lanouvelletribune.com/actualite.asp?ids=0&idg=0&idn=5
16.06.04
Expulsion
Two Norwegian journalists, Tor Dagfinn Dommersnes
and Fredrik Refvem, were expelled from Morocco
where they had arrived on Sunday 13.06.04
complete with a press visa in due form. They
intended to provide for the daily, Stavanger
Aftenbladet, reportage on the political situation
in the kingdom, the Sahara conflict and the
problems of illegal immigration to Europe.
Dommersnes had a meeting the same morning with
the Saharawi dissident Moutik Lahcen. The claims
of the Moroccan Minister for the Interior relayed
by AFP, of contacts with Ali Salem Tamek are
without foundation. This third expulsion since
the beginning of the year has raised an outcry in
Norway, in Morocco and elsewhere. See detailed
media coverage
http://www.arso.org/journNo160604.htm.
16.06.04:
Tan Tan
Anti-saharawi repression
Following the discovery of a SADR flag on a
dispensary building in the quarter of Ain Arrahma
in the town of Tan Tan, police forces proceeded
to arrests in the Ain Arrahma and Ben Khalil
districts. Ali-Bouya Mayara, son of a former
disappeared, Hmadnah Salama Jnaieba, as well as
Hassanna Med elHafed, an official in the Tan Tan
Ministry of Agriculture, were apprehended. These
three young Saharawis underwent long
interrogations concentrating on their relations
with the ex-political prisoner, Ali Salem Tamek,
before being released the same day.
18.06.04
In response to the declarations made during the
signing on 15 June 2004 of the Free Trade
Agreement between Morocco and the USA in favour
of maintaining the occupation of Western Sahara
by Morocco as an anti-terrorist measure,
Congressmen Joe Pitts and Donald Payne today
blasted efforts by the Kingdom of Morocco to
dodge its international commitments in the name
of its "territorial integrity."
(Statement.http://www.arso.org/PittsPayne04.htm)
22.06.04
Moroccan military authorities recruit young
Saharawi graduates in Tan Tan. This new venture
can be seen as an attempt to destroy the fabric
of Saharawi society. This way they are
conditioned to the norms and wishes of the
occupying authorities and their resistance is
broken. All the young Saharawis totally reject
this policy, which is aimed principally at
university students who have several years of
study behind them.
CONFERENCE
22-24.06.04
The Sahara: Past, Present and Future, Conference
at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Within the framework of its program of Saharan
studies, the University of East Anglia in Norwich
organised a conference bringing together over a
hundred specialists in areas as diverse as
archeology, sociology, political economy of
tourism and natural resouces, biology,
environmental science, etc. Half a day was
devoted specifically to Western Sahara. >>Program
with abstracts to download
http://www.uea.ac.uk/sahara/conf04/programme.html
SOLIDARITY
9 to 17 June 2004
Visit to France
The CMCAS of Valence (Caisse Mutuelle
Complémentaire et d'Action Sociale, an
organisation close to trades unions which manages
social insurance and promotes sporting and
cultural activities) invited, as part of
initiatives of solidarity and support of the
Saharawi people, the Saharawi Minister for
Culture and Sport, Mariem Salek Hammada. She took
part in the CMCAS Festival in Valence and after a
tour in the south of France was received in
various municipalities in the districts
surrounding Paris (Aubervilliers, Montreuil,
Saint-Denis, Mantes la Jolie).
At an inter-EC regatta in Lorient on 18 and 19
July, the two sailing boats hired by CMCAS of
Valence were named: "Solidarity with" "the
Saharawi people", they each sported a SADR flag.
24.-25.06.04
San Sebastian
About 250 representatives of 140 institutions
twinned and with solidarity links with the
Saharawi people from all over Spain took part in
this meeting. (more to follow)
Holidays in Peace
As part of this action, around 8300 children have
arrived in Spain to spend the summer with host
families. Saharawi children are also being
offered holidays in other countries.
COMING UP
30th EUCOCO Conference: .Zaragoza 26, 27 +28
november 2004
http://www.umdraiga.com/eucoco2004.h
INTERNET
>> Actualización web Um Draiga Junio 2004: http://www.umdraiga.com
>> NUEVO
- WEB DE LA TELEVISIÓN SAHARAUI: http://www.rasd-tv.com/
- Web de la Associació d'Amics del Poble Sahrauí
de les Illes Balears: http://saharabalears.org/
- Blog de Poemario por un Sahara Libre,: http://poemariosahara.blogspot.com/
>> OPINION
-La Dimisión de Baker: una nefasa noticia para el
Sahára , Carlos Ruiz Miguel
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/CRM130604.htm>
- Sahara Occidental: se acerca la hora de la
verdad, J.J. Garcia
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/JJgarcia2.htm
- UN: The horse of Kofi Annan got tired, Sid
Hamdi Yahdih
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa20046.htm
- Lettre au peuple espagnol, Daya Rguiby, Sahara
Occidental
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/rguiby3.htm
- Lettre au Président Zapatero, Daya Rguiby,
Sahara Occidental
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/rguiby3.htm#lettre
- EL AMARGO SABOR DE LA DERROTA, Mohamed Lamin
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/M.MLM2004.htm
- SAHARA LIBRE, lettre ouverte au monde entier,
Hermano Saharaui
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/hermano190604.htm
- UN' failure: dangerous consequenses on
stability, Sid Hamdi Yahdih,
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa20047.htm
- Référendum : l'Utopie - Lettre à mon cousin
Sahraoui, Daya Rguiby
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/rguiby4.htm
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
>> Revue de la presse internationale francophone
>>http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/revue-de-presse-sahara-occidental/messages
- Le Polisario demande que le remplaçant de James
Baker soit un Américain, AP, 15.06.04.
<http://www.edicom.ch/news/international/040615020447.tu.shtml>
- La guerre des dunes : incapable de trouver une
solution entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario,
James Baker démissionne, Claude Tadjon, Le
Quotidien Mutations (Yaoundé), 15.06.04.
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200406150610.html
- Un haut responsable sahraoui commente la
démission de James Baker «Obstination du Maroc et
complicité de la France», Hafida Ameyar, La
Nouvelle République, Alger, 23.06.04.
<http://www.lanouvellerepublique.com/actualite/lire.php?ida=13118&idc=13>
- Pour faire pression sur le Maroc. Appel à la
communauté internationale, Karima Bennour, La
Nouvelle République, 21.06.04.
http://www.lanouvellerepublique.com/actualite/lire.php?ida=13108&idc=4&date_inse\
rt=20040621&PHPSESSID=c5e398eab2d88cb492815002a3df147e
- Le président de la RASD l'a affirmé hier, «Nous
sommes pour un règlement du conflit par la voie
de la légalité», Amar Rafa, La Tribune (Alger),
24 Juin 2004.
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/printable/200406240044.html
- De guerre lasse, François Soudan, JA
L'Intelligent, No 2267, 20-26.06.04.
http://www.lintelligent.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN20064degue\
essale0
- À Alger, regrets et appréhension, Cherif
Ouazani, JA L'Intelligent, No 2267, 20-26.06.04.
http://www.lintelligent.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN20064alger\
noisne0
- Sahara occidental : pour le Maroc, le plan
Baker "n'est plus à l'ordre du jour", Florence
Beaugé, Le Monde, 25.06.04.
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_article/0,1-0@2-3212,36-370406,0.html
English
- English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Western Sahara - Baker steps down, Toby
Shelley, Middle East International Online,
25.06.04. http://meionline.com/features/242.shtml
NEW BOOK
Endgame in the Western Sahara: What Future for
Africa's Last Colony? Toby Shelley, Zed Books,
2004.
http://zedbooks.co.uk/cgi-bin/topic.cgi?pp=a&aa=1842773402
- From Timbuktu to UEA, News@UEA, 02.06.04.
http://comm.uea.ac.uk/press/release.asp?id=397
- Saharan experts find academic oasis at UEA,
Polly Curtis, The Guardian, 07.06.04
http://education.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4941564-108229,00.html
- Baker Resigns As UN Mediator After Seven Years,
UN IRIN, 14.06.04.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200406141270.html
- Algiers likes UN W Sahara plan, AFP, 14.06.04.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1542432,00.html
- Middle East and North Africa, Supporting Human
Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2003-2004,
US State Department, 17.05.04.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/shrd/2003/31022.htm
- Polisario Releases 100 Prisoners After EU
Request, UN IRIN, 22.06.04
http://allafrica.com/stories/200406220058.html
- UN 'standing firm' on W Sahara, BBC News,
23.06.04.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/3833047.stm
Castellano
- Revista de la prensa en español
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
- Musica Saharaui: MEDEJ - nuevo disco : El Medej
recoge una tradición musulmana de cánticos
espirituales, en ningún caso litúrgicos, cuya
temática se centra en alabanzas al profeta Mahoma
y a relatar los hechos más relevantes de su vida:
el nacimiento, la infancia, su elección por Alá
como profeta, o la hégira, el viaje que realizó
de noche desde La Meca a Medina. ( info @
NUBENEGRA
http://www.nubenegra.com/catalogo/index_ampli.php3?id=97
- Marruecos aliado preferencial de Estados
Unidos, GEES, Notas nº 17, 25 de Junio de 2004.
http://www.gees.org/articulo/628/
Arabe
- Assahara alhoura, no 394, juin 2004.
http://www.essahraelhora.com (parution toutes les
2 semaines à partir de maintenant)
Deutsch
- Baker hat genug, TAZ Berlin, 14.06.04.
http://www.taz.de/pt/2004/06/14/a0119.nf/textdruck
- Vergessen in der Geröllwüste, Steffen Leidel,
Deutsche Welle, 15.06.04.
http://www.dw-world.de/german/0,3367,1491_A_1235920_1_A,00.html
- Unabhängigkeit in fernster Ferne, Westsahara:
Einseitige Vermittlerrolle der UNO, Axel Goldau,
Junge Welt, 21.06.2004.
http://www.jungewelt.de/2004/06-21/012.php
- Westsahara-Lösung duldet keinen Aufschub, Pressemitteilung:
24.06.2004 - CDU/CSU-Fraktion . http://www.pressrelations.de/i.cfm?r=159955
- Loesung des Westsaharakonflikts darf nicht
weiter hinausgezoegert werden ,
Pressemitteilung:25.06.2004 - SPD
http://www.pressrelations.de/i.cfm?r=160106
Italiano:
- Marocco, la modernità può attendere, Dossier di
Luciano Ardesi, Nigrizia, giugno 2004.
Libro
- Diario del Polisario, Jean Lamore, Il
Manifesto, Roma, 2004 (nouvelle édition),
Introduction de Luciano Ardesi, contributions de
Ahmed-Baba Miské et Ali Omar Yara.
- CD: "Voci distanti del mare", chants et
témoignages du peuple sahraoui en exil,
enregistrés dans les wilaya de Smara et Dakhla.
En annexe: "Sahrawi, un esilio da non
dimenticare", Fabrizia Ramondino, interview José
Saramago
- Figlie del deserto. Parlano le donne del popolo
sahrawi, Ana Tortajada, Sperling & Kupfer,
Milano, 2004 (traduction de l'espagnol).
Português
- Baker renuncia como Enviado de Annan ao Sahara
Ocidental, Noticias Mozambique,14.06.04.
- De Soto subsitui Baker como mediador no Sahara,
Noticias Mozambique,16.06.04. 6.04.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-2324.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 23-24 : 30.05. - 12.06.2004
original french
SADR
NATURAL RESSOURCES
REFERENDUM
MOROCCO
GERMANY
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
13-31.05.04
Spring session of the Saharawi Parliament
The parliament organised on 31 May a "platform of
solidarity" with the Saharawi population in the
occupied territory. Saharawi activists from the
occupied territory discussed live with
parliamentarians and replied to questions
relating to the situation of Saharawi citizens
living under Moroccan occupation since 1975. The
parliament nominated two representatives to the
Saharawi Constitutional Council (specialised
legal body). This new body, composed of five
members, was set up on 12 June, in accordance
with a new Constitution agreed at the last
Congress. (SPS)
04.06.04
A South African delegation made up of
representatives from the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Development, Cooperation and Health paid
an official visit to the Saharawi refugee camps.
(SPS)
07.06.04
Mohamed Abdelaziz sent a message to George W.
Bush, to express the Saharawi attitude to the
recognition of Morocco as a major non-NATO ally
of the USA. He exhorted them to convince Morocco
to submit to international law. (SPS)
http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e090604.html
10.06.04
Lehbib Breica, ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary of SADR for Ethiopia and the AU,
presented his credentials to the Ethiopian
President Girma Wolde-Giorgis and to the
President of the African Union Alpha Omar Conaré.
10.06.04
Zahra Ramdan, NUSW (National Union of Saharawi
Women) officer for external relations, took part
in an electoral meeting of the Madrid PSOE, along
with representatives of women's organisations
from Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and the
President of women artists against gender
violence, Cristina del Valle.
NATURAL RESSOURCES
Oil
08.06.04
The Saharawi government wrote to the two
companies involved recently in oil reconnaissance
in Western Sahara, Wessex and Fugro. (letters
http://www.arso.org/wessex04.htm)
Fishing
11.06.04
Moroccan-Spanish Cooperation
Morocco asked for the cooperation of Spain in
research on its marine resources. The Spanish
oceanographic ship Vizconde de Eza will
undertake, from 14 November until 13 December
next, oceanographic prospecting work in Moroccan
deep waters. Other agreements have been signed
concerning training in the fishing sector.
REFERENDUM
Major diplomatic manoeuvres
Morocco-Algeria
Morocco "is indulging in a veritable diplomatic
ballet through which it attempts to sow confusion
and obfuscation about the Algerian position",
declared Mohamed Sidati, Minister Counsellor and
Polisario Front representative at the European
Union, speaking about the visit of the Moroccan
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Benaïssa on
29 May to Algiers. The latter gave a verbal
message from the Moroccan sovereign to the
Algerian President Bouteflika.
France-Morocco
30.-31.05.04
After the failure of its attempt to bring
together a four-sided conference with Morocco,
Algeria and Spain, the French government
continues to put pressure on Algeria, in order to
turn the Saharawi question into an
Algerian-Moroccan problem and to impose the
solution of autonomy. Thus the French Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Michel Barnier, affirmed, in an
interview with MAP on the eve of his official
visit to Morocco, that "a rapprochement between
Algiers and Rabat is necessary, in our eyes, to
settle the question of the Sahara, "which impedes
the integration of the Maghreb and therefore the
future of the people of the region and their
relations with Europe". "The solution of a
broad-based autonomy for the territory should be
studied in an imaginative and constructive manner
for all", he added. Barnier travelled to Morocco
with, according the Spanish daily La Razon, a
mandate from Chirac to favour a "French solution"
to the Saharan conflict, a solution which would
counter the Spanish initiative of "wide agreement
between the parties".
Spain-Front Polisario
02-03.06.04
A high-ranking Spanish government delegation,
consisting of the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, Bernardino León Gross, the secretary
general for Foreign Policy, Rafael Dezcallar, the
director general of the Department of Cooperation
with Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, Ricardo
Martínez, and the deputy director for the
Maghreb, Carlos Fernández-Arias travelled to the
refugee camps to meet Mohamed Abdelaziz and the
Polisario Front leadership. The talks between the
two parties, which took place in camera, were
"frank and constructive", according to the
Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed
Salem Ould Salek. The Spanish party reaffirmed
"the attachment of Spain to international law
within the context of the United Nations", it was
emphasised.
This is the first visit of Spanish government
officials to the Saharawi camps and the first
official high-level meeting with Polisario Front
leadership.
The Moroccan authorities had been warned about
it, which accounts for the absence of any
protests from Rabat.
Morocco-Spain
09.-11-06.04
The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed
Benaïssa, carried out an official visit to
Madrid. In a joint declaration at the end of the
visit, "the two parties reiterated their desire
to look for a just, consensual and lasting
political solution to the question of Western
Sahara, negotiated by all the parties concerned,
within the context of international law and the
efforts of the United Nations."
11.06.04
Baker goes
The personal envoy of the United Nations
Secretary General for Western Sahara, James A.
Baker III, resigned. It is the special
representative for Western Sahara, Alvaro de
Soto, who will take on Baker's mission.
Appointed in 1997 by Kofi Annan to get the peace
plan out of an impasse, the former US Secretary
of State had as his mission to reexamine the
situation, to evaluate the how the settlement
plan could be implemented and to examine the
possibility of alterations to the plan, even to
propose "other possible means" of resolving the
conflict.(weekly news 12/1997
http://www.arso.org/01-e97-12.htm#baker)
His efforts resulted in 1997 with the Houston
Agreement(, then with protocols for agreements on
identification, which allowed the resumption and
finalising of the process of designating electors
at the beginning of 2000. In June 2001 he
presented the draft Framework Agreement, called
the Baker Plan I which were re-worked before
being submitted in May 2003 to the parties under
the title of Peace plan for self-determination
of the people of Western Sahara, or Baker Plan II.
The latter, accepted in July 2003, by the
Polisario Front as a basis for discussion, and
rejected by Morocco nearly a year later, was
ratified by the Security Council in its
resolution S/RES/1541 du Conseil de sécurité du
29.04.04. (>> Bye Baker, background on WS Online:
http://www.wsahara.net/04/byebaker.html >>
dossier referendum http://www.arso.org/ref.htm)
Reactions
11.06.04
For the Saharawi government, "this event
represents undoubtedly a serious setback in the
effort expended by the UN over recent years to
resolve the last problem of decolonisation in
Africa in a peaceful and just
manner".(Declaration of SADR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. http://www.arso.org/bujari110604.htm#e)
12.06.04
The representative of the Polisario Front in
Spain, Brahim Gali, interpreted the resignation
of Baker as a protest against "the intransigent
position of Morocco" and "the lack of firmness
and the weakness of the Security Council to
impose its resolutions, in particular number 1495
of July 2003". (EUROPA PRESS)
Morocco regrets officially the resignation of
Baker. For Mohamed Benaïssa, Moroccan Minister
for Foreign Affairs, scarcely hiding his relief,
the resignation of Baker is the result of the
tenacity of cherifian diplomacy.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs greets
the efforts of James Baker for peace "in
accordance with international law".
The Madrid daily, La Razon sees in this
resignation one step further in the policy of the
Bush government of rapprochement with Morocco.
After having recognised Morocco as a major
non-NATO ally and announced joint military
manoeuvres off-shore from the Sahara, the way
will be open for the USA to join in the
Franco-Moroccan "negotiated political solution"
respecting Morocco's sovereignty.
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr
Miguel Angel Moratinos, on an official visit of
Tunisia on 12.06.04, did not comment on the
resignation, he affirmed that all the countries
were working to find a solution to the question
of the Sahara within the context of the UN.
MOROCCO
03.06.04
Morocco-USA
The United States have conferred the status on
Morocco of "major non-NATO ally" for its support
in the fight against terrorism. This status in
particular permits the lifting of restrictions on
the sale of armaments. Argentina, Australia,
Bahrein, South Korea, Egypt, Israël, Japan,
Jordan, Kuweit, New Zealand, the Philippines and
Thailand benefit from this privileged ally
status. (AFP)
Meanwhile, a journey to Washington for the king
of Morocco has been announced at a date yet to be
determined.
American-Moroccan military manoeuvres
Military manoeuvres involving navy and air force
called "Majestic Eagle 04" will take place from
10 to 17 July in the Moroccan waters opposite the
Canaries, between Casablanca and Agadir.
04.06.04
Independence movement tracts
The inhabitants of Guelimin were surprised to
discover that all the signs of the moussem of
Asrir, which the Aït Lahsen tribes have the
custom of organising, had been burnt by persons
unknown, who had left instead tracts calling for
"separatism". This is the first demonstration of
the kind in the region for at least twenty years.
(Al-Ousbou, Maroc)
08.06.04
During a "technical" reshuffle of the government,
the Ministry of Human Rights was abolished.
Morocco-Africa
The king of Morocco will carry out a tour of five
sub-Saharan African countries from 15 to 25 June.
This tour, which aims to reaffirm Morocco's
"African vocation", will take the monarch from
Cotonou (Benin) to Yaoundé (Cameroon), Libreville
(Gabon) and Niamey (Niger) to finish in Dakar
(Senegal).
GERMANY
03.06.04
The Liberal party asks the government what action
it has undertaken to forward peace in Western
Sahara, in particular if the government has
sought the support of France and Spain for a
referendum and the peace process.
HUMAN RIGHTS
28.05.04
AFAPREDESA inaugurated in the refugee camps the
Marguerite Emery Centre for information and
promotion of human rights in Western Sahara.
(communiqué AFAPREDESA, french
http://www.arso.org/afa280504.htm#fr + spanish
http://www.arso.org/afa280504.htm)
02.06.04
Arbitrary Arrests http://www.arso.org/NI020604.htm
Two Saharawi human rights activists were arrested
arbitrarily in Casablanca and Rabat. Mohamed
Cheikh Elmoutaouakil and Banbaya Mohamed Khalili
said to have figured on a search warrant
concerning an inquiry into a Polisario Front
network which had led to the arrest in 1999, 2000
and 2002 of five Saharawi activists. After three
hours of interrogation, they were released and
the proceedings "annulled'.
HUMANITARIAN AID
08.06.04
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs declared
that the government will double its humanitarian
aid to the Saharawi refugees. The same
declaration from the Canaries Office for the
Exterior, states that over 30% of the aid
destined for Africa goes to the Saharawi people.
SOLIDARITY
2ª Conferencia Internacional sobre la Información
en el Sahara , en TOLEDO 27-30.06.04:
Conclusiones
http://www.hablemosdelsahara.com/frameconclusiones.htm
ASAPS premiada con el 5º Galardón del Bajoaragonés del año.
l galardón de este año ha sido concedido a la
candidatura de Acción Solidaria con el Pueblo
Saharaui (ASAPS), asociación solidaria con el
pueblo saharaui en la provincia de Teruel, en
reconocimiento a su labor de apoyo a los
refugiados Saharauís.
Jo Sóc de Mahbes (Yo soy de Mahbes ), video de
Toni Cuadras, Producción: ACAPS-ANOIA /
Ajuntament de Igualada / Ultimo Round P.A
Catalunya, 2003. Duración: 25 minutos. El vídeo
se puede solicitar a: Associació Catalana d'Amics
del Poble Sahrauí - ANOIA, Isabel Orgué
93.803.91.05 / 626.119.643, isisort@...
COMING UP...
San Sebastián, los días 24 y 25 de junio de 2004
ENCUENTRO ESTATAL DE INSTITUCIONES HERMANADAS Y/O
SOLIDARIAS CON EL PUEBLO
SAHARAUI.http://www.donostia.org/info/general.nsf/pages/PortadaWebSahara.htm/$fi\
le/PortadaWebSahara.htm
INTERNET
Mailing-list
- NOUVEAU >> Revue de la presse internationale
francophone (Revue de presse Sahara
Occidental) >> s'abonner
http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/revue-de-presse-sahara-occidental/join
- NUEVO >> Revista de la prensa en español
(Revista de prensa Sahara Occidental) >> abonarse
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/join
- Sahara-Info: Revista de prensa castellano Y
francés como antes >> abonarse
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/join
- Sahara-Info: Revue de presse en espagnol ET
français comme auparavant >> s'abonner
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/join
Documents
- Rapport: La remise en cause des droits
contractuels des travailleurs de Phosboucrâa au
Sahara Occidental.
http://www.birdhso.org/El%20karama_PDF/rapportpfosboucraa.pdf
- Autres atteintes aux droits du travail
http://www.birdhso.org/El%20karama_PDF/autresdroits.pdf
- Blocks on employment rights in Noroccan occupied Western Sahara
http://www.birdhso.org/El%20karama_PDF/blocks.pdf
OPINION
- De Genève à Mantes la Jolie : chronique des
fiascos de l'Ambassade du Maroc en France, Si le
ridicule tuait, Al Bayane ne serait plus de ce
monde. Michèle Decaster, AFASPA
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/afaspa300504.htm>
- SR. ZAPATERO, DÍGANOS LA VERDAD SOBRE EL
SÁHARA, Khatry Beirouk, Carlos Ruiz Miguel
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/CRMKB.htm
- Lettre à Monsieur le Président W. Bush, Rguiby
Daya.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/rguiby.htm
- Carta al Senor Presidente G. Bush, Rguiby Daya.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/rguiby.htm#es
- Lettre à Monsieur le Président J. Chirac, Daya
Rguiby.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/rguiby2.htm
- La causa Saharaui es patrimonio de todos
nosotros y no es sólo el quehacer de nuestros
dirigentes, Bahia Awah
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/bahiaA.htm
- Spain's confusion , Sid Hamdi Yahdih
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa120604.htm
- El lenguaje de los políticos, Javier Perote
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/JPerote.htm
- Sahara Occidental: se acerca la hora de la
verdad, J.J Garcia.
http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/JJgarcia2.htm
Analisis
- El negocio del Sáhara (I),
http://www.canariasahora.com/opinion/editar_opinion.asp?idopinion=2293
y (II)
http://www.canariasahora.com/opinion/editar_opinion.asp?idopinion=2307
, Grupo Interuniversitario de Opinión, Ricardo
Aguasca Colomo (ULPGC), Carlos Ruiz de Miguel
(USC,) Sergio Ramírez Galindo (ULPGC), Manuel de
Paz Sánchez (ULL), CANARIASahora.com, 03.06.04.
- La encrucijada de la legalidad internacional en
las relaciones con Marruecos, Ana Camacho, Grupo
de Estudios Estratégicos, 03.06.04 .
http://www.gees.org/articulo/589
- traducción en arabe http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/ACtradarabe.doc
Divers
- Nuevas fotos de la Marcha al Muro.
http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/fotomuro.html
-La familia de Brahim Machnan quiere verdad,
Llamamento/ Appel en espanol - arabe 03.06.04
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/machnan.html>
- Press release of Ali Salem TamekEnd of the campaign of AFAPREDESA
http://www.afapredesa.org/pag/datos/en_cierreCampanaTamek.htm
list of signatures:
http://www.afapredesa.org/formularios/ca_listadoFirmantes.htm
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
>> Revue de la presse internationale francophone
>>http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/revue-de-presse-sahara-occidental/messages
- Les journalistes du Press Club dans les camps
de réfugiés saharaouis (01-05.05.04), Press Club
Magazine, Paris, No 7, juin 2004, p. 6.
- Conférence de presse de M. Richard. W. Erdman,
ambassadeur des États-unis d'Amérique à Alger:
«Nos liens commerciaux avec l'Algérie sont
solides», Mourad Termoul, 01.06.04.
http://80.88.0.236/stories.php?story=04/06/01/6569145
- ONU: Communiqué du Comité spécial chargé
d'étudier la situation en ce qui concerne
l'application de la Déclaration sur l'octroi de
l'indépendance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux
(quatrième commission), 07.06.04.
http://www.un.org/News/fr-press/docs/2004/AGCOL216.doc.htm
- Sahara occidental : démission de James Baker,
ONU nouvelles, 11.06.04.
http://www.un.org/apps/newsFr/storyF.asp?NewsID=8175&Cr=baker&Cr1=
- Sahara occidental, La démission surprise de
James Baker, Hafida Ameyar, Liberté,
Alger,13.06.04.
http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=25101
- Réactions des Sahraouis : "Un sérieux revers
aux efforts de l'ONU", Hafida Ameyar, ibidem.
http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=25100
- Rabat. Faure remplace Grasset , TelQuel, No
131,
http://www.telquel-online.com/131/actu_131.shtml
- Analyse et commentaires de Khadija Moshen
Finan, chercheuse de l'Institut français des
relations internationales à Paris, RFI, Radio
France Internationale, 13.06.04
http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/054/invite_28651.asp
Deux livres aux éditions Tarik, Casablanca, relatifs aux victimes de Tazmamart:
- «L'opération Borak F5 et les révélations sur
l'affaire du Boeing (16 Août 1972)», Ahmed El
Ouafi.
- «Kabazal, les emmurés de Tazmamart», Abdelhak
Serhane, mémoires de Salah et Aïcha Hachad.
English
English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Sardines and Sovereignty in Western Sahara,
January 13, 2004, Reuters News Service
<http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/23414/story.htm>
- New Zealand tour wins support for Western
Sahara, 04.06.04.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00043.htm
- The wall of shame, Ron Guy, Green Left Weekly,
online ed., issue #585, 09.06.04.
<http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/585/585p18.htm>
- James Baker, Annan's personal envoy for Western
Sahara, resigns, UN news, 11.06.04.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11026&Cr=western&Cr1=sahara
Castellano
Revista de la prensa en español
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
- El secretario de Estado de Exteriores se
entrevista por primera vez en Tinduf con la
dirección del Polisario, P. E., El Pais,
03.06.04.
http://saharaoccidental.blogspot.com/#pais
- Nuevo gobierno español respalda legalidad
internacional en el conflicto de Sáhara, afrol
News, 03.06.04.
http://www.afrol.com/es/articulos/13026
- El Frente Polisario pide a Zapatero que no
abandone el Plan Baker para el Sahara, Luis
Ayllón, ABC, 06.06.04.
http://www.abc.es/abc/pg040606/actualidad/internacional/internacional/200406/06/\
polisario.asp
- EE UU y Marruecos organizan unas maniobras
bilaterales frente a Canarias El «USS Enterprise»
norteamericano, Diego Mazón, La Razon, Madrid,
09.06.04.
http://www.larazon.es/noticias/noti_nac02.htm
- España explorará los recursos que Rabat tiene
en aguas profundas, Benito Ordonez, La Voz de
Galicia, 12.06.04.
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/se_maritima/noticia.jsp?CAT=109&TEXTO=2740314
Català
- COMUNICAT D'ICV-EA (Iniciativa per Catalunya
Verd) SOBRE LA VISITA AL MARROC D'UNA DELEGACIÓ
DE LA MESA DEL PARLAMENT, 08.06.04
<http://dades.iniciativa.info/icv/FMPro?-db=noticies.fp5&-format=noticies%2fnoti\
ciasola.htm&-lay=detallada&-sortfield=data&-sortorder=descend&-sortfield=hora&-s\
ortorder=descend&forum=icv&-max=4&-recid=35434&-find=>
Arabe
-Assahara alhoura, no 393, mai 2004. http://www.essahraelhora.com
- EL PUEBLO SAHARAUI, HISTORIA DE UNA LUCHA,
Mouhamad 'ismat Bakr, Ninawa, Damas, E- mail:
<ninawa@...> 'ismat Bakr est égyptien,
auteur de 11 livres, docteur en sciences
coraniques, enseignant à l'université d'Alep.
Suédois
- Västsahara nr 1, mars 2004 <http://www.natverkstan.net/vastsahara>
Deutsch
- Oelsuche heizt Westsahara-Konflikt an, Reiner
Wandler, Der Standard, A-Wien, 28.05.04.
- Vollendete Tatsachen schaffen, In der
Westsahara werden Bodenschätze ausgebeutet -
illegal, sagt die Uno, Reiner Wandler, Der Bund,
CH-Bern, 29.05.04.
<http://www.ebund.ch/artikel_19529.html>
- Westafrikanische Vielfalt, A. Hohendahl, Der
Landbote, CH-Winterthur, 01.06.04 (sur le concert
donné à Winterthur par Mariem Hassan).
- Regierung soll Bemühungen zur Lösung des
Westsaharakonflikts darstellen,
hib-Meldung150/2004, 03.06.04.
http://www.bundestag.de/bic/hib/2004/2004_150/04.html
Italiano
- Oltre il muro: la RASD, Violazioni dei Diritti
Umani nel Sahara Occidentale, ATTUALITA' dall'1
al 31 maggio 2004, A cura di Jacqueline Philippe.
- Dal carcere di Inezgane, Testimonianza di Tamek
Ali Salem, A cura di Jacqueline Philippe e del
Coordinamento delle Associazioni di Solidarietà
con il Popolo Sahraui dell'Emilia Romagna, giugno
2004, 44 p.
- PRINCIPALE MEDIATORE ONU GETTA LA SPUGNA E
PRESENTA DIMISSIONI, Misna, 12.06.04.
http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=2&id=114107
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-2122.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 21-22 : 16.-29.05.2004
original french
SADR
NATURAL RESSOURCES
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
REFERENDUM
HUMANITARIAN AID
SOLIDARITY
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
17.05.04
The National Secretariat (SN) of the Polisario
Front called on the Security Council to make
Morocco "accept and implement UN decisions". In a
meeting chaired by the Head of State, Mohamed
Abdelaziz, the SN considered that "only when the
peace plan endorsed by the Security Council in
resolution 1495 is fully implemented will there
be a peaceful end to the process of
decolonization in Western Sahara and peace and
stability restored to the Maghreb region."
After denouncing the current situation in the
occupied territories, the SN called on the UN and
all international bodies to dispatch a "special
reporter" there and welcomed the operation of
exchange visits between Saharawi families,
condemning however, the Moroccan policy aiming to
"limit the number of people who could take
advantage of the scheme as well as putting
pressure and constraints on the freedom of those
concerned to circulate".
The SN finally deplored "the alignment of France
with the Moroccan line of argument" and reminded
Spain of its responsibilities in the tragedy
which the Saharawi people have been experiencing
since 1975". (SPS)
18-21.05.04
5th UGTSARIO Congress
Mohamed Abdelziz, in his opening speech, again
expressed the willingness of his country to
continue cooperating with the UN and his Special
Envoy, underlining that he "totally rejects any
approach or solution which doesn't have as its
basis the principle of self-determination, in
accordance with the United Nations Charter".
In its final declaration, the 5th UGTSARIO
congress called on the international community to
do whatever it can to dismantle the Moroccan
wall, erected to protect colonialism and its
interests in Western Sahara. The retiring
secretary general, Mohamed Cheikh Mohamed Lebib,
was re-elected to his post. The European and
African unions present signed a declaration,
strongly denouncing "the impediments and
equivocations put up by the Moroccan government
to prevent the implementation of the agreements
which it has made with the Polisario Front under
the auspices of the United Nations".(SPS)
22-23.05.04
Official visit
The President of the Algerian Movement of Society
for Peace (MSP, ex-Hamas), Abou Jara Soultani,
paid a visit to the Saharawi refugees. A member
of the coalition at present in power, Soultani's
party supported President Bouteflika during the
presidential election last April beside the FLN
and the RND. A big meeting was organised in his
honour. Soultani, who had last visited the camps
in 1996, laid the foundation stone of a school,
named Mahfoud Nahnah, who was the founder of the
MSP.(SPS)
26.05.04
African Union
In the course of the first session of the African
Union's Council of Peace and Security, the
Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ould Salek
tabled the instruments of ratification of the
protocol relating to the creation of this new
body. Composed of 15 elected member states, the
Council of Peace and Security is a permanent
body, charged with the promotion of peace,
security and stability in Africa, of preventive
diplomacy, and the re-establishment of peace. It
is also concerned with the management of
catastrophes, humanitarian actions and
reconstruction after conflicts. (Press statement
of SADR 26.05.04.French + Spanish
(<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2614>
Sahara-Info )
NATURAL RESSOURCES
Oil Exploration
The company Wessex Exploration Limited, based in
Great Britain and Houston USA, "is currently
undertaking a comprehensive technical analysis of
the Aaiun Basin in order to facilitate further
hydrocarbon exploration in this very
underexplored area", quoting directly from its
website in which this activity is presented under
Morocco. After the big companies such as
TotalFinaElf and Kerr McGee, in this case it is a
small business which has obtained a contract with
Morocco. Questioned on the legality of the
procedure by the Western Sahara Campaign UK, the
management of Wessex did not deign to reply on
the fundamental problem. The British NGO then
launched on 17.05.04, jointly with other
organisations in the solidarity movement with the
Saharawi people, a campaign aiming to make Wessex
aware of what is at stake with their activities
and asking them to enter into contact with the
Polisario Front, as representative of the
Saharawi people, or to withdraw from the
territory considered by the UN as a
non-self-governing territory, whose natural
resources cannot be exploited, as stated in the
legal opinion of H. Corell in 2002, except with
the agreement and to the benefit of the
indigenous population. A letter-writing campaign
met with great success and a consortium of
European NGOs has asked the management of the
company for a meeting very soon.
The solidarity campaign is also targeting the
activities of the Dutch group Fugro, which has
taken up seismic tests off-shore from Boujdour,
tests which the Norwegian company TGS-Nopec did
not continue with following a protest campaign in
Norway. (Press Release WSC
<http://www.arso.org/wessexwsc2004.htm>)(
Letters, medias, documentation. >> Campaign Page
<http://www.arso.org/wessex04.htm>)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
16.05.04
Disappeared Saharawis
A committee of the body Equité et Réconciliation
(official body charged with settling human rights
abuses in Morocco) visited Laayoune, Smara,
Tan-Tan and Lamsaied from 25-30 April 2004, to
meet families of disappeared Saharawis. On this
occasion, the Committee of Disappeared Saharawis
in a statement (French )
<http://www.arso.org/comdisp04.htm>, expresses
its firm attachment to its claims, "a prelude to
any equitable, just and systematic approach of
the cause of serious abuses of human rights in
the Sahara". These claims are: to clarify the
fate of the disappeared, to liberate those still
alive, to return the remains of the dead and
issue death certificates, to transport the
remains to places chosen by the families, to
reveal the truth on the tragedy suffered by the
disappeared, to pursue all those responsible for
abusing human rights. (see also the Memorandum
(French) presented to the body Equité et
Réconciliation, Laayoune 23.04.04, signed by nine
Saharawi human rights NGOs, which can be
downloaded in Word format
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/MemoSahara.doc>-
in PDF format
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/MemoSahara.pdf>)
18.05.04
Suspicious death of a Saharawi prisoner
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/hadi.html>
Hadi Hassan Ali Aswaydi, a Saharawi born in 1966,
in prison for two and a half months for a common
law offence in El Ayoun's black prison, prisoner
number 24 882, died suddenly in suspicious
circumstances. His family, who had visited him
the same day, lodged a complaint with the
prosecutor and asked for an inquiry into the
circumstances of the tragedy. The next day the
detainees refused to go back into their cells
after their walk in the courtyard to protest and
to demand the truth about the affair. The body
was taken on 23 May to Casablanca for an
autopsy.(Letter of protest of the family of
19.05.04,in Arabic with Spanish and French
translation
http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/hadi.html#lettre>
Reminder: In November 2002 the death of the
prisoner Boucetta Mohamed Barka, known as
Chaybani, <http://www.arso.org/NI281102.htm>
following maltreatment by a guard and fellow
detainees, caused a stir. On 02.07.03 El Ayoun
Appeal Tribunal judged the prison guard and the 2
Saharawi fellow-detainees accused of having
caused his death. Contrary to the results of the
inquiry, the prison guard was acquitted while the
two fellow detainees were sentenced to 2 years in
prison.
27.05.04
Exchange of family visits - Intimidation and threats
Visits between Saharawi families from both sides
of the wall separating Western Sahara, organised
by the UNHCR, are continuing at present between
the camps and the town on Smara.
We are informed that the human rights activist
and former political detainee Ali Salem Tamek was
the target of attempts at intimidation on the
part of the Moroccan authorities, who tried to
prevent him meeting families coming from Tindouf.
On 23 May a car with registration number
15-alif-23725 followed all his movements. The
families of Lmami ould Azzat, Ahmad ould Omar
ould Blaila, Mohammad Bouya Mantallah, Lhbada
Ammah, who were receiving visits from the camps,
were also pestered by police, while others were
threatened and humiliated. Police officers
surrounded the homes being visited by Tamek and
those of Saharawi human rights defenders. In one
case, Lbouihi Fkko was insulted on 25 May by a
policeman called Karroum and called in the next
day by the superintendant who threatened him in
public. (corr.)
REFERENDUM
19.05.04
Spain
Replying to the questions of several
parliamentarians on the policy of the new Spanish
government towards the Sahara, the Spanish
Minister of Foreign Affairs repeated before the
parliament, the Senate and the Foreign Affairs
Committee the support of his government for the
UN peace plan. "There is however a change",
Moratinos declared. The government will commit
itself to finding a lasting, just, consensual
political solution which should satisfy all the
parties, and which would be favourable to the
stability of the Maghreb and to Europe-Maghreb
relations.
26.05.04
Spanish diplomatic offensive
Moratinos revealed before the Senate that the
government will be involved in a series of
contacts with members of the Group of Countries
Friendly with Western Sahara (ad hoc group
created at the level of the Security Council,
made up of France, United States, United Kingdom
and Russia), in order to help the parties in
conflict to find a satisfactory solution.
25.05.04
Surprise visit of the Moroccan Minister of
Foreign Affairs to Madrid, who brings a message
from the King of Morocco to the Spanish Prime
Minister, Zapatero.
29.05.04
The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed
Benaissa, is awaited on 29.05. in Algiers. This
surprise visit is devoted principally to
bilateral relations, an Algerian source indicated.
30-31.05.04
The French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michel
Barnier, pays an official visit to Morocco, where
he will meet the King, the Prime Minister and his
counterpart, Mohamed Benaïssa. The aim of this
visit is to reaffirm the "exemplary dimension of
the Franco-Moroccan partnership". The situation
in Iraq and the Middle East, the coming G8 in Sea
Island, as well as the integration of the Maghreb
and developments in Western Sahara, were due to
be raised in the course of the minister's talks.
(Statement by a Quai d'Orsay spokesman)
HUMANITARIAN AID
27.05.04
The European Commission will release in the
coming weeks an allocation of about 8 million
euros of humanitarian aid to the Saharawi
refugees. This decision follows an agreement
concluded between Brussels and the Polisario
Front on the means of access and the movements of
ECHO officials, the European Union's Office of
Humanitarian Aid, in the Saharawi camps. Let us
recall that ECHO has an annual budget of 14
million euros for the Saharawi refugees, 3.75
million were made available to the World Food
Program in February 2004 out of the 5.14
allocated to ECHO in January.
27.05.04
Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (WFP)
The proposal for protracted relief and recovery
(IPSR) for the refugees in Western Sahara was
unanimously approved by the Council of
Administration of the World Food Program, during
its second ordinary session. This proposal,
amounting to nearly 40 million dollars, spread
over two years (September 2004-August 2006), will
benefit 158,000 Saharawi refugees.
Mr K. Adly, director of the regional bureau of
WFP for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern
Europe, confirmed the number of 158,000 refugees
and emphasised the very difficult living
conditions of the refugees. Broaching the
question relating to possible misappropriation of
this aid and its disposal on local markets, Mr
Adly was categoric: "the aid given by WFP to
Saharawi refugees is not subject to any
misappropriation and reaches the beneficiaries.
The systematic and regular controls carried out
up until now have not uncovered any anomaly of
this kind."
Mr Mahaman Balla, the representative of WFP in
Algiers, and the American attaché for
humanitarian affairs, Mr Timothy Lavelle, who was
part of the joint mission (WFP-UNHCR) of
evaluation which traveled on 20 January last to
the refugee camps, underlined that WFP is putting
in place monitoring and a rigorous control after
distribution of the provisions and that nothing
indicates there has been any misappropriation of
this aid.
According to APS the European Union had decided
to grant aid of 20 million euros for the period
2004-2006. Finland has more than doubled its
contribution from 114,000 to 300,000 euros. (APS)
(Proposal for aid to the refugees of Western
Sahara, document WFP/EB.2/2004/4-B/4 of 5 May
2004: English
http://www.wfp.org/eb/docs/2004/wfp029993~2.pdf -
arabic
http://www.wfp.org/eb/docs/2004/wfp029996~2.pdf
SOLIDARITY
28.05.04
Conference
The 2nd international conference on information
in Western Sahara opened in Toledo in the
presence of a large Saharawi delegation
comprising Mohamed Sidati, Minister Counsellor to
the President, Batal Sid'Ahmed, Minister of
Information, Khalil Sidi M'Hamed, Minister of the
Occupied Territories as well as Mohamed Yeslem
Beissat, Ambassador of SADR in Algiers and
Mohamed Lemhamid, director of the Sahara Press
Service, SPS. With the theme "Let's speak about
the Sahara - break the information blockade"
(Hablemos del Sahara - Rompemos el bloqueo
informativo) media professionals, politicians,
activists from the solidarity movement in small
workshops discussed how to put into practice
better ways of publishing information about the
conflict in the Sahara. Talks and films were also
expected.( web site
<http://www.hablemosdelsahara.com>)
INTERNET
OPINION
- En busca de armas mediáticas, Limam Boicha
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/LimamB.htm>
- "La Generación de la amistad", Mohamed Lamin M.
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/MLM0504.htm>
- The new/ old system of killing and torturing
against the Sahrawis in Morocco prisons, Sid
Hamdi Yahdih
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa20045.htm>
Nouveaux web sites en arabe:
- http://www.geocities.com/amelalistiklal
- http://chabab-basiri.site.voila.fr/
DOCUMENTS
- Amnesty International - Report 2004 - Morocco /
Western Sahara
<http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/mar-summary-eng>
- Amnesty International - Rapport 2004 - Maroc
(sic)
<http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/mar-summary-fra>
- Amnistía Internacional - Informe 2004 -
Marruecos y el Sáhara Occidental
<http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/mar-summary-esl>
- En arabe: <http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/mar-summary-ara>
- Mémorandum soumis à l'Instance Equité et
Réconciliation, Laayoune 23.04.04, signé par 9
ONG sahraouies de défense des droits humains au
Sahara Occidental, à télécharger en format Word
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/MemoSahara.doc>-
en format PDF
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/MemoSahara.pdf>)
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Le Maroc et les Iles Canaries veulent
développer leur coopération, Jeune Afrique /
L'Intelligent, 17.05.04.
<http://www.jeuneafrique.com/gabarits/articleAFP_online.asp?art_cle=AFP63754lema\
rnoitar0>
- PAM: L'aide accordée aux réfugiés sahraouis
arrive à ses bénéficiaires, Aps, 28.05.04.
<http://www.aps.dz/fr/pageview.asp?ID=63987>
- PAM: Approbation de l'IPSR d'aide aux réfugiés
sahraouis, Aps, 28/5/04.
<http://www.aps.dz/fr/pageview.asp?ID=63988>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Indie risks Boujdour backlash, Upstream Online,
06.05.04.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update>
- Morocco Connection Is Emerging as Sleeper
Threat in Terror War, Elaine Sciolino, The New
York Times, 16.05.04.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/international/africa/16MORO.html?8br>
- Saharawis' Continue Long Wait for Independent
Country, Voice of America, Lisa Bryant, 17.05.04.
<http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=3A863423-F8BC-4787-B747DD48956731CD\
>
- Saharawi supporters target Wessex Exploration
for its involvement in occupied Western Sahara,
Western Sahara Campaign UK, 17.05.04 .
<http://www.arso.org/wessexwsc2004.htm>
- Western Sahara speaker tours New Zealand,
17.05.04.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1336>
- UN Decolonization Committee reviews the
question of Western Sahara: A delegation from the
Polisario Front participated in the UN Special
Committee on Decolonization Seminar held in
Madang, Papua New Guinea, between 18-20 May 2004.
<http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10775&Cr=decolonization&Cr1>
- UNHCR To Start Phone Service For Refugees,
UNHCR (Geneva), 21.05.04.
<http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200405210801.html>
- Minnows take on oil giants in a sand storm,
Carl Mortished, Times online, 22.05.04.
<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-5-1118865,00.html>
- Wessex in firing line over Western Sahara role,
Barry Morgan, Upstream Online, 28.05.04.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1341>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc,
son acessible en Sahara-Info, lista de correo
(castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Ahmed Buhari: «Las palabras de Zapatero sobre
el Sahara han creado gran confusión», Marta
Torres, La Razon, Madrid, 17.05.04.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2004-05-17/noticias/noti_nac10.htm>
- "¿Cuál es la posición del Gobierno respecto a
los acuerdos avalados por Naciones Unidas sobre
el Sáhara Occidental, en particular el Plan Baker
II?" - Respuesta del Sr. Ministro a pregunta oral
en pleno del Congreso, Ministerio de Asuntos
Exteriores y Cooperación Exteriores, España,
19.05.04.
<http://www.noticias.info/Asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=24543&src=0>
- La Revista de Mujeres ELLE en su edición del
mes de Mayo publica una entrevista a la
Responsable de Relaciones Exteriores de la UNMS,
Zahra Ramdán, en el marco de un reportaje sobre
mujeres islámicas editado con ocasión de los
criminales atentados perpetrados por terroristas
en la principal estación de trenes de la capital
española.
- UE/Sáhara.- Bruselas entregará 8 millones en
ayuda humanitaria a los saharauis tras un acuerdo
con el Frente Polisario, EUROPA PRESS BRUSELAS,
27.05.04.
http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20040527180436&tabID=1&ch=\
69
- Sophie Caratini : "Fui en son de paz y me topé
con la revolución", Joaquin Carbonell, El
Periodico de Aragon, 28.05.04.
http://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/noticias/noticia.asp?pkid=120866
Nuevo libro
- Las voces del desierto. Una escritora saharaui,
residente en Galdakao, recopila en un libro la
tradición oral, fábulas y cuentos de su país de
origen. Fátima El Ghalia recoge en su libro
historias que le contaban sus mayores, M. Atrio,
El Correo digital, 23.05.04.
<http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/edicion/prensa/noticias/Nervion/200405/2\
3>
Deutsch
- Westsahara weit entfernt von Unabhängigkeit-
UNO fehlt Entschlossenheit gegenüber Marokkos
Verzögerungstaktik, Axel Goldau, Neues
Deutschland, 17.05.04.
<http://www.nd-online.de/artikel.asp?AID=53239&IDC=2&DB=>
- Ölsuche heizt Westsahara-Konflikt an, Reiner
Wandler, Der Standard, Wien, 28.05.04
<http://derstandard.at/?id=1678095>
Italiano
- Western Sahara: Riprendono visite con rifugiati
nei campi in Algeria, Misna, 15.05.04.
<http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=2&id=112313>
- Saharawi, Tavola rotonda e mostra fotografica
in Consiglio Regionale Toscana Oggi, 21.05.04.
<http://www.toscanaoggi.it/news.asp?IDNews=2365&IDCategoria=204>
- La Wessex Exploration viola i diritti del
popolo Saharawi, Radioforpeace.
<http://www.radiokcentrale.it/news5.htm>
Arabe
- ASSAHARA ALHOURA (Sahara Libre), mensuel en
arabe, avril 2004, 24 pages.
<http://www.essahraelhora.com>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-1920.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 19-20 : 02.05.-15.05.2004
http://www.arso.org/01-f04-1920.htm
original french
SADR
REFERENDUM
MOROCCO
HUMAN RIGHTS
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
19.04.04
Football
The Saharawi minister for Culture and Sport,
Mariam Hamada, sent a letter to the International
Federation for Football FIFA, in which she
questions whether Morocco is eligible or capable
of organising a football world cup.
Omulo Okoth, in The East African Standard, talks
of a Moroccan propaganda campaign aimed at
tarnishing the reputation of South Africa:
security risks, terrorism, problems arising from
health and poverty (sic). Morocco had the
advantage of important support from various
quarters and sent Prince Moulay Rachid to Zürich.
At the beginning of April King M6 decorated Sepp
Blatter..., but all to no avail. Morocco is not
up to it.
04.05.04
The UGTSARIO (General Workers Union of Saguia el
Hamra and Rio de Oro) expresses its opinion on
the position of Moroccan trades unions on the
confl
05.05.04
SADR
The Council of Ministers adopted the draft laws
governing commerce in the refugee camps, as well
as laws governing the role of lawyers in the
three judiciary bodies of the Republic. (SPS)
REFERENDUM
01.05.04
Statement
Responding to a question on France's position,
President Mohamed Abdelaziz considers that
"France is more royalist than the king. By giving
diplomatic cover to Rabat's pretensions, France
has obliged Morocco to submit itself to
international law. I deplore the position of
France, which is a great power". Concerning a
possible meeting with Mr Zapatero, Mohamed
Abdelaziz replies that "as it happens contact is
being made at the moment at the level of the two
foreign ministers and the Spanish Socialist
Workers Party (PSOE). We will probably meet."
(L'Expression, Alger)
Mohamed Abdelaziz adds, a few days later in the
Madrid daily ABC, that it would be desirable for
Spain to draw France into its wake and for the
two countries to commit themselves to the defence
of international law. "It would be a monumental
muddle to fall into the same mistakes that they
have been blamed for in the Iraq crisis. In the
Saharawi case, the peace plan doesn't require any
coalitions or military deployment."
Position of the new Spanish government
The position of Spain on the question of Western
Sahara, following the change in government and
the arrival of the Socialist Party to power,
remains ambiguous. Three Spanish political
parties, Izquierda Verde (Green Left) IU-ICV,
Eusko Alkartasuna EA and the Popular Party PP
at the end of April 2004 asked the government to
clarify its position on Western Sahara and to
support the Baker plan.
"Spain is 'satisfied' with the latest resolution
of the UN Security Council, the head of Spanish
diplomacy, Miguel Angel Moratinos, declared in
Algiers on 3 May. He affirmed that 'Algeria and
Spain have always been among those who defended
the right to self-determination for the Saharawi
people'." "Spain, he added, supported the
resolution completely including all the elements
of the Baker plan, and pronounces itself in
favour of a political agreement between the
parties". (agencies)
In an interview for Jeune Afrique/L'intelligent,
he underlines that "the time has come to resolve
once and for all [the conflict in Western
Sahara]. It has gone on too long. It is time to
give the Saharawis a "new situation". For me, the
refugee camps, whether in Palestine or Tindouf,
should be on the conscience of all societies. We
are in a new context. Obviously, there is the
United Nations which we mustn't forget. The Baker
plan is our "point of reference". The right to
self-determination of the Saharawi people must
remain a "basic" element. But we must also
encourage "bilateral" efforts.
05.05.04
"Four-way Conference ?"
To divert the will of the United Nations, France
(or Spain? or the two together?) would envisage a
conference bringing together Morocco, Algeria,
Spain and France, to find a way out of the
Saharawi conflict. Algeria, through the voice of
its foreign minister, Mr. Abdelaziz Belkhadem,
spelt out a firm and categorical refusal to any
diplomatic move which attempted to set aside the
peace plan drawn up by James Baker and endorsed
by the UN. "It is yet another failure of French
diplomacy, which wants at any price to annex the
Saharawi territories to Morocco", Mr Sidati
(Saharawi minister for Europe) pointed out.
09.05.04
Questioned on his reaction to the words of the
head of the Spanish government Zapatero, who
spoke of respecting the rights of all the parties
in the conflict, Mr Khaddad, Saharawi Coordinator
with MINURSO, replied, in an interview with the
Spanish daily El Pais, that this is not the kind
of declaration one would hope to be hearing from
a socialist government, adding that "the only
party which has rights, is the Saharawi people.
Morocco has no rights."
10.05.04
In an interview with ABC, the Spanish Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Miguel Angel Moratinos,
expressed the view that Western Sahara is an
essential element in the relations between Spain
and Morocco and the whole of the Maghreb. To
clarify the position of his government, he
explained that Madrid would like to try to
conciliate absolute respect for the decisions of
the United Nations and a political, consensual
agreement between the parties. Such a bilateral
political agreement would not be an alternative
to the UN plan, but a complement. Recognising
that Spanish policy had changed, he affirmed that
his government wanted in the first place to reach
a solution, a solution which refers to the United
Nations and the defence of the right to
self-determination of the Saharawi people. For
that, it is necessary that the United States,
France and Spain should speak with the same
voice. "We have initiated with our French
colleagues a thought process to find a solution
which would satisfy all the principal actors. It
would be up to Morocco and the Polisario Front to
decide if they accept it or not and to determine
their room to manoeuvre."
13.05.04
Diplomacy
The American Under-Secretary of State charged
with the Near East, Wiliam Burns, in Algiers and
in Rabat on the question of the Sahara that "the
United-States are not looking to impose any
solution on the different parties". They
"encourage the Algerian and Moroccan leaders to
meet and set themselves to work on building a
great Maghreb, with better cooperation and even
greater understanding", and to "work together
with the personal envoy of the Secretary General
of the United Nations, M. James Baker, in search
of a political solution, which is in everyone's
interests." (agencies)
14.05.04
Confidence-building measures
The second stage in the exchange visits between
the refugee camps and Dakhla ended on 7 May. Some
219 persons benefited from this second stage, 242
others had benefited from the first stage between
El Ayoun and the camps. After a week's gap,
Morocco not having authorised the UNHCR to begin
registration of Saharawi families in time, the
third stage began in Smara on 14 May. (UNHCR News
Stories
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=40a4ce6a4&pa\
ge=news>)
MOROCCO
12.05.04
Report on prisons
"In the prison of Al Hoceima, overpopulation is
of the order of 640%, in Beni Mellal prison, it
stands at 442%, in Laayoune the percentage is
407% while in the prison of Berrechid, the
surplus detainees represent 320%, and in the
civil prison of Kenitra, prison overcrowding is
around 270%. ( Le Matin.ma,
<http://www.lematin.ma/journal/article.asp?id=natio&ida=33998>)
HUMAN RIGHTS
30.04.04
Death under torture
A 30 year old Saharawi, Chouihi Slimane, living
in Tighmert near Goulimine, died following
torture suffered in the Centre of the Royal
Gendarmerie in Goulimine. Following a complaint
of a hunting rifle which had disappeared, the
police entered the home of Slimane, beating the
mother and brothers and sisters of the deceased,
who was looking after his herd. Slimane then
presented himself on 29 April at the Goulimine
police station, where he was tortured then
transported, dying to hospital, where he is
thought to have died on arrival. After a first
autopsy on the spot, which concluded a natural
death, a large popular demonstration took place
on 1 May outside the Prefecture, demanding an
inquiry. A second autopsy was carried out in
Casablanca, which revealed fractures and a
cerebral haemorrhage. On 7 May another
demonstration brought together 600 people outside
the Gendarmerie. The family refused to bury the
victim before the truth was known and the guilty
singled out.
A third autopsy conducted in Rabat confirmed the
conclusions of the preceding one, and the family
recovered the body in Rabat on 14 May.
Following an inquiry by the public prosecutor in
Rabat, the commandant of the judicial police in
Goulimine and his deputy and an "executive" were
"struck from the ranks" of the police force. They
were accused of brutality leading to death. The
commanding officer of the region and the company
commander were relieved of their functions for
negligence. (AFP) >> more information and media
coverage
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/chouihi.html>
Reminder of the regional context:
The region of Tighmert, the largest oasis in Oued
Noun whose agricultural lands are in use by the
Saharawis, possesses underground water whose size
has only become known recently. This region
attracts big Moroccan agri-businesses, which are
creating a conflict with the local people.
Incidents were already taking place in September
2003. (see weeks 40-44/2003
<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-4044.htm#ma>)
SOLIDARITY
03.05.04
Comité de jumelage Gonfreville l'Orcher
Une délégation de 14 personnes, composée d'élus
conduits par Jean-Paul Lecoq et de membres du
Comité de Jumelage de Gonfreville l'Orcher s'est
rendue dans le camp de réfugiés sahraouis de
J'Réfia, du 17 au 23 avril 2004, pour célébrer le
10ème anniversaire de la signature du jumelage
entre les deux villes.
Pais vasco
04.05.04 a las 19,30 se inaugura en la Sala de
Exposiciones situada en el Polideportivo de
Soraluze (Gipuzkoa) una exposición fotográfica de
Jose Luis Irigoien sobre los campamentos
saharauis de refugiados. Cualquier importe
producto de la venta de las fotografías será
entregado integramente al representante en
Euskadi de la RASD. Está exposición puede ser
solicitada a su autor quien la cede gratuitamente
para el fin previsto: ayuda a los refugiados
saharauis. Anteriormente ha estado expuesta en
Bilbao, Gasteiz, Oyarzun, Zaldibar, Eibar. Consta
de 80 fotografías en blanco y negro, emulsión de
plata, papel baritado, viradas al selenio, de
tamaño de imagen 30 x 40 cm y montadas en
passpartout de 40 x 50 cm. email:
jlirigoien@... , tfno: 943206637
09.05.04
El documental Sahara Marathon, del realizador
oñatiarra Aitor Arregi ha sido seleccionado para
participar en la I edición del Festival
Internacional de Documentales de la Ciudad de
Madrid (Documenta Madrid 2004) y en la 19 edición
del Festival de Munich que se celebrará
próximamente. (Diario Vasco)
10.05.04
Dos producciones españolas (Extranjeras, de
Helena Taberna, y Sahara Marathon, de Jon Garaño
y Aitor Arregi) han obtenido sendos galardones en
el III Encuentro Hispanoamericano de Vídeo
Documental Independiente de México, que se ha
celebrado entre el 23 y 30 de abril. (...) Por su
parte, Sahara Marathon, de Jon Garaño y Aitor
Arregi, ha obtenido uno de los galardones
honoríficos del festival: el premio "Vitral", que
otorga el Movimiento Nacional de Vídeo de
Cuba.(Cinered)
COMING UP...
Italiy
I Sestesi per i Saharawi
In occasione del XXXI anniversario della
fondazione del Fronte POLISARIO Giovedì 20 maggio
2004, Ore 20.00 CENA di solidarietà con
proiezione del film girato durante il volo di
gennaio 2004 c/o il Circolo Arci La Costituzione
Via Gramsci 560.Prezzo 20 euro
New Zealand
Kamal Fadel, POLISARIO representative, speak on
the conflict in Western Sahara:Wellington:
Thursday May 27, 1pm @ Victoria University, Rm
304 Cotton Building.
Christchurch: Thursday May 27, 7:30pm @ Peeto, Cnr Peterborugh & Madras St.
Lincoln Friday May 28, 12.40pm @ Totara Room,
Union Building, Lincoln University.
Auckland Monday May 31, 7.30pm @ St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby.
National tour information: mailto:annalucia@...
Toledo: "Hablemos del Sahara, rompamos el bloqueo
informativo", 2ª Conferencia Internacional sobre
la Informacion en el Sahara Occidental, Toledo
28, 29 y 30 Mayo 2004. Info: Coordinadora Estatal
de Asociaciones de Solidaridad con el Sahara
sahara-coord.estatal@... >>Web-site
INTERNET
- Stichting Zelfbeschikking West-Sahara
(Fondation néerlandaise pour l'autodétermination
du Sahara Occidental - Netherlands Foundation for
the Self-Determination of Western Sahara)
<http://west-sahara.nl/>
- Nieuwsbrieven Stichting Zelfbeschikking
West-Sahara
<http://west-sahara.nl/nieuwsbrief.html>
- Novedades en la web CANTABRIA POR EL SÁHARA
<http://www.labarored.org/interpueblos/Sahara/>
- Actualización de la Web de UM DRAIGA <http://www.umdraiga.com>
- Fotos Muro de la verguenza
<http://www.umdraiga.com/fotografias/murodelaverguenza.htm>
- Urgent calls from Ali Salem Tamek's family
<http://www.birdhso.org/appelsos.html#anurgent>
- Sahara un pueblo en el exilio
<http://www.silviafiguerola.com> con un FORO de
discussion
<http://boards.melodysoft.com/ampolla>
- Forum de discussion (en construction)
- Castellano: FORUM OASIS SAHARAWI:
<http://www.ancis.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=86>
- Français: SAHARA RENCONTRES:
<http://www.ancis.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=85>
OPINION
- The Kingdom of Morocco: An Absolute Monarchy
Averse to Democratic Reform, Sidi M. Omar
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/sidiomar.htm>
- La (des)memòria històrica, Salvador
Pallarès-Garí, Vicepresident de la Federació
d'Associacions de Solidaritat amb el Poble
Sahrauí del País Valencià.(>> format Word
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/04.04.28desmemoria.doc>
o RTF <http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/04.04.28desmemoria.rtf>)
- Sáhara: 'Nuevo talante', viejos propósitos y
doctrina vigente, Grupo interuniversitario de
opinión: Sergio Ramírez Galindo (ULPGC), Carlos
Ruiz de Miguel (USC), Manuel de Paz Sánchez (ULL)
y Ricardo Aguasca Colomo (ULPGC).
<http://www.canariasahora.com/opinion/editar_opinion.asp?idopinion=2179>
- UN deepen the Sahrawis sufferance again, Sid
Hamdi Yahdih
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa050504.htm>
- Y van a por la cuarta... aventura, Grupo
interuniversitario de opinión: Sergio Ramírez
Galindo (ULPGC), Carlos Ruiz de Miguel (USC),
Manuel de Paz Sánchez (ULL) y Ricardo Aguasca
Colomo (ULPGC).
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/grupoop100504.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Mohamed Abdelaziz président de la RASD à
L'Expression: «Que craint le Maroc?», Sameh
Bencheikh, L'Expression, Alger, 29.04.04.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/archart.php3?category=4&id=23968&datedeb=2004-4-29\
>
- FIFA et le championnat du monde de football, Le
Polisario saisit la Fifa, L'Expression, Alger,
02.05.04.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2556>
- Premières retrouvailles au Sahara occidental,
A. Penna, 24 heures, CH-Lausanne, 30.04.04.
- « L'Espagne va se tourner vers le monde arabe
», entretien avec Miguel Angel Moratinos par
Marwane Ben Yahmed, Jeune Afrique/L'intelligent,
No 2260,
02.05.04.<http://www.lintelligent.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN\
02054miguesonita0>
- Alors que l'Algérie refuse de participer au
sommet sur le Sahara occidental, Le Polisario
crie au complot français, Le Matin, Alger,
05.05.04.
<http://www.lematin-dz.net/quotidien/lire.php?ida=18560&idc=41&taj=1&refresh=1>
- Sahara : comment amorcer le dialogue, N.H.A,
Lejournal-Hebdo.com,
08.05.04.<http://www.lejournal-hebdo.com/article_print.php3?id_article=1024>
- Interview : Mohamed Khodja se livre aux Débats,
" Est-ce que l'Algérie officielle est vraiment
l'Algérie réelle ? " , Propos recueillis par
Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats, No 130, Alger,
12.05.04.<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/debats05.04.html#k>
- Interview : L'ambassadeur sahraoui à Alger se
confie aux Débats, " La porte de la recherche
d'une solution juste est ouverte ",
ibid.<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/debats05.04.html>
- Sahara, L'autonomie devient-elle possible ?
Driss Ksikes, Tel Quel, Maroc, No 126.
<http://www.telquel-online.com/126/debat_126.shtml>
- Le HCR multiple les retrouvailles entre
réfugiés sahraouis d'Algérie et leurs familles
vivant au Sahara occidental, ONU, 14.05.04.
<http://www.un.org/apps/newsFr/storyF.asp?NewsID=7969&Cr=Sahara>
- Croissant-Rouge algérien / «Un embargo qui ne
dit pas son nom», M. Nadjah, El Watan, Alger,
15.05.04.
<http://www.elwatan.com/journal/html/2004/05/15/actualite.htm#CROISSANT-ROUGE%20\
ALGERIEN%20/%20´Un%20embargo%20qui%20ne%20dit%20pas%20son%20nomª>
NOUVEAU LIVRE
- Sahara occidental, La controverse devant les
Nations unies, Laurent Pointier, Karthala, 2004,
226 p.
English
English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Western Sahara, Setback for Rabat? from a
correspondent, Middle East International, Issue
724, 30.04.04.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1330>
- Insecurity over Spanish position in Sahara
conflict, AfrolNews, 03.05.04.
<http://www.afrol.com/articles/12157>
-Tough times ahead for Spain's Miguel Angel
Moratinos, James Badcock,The Daily Star, Beirut,
08.05.04 .
<http://www.dailystar.com.lb/printable.asp?art_ID=3360&cat_ID=5>
- Democratic World Owe South Africa 2010 World
Cup, Omulo Okoth, The East African Standard
(Nairobi), 10.05.04.
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200405100627.html>
- Saharawis Prepare for Independent Democracy,
Lisa Bryant, Voice of America, 11.05.04.
<http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=9B9FBAC9-931E-4998-848761D51F27AD8F\
>
<http://www.voanews.com/mediastore/Bryant_SAHARAWIS_11may04.ram>
listen (realaudio)
- Fifa's shame - Morocco cannot be allowed to
host the World Cup, Andrew Jennings, The
Guardian, 14.05.04.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4923839-103677,00.html>
- Sahara Analysis No 34, Western Sahara Campaign UK. <mailto:wsc@...>
- UNHCR expands family visit initiative for
Western Saharan refugees, UNHCR News Stories,
14.05.04.
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=40a4ce6a4&pa\
ge=news>
- On the road from Morocco, Deborah Hope, The
Australian, 15.05.04.
<http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9560673%255E28737\
,00.html>
Castellano
Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc,
son acessible en Sahara-Info, lista de correo
(castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Escuelas en el Sahara, El único fruto que crece
en el desierto, Clara Ponte, Cuadernos de
pedagogia, Nº 328, Octubre 2003, pp. 14-19.
<http://www.cuadernosdepedagogia.com/ver_pdf.asp?idArt=7512>
- 29 años resistiendo la amargura del exilio,
Fernando Blanco, Mundo Obrero, No 152, Mayo 2004.
<http://www.pce.es/mundoobrero/mopl.php?id=78>
- Mohamed Abdelaziz, Presidente de la República
Árabe Saharaui Democrática y líder del Frente
Polisario: «Desconozco el acuerdo que ofrece
Zapatero y estoy dispuesto a verme con él»,
ABC,Texto y foto : Luis de Vega, 06.05.04.
<http://www.abc.es/abc/pg040506/prensa/noticias/Internacional/Africa/200405/06/N\
AC-INT-046.asp>
- Cumbre sin el Polisario, El semanal digital,
07.05.04.
<http://www.elsemanaldigital.com/articulos.asp?idarticulo=15699>
- Entrevista Mohamed Khaddad - Dirigente del
Frente Polisario. "No esperábamos esto del
Gobierno socialista", Y. Montero, El País, País
Vasco, 09.05.04 .
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2575>
(Sahara-Info)
- El Sáhara Occidental y el Gobierno socialista,
Juan Soroeta Liceras, Profesor de Derecho
Internacional público UPV-EHU, El Correo Digital,
10.05.04.
<http://www.elcorreodigital.com/alava/pg040510/prensa/noticias/Articulos_OPI_VIZ\
/200405/10/VIZ-OPI-149.html>
- Entrevista con el Ministro de Asuntos
Exteriores Miguel Ángel Moratinos: «No nos vamos
a someter a un vasallaje de Francia y Alemania»,
Luis Ayllón , ABC, 10.05.04.
<http://www.abc.es/abc/pg040510/prensa/noticias/Nacional/Politica/200405/10/NAC-\
NAC-030.asp>
- El "gran acuerdo" sobre el Sáhara: anexión y
antiamericanismo, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, GEES, Grupo
de Estudios Estratégicos, Colaboraciones nº 83,
10.05.04. <http://www.gees.org/articulo/556/>
- Dos producciones españolas, premiadas en el III
Encuentro Hispanoamericano de Vídeo Documental
Independiente de México, CINE por la RED,
10.05.04.<http://www.porlared.com/cinered/noticias/n_act04051003.html>
NUEVO LIBRO
- Gonzalo Moure, La zancada del deyar. Viaje a la
tierra de los hombres del libro en el Sahara
Occidental, Ediciones del cobre, 2004.
Video documental:
EL VIAJE DE SUSU está disponible en: Asociación
Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Madrid, C/ Del Pez,
27 - 1º Dcha. Teléfono: 91.531.28.29 e-mail:
saharamad@... (Precio: 6 EUROS).
Deutsch
- Flitterwochen mit Zapatero, Frankfurter
Allgemeine, D-Frankfurt a.M., 24.04.04.
- Zapatero in Marokko, Leo Wieland, ibid., 26.04.04.
- Gartenanlagen in der Westsahara geplant,
Maerkische Allgemeine, 04.05.04.
<http://www.maerkischeallgemeine.de/?loc=2_2_1&id=170564&weiter=250>
- Annan sucht Wege im Westsahara-Konflikt, Neue
Luzerner Zeitung, CH-Luzern, 01.05.04.
- Die Sahara bleibt in Vergessenheit, Nach 28
Jahren warten die Flüchtlinge aus der Westsahara
immer noch auf Gerechtigkeit, Óscar Gutiérrez,
AIS, rbi-aktuell.de, 05.05.04.
<http://rbi-aktuell.de/Politik/05052004-04/05052004-04.html>
- Spanien rückt von der Westsahara ab, Reiner
Wandler, taz, Berlin, Nr. 7352, 07.05.04.
<http://www.taz.de/pt/2004/05/07/a0119.nf/textdruck>
- Sahara-Info, Bulletin des SUKS, No 90 mai 2004
Italiano
- Oltre il muro: la RASD, Violazioni dei Diritti
Umani nel Sahara Occidentale, ATTUALITA' dall' 1
al 30 aprile 2004, A cura di Jacqueline Philippe.
- La pace nel Sahara affonda tra le dune,
Federico Flora, War News,
14.05.05.<http://www.warnews.it/index.php/content/view/777/29/>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-1718.htm
WESTERN SAHARA - NEWS
WEEKS 17-18: 18.04.-01.05.2004
original french
SADR
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
REFERENDUM
SPAIN - MOROCCO
NETHERLANDS
HUMAN RIGHTS
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
19.04.04
Moroccan Campaign of misrepresentation and manipulation
Statement of Mohamed Sidati, Minister- Delegate
for Europe. 19.04.04: «For several weeks and in
the aftermath of the hideous terrorist bombings
in Madrid, the Moroccan press, with the
complicity of certain French quarters, has been
launching a frenzied campaign of disinformation
and vilification aiming at discrediting the
Frente POLISARIO by suggesting that it has
relations with terrorism.»
<http://www.arso.org/sidati190404.htm#e>
This campaign has intensfied with the tales of a
Moroccan journalist who claims that Bin Laden
visited the Saharawi camps during the 1990s...
(Aujourd'hui le Maroc , 30.04.04)
24.04.04
Protest March to the "Wall of Shame"
Some 500 people, of which the majority were
Spanish people from the Spanish autonomous
regions, as well as Greeks, Italians, etc.
demonstrated in front of the 2700km (1800 mile)
military defensive wall that has split Western
Sahara in two since the 1980s. At the head of
the procession were members of regional
parliaments, local councillors, mayors,
representatives of Saharawi solidarity
organistations and members of the Culture Against
War platform led by the actress Marisa Paredes.
On the banners of the demonstrators could be read
"We'll demolish this wall", "Colonialist Morocco
Out of the Sahara", "Free Sahara - Victory to
Polisario", "Listen Zapetero, there's a struggle
in the Sahara" and "Another Sahara is Possible".
MINURSO military observers kept the demonstrators
at a respectable distance from the military
constructions, due to the extremely dangerous
minefields. After speeches and poems, the
demonstrators wrote their names on a stone
monument they built in the desert, symbolising
their hope that the wall will be knocked down.
Special page: Muro de la verguenza - Mur de la
honte - Wall of Shame
<http://www.arso.org/marcha2004.htm>
In parallel, demonstrators gathered for two days
in front of the French consulate in Bilbao.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
24.04.04
In an interview with Semanal digital, Erik Hagen
described his visit to occupied Western Sahara,
the conditions of his deportations and the
violations of human rights suffered by Saharawis.
<http://www.elsemanaldigital.com/articulos_impreso.asp?idarticulo=15253&fuente=3\
&tipo=>
REFERENDUM
23.04.04
Secretary-General Report
S/2004/325,<http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/sgrep04.html>
(PDF) <http://www.arso.org/S-325-2004e.htm>(HTML)
In his report, Annan presents Morocco's final
response to the Baker peace plan which was
submitted to the two parties in May 2003 and
which the POLISARIO Front welcomed positively in
July of last year. In his conclusions, Kofi
Annan states that "Morocco does not accept the
Settlement Plan to which it had agreed for many
years... and it also now does not accept
essential elements of the Peace Plan (of Baker).
It accepts nothing but negotiations about the
autonomy of Western Sahara "in the framework of
Moroccan sovereignty".
Nevertheless, after "more than 13 years and the
expenditure of more than $600 million", Annan is
not throwing in the towel, he believes that "the
Peace Plan [of Baker] still constitutes the best
political solution to the conflict over Western
Sahara which provides for self-determination, as
required by paragraph 1 of resolution 1429
(2002).» Annan recommends a 10 month extension of
MINURSO'S mandate.
29.04.04
UN Security Council Resolution S/RES/1541 (2004)
<http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2004/1541>
In this resolution, adopted unanimously, the
Council "reaffirms its support for the Peace Plan
for the Self-Determination of the People of
Western Sahara, which constitutes the optimum
political solution on the basis of agreement
between the two parties ...[and] decides to
textend the mandate of the United Nations Mission
for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
until 31 October 2004".
Reactions and comments
In an interview, M'hamed Khaddad, Saharawi
co-ordinator with the UN, says that the Council
resolution "constitutes a blunt refusal and the
clearest possible rejection of the Moroccan
response". (ARSO)
The Saharawi president, speaking in a press
conference in the margins of the international
demonstration in front of the "Wall of Shame",
felt that Kofi Annan should have been "firmer in
asking the Security Council to impose the
application of the Peace Plan on Morocco", adding
that the 10 month extension proposed by the
Secretary-General "is too long". (SPS)
In a declaration in the name of his government,
the SADR Ambassador in Algiers, Mohamed Benaissa,
judged that "the Council reaffirms its support
for the peace plan for the self-determination of
the people of Western Sahara", "the best
solution" for a final political solution in
accordance with international law.(SPS)
"France supports the search for a poltical
solution agreed by all the parties, in the UN
framework and under the auspices of the Personal
Envoy of the Secretary-General. We hope that
these 6 months can be put to good use by the
parties to work with the Seretary-General and his
Personal Envoy, and between themselves, towards a
mutually acceptable solution". (Declaration of
spokesperson of Quai d'Orsay(french), Paris, 30th
April 2004
<http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/actu/impression.asp?ART=41920>)
Algeria welcomes "with great satisfaction" the
unanimous adoption of resolution 1541, which
"reiterates the Security Council's engagement in
worknig to achieve a mutually acceptable
political solution assuring the
self-determination of the people of Western
Sahara". (SPS)
"The Kingdom of Morocco is delighted with the
adoption, by the Security Council, of resolution
1541 (2004) concerning the national question.
With this resolution, the Council expresses anew
its energetic support to the efforts of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations and his
Personal Envoy, with the aim of bringing a
political solution acceptable to all the
parties". (MAP)
Margot Kessler, in the name of the European
Parliament Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi
People", confirmed in a press release that the
Baker plan constitutes "an intelligent, viable,
peaceful and balanced solution to the territorial
dispute between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front",
adding that Morocco must accept it, because it
represents a historic possibility for the respect
of international law and for prosperity in the
Maghreb.(Spanish statement
<http://www.arso.org/EPIG2900404.htm>)
>See also the Statement (French) from the
>Luxembourg Committee of Support for the Saharawi
>People,
>29.04.04,<http://www.arso.org/comlux2900404.htm>
SPAIN - MOROCCO
24.04.04
Official Visit of the new head of the Spanish government to Morocco.
Prior to this visit, associations such as
FEDISSAH (Federacion Estatal de Instituciones
Solidarias con el Sahara) and the CEAS-Sahara
(Coordinadora Estatal de Asociaciones Solidarias
con el Sahara ), and political parties such as
the Popular Party, Izquierda Unida et Coalicion
Canaria called on the Prime Minister to stay true
to Spain's traditional support to the Saharawi
people's right to self-determination.
On Western Sahara, Zapatero hoped that "the
United Nations can lead to an agreement". "I
wish that Baker enters into history, himself and
his plan, for having brought agreement between
Morocco, the POLISARIO Front and Algeria
(...)(...). My position will be to help find this
agreement".(AFP 23.04.04)
Elsewhere, he indicated that his government
"hopes to contribute to am agreement between all
the parties, in the United Nations framework".
He declared himself convinced of the possibility
of arriving at a "point of balance which respects
the rights of all the parties". (AFP)
In a joint declaration published by MAP one can
read that "the two Parties called for the
adoption of a consensual, fair and definitive
political solution to the question of the Sahara,
negotiated by all the concerned parties, in the
framework of international law and the efforts of
the United Nations and affirmed their engagement
to making a contribution towards the realisation
of this objective."
30.04.04
Mohamed Sidati, Saharawi Minister for Europe,
reacted to the declarations of Zapatero,
president of the Spanish Government. The
Saharawi Minister judged that these statements
"are confusing and will comfort Morocco in its
intransigence, defiance and rebellion against the
international community". "All the initiatives
on offer to resolve the Western Sahara conflict
should reinforce those of the international
community" the Saharawi Minister underlined.
(Declaration
French<http://www.arso.org/Sidati300404.htm>)
NETHERLANDS
19.04.04.
Attempted Intimidation
In a statement, the Netherlands Foundation for
the Self-Determination of Western Sahara
summarised the manoeuvres of intimidation
organised by the Moroccan diplomatic mission to
the Netherlands to try and prevent, and then
break up, an evening organised at the Royal
Tropical Institute in Amsterdam to present a book
by Nicolien Zuijdgeest "Journeys to Western
Sahara, the Last Colony in Africa", and a debate
with Ali Lmrabet (Moroccan independent
journalist).(see weeks 15-16/2004
<http://www.arso.org/01-e04-1516.htm>(Statement
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/SSWSnl190404.html>)
HUMAN RIGHTS
60th session of the UN Commission on Human
Rights, Geneva, 15th March - 26th April 2004.
16.04.04: Demonstration "For the
self-determination of the Saharawi People and for
the application of UN resolutions" - "For the
liberation of all the Saharawi Disappeared and
Prisoners of Conscience"
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/MANIFESTATIONfr.html>
Supplementary documents available:
Demonstration
- Account by BIRDHSO: <http://www.birdhso.org/ag2004.html#manif>
- Account by participants <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/particrep.html>,
- Photo-reportage of the demonstration and the
conference "Peace and Respect for Human Rights in
Western Sahara"
- ARSO<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/MANIfoto.html>
- BIRDHSO I <http://www.birdhso.org/photosmanif04.html>
- BIRDHSO II <http://www.birdhso.org/manifphotosplus.html>
Conference "Peace and Respect for Human Rights in Western Sahara"
- Report on the Conference <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/confrep.html>
- Speech of Mohamed Sidati (French):
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/confsidati.html>
- GENEVA'S APPEAL «Peace and Respect for
HumanRights of the Saharawi
People»<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/appelGE04e.html>
17.04.04
General Assembly of the Internation Office for
the Respect of Human Rights in Western Sahara -
BIRDHSO, Geneva:
Documents available on their site (French):
- Correspondence <http://www.birdhso.org/ag2004.html#corresp>
- Statement <http://www.birdhso.org/ag2004.html#ag04>
-Message in the name of ex-prisoners of
conscience and Saharawi political prisoners
released on 07/01/2004 from the "black prison" of
Laayoune
<http://www.birdhso.org/ag2004.html#soyons>
- BIRDHSO subscription campaign:<http://www.birdhso.org/adhesion.html>
Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights,
Geneva, 15th March - 26th April 2004
Account of the work with speeches on Western Sahara:
19.04.04: Point 7 : in the name of ISMUN
(International Youth and Student Movement for the
United Nations)
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/MMCh190404.html>
and of YUSY ( International Union Of Socialist
Youth):
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/IUSY190404.html>
See also: - UN Commission on Human Rights,
Geneva, 15th March - 26th April 2004
Intervenciones / Interventions /Documentos /
Documents (AFAPREDESA)
<http://www.afapredesa.org/pag/datos/archivo60comisionONU.htm>
COMING UP
S. Sebastián de los Reyes: El próximo 8 de Mayo
se celebrará un cine forum a las 20:00h. en el
centro cultural "Blas de Otero", sito en la Avda
de Guadalajara 12. Se proyectará la película "los
Baúles del retorno". Asimismo os comunicamos que
a finales de Mayo saldrá una caravana de
alimentos con destino a los campamentos de
refugiados, recogemos en Avda de España 5,
Alcobendas, los jueves de 19:00 a 21:00h. Los
donativos se pueden realizar en Caja Madrid 2038
2407 76 6000094029 a nombre de la Asociación de
Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui.
Auckland, New Zealand: St Columba Centre, 40
Vermont St, Ponsonby, May 10, 7.30pm, Hear KAMAL
FADEL speak about the present situation in
WESTERN SAHARA. For more information contact
Felicity Coggan Ph (09)579 5707
fcoggan@... or Joan Macdonald ph(09) 360
8001, mailto:joanmac@...
Léon: La Delegación Saharaui en León, el
Ayuntamiento de San Andrés del Rabanedo, el
Vicerrectorado de Relaciones Internacionales y la
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad
de León, están organizando para el mes de mayo de
2004 en el Campus de la Universidad de León:
JORNADAS SOBRE EL SÁHARA OCCIDENTAL 2004
(contact: <mailto:delsahleon@...>)
Toledo: "Hablemos del Sahara, rompamos el bloqueo
informativo", 2ª Conferencia Internacional sobre
la Informacion en el Sahara Occidental, Toledo
28, 29 y 30 Mayo 2004. Info: Coordinadora Estatal
de Asociaciones de Solidaridad con el Sahara
<sahara-coord.estatal@...>. Web-site:
<http://www.hablemosdelsahara.com>
INTERNET
- Nuevo sitio saharaui (campamentos): Futuro
saharaui, arabe et castellano
<http://www.tirs.8m.com>
- Actualizacion de las paginas de la UNMS en ARSO
<http://www.arso.org/UNFS-Homepage.htm>
- 20 Abril, 2004: III Jornadas Culturales del Día
del Libro, dedicadas a la literatura del Sahara.
<http://www.fuerteventuradigital.com/noticias/Municipios/2004/04/20/185550.asp>
OPINIONS
- Les Sahraouis contre la vassalité de
l'islamisme marocain et pour l'indépendance
totale du Sahara Occidental, Ali Omar Yara
<http://sahara_opinons.site.voila.fr/AliY04.htm>
- Los saharauis: contra el vasallaje del
islamismo marroquí y por la independencia total
del Sáhara Occidental, Ali Omar Yara (trad. L.
Haidar)
<http://sahara_opinons.site.voila.fr/AliYsp.htm>
- Etaient-elles vraiment gênantes mes questions ?
Mohamed Bennou
<http://sahara_opinons.site.voila.fr/MB042004.htm>
-El terrorismo marroquí "convence" a Zapatero,
Luis Hernández Rocha
<http://sahara_opinons.site.voila.fr/LHRo290404.htm>
- El SR. ZAPATERO Y EL SAHARA, Gurutze Irizar
(Fatimetu)
<http://sahara_opinons.site.voila.fr/gurutze010504.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-Abdelaziz Rahabi à Liberté: "Comment je perçois
la visite de Chirac", Saïd Rabïa, Liberté, Alger,
18.04.04.
<http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=23055>
- La France prudente sur l'affaire du Sahara
occidental, Le jeu politique de Chirac, Hafida
Ameyar, ibid.
http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=23063
Deux analyses sur la signification de la visite
de Chirac à Alger dans la perspective de la
question sahraouie: Pour Rahabi, ancine ministre,
«l'axe Paris-Madrid risque de défavoriser
l'Algérie dans la mesure où M. Zapatero, le
nouveau Premier ministre espagnol, autant que
Chirac, pense que la stabilisation du Maroc passe
par le règlement politique et négocié de la
question sahraouie.»
- Le Maghreb, priorité politique, stratégique et
économique pour l'Espagne, Les deux principaux
partis politiques espagnols se rejoignent sur
l'importance stratégique du Maroc. Un débat entre
Manuel Marín et Gustavo arístegui, Afkar/idées,
Revue trimestrielle pour le dialogue entre le
Maghreb, l'Espagne et l'Europe, Barcelone, no 2,
mars 2004.
<http://www.iemed.org/afkar/2/fmarin.php>
Entre 1996 et 2004, quels furent les réussites et
les échecs de la politique espagnole au Maroc ?
Qu'ont fait les gouvernements du Parti Populaire
(PP) ? afkar/idées a convoqué les porte-paroles
des Affaires étrangères au Congrès des deux
grands partis politiques espagnols : Manuel
Marín, ancien vice-président de la Commission
européenne pour le PSOE, et Gustavo Arístegui,
responsable parlementaire du PP. Dans leur
conversation, ils ont évalué la politique de
l'Union européenne vis-à-vis du Maghreb, les
politiques d'immigration et surtout les relations
entre l'Espagne et le Maroc, ainsi que celles
avec l'Algérie et la Tunisie.
- Sahara: 30 ans de dissimulation, Ahmed R.
Benchemsi, TelQuel Online, No 123,
<http://www.telquel-online.com/123/edito_123.shtml>
- La vérité sur la guerre du Sahara, Archives,
cartes, recoupements, multiples entretiens avec
des officiers d'activeŠ Karim Boukhari et Amale
Samie ont creusé le plus loin possible pour
reconstituer la trame d'une guerre qu'on connaît
mal. Une enquête exclusive, TelQuel Online, No
123,
<http://www.telquel-online.com/123/couverture_123_1.shtml>
- La question du Sahara occidental en débat en
Hollande avec le journaliste marocain Ali Lmrabet
comme invité d'honneur, T. Maaz, La Tribune,
Alger, 19.04.04.
<http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200404190464.html>
-Sahara occidental: le Maroc rappelle ses "lignes
rouges" pour un règlement , AFP, 22.04.04.
<http://www.africatime.com/maroc/afp_popup.asp?no_nouvelle=114846&no_pays=36&no_\
langue=1&pos_nouv=&UrlRecherche=>
- «La seule "ligne rouge" qui vaille est le
respect du droit à l'autodétermination du peuple
sahraoui», Interview de M'Hamed Khaddad,
coordinateur sahraoui avec la MINURSO, ARSO,
24.04.04. <http://www.arso.org/khaddad240404.htm>
- Mohamed Abdelaziz président de la RASD à
L'Expression: «Que craint le Maroc?»
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/T20040429/ZA4-5.htm>
English
English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Interim Report on an EU Strategic Partnership
with the Mediterranean and the Middle East,
2572nd EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting,
Brussels, 22.03.04.
<http://ue.eu.int/newsroom/makeFrame.asp?MAX=1&BID=71&DID=79560&LANG=1%20&File=/\
pressData/en/gena/79560.pdf&Picture=0>
[This E.U. paper prepared for the June 2004 G-8
and E.U.-U.S. summits emphasizes "engagement"
with the Islamic world and calls for expanded
European economic, social, cultural and
educational cooperation with Muslim countries.
(Europe and the Greater Middle East Initiative,
Richard Youngs, Arab Reform Bulletin, April 2004,
Volume 2, Issue 4,
<http://www.ceip.org/files/Publications/ARB-4-15-04.asp?from=pubdate#europe>)
-Saharawis fight for homeland, Elizabeth Bryant,
The Washington Times, 28.04.04. (Interview of
Polisario leader Mohammed Abdelaziz)]
<http://www.washtimes.com/world/20040427-094716-9184r.htm>
- The Kingdom of Morocco: An Absolute Monarchy Averse to Democratic Reform
By Sidi M. Omar, Researcher in Peace and Conflict
Studies, UNESCO Chair of Philosophy for Peace,
Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain 2004
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1328>
Castellano
Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc,
son acessible en Sahara-Info, lista de correo
(castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- El Magreb, prioridad política, estratégica y
económica para España. Los dos principales
partidos políticos españoles coinciden en la
importancia estratégica de Marruecos. Un debate
de afkar/ideas entre Manuel Marín y Gustavo
Arístegui, Afkar-Ideas, Revista trimestral para
el dialogo entre el Magreb, Espana y Europa, Nº2,
Marzo 2004.
<http://www.iemed.org/afkar/2/emarin.php>
[La política exterior hacia el Magreb, debate
entre Manuel Marín y Gustavo Arístegui. Los
responsables parlamentarios de los dos
principales partidos españoles hacen un balance
de la política exterior hacia el Magreb en los
ocho años de gobierno de José María Aznar. El
Magreb, prioridad política, estratégica y
económica para España. Los dos principales
partidos políticos españoles coinciden en la
importancia estratégica de Marruecos. Un debate
de afkar/ideas entre Manuel Marín [PSOE] y
Gustavo Arístegui [PP].]
- Las pretensiones de Marruecos sobre los
territorios espanoles en el norte de Africa
(1956-2002), Julio D. González Campos, Real
Instituto Elcano, 16.04.04.
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/documentos/98.asp>
- Las dimensiones internacionales del conflicto
del Sahara Ocicdental y sus repercusiones para
una alternativa marroqui, Ahmed Boukhari, Real
Instituto Elcano, 19.04.04.
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/documentos/99.asp>
- ¿Tiene Al-Qaeda una estrategia global? Haizam
Amirah Fernández, Real Instituto Elcano,
20.04.04.
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/analisis/484.asp>.
[Ante la campaña marroquí de calumnias dirigida a
desprestigiar al Frente Polisario vinculándolo
con al - Qaeda, este análisis ofrece una
información trascendental: los propios documentos
de al - Qaeda hablan de Sáhara "marroquí", lo que
demuestra que el Frente Polisario no tiene
conexiones con al - Qaeda y quienes tienen
muchas conexiones son, precisamente, los
Marroquíes.]
- Erik Hagen denuncia la violación de los
derechos saharauis. Carmelo López-Arias
Montenegro, El Semanal Digital, 24.04.04.
<http://www.elsemanaldigital.com/articulos_impreso.asp?idarticulo=15253&fuente=3\
&tipo=>
- Frente Polisario pide a la ONU que trate
Marruecos con "rigor", EFE, 24.04.04
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=6348441>
- TV CANARIA , Photos y Video de la Marcha al
muro.
<http://www.tvcanaria.tv/preview/noticias/det_noticia3.asp?identidad=8763&Portad\
a=#>
-Marruecos, dispuesto a negociar un estatuto de
autonomía "viable y creíble" para el Sáhara
marroquí, EuropaPress 28.04.0.
<http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20040428154632&tabID=1&ch\
=69>
- Rabat aboga por negociar autonomía viable, pero sin independencia
EFE, 28.04.04. <http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=6365803>
- Sáhara: "nuevo talante", viejos propósitos y
doctrina vigente, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, Grupo de
Estudios Estratégicos - Colaboraciones nº 76,
29.04.04. <http://www.gees.org/articulo/536/>
- Sahara newspapers, nº6, Mayo 2004,
<http://bdrockartsahara.webcindario.com/revista06.htm>
LIBROS
- El conflicto del Sahara Occidental, desde una
perspectiva canaria, José Ignacio Algueró Cuervo,
Gobierno de Canarias, Tenerife, 2003, 550 p. (ver
Una magnifica historia del Sahara hasta 1982,
Gustavo Bueno Sanchez, El Catoblepas, no 23,
enero 2004.
<http://www.nodulo.org/ec/2004/n023p22.htm>)
- El conflicto del Sáhara, Fernando M. Mariño
Menéndez, Ignacio Puentes Cobo, Instituto de
Estudios Internacionales y Europeos "Francisco de
Vitoria", Escuela de Guerra del Ejercito, coord.,
Getafe: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid,
09/2003, 100 p.
- España en el Sáhara Occidental y en la zona sur
del Protectorado en Marruecos, 1885-1945, Jesús
Mª Martínez Milán: Madrid: UNED, abril 2.003.-
400 páginas.
Arabe
- SÁHARA AL COR , Salvador Pallarés, Paula Canet, Argelia 2003.
Néerlandais
- Dochters van het Zand. Een westerse vrouw trekt
door de Sahara, Ana Tortajada, Arena, 2002, 224
pag., Vertaald uit het Spaans door Tineke
Hilligers- Zijlmans en Felicitas van
Wijk-Gertenaar. (traduction en néerlandais de
Hijas de la arena, DeBolsillo, 2002)
Portugais
- Missao da ONU fica ate 2005 no Sahara, (la
Mission de l'ONU restera jusqu'en 2005 au Sahara
) Noticias, Mozambique, 30.04.04.
- ONU com mais seis meses no Sahara Ocidental.((
Le mandat de l'ONU est prorogé encore 6 mois au
Sahara Occidental)) Noticias, Mozambique,
01.05.04.
Italiano
- CONSIGLIO SICUREZZA ONU: È TEMPO DI ACCETTARE
IL PIANO DI PACE, MISNA, 30/4/2004
<http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=2&id=111359>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-1516.htm
WESTERN SAHARA - NEWS - WEEKS 15 + 16
04.04..-17.04.2004
original french
SADR
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
MOROCCO
NETHERLANDS
HUMAN RIGHTS
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
10-11.04.04
Agriculture
A national conference on Saharan agriculture took
place in the wilaya of Dakhla chaired by the
Minister of Development Larabas Joumani, in the
presence of representatives of the other wilays,
Saharawi agricultural engineers and foreign
experts. «The scarcity of water, the salinity of
the soil, the violent winds and heat are so many
negative factors which the Saharawis have
succeeded in conquering in order to grow
vegetables in the desert», declared one of the
engineers who piloted an experimental garden in
Dakhla. This conference aims to deepen
understanding of the different experiments in
this field and to benefit from the knowledge of
other nations in order to give each of the four
wilayas in the refugee camps an area for
cultivation capable of providing self-sufficiency
in vegetables. (SPS)
13.04.04
Brazil
About twenty Brazilian members of parliament
created a solidarity group with the Saharawi
people at the very moment that the Moroccan
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mohamed Benaissa was carrying out a visit to the
parliament. «We want to initiate debates and
activities so that Brazilians can understand who
important it is for this people to obtain their
independence», stated Mrs Maris José Maninha,
member of the ruling Labor party and the chair of
the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas
(COPA). (AFP)
14.04.04
Visit of an Australian delegation
A member of parliament, a lawyer, a teacher,
trades unionists, a researcher, artists and
representatives of the Australian association of
support for the Saharawi people (AWSA) visited
the Saharawi refugee camps and visited the
liberated territories of SADR, where they
organised a small demonstration in front of the
wall of shame, which since the 80s has divided
the Saharawi territory. During a reception in
their honour, the President Mohamed Abdelaziz
called on the UN to put pressure on Morocco
finally to organise the referendum in Western
Sahara. He revealed that, «Saharawi political
management finds itself under constant popular
pressure born of the bitter disappointment caused
by the UN and its tolerance of Rabat». The
president of the Republic has again expressed the
willingness of the Polisario Front to continue to
cooperate with the UN underlining that his
country can make no further concessions. He
concluded with an appeal: «The democratic powers,
including Australia, must make more effort and
exercise more concrete pressure on Morocco to
oblige them to abide by international law. The
credibility of international institutions is at
stake.(...)». (SPS)
15.04.04
Misinformation
The Saharawi Minister of Information
categorically denied any relationship between the
Polisario Front and a person implicated and found
guilty in Mauritania for the theft of explosives.
It is the Moroccan official press agency MAP who,
once again, has engaged in an operation of
misinformation and defamation.
15.04.04
Cultural activities for youth
The first forum on socio-cultural activities for
Saharawi children and young people opened in
Chahid El Hafedh, chaired by the Secretary
General of the Saharawi Youth union (UJSARIO)
Mohamed Mouloud, and in the presence of
specialist partners from Algeria, USA,
Switzerland, Spain, France and Belgium.
The form should permit these various partners to
coordinate with a view to developing a
methodology in the field of socio-cultural action
adapted to the environment of Saharawi children
and young people. Under the title «Let's imagine
the future together», the UJSARIO presented to
the participants a paper on the objectives of
this initiative which aims to forestall the
negative influences of exile and the precarious
context of the life of young people in the camps.
(SPS)
REFERENDUM
15.04.04
Chirac in Algiers
On the subject of Western Sahara, the French head
of state declared in cryptic fashion that France
would not support a solution «of a such kind as
to pose the least difficulty to relations between
France and Algeria».
20.04.04
Baker Plan
The Moroccan Minister of the Interior Moustafa
Sahel, accompanied by the coordinator with
MINURSO, Hamid Chabbar, were received by James
Baker in Houston on 2 April last. The UN
Secretary General's report on the Sahara is
expected on 20 April, MINURSO's mandate ends on
the 30. Reminder: in January the SG concluded his
report S/2004/39 thus: (...) my personal Envoy is
of the view that the mandate of MINURSO should be
extended until 30 April 2004 to allow him (Baker)
to consult further with Morocco on its final
response to the peace plan. I concur with this
view and hope that he will be receiving Morocco's
final reply before the end of April 2004. (...)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
05.04.04
Expulsion
The Norwegian independent journalist Erik Hagen
was apprehended in the street in El Ayoun in
Western Sahara by Moroccan security forces and
expelled under escort to Mauritania. Hagen
intended to meet human rights activitists and
former political prisoners, including Sidi
Mohamed Daddach.
In the course of a long interrogation led by the
police superintendant himself, the Norwegian
independent journalist was accused of supporting
the Polisario Front. He was surprised by the
amount and the precision of the information which
the Moroccan police had about him, both on his
activities in Norway and on his intentions on the
ground. In an interview with the Norwegian press
agency, NTB he expresses the conviction that
these people had been listening to phone calls
and that Moroccan agents had been spying in
Norway. (NTB)
The Saharawi Government on Thursday denounced the
expulsion as an «arbitrary» act, which proves
that «the state of emergency and the media
embargo are still imposed by Moroccan colonialism
on Western Sahara, despite the UN's presence on
the ground» (SPS). The Association of Moroccan
Sahara known for its commitment to the annexation
of Western Sahara to Morocco, condemned «yet
another expulsion» pointing out that «such acts
harm our national cause». The ASM wonders if
there are «compromising things to hide from
international opinion?».
Cultural Heritage
The former fort of Villa Cisneros, now Dakhla,
architectural remnant of Spanish colonialism, is
threatened with destruction. The Moroccan
occupying authorities intend to demolish it. The
Saharawis consider that this building is part of
their historical heritage and ask for the
intervention of UNESCO in order to prevent its
disappearance.
MOROCCO
06.04.04
Since the attacks in Madrid Moroccan power,
relayed by the official press, would make it
believed that there are connections between Al
Quaeda and the Polisario Front. Starting from
certain established facts such as the existence
on the outskirts of the Sahara and the Sahel of
armed groups of Islamic fundamentalists, it
attributes to the Polisario Front its own malady,
namely penetration by a violent Islamism into
Moroccan society. Number 121 of the weekly Tel
Quel goes one step further. Through the pen of
the journalist Amal Samie the connection of Al
Quaeda and Polisario is clearly identified, twice
over. Firstly, taking up information spread by
the official press, «well-developed contacts
between Al Quaeda terrorists and the Polisario
Front», «juicy arms market». Secondly, the paper
appeals to the support of a university teacher, a
professor of geopolitics at the Sorbonne, Aymeric
Chauprade. During a conference in Geneva on 30
March 2004, this eminent professor affirmed that
the Polisario «is in crisis» and «increasingly
under the influence of Islamic fundamentalism».
For Amal Samie, «the fight against terrorism
can't allow any slack, each inch of the territory
must be controlled in the future, including the
camps in Tindouf». They have completed the loop.
A rumour fed, a university Moroccan services, a
paper with a reputation for flattery which takes
it up. Everything is in place to send messages to
Westerners and Americans sensitive to the topic
of terrorism. After having exhausted the topic of
the prisoners, the misappropriation of
humanitarian aid, children deported to Cuba, now
we have terrorism... (communqué AARASD french
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/AARASD060404.html>)
07.04.04
The anti-terrorist fight occasioned «serious
deterioration» in human rights in Morocco in
2003, assures the Moroccan Association for human
rights (AMDH, independent). In its annual report
for 2003, AMDH affirms that «the deterioration»
consists in «arrests in the ranks of
fundamentalists accompanied by abductions,
torture, unfair trials, and heavy sentences going
as far as capital punishment» «There is also
repression aimed at the press, journalists and
human rights defenders». (AFP)
08.04.04
The AMDH called for Morocco to have a «Democratic
constitution» in which the powers would not be
concentrated in the hands of the King. «We demand
a democratic Constitution in form and in matter»
the AMDH President, Abdelhamid Amine, declared in
an interview with the weekly Assahifa. The new
constitution «should have no article such as
article 19 (...) which concentrates power in the
hands of the king alone», he added. Article 19
stipulates notably that the king is «commander of
believers», «supreme representative of the
nation, symbol of its unity, guarantor of the
perpetuity and the continuation of the State»,
but also that he «watches over respect for
Islam», protects «the rights and freedoms of
citizens», and «guarantees the independence of
the nation». (AFP)
NETHERLANDS
Publication of the first work in Dutch on the
question of Western Sahara: De laatste kolonie
van Afrika, reizen door de Westelijke Sahara (The
last colony of Africa, journeys to Western
Sahara), by Nicolien Zuijdgeest, édition Bulaaq.
During the presentation of the work on 15 April
2004 at the Institut Tropical Royal in Amsterdam,
the film of the Algerian-Dutch film maker Karim
Traïdia on the refugee camps was shown, followed
by a debate entitled The biggest taboo in
Morocco, Western Sahara, in which Ali Lmrabet,
Paul de Waart, professor emeritus of
international law, a representative of the
Polisario Front and the author.
HUMAN RIGHTS
60th session of the UN Human Rights Commission, Geneva 15 March - 26 April 2004
08.04.04
Resolution
Adoption by consensus of resolution
E/CN.4/2004/L.8 on the question of the Western
Sahara.( UN news 08.04.04
<http://www.unog.ch/news2/documents/newsen/cn04044e.htm>)
(full text french:
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CDH2004afa.html#ECN2004L8>)
11.04.04: Communiqué AFAPREDESA (french):
Importante résolution au profit des droits
inaliénables du peuple sahraoui adoptée par la
Commission de l'ONU.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CDH2004afa.html>
11.04.04: Communiqué Union des Juristes Sahraouis
UJS, (french)
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CDH2004UJS.html>
14.04.04
The Annual Report 2003 of the Observatory for the
Protection of Human Rights Defenders ( FIDH &
OMCT) highlights the increasingly hostile
situation confronted by defenders over the world
because of the erosion of human rights
standards. >> Presentation
<http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=906>
Full Report PDF
<http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/complete2003a.pdf>
14.04.04
"L'expérience de la Femme Sahraouie", Conférence,
Palais des Nations, Genève >> compte-rendu
french <http://www.arso.org/UNFS140404.htm>
15.04.04
Conférence de presse avec Mohamed Sidati au
Palais des Nations >> compte-rendu french
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/confpresse150404.html>
16.04.04
Geneva: Demonstration on the occasion of the 60th
session of the Commission on Human Rights
<http://www.arso.org.site.voila.fr/MANIFESTATIONfr.html>
Union of Saharawi Jurists UJS, the Association of
Saharawi Families of Prisoners and Disappeared
AFAPREDESA, the European Coordination of support
for the Saharawi people EUCOCO, the International
Bureau for the Respect of Human Rights in Western
Sahara BIRDHSO, and the League pour the Rights
and Freedom of Peoples LIDLIP had called for a
symbolic action «For the self-determination of
the Saharawi people and for the implementation of
the resolutions of the UN» and «For the
liberation of all Saharawi disappeared and
prisoners of opinion».
Over 250 people, Saharawis from the refugee camps
and the diaspora and their friends, from Belgium,
France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, met at the
Place des Nations with numerous banners,
placards, drawings of the wall of shame etc.
After speeches from the representatives of the
various NGOs and institutions present, the
participants held a picnic on the grass in a
friendly atmosphere.
A group of Moroccans accompanied by Saharawi
defectors which tried to disturb the
demonstration, were obliged to leave the area on
order from the Genevan police. In the afternoon a
conference was held with talks on the political
situation and human rights in Western Sahara. The
participants adopted a resolution called GENEVA
APPEAL<http://www.arso.org.site.voila.fr/appelGE04.html>.
Note: This year again 13 Saharawis from the
occupied territories, human rights defenders,
ex-political prisoners, relatives of disappeared
Saharawis, who were invited by human rights NGOs
to testify before the Commission, were not able
to leave Morocco to travel to Geneva, deprived of
the right to movement by the Moroccan
authorities. They are Taglaboute Maimouna:wife of
the disappeared Beih Oubarka; Kirraoian M'Barka
Alina: mother of the disappeared Kirraoian Said;
Mohamed Daddach: former political prisoner,
defender of human rights; Khaya Cheikh : former
political prisoner, defender of human rights,
Lakhfaouni Bachir: human rights defender; Noumri
Brahim: human rights defender; Guarhi
Brahim:human rights defender; Brahim Dahane:
human rights defender; Sidi Mohamed Salem Zaidan:
son of disappeared, Hadia Mohamed M'Barek Zaidan
; Mohamed Mahmoud Moumen: son of the disappeared
Ahmed Babaih; Hammia Ahmed: son of the
disappeared Hamdi Oould Moussa; Oulad Cheikh
Mahjoub: son of the disappeared; Elqotb Hamma
brother of the disappeared Elqotb Elhafed.
COMING UP...
Conference: 'The Sahara: Past, Present & Future',
22-24 June, 2004. The Conference will be divided,
very broadly, into three main fields: Archaeology
and prehistory, The Physical environment, Recent
History & Contemporary Social & Political Issues.
University of East Anglia, Norwich, contacts:
sahara@...
INTERNET
Dossiers exploitation des ressources naturelles
du Sahara Occidental en ligne maintenant:
- L'actualité de l'exploitation des ressources
naturelles sahraouies, Janvier 2004, Philippe
Riché, Association des Amis de la R.A.S.D.,
Paris.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/ressnat1.html>
- L'exploitation des ressources du Sahara
Occidental par le Maroc : épuisement des
céphalopodes, Philippe Riché, Association des
Amis de la R.A.S.D., Paris, 02.04.04.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/ressnat2.html>
OPINION
--Lo improbable y lo sensato (Y algún olvido no
irrelevante), Grupo interuniversitario de
opinión: Sergio Ramírez Galindo (ULPGC), Carlos
Ruiz de Miguel (USC), Manuel de Paz Sánchez (ULL)
y Ricardo Aguasca Colomo (ULPGC)
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/grupoop090404.htm>
Nueva Página web :
Oficina de Coordinación Sanitaria Saharaui <http://www.saharasalud.org>
- Web Site about Ahmed Mohammed Lamín, painter
living in the Dakhla
camps.<http://www.lisergia.net/imagenes/galeriadearte/sahara.html>
- New document: SG Report S/21360 of 18.06.90 =
PEACE PLAN , PDF 8,7 Mo
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/21360e.pdf>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid
after some days because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara Occidental : les enjeux du conflit,
Catherine Graciet,cyyberscopie Mars 2004 -
<http://www.cyberscopie.info/pages/art_decryp/art21_decryp.html>
- EL KARAMA, Bureau International pour le Respect
des droits de l'homme au Sahara Occidental,
BIRDHSO, Numéro 27, Mars-Avril 2004.
<http://www.birdhso.org/El%20karama_PDF/elkarama27.pdf>
- Journaliste norvégien expulsé du Sahara
Occidental, Nils-Inge Kruhaug, Norwegian News
Agency (NTB) Nouadhibou/Oslo, 7 avril 2004
(traduction en français par arso de la traduction
en anglais de Sahara Update
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/Hagen070404.html>).
- Création d'un groupe parlementaire
pro-Polisario au Brésil, AFP, 13.04.04
<http://www.africatime.com/maroc/popup.asp?no_nouvelle=113280>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update
mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
-Repatriation under a Peace Process: Mandated
Return in the Western Sahara, Michael Bhatia,
International Journal RL, pp. 786-822.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/files/Various_documents/>
- Sahara Analysis 33, April 6, 2004. Résumé en
anglais des principales nouvelles sur le Sahara
Occidental par Western Sahara Campaign UK.
- Dissertation: Promoting Sustainable
Transformations in Gender Roles During Exile: A
Critical Analysis With Reference to the Sahrawi
Refugee Camps, Elena Fiddian, Dissertation 2002
<http://www.womenwarpeace.org/western_s/docs/fiddian2002.doc>
- U.S. Working Paper For G-8 Sherpas, G-8 Greater
Middle East Partnership, Al-Hayat, 13.02.04.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/Spec/02-2004/Article-20040213-ac40bdaf-c0a8-01ed-\
004e-5e7ac897d678/story.html>
Il s'agit d'un texte présentant l'initiative
américaine pour un Grand Moyen Orient à
l'intention des membres du G8, publié en anglais
par le quotidien libanais Dar al Hayat.
- Countries at the Crossroads: A Survey of
Democratic Governance: Morocco, Freedom House,
April 2004.
Countries at the Crossroads is a
first-of-its-kind survey of democratic governance
that evaluates performance in 30 key countries
that are at a crossroads in determining their
political future. The Countries at the Crossroads
survey offers scholars, analysts, and officials a
unique comparative tool for assessing government
performance in the areas of civil liberties, rule
of law, anticorruption and transparency, and
accountability and public voice.
<http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/crossroads/2004/Morocco2004.pdf>
-Norwegian journalist thrown out of Western
Sahara, 07.04.04, Nils-Inge Kruhaug, Norwegian
News Agency (NTB) Nouadhibou/Oslo. Translation by
Sahara Update
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1315>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc,
son acessible en Sahara-Info, lista de correo
(castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
NUEVOS LIBROS:
"El Oscuro Pasado del Desierto", José Ramón Diego
Aguirre, Casa de Africa, Sial Ediciones, Madrid,
2004.
"El conflicto del Sahara Occidental, desde una
perspectiva canaria", José Ignacio Algueró
Cuervo, S. Sebastián de la Gomera, 06/2003.
"El conflicto del Sáhara", Fernando M. Mariño
Menéndez, Ignacio Puentes Cobo, Instituto de
Estudios Internacionales y Europeos "Francisco de
Vitoria", Escuela de Guerra del Ejercito, coord.,
Getafe: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid,
09/2003, 100 p.
- El Relator de la ONU para la Tortura denuncia
las violaciones de DDHH en Marruecos y Sáhara
Occidental, EUROPA PRESS, 04.04.04
<http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20040404184411&tabID=1&ch\
=69>
- Periodista noruego expulsado del Sahara
Occidental, Agencia de noticias noruega (NTB)
Nouadhibou/Oslo, 7. Abril de 2004.Traducción
partial del inglés por ASPS
<http://boards1.melodysoft.com/app?ID=asps80&msg=6081>
- Convocada en Ginebra manifestación a favor de la autodeterminación de
Sáhara, afrol News, 13 de Abril <http://www.afrol.com/es/articulos/12066>
- Las pretensiones de Marruecos sobre los
territorios españoles en el Norte de África
(1956-2002) (DT) WP 15/2004 -- Documentos, Julio
D. González Campos, Real Instituto Elcano de
Estudias Internacionales y Estratégicos
(16/4/2004 )
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/documentos/98.asp>
Italiano
- El Karama Nº 27, Marzo-Aprile 2004
--
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-1314.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
SADR
REFERENDUM
SPAIN
CINEMA
HUMAN RIGHTS
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
Mohamed Abdelaziz visits the USA
24.03.04
The President of the SADR met the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at
the UN headquarters in New York. Abdelaziz recalled the POLISARIO
Front's total cooperation with the Security Council and with the
Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, and deplored Morocco's
obstructionism. Annan reaffirmed the UN's commitment to spare no
effort to hasten the coming of a just and definitive solution to the
Western Sahara conflict confirming to UN resolutions.
30.03.04
Mohamed Abdelaziz met James Baker, Personal Envoy of the UN
Secretary-General to Western Sahara, in Houston
Note: the mandate of MINURSO was prolonged until April 30th to permit
Baker to hold new consultations with Morocco, from whom the UN is
awaiting a response.
In a declaration made in New York to the Spanish press, the Saharawi
president discussed the relationship between the attacks in Madrid
and the terrorist trails leading to Madrid. He regretted that
Morocco has become known as a country which "exports drugs and
international terrorism to the world", a consequence of "the absence
of democracy and the serious economic crisis that the Moroccan people
are living through". (EFE 25.03.04)
26.03.04 During a lunch organised in Washington by the Defense Forum
Foundation, and the Congressional & Foreign Policy Forum, as well as
US parliamentarians, Mr Abdelaziz spoke of the latest developments in
Western Sahara. <http://www.arso.org/Abdelaz260304.htm> full text
27-30.03.04
The National Union of Saharawi Women held its 11th seminar, "Women
and the Law", in the presence of guests and jurists from Arab nations
(Algeria, Syria and Lebanon). Themes covered included: family law,
the legal situation of Saharawi women in exile and under occupation,
and the consequences of international conventions on women's
situation. (SPS)
30-31.03.04
Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb Oumar presided over a national
conference for the reorganisation of public services. The creation of
a salary scales and the grading and status of posts were the
principle themes developed. The Secretary of State for Public
Servants, Chaibani Abbas, also indicated that "co-operatives will
shortly see the light of day to promote work in agricultural
production, construction and various other areas."
REFERENDUM
26.03.04
Berlin
At a public conference entitled "Western Sahara, last colony in
Africa", German NGOs launched a letter-writing action to the Foreign
Ministry asking Germany, which holds the Security Council presidency
during April, to work for the Baker plan to be put into place and to
lead the other members, above all France, to play a constructive role
in the search for a peaceful and lasting solution. (Modell Brief an
deutschen Aussenminister
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/brief0304.html>)
Confidence-building measures - family visits
02.04.04
The UNHCR announced its satisfaction with the progress of the visits
between Saharawi families. From 9th April, weekly flights will take
place between Dakhla and Tindouf, for around 4 weeks, before linking
Smara, then Boujedor and then El Ayoun once again. More than 8500
people have now been registered. (UNHCR News) >>special update page
<http://www.arso.org/HCR050304.htm>
SPAIN
01.04.04
The president of the European coordination of support for the
Saharawi people, the Belgian senator Pierre Galand, addressed the
future head of the Spanish government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero,
to transmit his hope that the new Spanish government will firmly
support the relevant UN resolutions, in order to bring about a just,
peaceful and lasting solution to the Western Sahara conflict, based
on the exercise of the Saharawi people's right to self-determination.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/zapat010404.html> texto completo
español>
CINEMA
The public prize from the Freiburg Film Festival (Switzerland) was
awarded to the Spanish film "Cuentos de la guerra sahraui" by Pedro
Rosado. Based on a true story, that took place during the war, this
film tells the destiy of a young Spanish legionary who took the
Saharawis' side. He fought the Moroccan and Mauritanian invasion in
1975-6 side by side with the Saharawis.
The Sundance Institute Doc Fund has selected 11 features for its
first round of grant funding. Chosen this year is, u.a., for Work in
Progress grants, Shantha Bloemen & JoMarie Fecci's "Western Sahara,
Africa's Last Colony".
<http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_040326buzz.html>
HUMAN RIGHTS
27.03.04
Two Spanish jurists, representatives of the Spanish Human Rights
Observatory who had followed several trials of Saharawi activists,
visited Ali Salem Tamek in Assa. Tamek, accompanied by the
ex-disappeared Brahim Dahane, and in the presence of several Saharawi
ex-political prisoners, discussed with his guests the various forms
of punishments and intimidation perpetrated by the Moroccan
authorities against Saharawi human rights defenders. He mentioned
the hysterical media campaign currently being run by the Moroccan
press against him and Saharawi human rights defenders, the
confiscation and denial of passports, the daily reprisals, as well as
violations of the human rights of civilians in occupied Western
Sahara. During the discussions - which lasted for over 8 hours - the
Moroccan security forces surrounded Tamek's house. (corr.)
UN - 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 16th
March-26th April 2004
The question of Human Rights abuses in the occupied Western sahara
was raised at various points in the agenda, in the form of written
reports and oral interventions, during the treatment of questions of:
the right to self-determination; of racism, racial discrimination and
xenophobia; of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
punishments and treatment.
See the reports and interventions of: LIDLIP, France Libertés, ISMUN,
IUSY, Federación de Asociaciones de Defensa y Promoción de Derechos
Humanos, African Society of international and comparative law,
General Arab Women Federation, International Association Against
Torture, Women's International Leaugue for Peace and Freedom, etc.
See special page <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CDHonu2004.html>
An appeal entitled "SOS" was addressed to the Commssion by the
Collective of Human Rights Defenders - Territory of Western Sahara
under Moroccan control
(english ><http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CDH2004CDDHS.html#e>)
SOLIDARITY
28.03.04
Danish Peace Movement supports the legitimate right of the Saharawi
people to self-determination and independence.
Sponsored by the Peace Movement in Aalborg, a demonstration was
organised in which a stand on Western Sahara was erected as part of
the platform designed for on-going conflicts in the world. The
visitors of the stand were briefed on the different aspects of the
conflict in Western Sahara, particularly the latest developments
related to the UN endeavours to reach a peaceful, just and democratic
solution to the conflict. Many participants in the demonstration
expressed their support to the legitimate right of the Saharawi
people to self-determination and independence, while denouncing
Morocco's illegal occupation of parts of Western Sahara as well as
the Moroccan "wall of shame" that was described as a dreadful crime
against humanity.
02.04.04
Radioforpeace
Italy - Bologna: Independent radio at the service of Saharawi
refugees "Radioforpeace" will broadcast on short wave to the Saharawi
refugee camps from April 2nd, in Arabic, Spanish and Italian. This
is a project of COSPE, an independent radio station in Bologna,
Emilia-Romagna region, in collaboration with young Saharwai students
in Bologna and Saharawi national radio, to transmit news to Saharawis
in the camps, but also information on the camps for Europe and
occupied territories. Goals: Improvement of the flow of information
on the practical aspects of life and on development and aid projects,
contacts between families in the camps, the Occupied Territories and
the diaspora, NGOs, etc.
Every Friday from 13.00 to 14.00 (summer time, Europe), on Short Wave
15.665KhZ,from 12.00 - 13.00 in the refugee camps and 11.oo-12.00 in
the Western Sahara under Moroccan
controle.<http://www.radiokcentrale.it/radio4peace.htm>
COMING UP...
April 15, Amsterdam, Royal Institute for Tropical Affairs :
presentation of the political travelbook from publishing
house Bulaaq, Africa's last colony, travelling through the Western
Sahara (in Dutch) from Nicolien Zuijdgeest, journalist, with film and
debate. >> see more details <http://www.arso.org/07.htm#amse>
Saharawi Music: Groupe Mariem Hassan: 28.05.04:
Afro-Pfingsten-Festival Winterthur, Suisse
INTERNET
OPINION
- Zapatero: incógnitas con relación al Sáhara, Hash Ahmed
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/HAhmed04.htm> * * déjà sur site
et mail esp....
- Y, ¿ahora qué? Señor Rodríguez Zapatero, el Sáhara todavía espera!
Salvador Pallarès-Garí, Associacio ComarcalL D'Ajuda al Poble
Saharaui - LA
SAFOR-<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SPG200304.htm>
- I ara què? Senyor Rodríguez Zapatero, el Sàhara encara espera!
Salvador Pallarès-Garí,
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SPG200304.htm#cat>
- Los Saharauis y el 11-M, Ahmed Mulay-Ali
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/mulay110304.htm>
- El Volcán Marroquí, J.J. Garcia
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/JJgarcia.htm>
- Time for PSOE to correct Spain's mistake, Sid Hamdi Yahdih
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa20042.htm>
- ARSO, a agreat service for a honorable affair, Sid Hamdi Yahdih
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa042004.htm>
- Solidarité: communiqué des détenus politiques sahraouis libérès en
janvier, 24.03.04. <http://saharaoccidental.blogspot.com#tam>
Dossiers Radioforpeace:
Reportage <http://www.radiokcentrale.it/saharawi.htm>
Diritti umani <http://www.radiokcentrale.it/du.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sur Sahara-Info, liste de courrier
(français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Nouvelles sahraouies, No 111, bulletin du Comité suisse de soutien
au peuple sahraoui,
<http://NouvellesSahraouies.site.voila.fr/0304NS.pdf> (1,2 MB)
- Reportage : Laâyoune-Tindouf : regards croisés, Driss Bennani,
TelQuelOnline, No 119. <http://www.telquel-online.com/119/sujet1.html>
- Dossier Sahara Occidental réalisé par Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats,
Alger, semaine du 24 au 30 mars 2004:
- Un blessé de guerre sahraoui témoigne: "J'ai revu ma mère et mes
soeurs..." <http://arso.org.site.voila/debats0304.html#2>
- Le ministre sahraoui des Territoires occupés se livre aux Débats:
"La peur a changé de camp"
<http://arso.org.site.voila/debats0304.html#1>
- L'ONU cherche à redorer son blason, "Le cessez-le-feu n'est qu'une
trêve" <http://arso.org.site.voila/debats0304.html#3>
- DOSSIER : Le « Grand Moyen-Orient » controversé de Bush, Après la
Jordanie, le Maroc bénéficie d'un accord de libre-échange, J.-P.
Tuquoi, Le Monde, Paris, 24.03.04 (disponible sur demande).
- Un voyage après 29 ansŠpour voir les leurs, Dossier présenté par
Karima Bennour, La Nouvelle République, Alger, 28.03.04.
<http://www.lanouvellerepublique.com/actualite/index.php?idc=36%20%20&PHPSESSID=\
5705408c1d6d3f37412151e1d283bda0>
- Khadija Mohsen Finan : « Les Etats-Unis souhaitent réellement en
finir avec le conflit du Sahara Occidental», Propos recueillis par
Catherine Graciet, cyberscopie, mars 2004.
<http://www.cyberscopie.info/pages/art_entre/art28_entre.html>
- Le combat de Tamek, Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats, Alger, semaine du 31
mars au 06 avril 2004. <http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/19.pdf>
- Un ex-détenu dénonce,ibid. <http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/18.pdf>
- Le président de la RASD reçu par des membres du Congrès américain,
ibid. <http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/18.pdf>
- Sahara Occidental, L'avenir se joue dans les territoires occupés,
Nacer Mokdad, L'Alger Républicain, mensuel, avril 2004. (disponible
sur demande)
- L'exploitation des ressources du Sahara Occidental par le Maroc :
épuisement des céphalopodes, Philippe Riché, Association des Amis de
la R.A.S.D., Paris, 02.04.04. (disponible sur demande, sera en ligne
sous peu)
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Sahara refugees form a progressive society. Literacy and democracy
are thriving in an unlikely place. John Thorne, The Christian Science
Monitor, 24.03.04.
<http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0326/p04s01-wome.html>
- Western Sahara: British success, from a correspondent in Bradford,
Middle East International, 19.03.04.
- Repatriation under a Peace Process: Mandated Return in the Western
Sahara, Michael Bhatia, International Journal of Refugee Law, Volume
15, Issue 4, October 2003, pp. 786-822. (The full article in PDF
format may be downloaded from Sahara Update's file section on the
web. Please see Files - Various documents - "IJRL Mandated return in
WS by Michael Bhatia.pdf" at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/files/Various_documents/)
- Western Sahara: UN's family visits exchange scheme set to shift to
second city, UN News, 02.04.04
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10301&Cr=Sahara&Cr1=>
- Western Sahara: Algeria family visits a great success , UNHCR News,
02.04.04.
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=406d38474&pa\
ge=news>
- Sahrawis let to visit families in Dakhla, afrol News, 02.04.04.
<http://www.afrol.com/printable_article/12030>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible en
Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-Nuevo libro: El Oscuro Pasado del Desierto, José Ramón Diego
Aguirre. Info: <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/libro.htm>
- Abdelaziz afirma que frustración marroquíes propicia terrorismo,
EFE, 25.03.04.<http://saharaoccidenntal.blogspot.com#abdel>
- ACNUR anuncia segunda etapa de programa de visitas familiares en el
Sahara Occidental, Noticias Naciones unidas, 02.04.04
<http://www.un.org/spanish/News/fullstorynews.asp?newsID=2128&criteria1=POLISARI\
O&criteria2=refugiados>
Italiano
- Incontro con il Nobel José Saramago, che ha ricevuto la
cittadinanza onoraria a Pontedera, Fabrizia Ramondino, Il Mattino
online, 22.03.04.
<http://ilmattino.caltanet.it/hermes/20040322/NAZIONALE/15/MORA.htm>
- «Sahrawi, un esilio da non dimenticare», Fabrizia Ramondino, Il
Manifesto, 27.03.04
<http://www.ilmanifesto.it/Quotidiano-archivio/27-Marzo-2004/art111.html>
- Parte ''Radioforpeace'': onde libere a sostegno del popolo
Saharawi, Bandiera gialla, 26.03.04.
<http://www.bandieragialla.it/articolo.php?id=1390>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-1112.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WESTERN SAHARA - NEWS - WEEKS 11-12
07.03.-20.03.2004
SADR
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
HUMAN RIGHTS
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
06-07.03.04
Mr. Khalil Sidi M'hamed, Minister for the occupied territories of
SADR, took part in the extraordinary Congress of the Swiss Socialist
Party in Basle.
08.03.04
National conference
The representatives of the various Saharawi media, newspapers, radio,
news wire and television met for a two-day national conference
devoted to the improvement of the quality of their work and the
diffusion of information. The conference underlined that
professionals "should continue to conform to the ethics and norms of
the profession, and to keep away from propaganda, so as to produce
credible reports". The conference adopted statutes for National Mass
Medias and a code of conduct for journalists, inspired by these
principles.
The conference addressed a message of congratulations to the Algerian
press and a special motion to the Association for a fair and free
Referendum in Western Sahara (ARSO), for "the selfless courage of its
members who never failed in the mission of informing public opinion
on the conflict from its start." It also congratulated the Basque
committee of support for its technical aid for the National Radio and
the newspaper "Sahara Libre". (SPS)
11.03.04
Spain
Mohamed Abdelaziz presented to King Juan Carlos of Spain and to the
Prime Minister his condolences after the terrorist attacks of Madrid.
(SPS)
14.03.04
Spain
The president of the SADR congratulated Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
on the victory of the PSOE in the elections. He declared himself
convinced that the new Spanish government will not haggle over the
means to allow the Saharawi people to exert their right to
self-determination. (agency)
15.03.04
Military operations
The Saharawi Popular Army proceeded at Mijek (400 km south-eastern of
El Ayoun) with military operations, involving armoured units, heavy
artillery, DCA and mechanized infantry. Five grouping tactics
simulated an attack against a fictitious enemy, sheltered behind a
defensive sand wall full of mines and barbed wire. These operations
proceeded in the presence of many members of the Saharawi community
in Mauritania, which organized a conference on the fringe of the
military activities.(SPS)
18.03.04
African union
The Panafrican Parliament, body of the African Union (AU) composed of
180 members, was officially installed in Addis Ababa. The members of
the Parliament represent the 36 countries (among the 53 Member States
of the AU) which already signed the constitutive protocol of the
Parliament. The SADR is represented by the ladies Soueilma Beirouk
and Mamia Mohamed Habib and by Mr Weddadi Mohamed El Heiba, Brahim
Salem Zroug and Salha El Abd, selected according to three criteria:
equal opportunities between man and woman, parliamentary experience
and proficiency in foreign languages. During its first five years of
existence, the Parliament will have advisory capacities. It will be
equipped in the long term with full legislative powers.
REFERENDUM
08.03.04
Qatar
During the visit of the crown prince of Qatar, Sheik Tamim Ben Hamad
Al Thani in France, the Foreign Minister Jassem Ben Hamad Ben Jaber,
who accompanied him, answering questions in French indicated that his
country will go to the end in its contribution to the solution of the
problem of the Western Sahara (...) For him, the problem of the
Sahara is the priority of priorities at the present time. (Gazette du
Maroc)
10.03.04
European Parliament
The parliamentary group "Peace for the Sahraoui People", following
the visit of its president to the refugee camps, underlines the
serious deficiencies in humanitarian assistance and particularly in
medical and health supplies suffered at the moment by the Saharawi
refugees. In itsofficial statement it calls for urgent help and
expresses its concern about the alarming situation of the Saharawi
human rights defenders under Moroccan military control. The MEPs also
expressed their will to increase their activities in the next
parliament. (press
release<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/IGPE100304.html#e>)
CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES - FAMILY VISITS
19.03.04
The exchanges of visits between Saharawi families continue. A second
group of 24 people on the two sides of the wall stayed from the 12 to
March 17 in El Ayoun and Tindouf respectively, and a new group left
on19th. In its last official statement, the HCR announces that more
than 7' 000 people were registered to take part in the weekly
flights. This number greatly exceeds the forecasts. Priority is given
to the most acute cases, like serious illness of a close relation or
children separated from their parents. For latest information, press,
etc, see special page <http://www.arso.org/HCR050304.htm>
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
08.03.04
Prisons
219 Saharawi prisoners, common law and political, imprisoned in six
prisons in Western Sahara and Morocco, observed a hunger strike on
March 8 and 9 to protest against their conditions of detention. They
ask for a board of inquiry and to be able to receive visits of their
relatives within the framework of the UN HCR program of the HCR.
(Comunicado de los presos políticos y comunes saharauis , AFAPREDESA
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/ca_comHuelgaHambre_08_03_04.htm>)(Letters
from Inside a Moroccan Prison
<http://saharaoccidental.blogspot.com#lf>)
08.03.04
Dakhla
Police forces dispersed a sit-in organized outside the town hall of
the wilaya of Dakhla to claim various social rights like the right to
work and the right to housing. During a brutal intervention a
Saharawi citizen, Mohamed Fadel Sidiya Baray was arrested. His
sister, who tried to intervene, was seriously wounded after being
attached to a police car and dragged 50 meters.( AFAPREDESA,
10.03.04, french
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/fr_sentadaDAJLA.htm>)
12.03.04
El Ayoun
"The national Trade union of the Moroccan press, section of El Ayoun,
condemns the attack on the photographer Abdelilah Mouzahim by a
central police chief associated to El Ayoun, the attack took place
while the photographer was trying to cover the arrival of the
Saharawi families last weekend." (Aujourdhui Le Maroc)
16.03.04
Two brothers, Ali Baiba Fakou ould Hammoudi ould Farraji and Ali
Baiba Haje were arrested at a police checkpoint for an unknown
reason. They are imprisoned in the prison of El Ayoun.
HUMAN RIGHTS
05.03.04
Casablanca
On occasion of a meeting organized by a Moroccan women's NGO in
collaboration with the human rights organizations AMDH and OMDH for
international women's day, the former disappeared and detained
Saharawi woman Aminatou Haidar testified to the repression and
intimidations people have to face from Moroccan authorities in
occupied Western Sahara. She reproached the press and the Moroccan
parties for their silence. The organizing committee gave Aminatou a
gift and promised to visit her and the Saharawi victims of human
rights violations by the Moroccan regime.
(Report<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/Casa05.03.04.html#e>)
SOLIDARITY
05.03.04
France
People met in Vitry-sur-Seine (near Paris) with the goal of
reconstituting the Committee of the Vallée de la Marne of the
Association of the Friends of the SADR, which had slowed down its
activities for several years.
12.03.04
Luxembourg
Establishment of a committee of support for the Saharawi people in Luxembourg.
COMING UP...
The president of SADR Mohamed Abdelaziz will accomplish a visit to
the USA. On March 26 he will speak about the latest Developments on
Western Sahara at a lunch organized by the Defense Foundation Forum
and the Congressional Defense and Foreign Policy Forum.
Festival du film de Fribourg, Suisse: en concours le long métrage de
Pedro Rosado, Cuentos de guerra saharaui.
Projections : 23 mars 2004, Cinema Corso 1, 20h30,
25 mars 2004, Cinema Rex 1, 18h15 ,
28 mars 2004, Cinema Alpha, 21h00
Pisa, Italia, Lunedi 29 marzo, Ore 16.00, Sala del Comuni, Via Silvio
Pellico, "Il tè nel deserto", Viaggio nell'universo femminile
saharawi, Interv.: Umberto Romano, Fatima Mahfoud.
22-25.04.04: Tifariti (liberated territories of SADR)
International march to the wall of shame in Western Sahara
See Information, program, (at the moment only in Spanish)
18-20.05.04
Vth Congress of the General Union of the Workers of Saguia el Hamra
and Rio de Oro (UGTSARIO).
INTERNET
OPINIONS
- Crónica de un reencuentro, Elmami
Brahim.<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/elmamiB0603004.htm>
- Confidence-building measures and Saharawis' right to silence!!
Malainine Lakhal
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/MLakhal2004.htm>
- Mi tren favorito: Poema por las victimas de Madrid , Laroussi
Haidar. <http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/LH110304.htm>
- What crime did they to get separated ? Sid Hamdi Yahdih
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa2004.htm>
- Acrostico al pueblo del Sahara Occidental <http://www.arso.org/acrostico.htm>
- Campagne de solidarité avec Ali Salem Tamek et les défenseurs des
droits humains au Sahara Occidental: Signez l'appel lancé par
l'AFAPREDESA <http://www.afapredesa.org/formularios/formulario.php>
- Solidarity campaign with Ali Salem Tamek and human rights defenders
in Western Sahara Sign AFAPREDESA's appeal
<http://www.afapredesa.org/formularios/formulario.php>
- Campaña de solidaridad con Ali Salem Tamek y los defensores de los
derechos humanos en el Sáhara Occidental: Firmad el llamamiento
propulsado por AFAPREDESA:
http://www.afapredesa.org/formularios/formulario.php>
- Novedades de la web de INTERPUEBLOS :
<http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sur Sahara-Info, liste de courrier
(français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
NOUVEAU LIVRE:
SAHRAOUIS : EXILS - IDENTITE
-- Histoire d'exils: Les jeunes Sahraouis, Annaïg Abjean.
-- L'identité sahraouie en question, Zahra Julien.
-- Préface de Sophie Caratini, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2004, 238 p.
Hors Série No 3, L'Ouest saharien, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2004,
238 p.<http://OUEST_SAHARIEN.site.voila.fr/publications.html#hs3>
- Un «ministre» sahraoui à Lausanne, Aude Mellet, 24 heures,
CH-Lausanne, 08.03.04.
- La médiation qatarie, La Gazette du Maroc, 08.03.04.
<http://www.lagazettedumaroc.com/articles.php?r=2&sr=69&n=358&id_artl=4197>
- En attendant le grand retour, Youssef Chmirou, La Gazette du Maroc,
08.03.04.
<http://www.lagazettedumaroc.com/articles.php?id_artl=4209&r=2&sr=140>
- Menaces et intimidations à l'encontre de la population civile
sahraouie dans les territoires occupés à l'occasion de l'arrivée du
premier groupe de visiteurs à El Aaiún, AFAPREDESA, 08.03.04.
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/fr_amenazasDurantelasVistas_080304.htm>
- Harcèlements contre des familles de disparus sahraouis, AFAPREDESA,
10.03.04.
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/fr_com_hostigamientoFdesaparecidos_Smara.\
htm>
- El Aaiun: Un photographe agressé par un commissaire de police,
Aujourd'hui le Maroc,
12.03.04.<http://www.aujourdhui.ma/details/?ref=10797>
- Les Etats-Unis forcent la porte du Maroc. Signé début mars, un
accord de libre-échange entre les deux pays irrite l'Union
européenne, José Garçon, Libération, Paris, 13.03.04.
<http://www.liberation.fr/page.php?Article=185865>
- Tindouf-Laâyoune: Un Antonov pour l'espoir, Yassine Zizi,
Lejournal-Hebdo.com, No 151, 13.03.04.
<http://www.lejournal-hebdo.com/article_print.php3?id_article=651>
- Tindouf-Laâyoune, Lejournal-Hebdo.com, No 151, 13.03.04.
<http://www.lejournal-hebdo.com/article_print.php3?id_article=653>
- Laâyoune-Tindouf, Lejournal-Hebdo.com, No 151, 13.03.04.
<http://www.lejournal-hebdo.com/article_print.php3?id_article=654>
- M. Dadache: "Il est inadmissible que des policiers des R.G. me
menacent", Lejournal-Hebdo.com, No 151, 13.03.04.
<http://www.lejournal-hebdo.com/article_print.php3?id_article=652>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- UNHCR Starts Western Sahara Family Visits, Lisa Schlein, VOA News,
05.03.04.
<http://www.voanews.com/PrintArticle.cfm?objectID=2108B7AD-289C-4EB6-AF77470B779\
3C3B1&title=UNHCR%20Starts%20Western%20Sahara%20Family%20Visits>
- Threats and intimidations against the Saharawi civil population in
the occupied territories upon the arrival of the first group of
visitors from the refugee camps to Laayune, AFAPREDESA, 08.03.04.
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/en_amenazasDurantelasVistas_080304.htm>
- Western Sahara: Family visits going smoothly, UNHCR News, 19.03.04.
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/+mwwBmkev2h3wwwwrwwwwwwwhFqnN0bItFqn\
Dni5AFqnN0bIcFqt5wrwGwDzmxwwwwwww/opendoc.htm>
- Third Round of Familial Visits for Refugees, UNHCR ,19.03.04.
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200403190934.html>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible en
Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Amenazas y intimidaciones contra la población civil saharaui en los
territorios ocupados con la ocasión de la llegada del primer grupo de
visitantes refugiados al Aaiún, AFAPREDESA, 08.03.04
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/ca_amenazasDurantelasVistas_080304.htm>
- Hostigamientos contra familias de desaparecidos saharauis,
AFAPREDESA, 10.03.04
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/ca_com_hostigamientoFdesaparecidos_Smara.\
htm>
- La lucha contra las tretas de las bandas clandestinas , Antonio
Baquero, Diario de Cordoba, 11.03.04.
<http://www.diariocordoba.com/noticias/noticia.asp?pkid=110934>
- Dulces payasos en campamentos saharauis, El Pais, Madrid, 12.03.04.
Italiano
- Oltre il muro: la RASD, Violazioni dei Diritti Umani nel Sahara
Occidentale, Attualita' dall' 1 al 29 Febbraio 2004, A cura di
Jacqueline Philippe.
- Profughi Saharawi rivendono proprie famiglie dopo 30 anni, Misna,
06.03.04. <http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=2&id=107883>
Deutsch
- Bootswerften in der Wüste, Martine Dussutour, Berliner Morgenpost,
12.03.04.
<http://morgenpost.berlin1.de/archiv2004/040312/aus_aller_welt/story665254.html>
Portugais
- Interview de Dih Mokhtar Daf, Chargé d'affaires de l'Ambassade de
la RASD à Maputo: PARA INDEPENDENCIA DO SAHARA OCIDENTAL, "Apoio
politico e moral e o que interessa" [POUR L'INDEPENDANCE DU SAHARA
OCCIDENTAL, "L' appui politique et moral est le plus important" [pour
le peuple sahraoui]. Cette interview passe en revue les relations de
la RASD avec la République du Mozambique, l'historique de
l'occupation du territoire, les différentes étapes de la lutte de
libération et les relations avec la Communauté Internationale].
Zambese, hebdomadaire mozambicain, 11.03.04.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-0910.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 09-10
22.02.-06.03.2004
SADR
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
MOROCCO
HUMAN RIGHTS
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
23.02.04
Sahara Marathon
The American Hugh Jones, general secretary of the Association of
International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS) won the 4th Sahara
Marathon, organised by an Italian committee in collaboration with the
Ministry of Culture and Sport. Over two hundred athletes, the great
majority from Western Europe, ran the 42,159 km separating the
wilayas of El Ayoun and Smara to show their active solidarity and
support with the Saharawi people in their struggle for freedom and
independence. About 20 Saharawi athletes took part in this marathon.
24.02.04
Repatriation of 100 prisoners of war
The Polisario Front handed over to the ICRC the 100 Moroccan
prisoners of war freed at the request of Qatar, who were repatriated
through the military base of Inzegane (Agadir) on board an aeroplane
put at the disposition of the International Red Cross by Qatar.
During the ceremony, the Polisario Front deplored that "Morocco
continues to hold in complete secrecy 150 Saharawi combatants and
over 500 disappeared civilians" and asked for the intervention of
Qatar with Morocco. The Polisario deplored the fact that the fate of
these people "has not been a focus of interest for the ICRC which has
invested much more in the Moroccan prisoners of war." Recalling that
they still intend to favour "the peaceful road for decolonising
Western Sahara, in accordance with what is right and legal", the
Polisario Front considered that Morocco "cannot continue to go
against the efforts of the international community with impunity and
reject the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and in
particular number 1495 of 31 July 2003 which asks it expressly to
subscribe to and implement the 'Peace Plan for the self-determination
of the Saharawi people' of James Baker."
After welcoming the Saharawi leadership's gesture, the Qatar Minister
of State Cheikh Hamad Ben Abdallah Al Thani declared that the
government of Qatar would try as hard as it could to ease the
suffering caused by the conflict in Western Sahara.
The regional delegate of the ICRC, Harald Schmid de Gruneck, thanks
the Polisario Front for this "new aid" as well as the authorities of
Qatar. According to him, the Moroccan authorities are no longer
holding any prisoners of the Polisario Front.
In a joint statement, the Union of Saharawi Lawyers and AFAPREDESA
express their gratitude to the government of SADR and the Polisario
Front for this gesture, which comes at the very moment when the
authorities of the Moroccan occupation are increasing their
repression against the defenceless Saharawi population.
24.02.04
The President of the Saharawi Republic sent a message of condolence
to the King of Morocco after the earthquake in Al Hoceima. (SPS)
26-28.02.04
African Union - summit at Syrte
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, accompanied by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense took part in
the 2nd extraordinary summit of the African Union (AU) devoted to
common defence policy for the continent, to questions linked to water
and agriculture.
The Saharawi delegation comprised the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mohamed Salem Ould Salek and the Minister for Defence Mohamed Lamine
Bouhali. The summit adopted the "Declaration of Syrte on challenges
to integrated and lasting development of agriculture and water
resources in Africa", as well as a formal declaration of common
defence and security policy. This declaration stresses the
"intangibility of the borders inherited from colonialism" and the
"indivisibility of the security of African countries", holding that
"the security of one African country is indissolubly linked to that
of other African countries and to that of the continent as a whole".
The Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that "these
clauses will not fail to upset Morocco and isolate it more from the
heart of the international community... We greatly regret the absence
of Morocco from this process of African integration, because it is
the only country of the continent which does not respect the borders
of its neighbours", he concluded. (SPS)
27.02.04
28th Anniversary of SADR
Commemorations in many places around the world. >> see SPS
>> communiqué des Amis de la RASD <http://www.arso.org/AARASD260204.htm>
>> Letter of the Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) to Kofi
>>Annan<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e270204letawsa.html>
27.02.04
New association: the Club of the Friends of Tifariti
<http://www.arso.org/amisTifariti.htm>
A group of Algerian journalists announced the birth of the Club of
the Friends of Tifariti, "an free space, open to professionals of the
media, intellectuals, researchers, students and personalities from
Algeria and abroad who are interested in the Saharawi issue". The
group intends to "express the broad solidarity of journalists with
the Saharawi people who are suffering the pangs of Moroccan
colonialism."
27.02.04
The Union of Saharawi Women announce the opening of an office in Madrid.
03.03.04
Wall of Shame
President Mohamed Abdelaziz opened an exhibition in the 27 February
School of paintings by Fadili Yeslem inspired by the Moroccan wall of
defence. (SPS with photos
<http://spsrasd.info.site.voila.fr/sps_expo04.html>)
04.03.04
Visit of the Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs to Cuba. (agencies,
see Sahara-Info)
05.03.04
Confidence-building measures
The first exchange visits between families living in the refugee
camps and those in the occupied territory have started. About twenty
people took the MINURSO plane, respectively from Tindouf bound for El
Ayoun and from El Ayoun to Tindouf, for stays of 5 days. During the
next six months weekly flights are planned which will be part of the
program of confidence-building measures of the UNHCR aimed at
permitting direct contact between the families who have been
separated for over 25 years. These measures figure in Security
Council resolutions.>> Special page
<http://www.arso.org/HCR050304.htm>
21.02.-07.03.04
Visit to Switzerland of the Minister of Occupied Territories
On the occasion of a series of meetings in Geneva, Lausanne, Berne
and Basel, with ambassadors or representatives of the UN, the
president of the ICRC, human rights and solidarity NGOs, the
authorities, parliamentarians and politicians, Mr Khalil Sidi M'Hamed
described the situation of the Saharawi population living under
Moroccan occupation and called for measures to protect human rights
defenders. He recalled the case of 500 disappeared Saharawis and
asked for free access to the territory for journalists and observers.
(SPS)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
19.02.04
Sentence
The El Ayoun Magistrate's court sentenced the Saharawi Mohamed Bahia
Sidi Brahim Errachida to a year and a half in prison. He was
apprehended in a café, where like many young Saharawis, he had sided
with Algeria during an Africa Cup match between Morocco and Algeria.
(see week 07/04)
REFERENDUM
21.02.04
Moroccan counter-proposal
The Spanish daily, El Pais publishes large extracts from the Moroccan
response to James Baker and Kofi Annan on 23 December 2003. Morocco
has created some time out with the help of a team of French lawyers,
to study a modification of its constitution, in order to introduce
the notion of regionalisation and allow the creation of an autonomous
Western Sahara, without the slightest reference to a referendum of
self-determination... This "draft statute" provides for a regional
legislative Assembly, elected by the 86,000 Saharawis on the UN
electoral list, the refugees enrolled by the UNHCR and everyone
resident in the territory before 1993 (?). The Assembly would elect
the President of the executive, appointed later by the King. The
competence of the autonomous authority would cover education, health,
social services, but not the police, justice system or economic
policy. In the case of divergence of opinion or conflict between the
Moroccan state and the region, it is a Moroccan institution - the
constitutional Council as it happens - which would decide.
25.02.04
Austrian parliament
The parliament accepted a motion presented by its Foreign Affairs
Committee (see week 07-08). During a debate, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Ferrero-Waldner declared that Austria has not forgotten the
conflict in Western Sahara. It considers that the Baker plan is an
optimal solution for the exercise of the right to self-determination
of the Saharawi people. Concerning humanitarian aid to the Saharawi
refugees, Austria is active in basic community infrastructure and
training, and has made available for 2003 and 2004 approximately
640,000 Euros.
04.03.04
Australia
The Australian Senate passed unanimously a motion on Western Sahara
on 4 March 2004. The motion was sponsored by Senator Allison, Deputy
Leader of the Australian Democrats Party and also by Senator Nettle
of the Greens Party. In this motion the Senate takes note of the 28th
anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Republic, the 13
years of delays of the original Peace Plan and the UN Security
Council resolution of 30 January 2004 which "gives Morocco more time
to respond to the latest peace plan for Western Sahara."
The Senate takes note as well of the agreement by the government of
Morocco to allow the "exchange of family visits for Saharawis
separated by war, occupation and the 2,720 km long military rampart
erected by Morocco." The Senate urges the Australian Federal
Government to "use its best efforts to persuade Morocco to sign the
latest UN peace plan that is based on the organisation of a
referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara". The Senate
appealed to the Australian Government to "provide humanitarian
assistance to the Saharawi refugees who need food and medicine
urgently". >> full text
<http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?id=92957&table=JOURNALS>
05.03.04
Denmark
The Danish Government continues to give its support to the UN efforts
to find a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.
In response to an appeal made to him by a member of the Danish
Parliament (Folketinget), Mr. Per Stig Møller, the Danish Foreign
Minister, stated that the Danish Government continues its support for
the efforts deployed by the UN Secretary-General and his Personal
Envoy, Mr. James Baker, with a view to finding a solution to the
conflict in Western Sahara.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Møller had earlier reaffirmed the same
position of his government vis-à-vis the question of Western Sahara
in a statement made before the Parliament's Standing Committee on
Foreign Relations, while underlining that the position of his country
regarding this particular question remains based on the resolutions
of the UN Security Council in this regard.
MOROCCO
19.02.04
According to the Madrid daily, La Razon, Morocco's second largest
fishing company, Kaben Pêche, has been sold. It belonged to Generals
Abdelhak Kadiri and Hosni Benslimane. The sale took place following
pressure from the palace, which wants to improve the image of the
armed forces, and also because of the uncertain future of the Sahara,
on whose coasts the Kaben Pêche fleet is active.
01.03.04
USA-Greater Middle East
The American under secretary of state for political affairs, Marc
Grossman, was received by King Mohamed VI as part of a tour of
several Arab countries presenting the project "Initiative for the
Greater Middle-East". The American initiative anticipates making a
sum of 100 million dollars available to develop democracy and the
role of civil society in the Arab world, by favouring education,
equality between men and women, in order to put an end to "terrorism"
and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
American military experts are already in Mali, Mauritania, Niger and
Chad to train troops in border control. It is expected to send more
to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. (agencies)
02.03.04
USA-Free Trade
The United States and Morocco have concluded in Washington a free
trade agreement. This free trade agreement, the second of this type
signed by the United Nations with a Muslim country after Jordan
concluded an agreement, is part of President George W Bush's plan to
establish a free trade zone between the United States and the Middle
East between now and 2013. A similar agreement has already been
signed with Israel and negotiations are in progress with Bahrein.
(AFP)
HUMAN RIGHTS
21.02.04
Statement from the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders from
the "territory of Western Sahara under Moroccan control"
The Collective points out that since his release at the beginning of
January, Ali Salem Tamek has become the target of a hysterical media
campaign orchestrated by Moroccan political parties and journalists
who call for his arrest or his expulsion. The Saharawi NGO expresses
its support and solidarity with the Saharawi human rights activist
and announces that it will continue to pursue its commitment and
action to get respect for the legitimate rights of the Saharawi
people. <http://www.arso.org/DDHS210204.htm>
23.02.04
Appeal of Sidi Mohamed Daddach human rights defender, Rafto Prize
winner 2002 (French
<http://www.birdhso.org/dsdhcommuniquesbis.html#daddach230204> or
Spanish<http://www.birdhso.org/dsdhcommuniquesbis.html#daddach230204es>)
23.02.04
Appeal
On a working visit to Switzerland, the Saharawi Minister of Occupied
Territories Mr. Khalil Sidi M'Hamed, launched an appeal in Geneva,
for freedom of movement and circulation of Saharawi human rights
defenders. He recalls that a year ago a delegation of 13 people
representing families of disappeared Saharawis and human rights
defenders from the occupied territories was prevented from leaving
Morocco to take part in a meeting in Geneva and that the passports
confiscated on that occasion have still not been returned. Deploring
the isolation in which the Saharawi population is kept under Moroccan
control, he asks that this delegation could this year visit Geneva to
take part in the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Commission which
will be held from 16 March until 23
April.<http://www.arso.org/declKSM230204.htm>
27.02.04
Solidarity campaign with Ali Salem Tamek and human rights defenders
in Western Sahara
Sign AFAPREDESA's appeal <http://www.afapredesa.org/formularios/formulario.php>
28.02.04
The General Workers Union of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro
(UGTSARIO) denounced the decision of the Moroccan Confederation of
Work (CDT) against Ali Salem Tamek, considering that this "racist"
decision encourages the Moroccan government to "take the most
dangerous position capable of attacking the life of this Saharawi
activist". It also appealed to trades union organisations of the
world to intervene with international human rights organisations for
the protection of human rights defenders in Western Sahara, notably
Ali Salem Tamek, who is the "object of a big antidemocratic and
racist media campaign" so that he could have his human rights,
personal rights and trades union rights safeguarded, in accordance
with the international conventions in force".(SPS)
COMING UP...
22-25.04.04 Tifariti (liberated territories of SADR)
International march to the wall of shame in Western Sahara
"For peace and self-determination for the Saharawi people", "Demand
that the UN keeps its commitments". Organised by Spanish associations
of solidarity in collaboration with the European Coordination of
support for the Saharawi people, this march to the "wall" which
separates Saharawi families is to denounce the suffering of the
Saharawi people who have been waiting for 28 years to decide their
own future. Its aim is to make the UN and the international community
implement the Security Council's resolutions. See Information,
program, (at the moment only in
Spanish)<http://www.arso.org/marcha2004.htm>
INTERNET
- Accion : Repulsa por la destrucción del mural "Sáhara Vencerá" en
la montaña de Agüimes
La Asociación Canaria de Solidaridad con el Pueblo Saharaui, y los
amigos del pueblo saharaui del Estado Español,ante la destrucción del
mural "Sáhara Vencerá" situado desde hace más de 20 años en la
Montaña de Vargas (Agüimes) por una cuadrilla de trabajadores del
Cabildo de Gran Canaria, manifiesta su repulsa e indignación >>
<http://www.umdraiga.com/varios/muralaguimes.htm>
- Sahara Libre, mensuel en arabe. <http://www.essahraelhora.com>
- Foro de discusión de la Asoc. Villena con el Pueblo Saharaui, La
Hamada <http://80.32.51.93/forophp/index.htm>
- Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003, released by the
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, USA, February 25,
2004. >>
-- Western Sahara <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27941.htm>
-- Morocco <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27934.htm>
OPINION
- Análisis sobre un Sáhara independente: Patinazo de la gestión
comercial canaria en África Grupo interuniversitario de opinión:
Sergio Ramírez Galindo (ULPGC), Carlos Ruiz de Miguel (USC), Manuel
de Paz Sánchez (ULL) y Ricardo Aguasca Colomo (ULPGC) (I)
<http://www.canariasahora.com/opinion/editar_opinion.asp?idopinion=1935>+
(II)
<http://www.canariasahora.com/opinion/editar_opinion.asp?idopinion=1960>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-ONU: le gâchis saharien, François Soudan, J.A./L'intelligent, No
2249, 15.02.04, pp. 75-76
- Après quelque trente années d'efforts, on en est au point mort, ou
presque. Quand l'un des protagonistes accepte une option, l'autre
pose une condition qui empêche d'aller plus loin..., Samir Gharbi,
ibid., pp. 76-77.
<http://www.jeuneafrique.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN15024onul\
eneirah0>
- Dans les camps de réfugiés sahraouis, Anne Ferrario et Micheline
Vuilleumier, La fonction publique, Lausanne, no 636, février 2004,
pp. 8-9.
- Débat dans Tel Quel Online No 115, 21.02.04: Sahara, Peut-on donner
la parole aux indépendantistes ? (OUI) "C'est une opinion, et chacun
devrait pouvoir exprimer ses opinions librement" Abdelhamid Amine,
Président de l'AMDH (Association marocaine des droits humains) (NON)
"Et Tamek devrait être expulsé vers Tindouf, à défaut d'être jugé
pour haute trahison", Jamal Berraoui, journaliste et chroniqueur.
<http://www.telquel-online.com/115/debat_115.html>
- Entretien avec Rémy Leveau, Maghreb-USA : course à la soumission,
Arezki Benmokhtar, L'expression, Alger,
22.02.04.<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/print.php3?id=22230&&funky=print>
- L'Etat en exil, Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats, Alger, 25.02.04.
(PDF)<http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/16.pdf>
- Tamek : «Les Sahraouis vivent sous un état de siège», ibid.
(PDF)<http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/17.pdf>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
NEW BOOK:
Western Sahara: Towards Decolonisation, Dr. Uma Shankar Jha, Indian
Africanist and President of the Association of Indian Africanist.
(press release <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/india2004.html>)
- Tear down this wall Letter from Laura Smith, Coordinator, Western
Sahara Campaign UK to The Guardian Tuesday March 2, 2004
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,1159837,00.html>
- Sahara Analysis, No 32, 03.03.04, Western Sahara Campaign UK.
- Western Sahara families reunited. About 40 people separated from
their families by the long-running Western Sahara conflict are
reunited. BBC News,
05.03.04.<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/3538101.stm>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, en la lista de
correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Los generales marroquíes venden en secreto su flota pesquera ante
el incierto futuro del Sahara, Pedro Canales, La Razon, Madrid,
19.02.04.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2004-02-19/noticias/noti_int04.htm>
- Rabat prepara una reforma constitucional para incorporar el Sáhara.
Baker considera insuficiente la propuesta e insta a Marruecos a hacer
más concesiones / Isabel Piquer / Ignacio Cembrero, El Pais, 21.02.04.
- ¿Nuestra política exterior marroquí en peligro? Carlos Ruiz Miguel,
El Semanal Digital,
24.02.04.<http://www.elsemanaldigital.com/articulos_impreso.asp?idarticulo=13057\
&fuente=3&tipo=>
- Reitera Cuba apoyo a la causa del pueblo saharaui, Granma 04.03.04,
<http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2004/03/04/nacional/articulo16.html>
Italiano
- Il Marocco sugli scogli della democrazia. Riflessioni su
un'instabilità annunciata, Francesco Correale, Afriche e Orienti, n°
3-4, 2003, pp. 177-184.
- Sahara Occidentale: Prossimi gli incontri tra i rifugiati e i loro
parenti, Reporter Associati, 21.02.04
<http://www.reporterassociati.org/index.php?option=news&task=viewarticle&sid=148\
0>
Portugais
- ONU exige libertacao de mais prisioneiros no Sahara (l'ONU exige
plus de libération de prisonniers (marocains) au Sahara), Noticias,
Mozambique, 26.02.04.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-0708.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
WEEKS 07-08
08.-21.02.2004
SADR
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
MOROCCO
HUMAN RIGHTS
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
08.02.04
The Minister of Information, Sid'Ahmed Batal, expressed his
government's "astonishment", after the publication of a dispatch from
the press agency Associated Press (AP), "littered with mistakes and
innuendoes tending to confuse the legitimate struggle of the Saharawi
people for self-determination, with international terrorism and
contraband."(SPS)
In a dispatch from Rabat, dated 05.02. and entitled "Securing the
Sahara at the centre of Maghreb country concerns and their Western
allies", Nicolas Marmié, correspondent for AP, presented as on the
same basis "Contrabandiers, armed Islamic militants, independence
rebels of the Polisario Front (...) which move around more or less
freely in the immense desert of the Sahara." Same note in Aujourd'hui
le Maroc of 06.02., with headline "The Polisario, breeding ground of
terrorism". (The same agency broadcast on 19.02 a report by the same
author announcing that the 100 Moroccan prisoners of war had been
handed over to the ICRC, when they were still in Tindouf).
08.02.04
The Council of Ministers decreed that 18 June should be an annual
"national day of the disappeared" and called for pressure to be put
on Morocco to make it shed light on the fate of the Saharawi
disappeared and to guarantee individual freedoms of citizens in the
occupied territories. (SPS)
09.02.04
Marathon
The fourth Sahara Marathon will begin on 23 February next, with the
participation of over two hundred athletes from different
nationalities, who will run the regulation 42,159 km separating the
wilaya of El Ayoun.
10.02.04
El Khalil Sidi M'Hamed, the emissary of President Mohamed Abdelaziz,
was received in Nouakchott by the Mauritanian President, Maaouiya
Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya. (SPS)
13.02.04
Release of 100 Moroccan prisoners of war
The Polisario Front announced the unilateral release of 100 Moroccan
prisoners of war, including officers. This release came at the
festival of Aïd al Adha, following a request from Qatar. The
Polisario Front asked Qatar to intervene with Morocco, with a request
to liberate Saharawi soldiers and to shed light on the fate of the
disappeared.
MINURSO hails planned release of 100 Moroccan POWs in Western
Sahara.(UN
News<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=9770&Cr=western&Cr1=sahara>)
The presidency of the European Union welcomed this decision. It
reiterates its appeal for the liberation of the remaining 514
prisoners and invites the two parties to the conflict to respect
their humanitarian commitments and to cooperate to find the missing
disappeared
persons.(declaration<http://www.ue2004.ie/templates/news.asp?sNavlocator=66&list\
_id=260>)
19.02.04
Humanitarian catastrophe
The Saharawi Minister of Cooperation, Salek Baba Hacena, making a
statement at a press conference in Merida (Spain), described as
"critical" the food situation of the Saharawi people and warned of
the imminence of a humanitarian catastrophe, caused by considerable
delays in the aid programs of international organisation which have
not received the necessary finance.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
09.02.04
Moulay Brahim Ali Maati, Saharawi citizen, born on 20 January 1975 in
Smara, was arrested on 4 February, on the pretext of complicity with
a common law detainee condemned to 3 years in prison. El Maaiti is
known for his constant devotion to the defence of human rights. He
has served as translator during meetings of foreign delegations with
families of disappeared Saharawis as well as with victims of Moroccan
repression in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. AFAPREDESA
strongly condemns this serious violation of human rights perpetrated
by the authorities of the Moroccan occupation.(AFAPREDESA french
<http://www.arso.org/afa090204.htm#fr>
spanish<http://www.arso.org/afa090204.htm>)
14.02.04
Mohamed Bahia Sidi Brahim Errachid, Saharawi citizen, was questioned
by the Moroccan police in a cafeteria on Mecca Street in occupied El
Ayoun. Without explanation he was beaten up, taken to the police
station and brutally tortured. This same day a football match was
being played between Algeria and Morocco, an occasion for Saharawi
youth to give expression to its refusal of Moroccan occupation by
taking the side of the Algerian team. The public prosecutor of El
Ayoun ordered the incarceration of Errachid in the Black Prison.
Numerous disputes and attacks against Saharawis took place because of
that football match. (AFAPREDESA,
french<http://www.arso.org/afa140204.htm#fr> or spanish
<http://www.arso.org/afa140204.htm>)
15.02.04
Joint patrols of the Moroccan gendarmerie and the Spanish Civil Guard
are going to supervise the coastal zone off-shore from the Canary
Islands and from El Ayoun in order to locate and intercept boats
carrying illegal immigrants.
According to the Polisario representative in the UN, visiting the
Canary Islands, the sending of these patrols into the territorial
waters of Western Sahara constitutes a violation of international law.
REFERENDUM
07-08.02.04
International Socialist Council, Madrid
The Coordination of Spanish Associations of solidarity with the
Saharawi people asked the Spanish socialists, in a letter, to defend
before the Council of I.S. the right of the Saharawi people to
self-determination in the face of Morocco's "intransigence". (spanish
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CoordPsoe.htm>)
07.02.04
Meeting in Madrid of the Task Force of the European Coordination of
support for the Saharawi people.
Appeal to the International Community from the European co-ordination
of support to the Saharawi people,
07.02.04.<http://www.arso.org/eucoco070204.htm#e>
09.02.04
The Nobel Peace Prize-winner, José Ramos Horta, Minister of Foreign
Affairs for East Timor, considers that Paris "is putting its image at
stake by the incoherence of its position on the conflict of Western
Sahara" and that this position of a permanent member of the Security
Council "could be a disservice to the UN". Ramos Horta was replying
to questions from the journalist Ana Camacho for Mundo
Negro.<http://www.combonianos.com/mn/febrero/sahara3.htm>
11.02.04
UN - decolonisation
Opening of the 2004 session of the Special Committee of 24, Press,
Release SG/SM/9155 GA/COL/3091
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sgsm9155.doc.htm>
12.02.04
Austrian Parliament
Foreign Affairs Committee
On the initiative of the Greens, the Committee supported a motion in
four parts, which asks for the support of the government for the
peace process in Western Sahara. The Committee expressly supports
Kofi Annan's peace process and asks the government to commit itself
in favour of the Saharawis' right to self-determination, and for the
active participation of European countries in the peace process, and
for the respect of human rights in this region and the release of all
political prisoners.
20.02.04
Confidence-building measures
"Should everything proceed as planned, we expect the first family
visit flight to take place in early March," UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Kris Janowski told a news briefing in
Geneva.<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=9834&Cr=Western&Cr1=Sahara>
The Arab language Moroccan weekly Al-Ousbou' wrote on 13 February
that "the Moroccan authorities went back on their decision to
cooperate with the ICRC (sic) to allow Saharawis to visit their
relatives. Morocco is keen that Saharawis should not enter until they
have attested to their "Moroccan" identity and that those who want to
go and stay with their family in the Sahara should be authorised to
do it, while the Polisario puts as a condition that the security of
travellers should be ensured from their departure until their return
in Tindouf."
MOROCCO
Ali Salem Tamek
The Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT) decided to exclude
Tamek, who is a member of its administrative committee and secretary
general of the Assa branch.
The Moroccan extreme left brought together in the G5 (GSU, Ennahj
Addimocrati , PADS, CNI and Fidelity to Democracy) makes up a united
front, which should become a political party in the medium term. Let
us recall that Ennajh Addimocrati still argues for
"self-determination for the Saharawis", while others back a
"political solution which does not question Moroccan sovereignty over
the Sahara". (Tel Quel, 17.02.04)
HUMAN RIGHTS
European Parlament
«European Parliament resolution on the EU's rights, priorities and
recommendations for the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human
Rights in Geneva (15 March to 23 April 2004) »
Declaration of Mohamed Sidati , 11.02.04.
<http://www.arso.org/sidati110204e.htm>
SOLIDARITY <http://saharalibre2.blogspot.com>
13.02.04
Guipuzkoa: Caravana solidaria con los saharauis
Una caravana de camiones, cargados con 120 toneladas de alimentos
reunidos por 45 municipios guipuzcoanos y diferentes empresas, ONGs y
colegios, partió de Donostia rumbo a los campamentos de refugiados
saharauis.>Balance de la campaña
15.02.04
Sevilla: Caravana por la paz
Este proyecto transportá a los campamentos 11 trailers con 250.000
Kg. de alimentos.
Otras : Caravana Andaluza de Ayuda al Sahara 2004, el camion de la
Asociación Zamorana con los Niños del Sáhara, Asociación de Amigos
del Sáhara de Cordoba, Burgos, Salamanca, Caravana de Castilla y
Leon, Caravana Linarense, etc...
Enfants sahraouis - Vacances
Des associations préparent déjà le séjour d'enfants sahraouis en
Europe pour l'été prochain . En France «la plate-forme solidaire avec
le peuple sahraoui» s'est réunie à Rezé. Des associations,
représentant 10 villes du grand Ouest (Bordeaux, Limoge, Rezé, Blain,
Saint-Nazaire, Le Mans, Palaiseau, Paris, Gonfreville-L'Orcher et
Le Havre), ont mis en route les préparatifs d'accueil d'une centaine
d'enfants réfugiés.
En Allemagne le comité Salam récemment créée en Thuringe va
accueillir des enfants cet été en collaboration avec la ville de
Blechrode. C'est une délégation de responsables politiques et de
personnalités de la société civile en visite dans les campements de
réfugiés et dans la région de Tifariti qui l'a annoncé.
En Suisse, la municipalité de Bernex (Genève) se prépare à accueillir
20 enfants en août prochain.
COMING UP
- 27 de Febrero: fiesta anual de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática.
El Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian, Dirección de Juventud, Educación,
Cooperación y Derechos Humanos oganiza diversos actos testimoniales:
24.02.04 proyección del Documental Sahara Maratón, 26.02.04
Conferencia y presentación del libro La historia prohibida del Sahara
español, impartida por el periodista y autor del libro Tomás Bárbulo.
26.02-13.03.04 exposición sobre el Sahara Occidental, el país del
pueblo saharaui. <http://ww.arso.org/07.htm#sanseb>
- Rally for Saharawi National Day - to call on the UN to organise the
promized referendum for self-determination in Western Sahara - AWSA -
Australia Western Sahara Association. Friday 27th February, 12:30 -
1:30pm, UN Information Centre, 46-48 York Street, Sydney, Australia.
<http://www.awsa-westernsahara.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article\
&sid=48&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&POSTNUKESID=a22a363edebfbaa78fa2eede4f31b4c5\
>
- Vuelos charter a los campamentos de refugiados saharauis
-- Bilbao: 07-13 DE ABRIL DE 2004, Infos y impreso de
solicitud<http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/vuelos/index.htm#e\
uskadi>
-- Valencia: 02 -11 d'abril, Contacto: Telefono: 963942435.
-- Navarra: 04- 11 de abril , Info
<http://www.umdraiga.com/vuelo/VUELO2004.htm>
International march to the wall of shame in Western Sahara , New
agenda: 22-25.04.04
INTERNET
OPINION
- Colaboracionistas: un negro futuro para Canarias. Grupo
Interuniversitario de Opinión: Sergio Ramírez Galindo (ULPGC), Carlos
Ruiz de Miguel (USC), Manuel de Paz Sánchez (ULL) y Ricardo Aguasca
Colomo (ULPGC)
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/grupoop030204.htm>
- El mur de la vergonya, Salvador Pallarès-Garí, Vicepresident de la
Federació d'Associacions de Solidaitat amd el Poble Saharauí,
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/safor2004.htm>
- Negociar con un okupa, Federico Echanove
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/okupa.htm>
- Sin verdad y justicia, es imposible la equidad y reconciliación,
Elmami Brahim <http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/elmamiB.htm>
Los Majzenistas no dan ni una, Luís Hernández Rocha
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/LHRocha2004.htm>
- Humanisme à la marocaine, par Diego
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/diego2.htm>
UJSARIO: Documents de l'atelier jeunesse de l' Eucoco 2003.
<http://ujsario.site.voila.fr>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara Info 123, juillet, août, septembre 2003, bulletin de
l'AARASD en PDF. <http://www.sahara-info.org>
- Sahara Info 124, octobre, novembre, décembre 2003, bulletin de
l'AARASD en PDF. <http://www.sahara-info.org>
- Des vacances pour les enfants sahraouis, Maville.com, Saint
Nazaire, 12.02.04.
<http://www.saint-nazaire.maville.com/actu/detail.asp?idDoc=121874&IdCla=8>
- Sahara occidental : la paix aux calendes grecques ? I.k., Cameroon
Tribune (Yaoundé), 18.02.04.
<http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j18022004&idart=14339&\
olarch=>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Plunder on the Barbary Coast: The occupation of Western Sahara and
the resistance to it. Do or Die, Voices from the Ecologist
Resistance, Issue 10, 2003.(text available on demand)
- Marathon trek across Sahara, Marxy Bolling, Herald Sun,
Australia,12.02.04.
<http://heraldsun.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8653094%255E2862,00.html>
- Western Sahara. Leaving peace on hold, Middle East International
Online edition, 06.02.04.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1295>
- Western Sahara: UN prepares first refugee family visits in nearly
30 years, UN News, 20.02.04.
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=9834&Cr=Western&Cr1=Sahara>
- Forgotten West Sahara refugees languish in desert, Paul de Bendern,
Reuters, Jordan Times, Al Jazeera, 19.02.04.
<http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2004%20opinions/Feb/19%20o/Forg\
otten%20West%20Sahara%20refugees%20languish%20in%20desert,%20Paul%20de%20Bendern\
.htm>
- Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival, Dean King,
Little, Brown, 2004, 368 p.
<http://www.twbookmark.com/books/49/0316835145/index.html>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
LIBRO: "Mientras soñaba... (al oeste del sahára)", Agripín Montilla
Mesa, Ediciones Litopress, 2003590 páginas
<http://www.edicioneslitopress.com/novedades.php?PHPSESSID=fffbc40b46452381917f0\
aaba5c9f715>
- España y el Sahara . El acuerdo que nunca existió, Ana Camacho,
Mundo Negro, Madrid, No 482, Febrero 2004
<http://www.combonianos.com/mn/febrero/sahara.htm>
- Entrevista a José Ramos Horta sobre el Sahara. La importancia de
las potencias administradoras. Ana Camacho, ibid.
<http://www.combonianos.com/mn/febrero/sahara3.htm>
- «El Sahara vive en un estado de excepcion y total aislamiento»,
Entrevista de Ali Salem Tamek, Rosa Meneses Arandia, El Mundo, 05.
02.04.<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/Tamekelmundo04.JPG>
- Entrevista // Ali Salem Tamek, Líder Saharaui "Los saharauis
vivimos bajo un estado de sitio" Alí Salem Tamek, Antonio Baquero, El
Periodico, 16.02.04.
<http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=5&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_P\
K=99141&idseccio_PK=7&h=040216>
- El Frente Polisario denuncia que las patrullas mixtas cometerán "
una violación de la legalidad internacional", Europa Press/Idea
Press, 16.02.04.
<http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20040216165322&tabID=1&ch\
=66>
- El duro regreso desde el Sáhara. Los antiguos presos del Polisario
en el desierto se quejan de su mísera existencia en Marruecos,
Ignacio Cembrero, El Pais Internacional, 16.02.04.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2366>
- Decenas de deportistas correrán la cuarta Maratón del Sáhara, Marta
Arroyo, El Mundo, 20.02.04.
<http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/02/20/solidaridad/1077278561.html>
- ACNUR prepara en Sahara Occidental primeras visitas familiares de
refugiados en 30 años. ONU noticias,
20.02.04.<http://www.un.org/spanish/News/fullstorynews.asp?newsID=1881&criteria1\
=refugiados&criteria2=POLISARIO>
Deutsch
- Der lange Abschied, ein Bericht über die Uno-Mission in der
marokkanisch besetzten Westsahara, von Anne-Marie Vaterlaus (Text)
und Christoph Ruckstuhl (Bilder), Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 07.02.04.
<http://www.nzz.ch/2004/02/07/we/page-article9COPH.html>
- Europäische Solidarität. Thueringer Allgemeine, 20.02.04.
<http://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/ta/ta.artern.volltext.php?kennung=on3taLOKS\
taArtern38035&zulieferer=ta&kategorie=LOK&rubrik=Stadt®ion=Artern&auftritt=TA\
&dbserver=1>
- Nach 30 Jahren erste Luftbrücke für Westsahara-Flüchtlinge.
Marokkanische Besatzungsmacht stimmte UNHCR-Initiative zu, Der
Standard, Wien, 20.02.04. <http://derstandard.at/?id=1576559>
- Aus dem Leben einer Sahraui-Nomadin, Wendekreis, Immensee/CH, 02,2004.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-0506.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
WEEKS 05 - 06
25.01.-07.02.2004
SADR
REFERENDUM
MOROCCO
AFRICA
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
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25.01.04
Peace March
Over a hundred European citizens, mostly Italians, held a
demonstration near the Moroccan wall in the region of Farsia, singing
and brandishing rainbow flags. The demonstrators heard this symbol of
the Moroccan military occupation denounced, which has divided the
Saharawi people for decades. They read an appeal addressed to Kofi
Annan, James Baker and to the Security Council asking for the
implementation of the UN peace plan and for pressure to be put on
Morocco to oblige it to accept the plan. (see SPS technical file
about the Wall <http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e270104murhonte.html>)
A similar demonstration is being planned at the beginning of April.
>> more <http://www.arso.org/07.htm#berm>
REFERENDUM
29.01.04
European Parlament - Appeal
On the occasion of the visit in Brussels of the UN Secretary General
Mr. Kofi Annan, to receive the "Sakharov Prize" from the European
Parliament 140 members of the European Parlament address an Appeal
for the Western Sahara to the UN
SG. >><http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/AppPE2004.htm#e>
29.01.04
European Parliament
The European Parliamentary intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi People"
received in Brussels, Mr Xanana Gusmão, President of East Timor, who
in a speech praised the Saharawi people. "The struggle of our
Saharawi brothers is synonymous with hope, it has been a source of
inspiration for the people of Timor in their fight for freedom..." he
declared. President Gusmão called on the UN to redouble their efforts
to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara in a just and lasting way,
by organising as quickly as possible the promised referendum of
self-determination. >> photo.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/xanana.JPG>
29.01.04
German Parliament
Unanimous adoption of a motion presented by the Socialist, Christian
Democrat, Green and Liberal parties. This motion, entitled "Support
for the Baker plan and for a political solution to the conflict in
Western Sahara", laid down on 7 January, asks the government to
commit itself in favour of a solution to the conflict of Western
Sahara, to support the Baker plan, to make available military
observers if required, to call on WFP and ECHO to deliver sufficient
food aid to the Saharawi refugees, to put pressure on the Polisario
for the liberation of prisoners of war and on Morocco to shed light
on the fate of the disappeared.
30.01.04
Letter to Kofi Annan
On the occasion of the inauguration of a United Nations regional
centre of information in Brussels, the Socialist Senator Pierre
Galand handed personally to Mr Kofi Annan, a letter co-signed by
fellow parliamentarians, making known the concerns of Belgian
parliamentarians about the implementation of the Baker plan.
31.01.04
The Australian Labor Party Congress, organised in Sydney from 29 to
31 January, adopted a motion on Western Sahara supporting "the right
of the Saharawi people to self-determination and deploring the
successive postponements of the referendum". (SPS)
<http://www.asu.asn.au/media/general/20040202_sahara.html>
31.01.04
Resolution S/RES/1523 (PDF engl <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/S1523e.pdf>)
The Security Council, through its resolution 1523, ratifies James
Baker's proposal which asked for a three month extension of MINURSO's
mandate "In order to give him time to hold new consultations with
Morocco on the subject of that country's final response concerning
the peace plan", and extends the mandate to 30 April 2004.
AFRICA
22.01.04
African Union: Entry-into force of the Protocol Establishing an
African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights - a significant
development, amnesty international, 22.01.04, AI Index: AFR
01/004/2004. <http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr010042004>
MOROCCO
28.01.04
Morocco - expulsion
Catherine Graciet and Nadia Ferroukhi, an independent journalist and
a photographer, both French, were expelled from Morocco. Apprehended
on 27 January in Tarfaya at a Royal gendarmerie road block, they were
en route to Western Sahara, where they wanted to report on the living
conditions of the Saharawi population under Moroccan occupation. "The
police officers confiscated our passports and our mobile phones and
made us turn back, escorting us as far as Agadir", Catherine Graciet
told AFP. "We were interrogated in Agadir by the DST then expelled
after 24 hours in custody, locked up in a room, guarded by a
policeman. They only complained that we had not fore-warned the
Moroccan Embassy in Paris that we were going to do a reportage on
Western Sahara", she added.
On arrival in Agadir on Sunday 25 January the two young women had
first gone to Goulimine. According to AP, quoting a government
source, the two young women were in possession "of large amounts of
documentation" favourable to the Polisario Front's position. The UJS
and AFAPREDESA have launched an urgent appeal to human rights
organisations and to the organisation Reporters without Borders to
intervene with the Moroccan authorities so as to put an end to this
kind of violation of universal human rights and to allow free access
to the occupied territories of Western Sahara to any personality or
human rights organisation.
30.01.04
Interview with Ali Salem Tamek, Saharawi activist
In a Moroccan weekly close to the powers that be, Tamek defines
himself as "a member of the Saharawi people", a people whose
existence he asserts, for they possess "their own history, their
language, their traditions, their customs and their lifestyle, which
is different from those of neighbouring peoples." The Saharawi people
should exercise their right to self-determination, an "inalienable
right", he said, adding that "the only way out of this conflict, is
to speed up the organisation of the referendum." (Maroc Hebdo
International, No 590, 30.01.04 , french
,<http://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/MHinternet/Archives_590/html_590/confes.html)
On 5 February, in an interview with the Spanish daily, El Mundo,
Tamek declared that the present situation in Western Sahara is
characterised by "permanent violations of human rights" and called
for the international community to delegate a mission to the region
to put pressure on Morocco to respect the rights of the Saharawis".
Reactions came thick and fast: Liberation (03.02.) invites Tamek to
leave Morocco. Aujourd'hui le Maroc (04.02
<http://www.aujourdhui.ma/details/?ref=8218>) calls him a "traitor to
the national cause" just like Islamist "terrorist gangs". The daily
calls on "the authorities, politicians, government, political
parties, NGOs and anyone who has a grain of nationalism" to react to
Ali Salem Tamek "sold body and soul to the Polisario and to Algeria."
HUMAN RIGHTS
30.01.04
Sisters Mamia and Fatma Salek, abducted in 1976 with their parents,
imprisoned without trial for 16 years in the penal colonies of Kalaat
Mgouna, where their parents died, have denounced during a press
conference in the Canary Islands the extra-judiciary procedure by
which the body Equity and Reconciliation would "settle" the problem
of human rights abuses in recent decades. They call for respect for
human rights, for the release of political prisoners, for
compensation for the victims, and for bringing those responsible to
justice as well as for the opening of the territory and the return of
passports to human rights activists who were prevented from traveling
to Geneva in March2003.
(comunicado<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/FMSalek.htm>) (Historia
resumida de 16 años de prisión en Marruecos
(word)<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/FMhistoriaresumida.doc>
01.02.04
Massaoud Al Baz, a Saharawi citizen, was the victim of a brutal
attack by three Moroccan "security" agents in El Ayoun. Al Baz, who
was not aware of the motive of this attack, was then taken to the
police station and interrogated for several hours. Examined by a
doctor, he was given sick leave and sickness benefit for 20 days.
(AFAPREDESA
<http://www.afapredesa.org/Comunicados/ca_com_masaudbaz.htm>)
HUMANITARIAN AID
04.02.04
The European Union's Office of humanitarian aid, ECHO makes available
to WFP 3.75 millions euros for the food aid program for the Saharawi
refugees (out of 5.14 allocated recently). This should provide enough
to cover basic food needs for three months (cereals, oil, sugar,
legumes), while waiting for the rest of the program.
SOLIDARITE
23.01.04 SOLIDARIDAD - ELKARTASUN
Conferencia de los Intergrupos Parlamentarios "PAZ Y LIBERTAD EN EL
SAHARA" celebrada en el Parlamento Vasco en enero de 2004 >>
Resolución Final <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/resfinIGEsp.htm>
25. 01.04 Stockholm
On the eve of the Stockholm International Forum on preventinggenocide
(26.- 28.01.04 ) an alternative conference was organised by 50
Swedish NGOs. Along with other topics treated such as Palestine,
Pakistan, Turkey, Colombia, the Mapucho Indians of Chili, Chechnya, a
workshop was devoted to the occupation of Western Sahara, directed by
the Swedish parliamentarian, Hillevi Larsson. At a peaceful
demonstration the demonstrators demanded the dismantling of the
Moroccan wall in Western Sahara as well as the Israeli wall in
Palestine.
28.01.04 Catalunya
La Generalitat potenciará las relaciones institucionales con el
Frente Polisario y aumentará las ayudas al pueblo saharaui, anunció
el conseller de Relaciones Institucionales y Participación, Joan
Saura.(agencias)
30.01.04 Madrid.
Un grupo de solidari@s madrileñ@s rebautizó la estación de metro de
´Banco de España´, pasando a llamarse ´Sahara Libre´, con la
intención de dar a conocer el conflicto del Sahara Occidental. ver el
panfleto repartido durante la acción y fotos
<http://acp.sindominio.net/article.pl?sid=04/02/01/161210&mode=thread>
31.01.04 Barcelona
Despedida de la 10ª Caravana Catalana solidaria para el Sahara desde
el Parlamento de Catalunya
Los ciudadanos y ciudadanas de Catalunya despidieron la "10ª Caravana
Catalana Solidaria para el Sàhara" el sábado, 31 de enero, desde el
Parlamento de Catalunya. A este acto de despedida asistieron
representantes de la Generalitat de Catalunya y de organizaciones
políticas, así como alcaldes de diferentes municipios, sindicatos y
el Intergrupo Parlamentario "Paz en el Sáhara" al completo.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/aacapscar.html>
03.02.04 Sevilla
La empresa de relojería Valentín Ramos S.L. donará relojes a los
niños saharauis. Comunicado de la Asociación Provincial de Amistad
con el Pueblo Saharaui de Sevilla.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/acapss2004a.html>
COMUNG UP see also AGENDA <http://www.arso.org/07.htm>
Sevilla
Fiesta de clausura del proyecto "Caravana por la paz" de la
Asociación provincial de amistad con el pueblo saharaui de Sevilla:
15 de febrero, en el parque del Alamillo.
«West-Sahara: ein vergessenes Land» Dia Vortrag von Mag.a Noriko
Aoyagi, Sonntag 22. Februar 2004, 18:00 Beginn
Kulturverein Kanafani, Laimgrubengasse 19/1, 1060 Wien. Eintritt frei.
La Delegación Saharaui para Cantabria y la ONG Cantabria por el
Sahara han organizado un nuevo viaje al campamento de refugiados de
Tinduf, en Argel, desde el aeropuerto de Parayas. El viaje tendrá
lugar entre los días 21 al 28 de febrero. Info: mahbes@.... WEB
Vol "Catalunya amb el Sahara"
Setmana Santa 2004: 07 -12 de Abril, data exacta no encara
confirmat. Contact, informació: Associació Catalana d'Amics del Poble
Sahrauí, secció territorial de SAHANDREU, e-mail:
mailto:sahandreu@...
The Sahrawi workers´ trade union UGTSARIO will held its 5º Congress
of UGTSARIO at Tindouf (south Algeria) 18-20 May 2004. Contact :
ugtsario@..., tel/fax: 00 213 49 921 309
Musique sahraouie - Musica saharaui: Mariem Hassan y su grupo:
Belgique:
12.02.04 Brussellas, Espace Senghor
13.02.04 Anvers/ Antwerpen, Quixote
España:
28.02.04, Bilbao, Antxokia, 22 horas.
<http://www.kafeantzokia.com/eus/artxiboak/000422.html>
05.03.04, Salamanca, Cafe Corrillo, 22 horas
07.03.04, Madrid, Sala Clamores, direccion Alburquerque 14, 20.30 horas
12.03.04, Huesca, Eden, 23.30 horas
9, 10, 11, 12, 13 y 14 de Mayo, Forum de las Culturas de Barcelona,
la Plaza de las Culturas <http://www.barcelona2004.org>
(Nubenegra publicará el disco dedicado al MEDEH (cantos antiguos
saharauis), con lo que son ya seis los discos publicados de música
saharaui desde que en el 1997 iniciá la colaboración con el
Ministerio de Cultura de la RASD.)
Deutschland:
30.05.04 : Africa Festival Würzburg <http://www.afro.wuerzburg.de>
23.02.04 :Marathon du Sahara - Sahara Maraton - Sahara Marathon:
http://www.saharamarathon.org
INTERNET
Reminder: the latest news on the arso NEWS-Blog
<http://saharaoccidental.blogspot.com>
OPINION
-- Occupation days are numbered, Kamal Fadel, Polisario
Representative to Australia.
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/KamalF2004.htm>
-- Los días de la ocupación están contados, Kamal Fadel,
representante del F. Polisario en Australia.
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/KamalF2004s.htm>
-- Les jours de l'occupation sont comptés, Kamal Fadel, représentant
du F. Polisario en Australie.
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/KamalF2004f.htm>
-- Facts about what Morocco did really in Western Sahara during the
period of occupation, Hamdi Sid
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHa.htm>
-- Never forget those forgotten prisoners! Testimony from Abdallahi
Lakhfaouni, Kenitra central prison, January 2004.
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/lakfaouni2004.htm>
- Druck auf Marokko in der Westsahara-Frage: medico international
kritisiert schlechte Versorgungslage der Flüchtlinge, medico
international, 28.01.04.
<http://www.presseportal.de/story.htx?nr=521855>
- Comunicado de las hermanas FATMA y MAMIA SALEK ex-presas políticas
y militantes de Derechos Humanos Saharauis, Santa Cruz de
Tenerife,30.01.04. <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/FMSalek.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara occidental ou Sahara marocain ? To be or not to be
independent..., Adrian Coull, Mémoire de licence de géographie,
Université de Genève, directeur Prof. Ural Ayberk, 1999, 51 p.
- A quand le compromis ? Khemaïs El-Gharbi, Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie,
N° 172, janvier 2004.
<http://www.afrique-asie.com/archives/2004/172jan/172marocalg.htm>
- La Mission de l'ONU dans l'attente de la réponse du Maroc sur le
plan de paix, Le Soleil, Dakar, Sénégal, 24.01.04.
<http://www.lesoleil.sn/print.cfm?articles__id=34221>
- Des Européens manifestent contre le "mur marocain" et pour
l'autodétermination du peuple sahraoui, El Moudjahid, 27.01.04.
<http://80.88.0.236/stories.php?story=04/01/27/2292271>
- Le Maroc seul contre tous. La société civile internationale dévoile
le caractère colonialiste du régime marocain, L'Expression, Alger,
27.01.04.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/articles.php3?category=4&id=21656>
- Entretien avec Ali Salem Tamek, activiste sahraoui. Les
confessions d'un séparatiste, Abdallah Ben Ali, Maroc Hebdo
International, No 590, 30.01.04.
<http://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/MHinternet/Archives_590/html_590/confes.html>
- Atmosphère, Abdellatif Mansour, ibid.
<http://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/MHinternet/Archives_590/html_590/atmos.html>
- Sahara Occidental / Renouvellement du mandat de la MINURSO.
Réponses du porte-parole aux questions du point de presse, Paris,
03.02.04. <http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/actu/article.asp?ART=40017>
- Polémique au Maroc après la publication d'un entretien avec un
indépendantiste sahraoui, AP/ Edicom, 05.02.04.
<http://www.edicom.ch/news/international/040205153503.th.shtml>
- Ce Maroc que l'on trahit, Aujourd'hui le Maroc, 05.02.04.
<http://www.aujourdhui.ma/details/?ref=8218>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- An Arab first (Human rights in Morocco), NN, The Economist, London, 24.01.04.
- Morocco frees 12 Saharawi patriots, Paul Pederson, The Militant,
New York, Vol. 68/No. 4, 02.02.04.
<http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6804/680410.html>
- El Karama No 26, Nov.-Dec. 2003, engl. version, 4 p.
- Newsletter, Western Sahara Campaign Uk, January 2004, 4 p.
- Sahara Analysis, Western Sahara Campaign UK, No 31, 03.02.04.
<wsc@...>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- «La prórroga de la ONU no logrará acabar con nuestra paciencia»,
Jira Boulahi, Portavoz de las mujeres saharauis, Gara, 03.02.04.
<http://www.gara.net/orriak/P03022004/art69435.htm>
Libro de poemas
"VOZ DE FUEGO" / Mohamed Salem Abdelfatah, Ebnu, Servicio de
publicaciones ULPGC, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Puentepalo, 2003, 94
p.
"Voz de fuego" forma parte del proyecto "Suerte Mulana", grupo de
apoyo a la cultura saharaui, al igual que la antología de poes poesía
saharaui en castellano "Bubisher", editada por la editorial
Puentepalo. >> más
<http://uadi-kenta.webcindario.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=33>
Arabe
- Article sur Ali Salem Tamek dans l'hebdomadaire Bidawi.
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/Bidawi.jpg>
- Article sur Ali Salem Tamek dans l'hebdomadaire Annahar.
<http://alisalemtamek.site.voila.fr/annahar.doc>
Portugais
- Ainda ha trabalho a fazer no Sahara Occidental, Noticias, Maputo, 31.01.04.
- Prolongada missao da ONU no Sahara, Noticias, Maputo, 02.02.04.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-0304.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
January, WEEKS 03-04
11.01.- 24.01.2004
SADR
REFERENDUM
SPAIN
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
12.01.04
Parliament
The Prime Minister, Abdelkader Taleb Oumar presents to Parliament his
government’s programme for the year 2004, centred on "the
reinforcement of resistence by developing human resources and
material means", the improvement of living conditions in the camps,
the strengthening of social services for elderly people, the
handicapped and war veterans, the emanicipation of women, the
encouragement of agricultural and pastoral farming, manufacture of
crafts, cooperatives and professional training. The Saharawi
Parliament has 51 members of whom 12 are women. (SPS)
15.01.04
Germany
Mhamed Khaddad, member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario
Front and Coordinator with MINURSO, accompanied by the Representative
of the Polisario Front in Germany, Zakari Djamal, were received at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the Bundestag (Federal
Parliament) by all the parliamentary groups. Several political
parties expressed their "consternation over the procrastinations and
blockages which prevent the United Nations from completing their
mission" in Western Sahara, Khaddad declared.
The Polisario Front's delegation held a working session at the
regional parliament at Erfurt, capital of Thuringa, where the
creation of a support group for the Saharawi people, called "Salma",
chaired by the MEP Margot Kessler, was announced.
18-22.01.04
Cuba
Bachir Moustapha Sayed, Saharawi minister for teaching and education
took part in Havana in the 8th meeting of the joint Cuban-Saharawi
committee for scientific and technical collaboration between Cuba and
SADR, which meets every two years. The Cuban government was
represented by Ernesto Senti Darias, interim minister for foreign
investment and economic collaboration.
REFERENDUM
10-11.01.04
Khartoum - 8th Congress of the Organization of the African Trade
Unions Unity (OATUU)
The congress recommends to the UN the acceleration of the
decolonisation of Western Sahara and asks Morocco to abide by
international law and by resolution 1495 (2003) of 31.07.2003.
The congress calls trades unions across the whole world to join the
Saharawi workers in their struggle for freedom and independence.
Finally it condemns abuses of the rights of workers in the
territories occupied by Morocco.
12.01.04
Confidence-building measures
Direct telephone links between the Saharawi refugee camp of "27
February" and the occupied zones of Western Sahara have been opened
by the UNHCR. The international organisation envisages establishing a
"air bridge" between the Saharawi refugee camps and El Ayoun thanks
to MINURSO, whose Antonov planes make two flights each way daily
between Tindouf and El Ayoun, which could carry about twenty
passengers on each trip. The Polisario Front has given verbal
agreement for this operation. The HCR is waiting for a reply from the
Moroccan and Algerian authorities, "hoping for a favourable response
which will allow the first trip to be made on the occasion of Eid el
Kebir, on 1 February next".
Concerning exchanges of mail, the latest report from Kofi Annan
indicates that the Polisario Front and Algeria have accepted the
HCR’s conditions, which would be responsible for collecting and
distributing the mail. Morocco has asked that the Moroccan postal
service "should look after the collection and distribution of the
mail" (sic!), which the HCR cannot accept.
19.01.04
Secretary General's Report S/2004/39 (PDF
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/S_2004_39e.pdf>)
In July 2003, the Security Council in resolution 1495 ratified
Baker's peace plan and asked the parties to accept it. The Polisario
Front having replied favourably, it was to allow Morocco to express
its position that the mandate of MINURSO was extended to 31.10.03,
then to 31.01.04. In his latest report the Secretary General asks for
a further extension of three months, on the recommendation of James
Baker, "to allow him to consult further with Morocco on its final
response to the peace plan."
If the report does not state the content of Morocco's response, there
is information circulating about its substance. Thus the Spanish
press has claimed that Morocco would accept internal autonomy, but
would refuse any reference to independence in a referendum which
should take place in 4 or 5 years.
According the well-informed Saharawi sources, Morocco would concede a
wide autonomy to Western Sahara, but would not accept holding a
referendum. This return to Baker's first plan, the
framework-agreement, has apparently not found a favourable response
from Baker or the Security Council. The ball remains in Morocco's
court which has until the end of April to decide. According to
certain UN diplomats this extension could the "the last".
The Polisario representative in Spain, Ghali, considered Morocco's
position to be a challenge to the international community, and that
talk of sanctions should begin so that no more time is wasted.
SPAIN
14.01.04
Film
Release in Spain of the film ´Cuentos de la guerra saharaui´(stories
of the Saharawi war), which is fiction by Pedro Pérez Rosado, based
on the true story of a Spanish legionnaire who deserted in 1975 to
join the Saharawi people and share their life.
HUMAN RIGHTS
10.01.04
Assa
Ali Salem Tamek and other Saharawi political prisoners pardoned on 7
January were given a triumphal welcome in Assa (southern Morocco). A
large crowd was waiting for them at the town gate entrance, to then
accompany them in a procession. The return of those pardoned was the
occasion for a reception with many speeches. After the president of
the "Committee for the release of Tamek and all Saharawi political
prisoners" Al Moutawakil, Mohamed Daddach expressed his "satisfaction
at the victory over the forces of repression and the arbitrary". By
telephone, European human rights associations congratulated the
former detainees on their struggle.
See photographic reportage <http://www.arso.org/tamekphotos.html>
See the special page on the release of Saharawi prisoners with press
articles, reactions and statements <http://www.arso.org/DHprislib.htm>
18.01.04
Rabat
Tamek and the poltical detainees just released were received in
Rabat. A crowd of lawyers, human rights defenders, families of the
disappeared, former political detainees, journalists and
representatives of political parties welcomed them outside the
lawyers’ club, where a meeting was held for over two hours, with
speeches by Moroccan human rights organisations (AMDH, OMDH, FVJ),
action committees and political detainees. According to El Moutawakil
Mohammed, spokesman for the action committee for the release of Tamek
Ali Salem and all Saharawi political detainees, "this liberation is
positive and a step in the right direction, but remains incomplete
without the liberation of all Saharawi political detainees, without
light being shed on the disappearance of over 500 Saharawis, without
the lifting of the ban on the Sahara branch of the Forum for Truth
and Justice, without the return of activists deported to northern
Morocco and the return of their passports to Saharawi human rights
defenders who were intending to visit Geneva last year". Tamek, also
congratulated all the organisations, the press and the personalities
who had supported him all around the world, adding that "human rights
abuses in the Sahara are linked to the political conflict which has
been going on since 1975. These abuses will not stop unless a
definitive way out of the political issue is found." (corr.)
14.01.04
In a speech to the European Parliament on the preparations for the
60th session of the United Nations Commission of human rights,Yasmine
Boudjenah invited the governments of member states to support
strongly the United Nations in their present efforts. The deadline
being fixed for 31 January, there is urgency in exerting an influence
on Morocco to make it accept and implement without any further delay
the UN peace plan.
22.01.04
The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) sent a letter to the
President of the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Commission, the
Australian Ambassador, Michael Smith, to draw his attention to human
rights abuses in Western Sahara, and to ask him to contribute to the
release of all Saharawi political detainees, 500 disappeared
Saharawis and 150 prisoners of war. Deploring the fact that Western
Sahara "is in a state of siege", AWSA demands respect for free
circulation, freedom of expression and assembly, including the right
to travel abroad and to take part in the Commission of Human Rights.
It also called for "free access to the occupied zones for observers
and the media".(letter)<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/AWSA210104.htm>
HUMANITARIAN AID
12.01.04
The Saharawi Red Crescent (CRS) called on the ICRC to put more effort
into the release of Saharawi prisoners of war (list)
<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-070702.html#Ancrage002> and other
detainees in Morocco.(SPS)
13.01.04
Risk of famine in the Saharawi camps
"The situation risks being disastrous for the Saharawi refugees in
2004 in terms of food" Peter Kessler declared, the official in charge
of North Africa and spokesman for UNHCR, in an interview with the
Algerian daily El Watan, adding that the Saharawi refugees were close
to a food crisis in 2003. "Fortunately, he stated, the government in
Algiers made a gift of 10,000 tonnes of rice to 5 camps in Tindouf".
(El Watan)
20-24.01.04
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) coordinates
with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Algerian government on a
guided tour for Western diplomats based in Algiers to the Saharawi
refugee camps with the aim of updating them on the food situation and
of raising awareness among the principle funders, the USA, Japan,
Australia and Canada. The ambassadors of Austria, Finland and
representatives from the embassies of Belgium, Spain, the USA,
France, Italy and South Africa accompany the officials from the HCR
and WFP as well as the Algerian government, the Algerian Red
Crescentand the Humanitarian Affairs Office for the European
Commission (ECHO). The mission will also inquire into the progress of
confidence-building measures put in place by the HCR. (IRIN)
SOLIDARITY
16.01.04
EUROPEAN ACTION CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW UN PEACE
PLAN FORWESTERN SAHARA: Demonstrations in Paris, Brussels, Madrid,
Seville, Stockholm, see special page
<http://www.arso.org/act160104.htm>
17.01.04
Italy
The national Association of solidarity with the Saharawi people
(ANSPS) in collaboration with the local association Haima organised
at the head quarters of the commune of Naples a national Seminar on
the hosting of Saharawi children to prepare the next holidays.
COMING UP...
23.01.04 CHARTER FLIGHT from ITALIY
Also this year the usual charter flight to Tindouf will leave Pisa
airport on 23rd January thanks to the commitment of the Tuscany
Branch of the National Association for the solidarity to the Saharawi
people.
Public administrators, volunteers, common people and many students
from the secondary schools will visit not only the Saharawi refugee
camps, but undertaking a long trip through the liberated West Sahara
desert, they will also peacefully demonstrate in front of the "wall
of the shame", which was built by the Moroccan authorities and about
which too few words are spoken up. Moreover, a great party will be
organised to inaugurate a water-hole, drilled by the Italian
Publiacqua Company, which will provide water to the Auserd tent town.
27.01.04 New York. Security Council. Debate on the extension of MINURSO.
29.01.04 Berlin. The German parliament will debate a motion entitled
"Support for the Baker plan and a political solution to the conflict
in Western Sahara", lodged on 7 January by the four most important
political parties represented in the Bundestag. The motion asks the
government to make Morocco and the Polisario accept the Baker plan,
and for European countries to support the peace process, for the
government to make military observers available if needed, to call on
WFP and ECHO to deliver sufficient food aid for the Saharawi
refugees, and to put pressure on the Polisario for the release of
prisoners of war and on Morocco to shed light on the fate of the
disappeared.
Sveden, 25 january 2004: EN ANNAN RÖST
Alternativ konferens om folkmord, terror och mänskliga rättigheter
Söndag 25 januari, ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41 * Entré 40 kr
Workshop 11.30 Ockupationen av Västsahara
Hillevi Larsson, riksdagsledamot (s), medlem i föreningen Västsahara
21 to 28 February 2004: Sahara marathon.
The Spanish Associations’ "White March to the wall of shame in
Western Sahara" due to be held 25-29 January 2004, has been postponed
until 7-11 April 2004.
Toledo, 16-18 april 2004
International Conference on information in Western Sahara (contact:
aapss@...)
INTERNET
- New on arso.org <http://www.arso.org>:
-- a Weblog or multilingual Newsblog
<http://saharaoccidental.blogspot.com > with the latest news,
interesting publications, announcements etc
-- a research tool <http://www.arso.org/search.html>. With a modest
performance, it allows, with the help of key words, to search the
3000 documents held on the arso.org site.
- -New documents:
- Synthèse sur l'exploitation des ressources naturelles du Sahara
Occidental, nov.-déc. 2003 (Ph. Riché)
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/actresnat01.htm> (envoi du document
par e-mail sur demande)
- Mohamed Fadel Lili: Testimonio de 15 años de tragedia,
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/Journal0104.htm#sp> traduccción en
castellano por L.Haidar de "Quinze années de plomb sur fond de
Moussem des roses (rencontre Mohamed Fadel Leili), Yassine Zizi, Le
Journal du 11 au 16 janvier
2004".<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/Journal0104.htm>
- Les accusations de travaux forcés dans les campements sahraouis
s'avèrent fausses, Rainer Chr Hennig, afrol News, 14.11.03
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/frobafrol2003.htm>(traduction par M.
de Froberville de "Se demuestran falsas las acusaciones de trabajos
forzados en los campamentos saharauis
<http://www.afrol.com/es/Noticias2003/sah048_oxfam.htm>)
New URL:
- AFAPREDESA Web : <http://www.afapredesa.org>
- Nuevo sito: Diritti dell'uomo nel Sahara Occidentale
<http://www.radiokcentrale.it/du.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-TEL QUEL online No 109
>> Victoire! Habile manoeuvre royale
>><http://www.telquel-online.com/109/couverture_109_1.html>
>> Les dessous d'un grâce
>><http://www.telquel-online.com/109/couverture_109_3.html>
>> 7 janvier 2004: récit d'une folle journée
>><http://www.telquel-online.com/109/couverture_109_2.html>
>> Les autres <http://www.telquel-online.com/109/couverture_109_4.html>
-TEL QUEL online No 110
>> Quand le roi bouscule ses lignes rouges, Sahara : Que faire des
>>indépendantistes ?, Driss Bennani, ibid.
>><http://www.telquel-online.com/110/couverture_110_2.html>
>> Quand le roi bouscule ses lignes rouges, Gràce et conséquences,
>>Ahmed R. Benchemsi, No 110, 19.01.04.
>><http://www.telquel-online.com/110/couverture_110_1.html>
- Au Sahara Occidental: Une parenthèse heureuse, Didier Page, La
Gruyère, CH-Bulle, 23.12.03.
- Ali Salem Tamek: un rebelle irrédentiste? Le Journal N0 142du 11 au
16 janvier 2004 <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/tamekjournal04.htm>
- Quinze années de plomb sur fond de Moussem des roses (rencontre
Mohamed Fadel Leili), Yassine Zizi, Le Journal Hebdomadaire No 142 du
11 au 16 janvier 2004. <http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/Journal0104.htm>
- Ali Salem Tamek (Militant sahraoui des droits de l'homme) /
«D'autres détenus politiques dans les prisons marocaines», Monia
Zergane, El Watan, 12.01.04.
<http://www.elwatan.com/journal/html/2004/01/12/international.htm#ALI%20SALEM%20\
TAMEK%20(Militant%20sahraoui%20des%20droits%20de%20líhomme)%20/%20´Díautres%20dÈ\
tenus%20politiques%20dans%20les%20prisons%20marocainesª>
- Le HCR tire la sonette d'alarme / Risque de famine dans les camps
sahraouis, El Watan, 13.01.04.
<http://www.elwatan.com/journal/html/2004/01/13/derniere.htm#LE%20HCR%20TIRE%20L\
A%20SONNETTE%20D'ALARME%20/%20Risque%20de%20famine%20dans%20les%20camps%20sahrao\
uis>
- Entretien avec le président Abdelaziz, Le déclenchement d'une
guerre n'est pas à exclure, Hafid S., El Khabar, Alger, 22.01.04.
<http://www.elkhabar.com/pages/2004/janvier/22012004/pageFrancais.html>
- La position de l'Algérie est constante et noble, B. Kamel, ibid.
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- "Reconciliation" In Morocco, Mohamad Al Ashab, Al-Hayat, Beirut,
11.01.04.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/OPED/01-2004/Article-20040111-05877f6e-c0a8-01ed-\
0038-119a6516c0c3/story.html>
- Misleading Rhetoric in 2004 State of the Union Address, An
Annotated Critique of Foreign Policy Segments, Stephen Zunes,
Dissident Voice, 22.01.04.
<http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Jan04/Zunes0122.htm>
Castellano
Nuevo libro
- 'Mientras soñaba, al oeste del Sahara', Agripín Montilla Mesa,
Ediciones Litopress, 2003.
- Una novela desvela "la traición y las injusticias" que el gobierno
español cometió con el pueblo saharaui, Europapress.
<http://www.planetadeagostini.es/noticias&id=198440&s=1>
- Acusación "Fui acusado, sin pruebas, de pertenecer al Polisario y
atentar contra el Estado" Entrevista a Ali Salem Tamek, prisionero
político saharaui "La cárcel Negra de El Aaiún es una fosa común para
los presos" Carla Fibla - 13/01/2004
<http://www.lavanguardia.es/web/20040113/51149906593.html>
- ME SORPRENDIÓ SABER QUE LA AMNISTÍA ME ALCANZABA TAMBIÉN A MÍ
(Declaraciones de Ali Salem Tamek para Al Ayam nº177) Traducido del
árabe por L.
Haidar<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/tamekalayam04.htm#sp>
- El País reconoce y legitima la ocupación marroquí del Sahara en su
enciclopedia , Rebelon, 21-01-2004.
<http://www.rebelion.org/spain/040121pis.htm>
y
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc,
en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
Italiano
- Profughi saharawi telefonano a casa dopo 30 anni, MISNA, 17.01.04.
<http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=2&id=104801>
- Oltre il muro: la RASD, Violazione dei Diritti dell'Uomo nel Sahara
Occidentale, ATTUALITA' dal 1 al 31 dicembre 2003,.A cura di
Jacqueline Philippe. :
Deutsch
- Rabats «tödliche Autonomielösung», Ralf Streck, Junge Welt,
20.01.04.<http://www.jungewelt.de/2004/01-20/008.php>
- Deutscher Bundestag, 15. Wahlperiode, 7. Januar 2004. Antrag der
Fraktionen SPD, CDU/CSU, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN und FDP: Eine
politische Lösung für den Westsaharakonflikt voranbringen -
Baker-Plan unterstützen.
- Die Saharauis fühlen sich betrogen, Marokko legt Gegenvorschlag zu
Baker-Plan vor, Ralf Streck, Neues Deutschland, 20.01.04.
<http://www.nd-online.de/artikel.asp?AID=47587&IDC=2>
- Marokko und UNO wollen Saharauis austricksen, Ralf Streck,
indymedia, 20.01.04.<http://de.indymedia.org/2004/01/72433.shtml>
Arabe
- Interview de Ali Salem Tamek, AL AYAM 15-21.01.04
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/tamekalayam04.htm>
- Entretien du président Abdelaziz, al Khabar, Alger, 22.01.04.(PDF)
Page 1, Page 12.
<http://www.elkhabar.com/pages/2004/janvier/22012004/page1.pdf> et
<http://www.elkhabar.com/pages/2004/janvier/22012004/page12.pdf>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
CH-2800 DELEMONT
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e04-0102.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
JANUARY, WEEKS 01+02
01.01.-10.01.2004
SADR
REFERENDUM
MOROCCO
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
05.01.04
A national conference brought together, in the wilaya of Ausserd, the
Committee of External Relations, Saharawi representatives in Europe,
staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government and local
officials to discuss international humanitarian aid, international
solidarity and the program of annual holidays of Saharawi children
abroad. (SPS)
10.01.04
First session of the new National Council (Parliament) in the wilaya
of Ausserd, devoted to discussion of the annual program of the
government of Mr Abdelkader Taleb Oumar. (SPS)
REFERENDUM
08-10.01.04
Moroccan Lobbying in Washington
The Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou went to Washington on a
working visit during which he had talks with the American
Vice-President, Dick Cheney, President Bush's national security
adviser, Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Deputy Secretary of State for North
Africa and the Middle East William Burns, as well as the
representative for external trade, Robert Zoellick.
Jettou took part in a forum organised by the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS), where he reiterated Morocco's
attachment to a "peaceful, negotiated, consensual and lasting
solution to the "artificial conflict" of the Sahara, a solution which
would save the area from becoming "a fertile ground for terrorism".
Coming out of the meeting with Powell, the American spokesperson
declared that "the question of the Sahara was also brought up, the
Western Sahara where we're all looking for the opportunity to make
progress towards resolving that dispute".
29.12.03
Spain
The death was announced of Jaime de Piniés, who was ambassador of
Spain at the UN for 30 years, where he played on several occasions a
determining role for the Saharawi people. He is also the author of
two important works: "La descolonización del Sáhara: un tema sin
concluir" (Espasa Calpe, Madrid, 1990, 240 p.), and "La
descolonización española en las Naciones Unidas : Guinea Ecuatorial
(Fernando Poo y Rio Muni), Ifni, Sahara Occidental y Gibraltar y las
Naciones Unidas" (Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales,
Madrid, 2001, 860 p.)
MOROCCO
24.12.03
Goulimine - Saharawi unemployed
Work for the unemployed provided by National Self-Help in the region
consists of street cleaning, tree-planting etc. Saharawis feel
themselves discriminated against. To obtain such a job, you must
either originate from North Morocco, or bribe an official. The wali
of the region of Goulimine-Smara, Ali Kabiri, offered young Saharawis
without a job to join the army, a solution they refused. He then
decided not to give any more certificates of family responsibilities
which allow exemption from military service.
A group of these young Saharawis, called the "Group of the victims of
Ali Kabiri", have been demonstrating since 19 November outside the
Ministry of the Interior in Rabat. The suspended their action on 25
December following the intervention of the member of parliament for
Tata, who promised the delivery of exemption certificates from
military service for young Saharawis. In a letter to the king, the
group accused the wali of corruption, financial manipulation and
falsification of elections in favour of non-Saharawis.
HUMAN RIGHTS
07.01.04
Protest
Former Saharawi disappeared, who were in Moroccan prisons from 1976
to 1991, have formally denied the allegations of the Moroccan
Consultative Committee of Human Rights (CCDH), which claim they have
all been compensated. (SPS, communiqué de l'Association Française
d'Amitié et de Solidarité avec les Peuple d'Afrique (AFASPACommuniqué
AFASPA du 06.01.04
french<http://www.afaspa.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=72>)
07.01.04
Release
The King of Morocco, on the occasion of setting up the Committee
"Equity and Reconciliation", pardoned thirty-three people, including
the two murderers of Omar Benjelloun, symbolic figure of Moroccan
opposition, seven journalists including Ali Lmrabet, 12 Saharawi
political prisoners (including Ali Salem
Tamek<http://www.arso.org/Tamek100902.htm>, Moussaoui Dkhil
<http://www.arso.org/080403MousaouiD.htm> and Bazeid Salek
<http://www.arso.org/NI120303.htm>, members of the former Forum for
Truth and Justice Sahara branch, >> see list
<http://www.arso.org/DHprislib.htm#list> ), as well as Mohamed Rachid
Chriî, vice-president of AMDH, seven arms dealers and islamic
terrorists.
If this gesture has been generally welcomed positively, human rights
organisations recalled that Morocco has still many cases of political
prisoners to deal with, including a dozen Saharawis. They point out,
on the other hand, that these releases are the result of battles
waged by the prisoners themselves, their families and human rights
organisations and activists in Morocco, Western Sahara, and on an
international level. Greeted as a step in the right direction, the
aim of this measure is to take the blot off Morocco's escutcheon so
far as human rights are concerned, to give some standing to the body
Equity and Reconciliation, strongly criticised for its limited
powers, and to give a good impression on an international level on
the eve of the Security Council discussion. >> Triumph for Human
Rights Protesters in WS, Statement of the Australia Western Sahara
Association (AWSA) <http://www.arso.org/awsa0104.htm> and >> special
page with other comments and reactions
<http://www.arso.org/DHprislib.htm#comm>.
07.01.04
"Equity et Reconciliation"
The body "Equity et Reconciliation", officially inaugurated by
Mohamed VI, aims to bring closure on past human rights abuses on the
basis of justice and equity. Within a time-frame of 9 months, which
could be extended if need be by a maximum of 3 months, the body will
proceed to a global evaluation of the settlement process of the
dossier of past human rights abuses; it will search for cases of
forced disappearance not already elucidated and determine the places
of burial of the victims of forced disappearance and arbitrary
detention, carefully side-stepping the question of impunity of the
guilty.
The FIDH, in partnership with the Monitoring Committee (Moroccan
Association of human rights AMDH, Forum of Truth and Justice FVJ and
Moroccan organisation of human rights OMDH) decided to put in place
as soon as possible an umbrella group to monitor and evaluate this
body.
[Other statements of position on the body "Equity and
Reconciliation", see week 48-49/2003
<http://www.arso.org/01-f03-4849.htm#dh>, Comité préparatoire des
Sahraouis victimes de la disparition forcée et de la détention
arbitraire rescapés des lieux marocains secrets de détentions
<http://www.birdhso.org/communiqueasddh.html#comite041103>,
Communiqué de l'Association marocaine des droits humains relatif à
l'instance dite Equité et Réconciliation du 14 novembre 2003
<http://www.amdh.org.ma/html/communiquÈs.htm#comiteequitereco>,
Communiqué de la famille du disparu marocain Omar El Ouassouli, 21
novembre 2003
,<http://www.annahjaddimocrati.org/francais/droits/com_elouass03.htm>]
08.01.04
Welcome
The liberated Saharawi detainees were welcomed triumphally. In the
course of a meeting in El Ayoun in the courtyard of the house of one
of them, Salek Bazeid, Mrs Aminatou Haidar, former political
detainee paid tribute to "the courage and self-abnegation of these
valiant fighters for freedom". Several former detainees considered
that terror and repression "will in no way affect the determination
of the Saharawi people to pursue their struggle for
self-determination and independence".
Ali Salem Tamek was greeted on leaving prison by hundreds of people,
before taking part in a meeting organised on the university campus of
Agadir by Moroccan and Saharawi students. Commissioner Hariz El
Arbi, a well-known torturer, and the deputy governor of the Moroccan
administration in Western Sahara had exerted strong pressure on the
families of the released prisoners to prevent any public expression
of their joy. (SPS)
HUMANITARIAN AID
09.01.04
European Union
The European Commission approved a series of decisions in the domain
of humanitarian aid, including 5.14 million euros destined for the
Saharawi refugees.
INTERNET
- Sahara News Papers, Revista electronica sobre cultura y arte
rupestre del Sahara Occidental, Enero 2004, nº4.
<http://uadi-kenta.webcindario.com/revista04.htm> (contient de
nombreux liens à des documents historiques importants)
-- Aportaciones al estudio de los grabados rupestres del Sahara
Español (Zona Meridional), M. Pellicer; P. Acosta; Mauro S.
Hernández; Dimas Martin, Tabona 2, Universidad de la Laguna, La
Laguna, 1973-74.
<http://blackdoor.webcindario.com/Pellicer&Acosta_II.htm>
-- Magia y superstición en el Sáhara español, Julio Cola Alberich,
Africa,1953, pp. 133-135.
.<http://sahara-news.webcindario.com/magiasahara.htm>
-- Los problemas de la investigación prehistórica en el Sahara
español, Conferencia pronunciada en el Instituto de Estudios
Africanos el día 27 de abril de 1955 por D. Francisco Jorda Cerda.
<http://uadi-kenta.webcindario.com/losproblemas.htm>
-- Prehistoria de Africa: manifestaciones artisticas, Francisca
Martín-Cano Abreu, 2001.
<http://blackdoor.webcindario.com/martcan.htm>
-- Formas de origen Atlantico en el arte rupestre del Sahara Español,
Balbin Behrmann, Rodrigo de, XIV Congreso Nacional de Arqueologia,
2000. <http://uadi-kenta.webcindario.com/Balbin.htm>
-- Prospection archéologique au Sahara atlantique (Rio de Oro et
Seguiet el Hamra), Gran Aymerich, J.M.J., Antiquités africaines, t.
13, Université d'Aix en Provence, Aix-en Provence, 1979. (en
français)<http://uadi-kenta.webcindario.com/Gran_Aymerich.htm>
- Voyage d'exploration à travers le Sahara Occidental et le sud
marocain par Camille Douls, Bulletin de la société de géographie,
Paris, série 7, IX, 1888, pp. 437-479. (en français) PDF Vol 1
<http://blackdoor.webcindario.com/voyageausahara(I).pdf> PDF Vol 2
<http://blackdoor.webcindario.com/voyageausahara(II).pdf>
- La infanteria de marina durante la guerra de Ifni y Sáhara y la
descolonización de los territorios
<http://members.fortunecity.es/aec51/ifni/index.htm>
- Trab-el-bidan MUSICA (Estas grabaciones, están depositadas en la
Biblioteca Nacional francesa. Las gravaciones se efectuaron entre
1912 y 1952). <http://sahara-news.webcindario.com/musica.htm>
- Centenario de la aviacion - Los pioneros del correo aereo (Notas
sobre la historia de la aviación en el Sahara Occidental)
-- Les pionniers de l'aéropostale (documents sur l'histoire de
l'aviation au Sahara Occidental et à Tarfaya)
-- El correo del sur
<http://www.bcnet.upc.es/aeromuseo/historia/latecoere/elcorreodelsur.html>
-- De Latécoère à Aéropostale (en français) <http://www.latecoere.com>
-- Pour que passe le courrier, Joseph Roig (en français)
<http://www.latecoere.com/organisation/jeu%20de%20cadres/cadre_index.html>
-- Casablanca - Cabo Juby - Dakar <http://www.histaer.org/rutas/casa-dakar.htm>
Nouveau site/ Nuevo sitio/ New website en arabe (territoire occupé du
Sahara Occidental): http://chabab-lwali.site.voila.fr/
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
Amnesty International: La grâce accordée à plusieurs dizaines de
prisonniers politiques est un pas positif, 07.01.04
<http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/framde290022004>
- Grâce royale pour le journaliste Ali Lmrabet et 32 autres
prisonniers politiques marocains, Jean-Pierre Tuquoi, Le Monde,
09.01.04.
<http://www.lemonde.fr/web/imprimer_article/0,1-0@2-3212,36-348350,0.html>
- Maroc.Nouvelle ère ou feu de paille . Hassane Zerrouky, L'Humanité,
09.01.04.
<http://www.humanite.presse.fr/journal/2004-01-09/2004-01-09-385833>
English
English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- The Bet Is On Tripoli, Mohamad Al Ashab, Al-Hayat, Beirout,
04.01.04.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/OPED/01-2004/Article-20040104-e11f9ed2-c0a8-01ed-\
007f-c44f9d595f2d/story.html>
- Sardines and sovereignty in Western Sahara, Eileen Byrne, Reuters,
06.01.04<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1266>
- Saharawi prisoners released from Moroccan jails, Afrol News,
08.01.04 <http://www.afrol.com/prueba/articles/10726>
Castellano
Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-"La ONU debe presionar a Marruecos", entrevista de M.S.Embarek
Miembro de la Delegación del Frente POLISARIO en Euskadi, Y.Montero,
El Pais - Pais Vasco, 24.12.03
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/guipuzkoa2003media.htm>
- Satisfacción en la Abogacía Española por el indulto de 8 presos
saharauis cuyos juicios irregulares denuncio el CGAE, 08.01.04
<http://www2.cgae.es/es/contenidos/contenido.asp?iddoc=1032>
Italiano
- Dakar: via libera dal Fronte Polisario per la 26.a edizione,
auto.datasport.it, 31.12.03.
<http://auto.datasport.it/leggi.asp?id=1944271&sottocategoria=98>
- Un progetto per il popolo africano in esilio. In aiuto dei Saharawi
3000 euro raccolti dagli anziani del «Tulipano», Gazetta di Parma,
0.6.01.04.
<http://www.gazzettadiparma.it/gazzetta%5Csito%5CArticoli.nsf/ARTHW4/a86bf8ac364\
63a86c1256e140028e7f2?Open>
Suédois
- Västsahara nr 3/4 2003.
<http://www.natverkstan.net/vastsahara/>Saharabulletinen byter namn
till Västsahara!
Deutsch
- Amnesty International: Marokko Westsahara: Begnadigung politischer
Gefangener ein positiver Schritt, 8.01.04
<http://www.amnesty.ch/d/id/idpd/04I/20040108_mwd.html>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-52.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
December, WEEK 52
21.12.-31.12.2003
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
We send our best wishes for 2004 to all our faithful readers
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
SADR
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
HUMAN RIGHTS
MAGHREB ARAB UNION
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
28.12.03
26th Telefonica-Dakar Rally
The organisers of the Telefonica-Dakar motor rally, have obtained a
green light from the Saharawi authorities to cross Western Sahara
after having undertaken to respect the conditions set by the
Polisario Front (geographical map with correct borders, escort by
MINURSO, political neutrality etc.) (SPS)
REFERENDUM
28.12.03
Sweden
The Swedish parliament approved the report of its Foreign Affairs
Committee (Utrikesutskottets betänkande 2003/04:UU3) which expressed
its full support for the role of the UN in Western Sahara, for the
peace plan as well as for the present mediation efforts towards
finding a quick and lasting solution to the conflict. They declare
that the Saharawi people should be able to enjoy the right to
self-determination and decolonisation. The report insists on Sweden
approaching other countries and international organisations with a
view to increasing their humanitarian aid to the refugees.
29.12.03
Spain
The Aragon Cortes (Parliament) gave unanimous approval to an
"Institutional Declaration" asking the Spanish government to renew,
in the Security Council's forthcoming debates their support for the
Baker plan in order to push the Moroccan authorities to accept it
also. The parliamentarians also welcomed the Saharawi people's
acceptance of the plan.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
19.12.03
Amnesty International
In its report on human rights defenders throughout the world
<http://news.amnesty.org/mav/index/ENGPOL3012192003 >, A.I. notes
that dozens of Saharawi families of disappeared, human rights
defenders working on the issue of disappearance, as well as Saharawi
activists, have been the object of harassment and intimidation by
Moroccan authorities over recent months. Some of them had been
members of the Sahara branch of the Forum for Truth and Justice,
banned on 18 June 2003. A.I. is concerned by the fact that peaceful
expression of opinion by them on self-determination and human rights
and communication between them and foreign human rights organisations
should be considered as illegal acts by their justice system.
25.12.03
Harassment
Mohammed Daddach and Hmad Hammad were once again subjected to
bickering over procedures and intimidation by Moroccan authorities.
They went by car to Smara to see Nassiri Ahmed, a political prisoner
released on 21.12.03 after serving a prison sentence. At the police
barrier of the royal gendarmerie at the entrance to the town, they
were arrested and subjected to interrogation on the reasons for their
visit. Their car was thoroughly searched. After an hour, they were
released but followed right to the house of Nassiri's family. For the
whole of their stay they were watched. As they left the town, they
were still followed by the royal gendarmerie for about ten kilometres
out of Smara.
26.12.03
Saharawi political prisoners in El Ayoun's black prison decided to
renew their struggle for their rights. They will begin a hunger
strike on the 9, 10 and 11 January next and envisage proceeding to an
unlimited strike. They will ask for support from human rights
defenders throughout the world. (AFAPREDESA)
HUMAN RIGHTS
24.12.03
Prisoners of war
From 2-16 December delegates of the ICRC, including a doctor, visited
the Moroccan prisoners in the hands of the Polisario Front. They
talked individually with 291 of the 614 prisoners still held in
captivity, of whom 188 have been held for over 20 years. The object
of the visit was to evaluate the conditions of detention and the
progress of their state of physical and psychological health. (...)
The ICRC remains very concerned about the physical and mental state
of these prisoners and reiterates its appeal that all should be
liberated without delay, in conformity with the provisions of
international humanitarian law.
(ICRC<http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList4/57A5CFE2AE34744DC1256E06\
0
0425DB5>)
MAGHREB ARAB UNION
22.12.03
Postponement sine die of the summit of the MAU
The summit of the Maghreb Arab Union (MAU), due to be held on 23 and
24 December in Algiers, was postponed sine die by the Council of
Foreign Affairs Ministers of the organisation meeting in Algiers. The
presidency of the organisation was entrusted to Libya.
24.12.03
Statement
President Mouamar El Khadafi made the following statement to the
Libyan press agency: "(...) The question of the Sahara is at the top
of the agenda for the next summit, and this will be held after the
coming presidential elections in Algeria. We must inform ourselves
about the efforts of James Baker, in charge of the Sahara question.
The date of the next summit of the Union of the Arab Maghreb will be
agreed and will take place in Libya after dialogue with the member
countries.
COMING UP...
25-29.01.04 Tifariti (liberated territories of SADR)
International march to the wall of shame in Western Sahara
"For peace and self-determination for the Saharawi people", "Demand
that the UN keeps its commitments". Organised by Spanish associations
of solidarity in collaboration with the European Coordination of
support for the Saharawi people, this march to the "wall" which
separates Saharawi families is to denounce the suffering of the
Saharawi people who have been waiting for 28 years to decide their
own future. Its aim is to make the UN and the international community
implement the Security Council's resolutions. See Information,
program, (at the moment only in Spanish)
<http://www.arso.org/marcha2004.htm>
13 February 2004: BRUSSELS
Sahara Blues - Mariem Hassan and Leyoad (Western Sahara)
<http://mariemhassan.calabashmusic.com/> Information and
reservations: 02 / 230.31.40. e-mail <mailto:senghor.tn@...>
21-28.02.04, Saharawi Refugee Camps: Sahara Marathon 2004. Further
information: http://www.saharamarathon.com/
INTERNET
- Utrikesutskottets betänkande 2003/04:UU3, Sveriges politik för
global utveckling, Dec.
2003.<http://www.riksdagen.se/debatt/bet_yttr/dok.asp?dok_id=GR01UU3http://www.r\
iksdagen.se/debatt/bet_yttr/dok.asp?dok_id=GR01UU3>
- Témoignage : Les conditions de détention à la prison de Laayoune
dite "Prison Noire" (Sahara Occidental), Ahmed Naciri, n° d'écrou
1119, défenseur des droits de l'Homme, détenu politique à la prison
Aït Melloul à Agadir, 19/12/03.
<http://www.france-libertes.fr/base/actu_jour_02.htm>
- "Declaración Institucional adoptada por el Pleno de las Cortes de
Aragón, en sesión celebrada el día 29 de diciembre de 2003, sobre la
autodeterminación del
Sahara".<http://www.umdraiga.com/resoluciones/declaracion291203cortes.htm>
- Nueva dirección de la página web de la Secció territorial de
Tarragona de l'Associació Catalana d'Amics del Poble Sahrauí :
<http://www.vidalibarraquer.net/entitats/altres/sahara/index.htm>
- UEA Saharan Studies Programme <http://www.uea.ac.uk/sahara/>
--- The Western Sahara Project: Archaeology, culture and
environmental change in northwest Africa:
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara.htm>
--- Conflict in the Western Sahara
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara/2002results/conflict/conflict.html>
-- Scientific context
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara/context.html>
--- Western Sahara -past and present environments
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara/2002results/environment/env.html>
--- Rock art of Western Sahara
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara/2002results/rockart/rockart.html>
--- Funerary Monuments of Western Sahara
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara/2002results/burials/burials02.html>
--- Western Sahara Project: study area
<http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/wsahara/WSahara-area.html>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Le conflit du peuple sahraouis'est ensablé, entretien avec Mme F.
Buchet par Th. Theurillat et D. Balmer, La fonction publique,
CH-Lausanne, no 634, décembre 2003, pp. 14-15.
- Sahara,Rif, Souss, plaidoyer pour un Etat fédéral, Driss Ksikès,
Tel Quel, Maroc, no 106, 27.12.03.
<http://www.telquel-online.com/106/edito_106.html>
- Appel global de l'UNHCR 2004, Afrique du Nord, Faits nouveaux
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.pdf?id=3fded6517&tbl=MEDIA>
-L'UMA est encore et toujours en chantier : du 5+5 euro-méditerranéen
au 5-5 maghrébin, Louisa Aït Hamadouche, La Tribune, Alger, 31.12.03
<http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200312310167.html>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Realists v. Hawks: Baker Returns, Jim Lobe, IRC Right Web,Silver
City, NM: Interhemispheric Resource Center, 15.12.03.
<http://rightweb.irc-online.org/analysis/2003/0312baker.html>
- Governments fail to protect human right defenders, Amnesty
international, AI Index:POL 30/038/2003, News Service
No:288,19.12.03. <http://news.amnesty.org/mav/index/ENGPOL3012192003 >
- Mauritania: Oil to flow in two years, Simon Taggart, African
Business (London), Dec 2003, Iss. 293.
- UNHCR Global Appeal 2004, North Africa, Recent developments,
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.pdf?id=3fc754743&tbl=MEDIA>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Revista de la prensa española de la semana:
http://www.nodo50.org/fpolisario/Prensa.htm
- Noticias de prensa, Recopilación semanal de todos los articulos de
la prensa de España:
http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/
- Arenas coloniales. Los Awlad Dalim ante la colonización
franco-española del Sáhara. Alberto Lopez Bargados, 614 p., 2003.
Portugais
- Aumentam casos de subnutricao entre saharauis, Noticias, Maputo, 22.12.03.
Italiano
- "Giornata Saharawi": intervista a Yacoub Mbarek, WarNews, 23.12.03.
<http://www.warnews.it/index.cgi?action=printtopic&id=2460>
Deutsch
- Marokkos Hinhaltetaktik, Ulrich Delius, pogrom nr. 221, 5/2003, p. 37.
- Sahara-Info Nr. 89, Dezember 2003, Bulletin des Schweiz.
Unterstützungskomitees für die Sahraouis, Bern, 8 p.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-5051.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
WEEKS 50+51
07.-20.12.2003
REFERENDUM
MOROCCO
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
REFERENDUM
06.12.03
James Baker has been appointed by George Bush as his personal
representative in Iraq to restructure and reduce the Iraqi
international debt, amounting to 200 billion US dollars.
Peace Plan - confidence building measures
Mhamed Khadad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO and Yahya
Bouhebeini, President of the Saharawi Red Crescent, had talks in
Geneva on 06-07.12.03 with the UN Secretary General's Special
Representative for Western Sahara Alvaro de Soto, on the subject of
"confidence-building measures" (exchange visits, telephone calls and
correspondence by post between the population of the occupied
territories and that in the refugee camps).
Folowing this meeting a delegation was sent to Algiers and Rabat made
up of Mr Alvaro de Soto, accompanied by Mrs Carmen Johns, Adviser on
Political Affairs for MINURSO and Mr Radhouane Nouicer, deputy
director of the Regional Office of the UNHCR for Central Asia, South
West Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The point of these
visits is to agree a timetable for the implementation of the UNHCR
proposals to "reestablish direct contact between the Saharawi
refugees in the camps and their families in Western Sahara". (UN-news
16.12.03)
The delegation is expected very soon in the refugee camps.
Diplomacy
Brussels, The Hague, Stockholm.
Mhamed Khadad was received at Foreign Affairs ministries in Belgium,
the Netherlands and Sweden. He also met representatives of Swedish
political humanitarian NGO officers and one from the Swedish agency
for international co-operation and development. All the Swedish
officials encountered expressed the hope that the Baker plan would be
implemented as soon as possible.
MOROCCO
28.11.03
POWs
Tibari Benkiban, a Moroccan former prisoner of war held by the
Polisario, was discovered a fortnight after his death, in a hut near
Sidi Kacem, where he was living in complete destitution. (Maroc Hebdo
International No 582).
Appearing under the name Tibati Ben Kabbal on ICRC lists, he had been
captured by the Saharawi armed forces on 16 January 1978. A civil
employee of the Moroccan army, he was working at that time on the
repair of a bridge. He was released by the Polisario Front with 85
other prisoners on 1 May 1997 on the occasion of James Baker's visit
to the camps. This group was not repatriated for three years, until
the end of February 2000, the Moroccan government having refused to
accept its own fellow citizens.
In 1997, questioned by a Spanish journalist, Tibari declared: "If the
Moroccan Government does not recognise our existence, why does it
continue pension payments to our families?" adding, "The Moroccans
and the Saharawis are brother peoples, it's the boundaries which are
the problem. So long as there is no international solution for the
Sahara, we will not return home."
The Moroccan Association "of sons of martyrs and disappeared of the
Sahara" expressed "its disappointment in noting the absence of the
issue of Moroccan prisoners of war and their families in the
constitution of the body "Equity and Reconciliation".
The association which defends the interests of Moroccan prisoners of
war is calling for an apology from the Moroccan state and all those
responsible for "the tragedy of the oldest prisoners in the world".
It calls for those responsible for acts of torture to be brought to
justice, many of whom have gone to Morocco, and those "who deprived
the families of compensation and who have benefited from diverting
funds intended for this sector of the population." (Open letter to
the President off the CCDH)
08-09.12.03
Spain-Morocco
On the occasion of his visit to Morocco, the president of the Spanish
government co-chaired with the Moroccan Prime Minister the
deliberations of the sixth "high level meeting" between Spain and
Morocco. The joint statement underlines, on the question of Western
Sahara, that "... the two parties have called for the adoption of an
agreed political solution which is just and lasting on the question
of the Sahara, negotiated by all the parties concerned within the
framework of international law and the efforts of the United Nations.
Spain is the second biggest exporter to Morocco with 16.6% of
exported trade and at the same time, the second biggest client of
imports from Morocco with 12.4% of imports coming from Morocco in
2002. The value of Spanish exports to Morocco reached 1,684 million
euros, with 1,377 million euros' worth of imported Moroccan goods in
2002.
Maghreb Arab Union
The 7th summit of the MAU (UMA) has been called for 23-24 December in
Algiers. According to the Moroccan press, Mohamed VI, although
invited, will not take part.
HUMAN RIGHTS
10.12.03
International Day of Human Rights
A petition to the King of Spain signed by over 1600 people was
presented in Madrid. On this occasion the president of AFAPREDESA
Abdeslam Omar declared that the real terrorism is the behaviour of
Morocco in the occupied territories, where a reign of terror holds
sway, as a reply to Mohamed VI who said in Tunis that Western Sahara
represented a threat of terrorism for the region.
The Minister of Occupied territories, Khalil Sidi M'Hamed, called on
the international community and human rights NGOs to make Morocco to
respect human rights in Western Sahara, where "terror, repression and
unjust trials are taking place". On a visit to France, the minister
had talks on the Quai d'Orsay with officials from the French Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
Saharawi prisoners imprisoned in Agadir and El Ayoun observed a
three-day hunger strike. They intended in this way to protest against
the indescribable conditions of the "black prison" in El Ayoun. They
welcomed the struggle of the Tunisian lawyer Radhia Nasraoui, a
staunch human rights defender, who ended her 57 day hunger strike,
undertaken to defend rights and liberties in Tunisia. (statement from
the Action Committee for the Release of Tamek Ali Salem and all
Saharawi political detainees
<http://site.voila.fr/alisalemtamek/ComTam101203.html>)
Message from Mohamed Daddach
"On the occasion of the world day for human rights I am writing this
message to you to describe our situation in Western Sahara and the
problems which we have here, for example, sentences handed down to
human rights defenders of over 10 years imprisonment for Bazaid
Essalek and Swaydi Timglite. As you know, this year the Sahara branch
of the Forum for Truth and Justice was dissolved by the Moroccan
police and human rights activists in Western Sahara were hit by a
travel ban. Since 27/03/2003 we no longer have passports. We do not
have the right to form associations to defend our rights any more.
For all these reasons I call all human rights defenders to demand
that Morocco release all Saharawi political prisoners and to
guarantee our civil rights."
Threats
Those close to the political prisoner Ahmed Naciri, due to be
released on 20 December have been subjected to pressure and threats.
His father was summoned in the name of the governor of Smara to be
told to advise his son that on leaving prison he should leave the
town. Saharawis were encouraged to have nothing more to do with
"certain persons", in particular Ahmed Naciri, because "people like
that only make trouble"... attempts were also made to buy them with
grants. (corr.)
Visit
Ali Salem Tamek, imprisoned in Aït Melloul, Agadir, was able to visit
the student Swaydi Timglite sentenced to 3 years in prison and 5000
dirhams' fine, who is imprisoned in the civil prison of Inzegane,
Agadir, where he is waiting to appear before the Appeal Court. (corr.)
11.12.03
The Moroccan authorities arrested six young Saharawis who were trying
to get to the refugee camps in Algeria. After interrogations and
torture three of them were released. The three others were imprisoned
and have been sentenced on 18 December in Smara to three months in
prison and fines of 10,000 dirhams, accused of "people trafficking".
They are: Blaila Hamma Hmoudi Joumani, Khatri Hassana, Soukri Bachir
Nafyi. (corr.)
14.12.03
The committee of support for teachers transferred to Moroccan towns
organised a sit-in of protest outside the Moroccan parliament in
Rabat, in the presence of about a hundred people. The sit-in was
violently dispersed by the police. Placards belonging to the
demonstrators were confiscated and some demonstrators were beaten.
(corr.)
18.12.03
The magistrate's court in El Ayoun sentenced Sidahmed El Kainan, in
absentia to seven years in prison for drug trafficking, insulting the
king etc. Faced with these totally unfounded charges the accused
refused to present himself before the court.
El Kainan is at present imprisoned in El Ayoun's black prison, where
he is serving a three year sentence handed down in May 2003 by the
court in Agadir, for insulting the king and the government. He spent
6 months in the "black prison" in 2002, following an altercation with
police superintendant Alkoufili Hassan. (corr.)
HUMANITARIAN AID
06.12.03
According to the Madrid daily ABC, the Polisario Front is willing to
allow the European Union to hold an international enquiry concerning
accusations of misappropriating humanitarian aid in the Saharawi
camps. Saharawi officials made this statement at the end of a meeting
with officials from the European Commission in Brussels. European aid
for the Saharawi refugees amounted in 2002 to 14.3 million euros.
19.12.03
The UNHCR and WFP launched an urgent appeal for funds for
humanitarian aid for the Saharawi refugees in Algeria. A UNHCR
spokesperson expressed the view that because of insufficient aid and
delays in its dispatch, over 10% of the refugee population have been
suffering from acute malnutrition for years and 30% from chronic
malnutrition, which can cause lasting damage. (UN-news)
SOLIDARITY
16.12.03
Belgium
The parliamentary intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people" was
re-constituted within the Belgian parliament. This intergroup existed
already in the previous legislature. Its aim is to support the
Saharawi people in exercising their right to self-determination. The
Socialist Senator Christiane Vienne takes on the chair with Jacinta
De Roeck as vice-chair.
COMING UP...
25-29.01.04 Tifariti (liberated territories of SADR)
International march to the wall of shame in Western Sahara
"For peace and self-determination for the Saharawi people", "Demand
that the UN keeps its commitments". Organised by Spanish associations
of solidarity in collaboration with the European Coordination of
support for the Saharawi people, this march to the "wall" which
separates Saharawi families is to denounce the suffering of the
Saharawi people who have been waiting for 28 years to decide their
own future. Its aim is to make the UN and the international community
implement the Security Council's resolutions. See Information,
program, (at the moment only in Spanish)
<http://www.arso.org/marcha2004.htm>
13 February 2004: BRUSSELS
Sahara Blues - Mariem Hassan and Leyoad (Western Sahara)
<http://mariemhassan.calabashmusic.com/> Centre Culturel d'Etterbeek
/ Espace Senghor 366, chaussée de Wavre - 1040 Bruxelles (Pedestrian
entrance pl. Jourdan). Information and reservations: 02 / 230.31.40.
e-mail <mailto:senghor.tn@...>, <http://www.senghor.be>
21-28.02.04, Saharawi Refugee Camps: Sahara Marathon 2004. Further
information: http://www.saharamarathon.com/
INTERNET
Analyses
- Marruecos hacia el "Estado Tapón", Comunicado de la Asociación Pro
Derechos Humanos de Andalucía acerca del viaje del Presidente del
Gobierno a Marruecos, 05.12.03. (formato Word)
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/ViajeAznar.doc>
- Le long chemin juridique et politique jusqu'au plan Baker II :
dernière étape ? Carlos Ruiz Miguel
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CRM131003.html> (Traduction française
par Martine de Froberville de "El largo camino jurídico y político
hacia el "Plan Baker II": ¿Estación de término?", Carlos Ruiz Miguel,
Análisis del Real Instituto Elcano,13.10.03.
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/documentos/67.asp> )
Nuevo sitio
- SAHABA, en nom dels Fills dels Núvols, Associació Solidaritat amb
el Sàhara (associació integrada per persones d'Alcàntera del Xúquer,
Algemesí, Benigànim, Castelló de la Ribera, La Pobla Llarga,
Llutxent, Manuel, Montaverner, Navarrés, Quatretonda, Rafelguaraf,
Sant Joan de l'Ènova i Senyera. Forma part de la FASASPV, la
Federació valenciana d'associacions pel Sàhara)
<http://www.aldeavirtual.com/personales/sahaba/>
- Update of the documents from the 29th European Conference on
support to the Saharaw people, Paris, 05-07.12.03
<http://www.arso.org/Eucoco2003.htm>
- Conferencia europea de solidaridad con el pueblo saharaui, en la
web de Um Draiga <http://www.umdraiga.com/eucoco2003/Eucoco12003.htm>
- Comentario sobre " Bubisher. Poesía saharaui contemporánea. VV.AA.
Puentepalo. Colección Palastro, 2003, 77 pág.", Pilar Adón,
Literaturas.com, diciembre 2003.
<http://www.literaturas.com/v010/index0312.asp?scroll=yes>
Opinion
- La Mentira ataca, Luís Hernández Rocha
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/LHRocha10.htm>
- Le propre du colonisateur, par Diego
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/diego.htm>
Droits humains
- Communiqué de l'Association marocaine des droits humains relatif à
l'instance dite Equité et Réconciliation
<http://www.amdh.org.ma/html/communiqu%E9s.htm#comiteequitereco>
- Déclaration de l'AMDH à l'occasion de la Journée mondiale des
droits humains
<http://www.amdh.org.ma/html/communiqu%E9s.htm#declarationDUDH>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Une ville/un peuple, 10 ans de solidarité avec les Sahraouis,
textes Antoine Fiszlewicz, photographies Thierry Mazerette, maquette
Sabine Turpin, coordination du projet Joëlle Toutain, Ville de
Gonfreville l'Orcher, 2003,131 p.
- Le Sahara Occidental à la lumière du droit onusien et
international, Felipe Briones, exposé devant le Forum social
européen, Paris, nov. 2003.
- Les ressources naturelles du Sahara Occidental, Philippe Riché,
nov. 2003 (comprend: 1. Le droit international applicable au Sahara
Occidental, 2. La pêche et les richesses maritimes du Sahara
Occidental, 3. Les phosphates du Sahara Occidental, une richesse du
peuple sahraoui)
- Nouvelles Sahraouies, No 110, décembre 2003, bulletin du comité
suisse de soutien au peuple sahraoui, Genève.
(<http://site.voila.fr/NouvellesSahraouies>)
- El Karama, No 26, nov.-déc. 2003, bulletin du BIRDHSO, Genève, 6 p.
<http://www.birdhso.org/elkaramafr26.pdf>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Polisario holds congress in liberated zone, Paul Pederson, The
Militant, New York, Vol. 67/No. 40, 17.11.03.
<http://www.themilitant.com/2003/6740/674050.html>
- Saharawi fighter addresses Polisario congress from jail, Paul
Pederson, The Militant, New York, Vol. 67/No. 43, 08.12.03.
<http://www.themilitant.com/2003/6743/674358.html>
- Newsletter, Western Sahara Campaign UK, Nov. 2003, 8 p.
- UN officials head to Algeria and Morocco for talks on Western
Sahara refugees, UN News, 16.12.03
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/printnews.asp?nid=9233>
- Western Sahara: UNHCR's confidence-building proposals to be
discussed , briefing notes UN HCR, 16.12.03
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/print?tbl=NEWS&id=3fdee7a4b>
- Western Saharan refugees may soon be able to visit, call home,
UNHCR News Stories , 16.12.03,
<http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/print?tbl=NEWS&id=3fdf0530c>
- Reach for the sky, Paul Laverty, The Guardian, 19.12.03.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1109442,00.html>
- UN agencies seek funds to help malnourished refugees in Western
Sahara, UN News, 191.12.03
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/printnews.asp?nid=9282>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible en
Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara, el pais de arena, Jesús Antoñanzas y Sergio Pastor, 2003.
<http://www.umdraiga.com/SAHARAELPAISDEARENA.htm>
- Sahara: corazón roto, María Dolores Reche, 2003.
- El Bidan: la historia de una Nación y la lucha de un Pueblo, Mahayub Salek.
- Memoria 2002 (Txostena 2002), Asociacion de Amigos y Amigas de la
RASD, Vitoria-Gasteiz, 28 p.
- IV congreso de la Union Nacional de Mujeres Saharauis, UNMS, 29-31
de Marzo, 2002, (suplemento Memoria 2002).
- Sáhara al Ajbar, Sevilla, No 16, oct. 2003, 16 p.
- Asociaciones saharauis recuerdan al Rey que el Sáhara 'sigue siendo
una deuda pendiente de España', El Mundo, Madrid, 27.11.03.
<http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/11/27/espana/1069968725.html>
- Los saharauis responden a Mohamed VI que "el verdadero terrorismo"
lo practica Marruecos contra ellos, EUROPA PRESS, 10.12.03.
<http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20031210145523&tabID=1>
- Espana y Marruecos: reencuentro con soluciones a medias, Domingo
del Pino, Real Instituto Elcano, 15.12.03.
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/analisis/382.asp>
- «No hay suficiente presión internacional sobre Marruecos»
Entrevista de Mohamed Abdelaziz, Secretario general del Frente
Polisario / Amaya Iribar, El Pais, 13.12.03.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2231>
Deutsch
- Sahara-Info, Bulletin der Gesellschaft der Freunde des Sahrauischen
Volkes, München, Nr. 3&4, Okt. 2003, 40 p.
<http://www.spicken.de/ewg/si/si_3_4_2003.pdf>
- Befreier der Wüste, Ulrike Scheffer, Der Tagespiegel Berlin, 01.12.03.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-4849.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER , WEEKS 48-49
25.11.-06.12.2003
SADR
REFERENDUM
HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMANITARIAN AID
SOLIDARITY
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
20-23.11.03
Cinema
The first international film festival in the Sahara took place in the
wilaya of Smara. Pedro Pérez Rosado, producer of the film Cuentos de
la guerra saharaui screened as a world première, and the actress
Sylvia Munt were behind this project, which received the support of
show business personalities such as Pedro Almodóvar, Luis García
Berlanga and Pilar Bardem. Financed by public bodies and associations
of solidarity the Saharawi people the festival projected on 35mm, on
an outdoor big screen 21 most Spanish films with Arabic sub-titles to
an audience fascinated by the novelty of it. Several Spanish and
Latin American producers and actors had travelled there.
The festival, which aims to be a means of education, leisure and
culture, is only a part of an ambitious project called "Cinema for
the Saharawi people", which expects to be opening videotheques and
audio-visual training workshops in the camps.
The festival finished with awarding "The rose of the desert" to "El
bosque animado" (The animated forest), an animated film by Angel de
la Cruz and Manolo Gomez (Spain 2001), chosen by a jury of some fifty
Saharawi spectators as the best film of the Festival, a jury which
gave a special mention to "El otro lado de la cama", for its "high
cinematographic quality and the quality of the interpretation of all
its actors". In a statement, the organisers and the participants
insisted on the "necessary raising of awareness of the tragic and
unjust situation" in which the Saharawi find themselves for the last
28 years. (SPS, Spanish press) (more in Spanish: Manifiesto
<http://www.festivalsahara.com/manifiesto.doc>, Fotos
<http://www.festivalsahara.com/fotos.html > y más en el sitio de
Festival Sahara <http://www.festivalsahara.com>)
03.12.03
Inaugural session of the Saharawi parliament hold in Tifariti,
liberated territories in presence of the President of the Republic.
REFERENDUM
26.11.03
European Union
The Maghreb Delegation of the European Parliament received Mohamed
Sidati, Minister Counsellor to the President and member of the
National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, who recalled that "all
the efforts of the International Community to reach a just and
peaceful solution have not been successful because of the blatant
lack of political will on the part of Morocco, which had refused to
this day to implement the pertinent decisions and resolutions of the
UN..." Mr Sidati recalled that "the Polisario Front, by accepting to
explore the Baker Plan on Western Sahara, has taken a gamble on its
future... This is a generous act of courage and lucidity... An act
which says much about our will for peace and reconciliation." Mr
Sidati appealed to the European Union as a matter of urgency to use
its weight with Morocco so that it could choose the route of
international legality and accept the Baker Plan because "Morocco
cannot continue to play games with UN resolutions and defy the law".
The vice-president of the Maghreb Delegation, Pascualina Nopoletano,
spoke, recalling that it is urgent that Morocco accept and apply the
Baker plan as the Polisario Front has done, to give every chance to a
peaceful and lasting solution. Yasmine Boudjnah, MEP, for her part
referred to the tragedy of the Saharawi people in both its
humanitarian and political dimensions before calling on European
officials to "commit themselves actively in favour of the resolution
of the conflict in Western Sahara by implementing the United Nations
plan as demanded also by the resolution of the European Parliament of
20 November 2003 on EUROMED." (SPS)
29.11.03
Italy
On a visit to Italy, the Coordinator with MINURSO, M'hamed Khaddad,
asked for a "firmer" commitment by Europe to put an end to the
conflict in Western Sahara on the basis of "respect for the
resolutions of the United Nations". He emphasised that Morocco cannot
"indefinitely block all the avenues to peace with impunity". The
Saharawi diplomat was received by the Presidents of the Parliament,
the Foreign Affairs Committee and Human Rights Committee as well as
members of the Italian-Saharawi parliamentary intergroup, which
brings together all Italian political groups. The Saharawi delegation
also met the President of the Democrats of the Left (Democratici di
Sinistra), Massimo D'Alema, those responsible for external relations
of Forza Italia, and the National Alliance and different political
figures from Italian society. (SPS)
04.12.03
Italy - Parliament
The Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a resolution on Western Sahara
(n. 7-00336
Cima)<http://www.camera.it/chiosco.asp?source=&position=Organi%20Parlamentari\Co\
mmissioni%20Permanenti&content=/_dati/leg14/lavori/bollet/200312/1204/html/03/al\
legato.htm>
which asks the government to support the United Nations, in
particular to press Morocco to accept the new Baker Plan. It calls
for support for humanitarian aid programs of ECHO, the UNHCR and WFP,
in addition to its own aid going to the refugees and to work for the
implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council.
Shuttle Diplomacy
Spain-Algeria
26-27.11.03
Visit of the President of the Spanish government
The Algerian and Spanish heads of state issued a joint statement
reaffirming their attachment to a just and definitive solution to the
conflict in Western Sahara, within the framework of UN Security
Council resolution 1495. During a press conference in Algiers Aznar
reiterated the "forceful position" of Spain with regard to the
question of Western Sahara: "Spain supports the efforts of the UN
secretary general to find a solution to this conflict which would be
accepted by both parties (Morocco and the Polisario Front), in
accordance with the UN peace plan", he pointed out. Adding "no
settlement plan is dead". (aps)
Portugal - Algeria
02.12.03
President Bouteflika on Tuesday proposing a toast in honour of the
President of Portugal, Jorge Fernando Branca de Sampaio, on an
official visit to Algeria, emphasised that this question presents
itself as "a problem of unfinished decolonisation", and should find
its solution "in the context of a referendum of self-determination of
the Saharawi people, in conformity with the United Nations Peace
Plan".
USA - Maghreb
02-03.12.03
The American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, accompanied by Mr
William Burns, Deputy Secretary of State responsible for the Middle
East and Richard Boucher, Deputy Secretary of State responsible for
public affairs carried out a brief tour of the Maghreb: on arrival on
02 in Tunis, he met the King of Morocco in Marrakech and President
Bouteflika in Algiers the next day.
Press briefing Marrakech
03.12.03<http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2003/26871.htm>
"With regard to the Western Sahara, we look to the parties to find a
political solution through negotiations. We support Secretary Jim
Baker's efforts to assist the parties in finding a solution and, of
course, the United States would not be interested in imposing a
solution on the parties. The parties have to find the right answer
through negotiations on the basis of the Baker Plan."
Press biefing Alger 03.12.03<http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2003/26873.htm>
"As I did earlier today in my meeting with King Mohammed, I
emphasized this evening to President Bouteflika our interest in a
political solution to the problem of the Western Sahara. The United
States continues to support the efforts of the U.N. Secretary
General's Special Envoy, former Secretary of State Jim Baker. We do
not seek to impose a solution on any party. I encouraged President
Bouteflika, as I urged King Mohammed this morning, to continue their
bilateral dialogue on this issue and on ways Algeria and Morocco can
work together. "
Appeal to the United States
The Saharawi Minister of foreign affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek
launched an appeal to "make Morocco conform with international law"
in order to put an end to the occupation of Western Sahara. He
underlined that "the sabotage of the 1991 settlement plan and the
refusal of the peace plan for the self-determination of the people of
Western Sahara, presented by Mr James Baker and unanimously supported
by the Security Council, remains the principal hindrance to peace,
harmony and development of the region". (APS)
Tunis, First Euro-Maghreb summit, "5+5"
5.-6.12.03
This summit devoted to security and cooperation in the Mediterranean,
christened "Dialogue 5+5" from the name of the countries present -
Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Portugal for Southern Europe and
Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania, Tunisia for the Maghreb -,
assembles the leaders of these countries and on the agenda,
reinforcing the political relations and economic cooperation between
these states. During the opening President J Chirac "made a solemn
appeal" to the countries of the Maghreb to "lift the obstacles to
their rapprochement and to put everything to work especially towards
reaching a settlement of conflicts which could still exist", making
allusion to the conflict in Western Sahara.
The King of Morocco and the Algerian president, who followed each
other at the rostrum, likewise made allusions to Western Sahara, the
principal obstacle to the realisation of the Union of the Arab
Maghreb (UMA): For Moahmed VI, it is imperative to find a peaceful
settlement which is negotiated, consensual and lasting to this
"artificial" conflict, a settlement which should be seen in the
context of "international legality and which would ensure
"sovereignty, national unity" and "the territorial integrity of the
Kingdom of Morocco". He warned that "this dispute makes the biggest
threat to security of the region worse and even constitutes fertile
ground for terrorism".
To that Bouteflika replied that the UMA should be concerned with what
belongs to the UMA and the UN with what belongs to the UN, after
expressing the hope that the first meeting of the Arab Maghreb Union
for nearly 10 years, expected before the end of December in Algiers,
should take place and provide a new impulse to the process of
regional integration.
In a message addressed to the European and Maghreb heads of state
participating in this conference, Mr Abdelaziz reaffirmed that the
question of Western Sahara is "a business of decolonisation" and
underlined that "the imperative necessity is a solution on the basis
of self-determination of the Saharawi people as stipulated in UN
resolutions".
He also indicated that the agreement of the Polisario Front with the
new plan of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,
presented by Mr James Baker "is an act of generosity towards the
people of the Maghreb and it's for them", "the proof of the lucid
vision that the Polisario Front has of its duties and obligations
towards the people of the Maghreb and its conviction in the community
that fate binds them within." (APS)
Finally and on the contrary of the expectations of some european
diplomats, no meeting was schedule between the Moroccan King and the
Algerian president.
And it continues...
A Moroccan-Spanish summit should be co-chaired, on 8 and 9 December
in Rabat, by the Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, and his Spanish
counterpart, José Maria Aznar which will be accompanied by 7
ministers. Aznar will be received by King Mohamed VI in Marrakech.
(agencies)
HUMAN RIGHTS
AFAPREDESA publishes a letter from King Juan Carlos of Spain,
co-signed by a collective of human rights defenders in Western
Sahara, the Union of Saharawi Lawyers, the National Union of Saharawi
Women, the Union of Saharawi Workers and the Union of Saharawi Youth.
On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Universal Charter of
Human Rights and the International Day of human rights from 10
December 2003, these Saharawi associations recall to the sovereign
his promise of 2 November 1975 in El Ayoun : "We want to protect the
legitimate rights of the Saharawi civil population, as our mission
and our history demand ".
7.11.03
Political prisoners
Political prisoners, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmed Nassiri publish a
statement on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human rights in which they denounce the violations of
human rights in Morocco. (texte complet en français
<http://www.arso.org/tamnasiri101203.htm>)
30.11.03
Disappearances
The preparatory committee of Saharawi victims of forced disappearance
and arbitrary detention survivors from secret Moroccan detention
centres comment in a statement on recommendations adopted by the
Consultative Council of Human Rights concerning the creation of "the
body of equity and reconciliation" as an official approach aiming to
turn the page on serious human rights abuses. (see news 45-47
<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-4547.htm#ma>) pointing out certain
positive aspects it denounces the limits and weaknesses. (complete
text français
<http://www.birdhso.org/communiqueasddh.html#comite041103>)
HUMANITARIAN AID
01.12.03
Appeal
Facing the exhaustion of stocks of foodstuffs the Saharawi Red
Crescent (CRS) launched a distress call aimed at international
organisations, NGOs and countries so as to avoid "the acute crisis
which threatens the life of thousands of Saharawi refugees, depending
totally on humanitarian aid". It announces that they have started
distributing the emergency back-up food stocks. (SPS)
SOLIDARITY
27.11.03
Premio
Entrega del III Premio de Narrativa Juvenil Alandar (Grupo Editorial
Luis Vives).
El premio se entregó a Ricardo Gómez por su obra 'El cazador de
estrellas', un libro que cuenta la historia de un muchacho enfermo
recluido en una jaima de un campamento de refugiados saharauis.
Gracias a las charlas que mantiene con un anciano a través de la lona
de su jaima descubre la historia de su pueblo y desvela el sentido de
su dolor. (Poemario por un Sahara libre)
04.12.03
10 years of twinning
The town of Gonfreville l'Orcher celebrated its twinning with the
town of J'Réfia in Western Sahara in the presence of a Saharawi
delegation of about twenty led by the Minister of the Occupied
Territories Djalil Sid M'Hamed accompanied by the Minister of Culture
Mariem Salek, the Wali of Dakhla Salem Lebsir.
05.12.03
29th EUCOCO
Opening in Paris-Nanterre of the 29th European Conference of
Solidarity with the Saharawi people, EUCOCO.
More information on <http://www.arso.org/eucoco2003.htm> and in the
next edition of the news.
INTERNET
- Texte intégral du communiqué conjoint algéro-espagnol [Aps
27/11/03] http://www.aps.dz/fr/pageview.asp?ID=51629
- Le Maroc après le 16 mai, Driss El Yazami, Secrétaire général de la
FIDH, La Lettre de la FIDH, n°66, août-septembre 2003.
<http://www.fidh.org/lettres/2003/fr/n66/66maroc.pdf>
OPINION
- Sahrawis, POW's and the Issue of Freedom, By a Saharawi who loves
Sahara <http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/love112003.htm>
- Carta abierta al Sr. Aznar López, Salvador Pallarès-Garí
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SPG112003.htm>
- Carta oberta al Sr. Aznar López, Salvador Pallarès-Garí
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SPG112003.htm#cat>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara : L'autonomie ? à creuser, Driss Ksikes, Tel Quel, 21.11.03.
<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2536>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Fighting TerrorŠ The North African Way, Mohamad Al Ashab, Dar
Al-Hayat, Beirout, 23.11.03.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/OPED/11-2003/Article-20031123-08501e75-c0a8-01ed-\
0075-733701ebb724/story.html>
- Powell In North Africa, Mohamad Al Ashab, Dar Al-Hayat, Beirout,
30.11.03.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/OPED/11-2003/Article-20031130-2dc89839-c0a8-01ed-\
0030-d33ca45c7b2d/story.html>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible en
Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Arenas coloniales. Los Awlàd Dalìm ante la colonización
franco-española del Sáhara, Alberto López Bargados, Ed.
Alboránbellaterra, Barcelona 2003.
Deutsch
- Sahara-Info, Nr 384, Oktober 2003, Gesellschaft des Freunde des
Sahraouischen Volkes.
- Die POLISARIO am Ende?, WernerRuf, in Sahara-Info, Nr 384, Oktober
2003.<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/Ruf2003.htm>
Portugais
- Powell defende dialogo na questao do Sahara Ocidental, Noticias,
Mozambique, 5.12.03
Italiano
- Oltre il muro: la RASD. Violazione dei Diritti dell'Uomo nel Sahara
Occidentale. ATTUALITA' dal 1 al 30 novembre 2003, A cura di
Jacqueline Philippe <jacq.pampi@...>.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-4547.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
original french
NOVEMBER , WEEKS 45-47
02.11.-24.11.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- MOROCCO
- HUMAN RIGHTS
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
30.10.03
Appointments
Mansour Omar (former health minister) was appointed wali of El Ayoun,
Naama Joumani (former ambassador in Mozambique) wali of Ausserd,
Bouchraya Bayoun (outgoing Prime Minister) wali of Smara and Salem
Lebsir (former chairman of the parliament) wali of Dakhla.
Abdelwedoud Mohamed Oumar was appointed general secretary in the
Ministry of Justice and Moustapha Mohamed Fadel takes up the same
post in the Ministry of Culture.
Elsewhere, the Head of State appointed Brahim Mokhtar, director of
protocol, Abeida Cheikh, director of 12 October School, Hameti
Rabani, director of control and inspection services and Mohamed
M'Barek Rahal, will be responsible for the referendum commission.
Concerning external relations appointments, Sadafa Bahia was
designated head of the diplomatic mission in South Africa, he is
replaced by Breica Lehbib as Ambassador of SADR in Ethiopia and with
the African Union. Meanwhile he will be replaced in Great Britain by
Ubbi Bouchraya. Ali Mahmoud will become representative in the
Netherlands, and Edda Brahim Ehmeim will be ambassador in Mozambique.
Bouhoubeini Yahya will direct the Saharawi Red Crescent replacing
Boullahi Siid, who becomes Minister for Health. (SPS)
29.10.03
Bad weather
Flooding rain fell on the region of Tindouf causing serious damage in
the refugee camps. The Saharawi Red Crescent indicated "damaged
tents, shelters destroyed, food shops, school, dispensaries,
administrative centres all partially affected and food being stored
outside partly rotting." It launched an appeal for aid for basic
foodstuffs, blankets and construction materials. (SPS)
04.11.03
Panama
A Saharawi delegation took part in ceremonies celebrating the
centenary of the Republic of Panama.
Release of Moroccan prisoners of war
06.11.03, Algiers
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz announced during a
press conference in Algiers, in the presence of Seif El Islam El
Gueddafi, special envoy and eldest son of the Libyan president and
chair of the El Gueddafi Foundation that the Polisario Front had
decided to release 300 Moroccan prisoners of war as a humanitarian
gesture on the occasion of ramadan and at the request of Colonel
Gueddafi.
The Saharawi leader underlined the continual concern of his
organisation to make sure all Moroccan prisoners of war receive
humane treatment, "despite the difficult conditions endured by the
Saharawi people, from the lack of resources and the absence of a
rapid, just and lasting solution to the question". He let it be known
that the Polisario Front "is waiting for a similar gesture by the
Moroccan government, which is still holding 150 prisoners of war and
over 500 Saharawi civilians are detained or disappeared". He asked
the president of the El Gueddafi Foundation to intervene with Morocco
for their liberation, making it clear that the Moroccan government
had not taken an initiative on the matter since the release in 1996
of 66 Saharawi prisoners of war. The Algerian President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika had talks earlier with the President of SADR and received
Seif El Islam El Gueddafi, special envoy of Mouamar El Gueddafi. He
then offered a dinner in honour of his two guests, in the presence of
presidents of the Senate and the Parliament, the Head of Government,
the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
Deputy Minister responsible for African and Maghreb Affairs.
07.11.03 Smara camp
The population of the wilaya of Smara gave a warm welcome to the
president of the El Gueddafi Foundation. The 300 Moroccan prisoners
were handed over to him at the military school, Chahid Ammi by the
Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, in the
presence of a delegation from the ICRC, whose delegate welcomed this
new initiative and referred to the 150 Saharawi prisoners of war and
the 500 civilians held in Morocco.
The representative of the Saharawi Red Crescent hoped that their
release "would strike a chord with the Moroccan authorities and get
them to shed light on the fate of the Saharawi disappeared in
Morocco". The representative of the El Gueddafi Foundation expressed
the hope "this conflict should cease and put an end to this
humanitarian tragedy". The repatriation, deferred for logistical
reasons, took place the next day on 8.11.03. The prisoners were
repatriated by plane to Agadir. (Very wide media coverage, see
<http://www.arso.org/pows061103.htm>)
16.11.03
President Mohamed Abdelaziz received the Special Representative of
the UN Secretary General, in post since 5 August last, the Peruvian
Alvaro de Soto. Bearing a message from Kofi Annan to the Saharawi
President, Mr Alvaro made clear that he had come "to make contact
with the parties to the conflict as well as with the parties
concerned with it, namely, Algeria and Mauritania". In his message,
Mr Annan declared himself "satisfied" with the cooperation of the
Saharawi party with the UN, adding that his organisation would not
spare any efforts to bring peace to the Western Sahara "on the basis
of the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination." ... "The
Security Council and the UN are waiting for the end of the two month
deadline given to Morocco to give its response, before pronouncing
again on the question", he added.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
29.10.03
Oil
Morocco has prolonged by one year the oil reconnaissance mandate of
the American company Kerr McGee, in order to evaluate the results of
its seismic studies presented by the Norwegian firm TGS-NOPEC.
10.11.03
Oil
The company Fusion Oil and Gas, UK/Australia, presented to the
Saharawi government the results of its geophysical analyses
concerning petrol deposits off-shore from Western Sahara, which
confirm the probable presence of a viable off-shore petroleum system.
According to its technical director Jonathan Taylor, further
investigations would be worthwhile. Fusion could call for exploration
license applications which would begin when the UN had determined the
future status of the territory.(Platts Commodity News, London)
9 et 10.11.03
Smara: Escape attempts
Two groups of five young people were arrested by the Royal Armed
Forces in the neighbourhood of Smara while they were trying to get to
the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. These youths aged from 11 to
13 years, were presented separately to the magistrate's court in
Smara. They were released but their papers were kept by the King's
Public Prosecuter to put pressure on them and their families.
14.11.03
Intimidation
Mohamed Daddach and Hmad Hammad were questioned when they were
driving around in the latter's car in the town of El Ayoun at night.
The car was meticulously searched, the occupants threatened and
insulted. Another Saharawi, who had stopped his car from curiosity,
underwent the same treatment. The policemen made it known that this
search had been ordered by their superiors for security reasons.
15.11.03
El Ayoun
Saharawi political detainees locked up in the Black Prison of El
Ayoun received a visit from a commission from the Consultative
Council on Human Rights (CCDH, belonging to the government), which
had already visited Tamek and Nassiri in Ait Melloul. Members of the
commission heard their claims and promised to transmit their demands
to the appropriate bodies.
MOROCCO
12.11.03
Morocco decided to put in place a commission of "equity and
reconciliation" charged with "pursuing the extra-judicial settlement
of past human rights abuses linked to forced disappearances and
arbitrary detentions and to complete the process of fair and just
rehabilitation of the victims". The body has excluded from its terms
of reference all possibility of appeal to justice to punish the
alleged perpetrators of these abuses.
The principle independent human rights associations in Morocco have
been demanding since November 2002, for their part, the creation of a
"justice and truth" body independent of public powers. It's objective
would be to establish the truth on the "years of lead" from 1956 to
1999, to identify and rehabilitate the victims and to determine
individual and institutional responsibilities in each case. For this
purpose a monitoring committee made up of members of the AMDH, the
OMDH and the FMVJ had been set up (with AFP).
In a document published by the weekly Tel Quel, one of the best
known barristers of the kingdom, Mr Abderrahim Berrada made no bones
about it. He speaks about an "outrage" inflicted on the survivors of
crimes of state, of an "affront" to the right to justice, "alone
capable of allowing both to dress the wounds, to build memory by a
real search for truth and finally, to allow grieving to take place
without which no dignified reconciliation is conceivable". And the
fiery lawyer concluded in his address to the CCDH, which wants to
turn the page : "Are you not ashamed?" (Le Monde)
06.11.03
Royal speech on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Green March
"Morocco remains disposed to contribute fully in any political
solution which is consensual, realistic and definitive, so long as it
takes into account its legitimate right to preserve the sovereignty
of the Kingdom, its national unity and its territorial integrity,
respecting and applying democratic principles", the king reaffirmed.
19.11.03
USA-Morocco
The United States is not looking to "impose a solution" in Western
Sahara, George Bush assures the King of Morocco in a letter published
in Rabat. Prudently the American president did not commit himself any
further. He indicates that he has taken note of Moroccan "concerns".
HUMAN RIGHTS
10.11.03
Arrests
Timglite Swaydi, a Saharawi student, was apprehended by the Moroccan
police and transferred the same night to Inezgane prison near Agadir.
He was presented to the king's public prosecutor in the court of
appeal the next day and accused of propaganda in favour of the
Polisario Front, of inciting violence and attacking the security of
the Moroccan state. On 20 November, the magistrate's court in Agadir
sentenced him to 3 years in prison and a fine of 5000 dirhams.
Swaydi is known for his commitment to human rights, he took part last
year in the University of Agadir in the organisation of the road show
revealing human rights abuses in Western Sahara.
<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-04.htm#TO>
Another Saharawi student, Hassan Lehbib El Houcine, known under the
pseudonym of El Guarouj, was briefly arrested on 12 November.
In Assa, citizens, students and unemployed gathered on 12 November
for a sit-in of solidarity with Swaydi, who comes from Assa. The
forces of order intervened brutally to disperse the crowd. Many
injured were counted among both demonstrators and forces of order. A
young demonstrator called Daday was savagely beaten up by police.
Reports include setting fire to tyres and official buildings.
Saharawi students organised sit-ins and peaceful marches inside
campuses in Rabat, Marrakech and Agadir to obtain the release of the
student and the end to the surrounding of university residences of
Agadir where a dozen Saharawi students had taken refuge who were
being hunted by police. On 17 November, over twenty Saharawi students
from Agadir University, on hunger strike for 48 hours, were taken off
to the central commisariat of Agadir of ill-repute (during the years
of lead numerous Saharawis were transferred from there to secret
jails such as Agdz or Kalaat M'Gouna).
16.11.03
Expelled for the offense of solidarity
Michèle Decaster and Michelle Bérard, activists from AFASPA (French
Association of friendship and solidarity with the peoples of Africa)
were turned back from Morocco upon their arrival at the airport of
Agadir. They had intended visiting political prisoners
Ahmed Naciri and Alisalem Tamek held in Ait Melloul prison, and
meeting students holding a sit-in and hunger strike in protest at the
arrest of their comrade Timglite Swaydi. They had also the intention
of visiting occupied Western Sahara and Assa, to meet families of
disappeared Saharawis. Apprehended from the moment of their arrival
they were not able to leave the international area of the airport and
were sent back to France by the first plane the next day. (See >>
communiqué du Comité d'action pour la libération de TAMEK Ali Salem
et tous les détenus politiques sahraouis:
<http://www.arso.org/tamek171103.htm> >> communiqué BIRDHSO 19.11.03
<http://www.birdhso.org/communique191103.html> >> communiqué AFASPA
<http://www.afaspa.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=62>, >>
communiqué AARASD <http://www.arso.org/AARASD191103.htm>
To give oneself the idea of the situation of the Saharawi population
in southern Morocco and in the territories under Moroccan control
read the weekly TEL QUEL No 100, 09.11.03 and its special feature
entitled: "Autonomy, Referendum... What the Saharawis think of it" (
french). (see Publications)
11.11.03
Amnesty Mission in Morocco and Western Sahara
A delegation from Amnesty International has just returned from a
research visit to Morocco/Western Sahara from 13 to 22 October, where
they met victims of torture, families of victims, human rights
defenders and lawyers. The delegation points out a significant
increase in the number of cases of torture or bad treatment during
the last two years, relating to alleged islamists and Saharawis
arrested for their support for independence in Western Sahara. The
delegation passed on their observations to the UN Committee against
torture.(Amnesty International: Morocco/WS: Amnesty International
delegates to speak about sharp rise in torture in Morocco, Media
Advisory, 11 Nov. 2003
<http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE290122003> - Morocco /
Western Sahara: Briefing to the Committee against Torture (November
2003)(AI Index: 29/011/2003).
HTML<http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE290112003?open&of=ENG-MAR>
or PDF
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/files/Human_Rights/AI_Morocco_WS_11\
03.pdf>)
On 12, 13 and 20 November 2003, the Committee against Torture
examined the case of Morocco and adopted conclusions and
recommendations. Document CAT/C/CR/31/2
(French)<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2176>
21.11.03
Creation of a committee of support for officials subjected to
improper transfers
Representatives of political, trades union formations and from civil
society have created a committee of solidarity with activists from
the Sahara Section of the FVJ, of AMDH, the CDT, UMT, GSU, PADS,
NAHJ-DIMOCRATI and the association ADL WA AL IHSSANE, mostly
teachers, improperly transferred far from their homes and their
relatives in the aim of empyting the Sahara region of all voices of
contestation. (see news 36-39
<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-3639.htm#mut> and
40-44<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-4044.htm#ot>)
SOLIDARITY
27.10.03
Resolution from SAIH General Assembly
The Norwegian Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund
(SAIH) reiterates its support for the Saharawis in their struggle for
self-determination
12-15.11.03
European social forum
Western Sahara present in a plenary titled "Western Sahara :
permanency of the colonial issue in the Africa of today", with
contributions of Mohamed Sidati, Pierre Galand (EUCOCO), lawyers,
representative of AFAPREDESA, etc, and a workshop Western Sahara, a
decolonisation issue. What are the prospects today ?
05-11.11.03
Vittoria
A delegation of the National Union of Saharawi Women took part in
Vittoria in the Basque country in an international meeting with women
from Spain, Latin America devoted to the role of women in the
construction of their country.
COMING UP...
>> Agenda http://www.arso.org/07.htm
22.11. - 02.12.03
Elections for the National Council, the Saharawi Parliament.
03.12.03
Opening of parliament in Tifariti.
02-03.12.03
The American Secretary of State Colin Powell will carry out a tour of
the Maghreb (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria).
Union of the Arab Maghreb
The Council of the presidency bringing together chiefs of state of
the UAM will be held at the end of December in Algiers, the Algerian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelaziz Belkhadem announced.
La Asociación Provincial de Amistad con el Pueblo Saharaui de Sevilla
lanza su campaña de huchas solidarias "Un euro para alimentos" con el
fin de adquirir y enviar alimentos a los casi 200.000 refugiados
saharauis que viven en la Hammada de Tindouf . Info: Tel. 954 282
205-954 274 104. Fax: 954 282 046. E mail:
comunicación@...
29th European Conference of Solidarity with the Saharawi People: 5, 6
et 7 décembre 2003, Info, contact: bur.aarasd@...
>> Flyers, Programme and Pre-registering Formulas in PDF (english)
CONFERENCE
PARIS SORBONNE/ AMPHI GEORGES LEFEBVRE / (accès cour d'honneur métro St Michel)
Samedi 6 Décembre 2003: 14 H 30 / 17 H 00
PROGRAMME
L'état de la question: Contexte historique et juridique. Ali Yara
Omar, Jean Lamore
Tradition et modernité, le rôle des femmes dans la transformation de
la société sahraouie. Mariem Salek Hmada
La politique des États-Unis au Maghreb et au Sahara occidental.
Karima Benabdallah
Le plan Baker III une nouvelle donne pour la paix dans le respect du
droit à l'autodétermination du Peuple Sahraoui, Mohamed Sidati
Org.: Association des Amis de la RASD / EUCOCO 2003
BP 251 75227 Paris CEDEX 05 / bur.aarasd@...
INTERNET
- Reacción al informe de France Libertés sobre las condiciones de
vida de los prisioneros marroquies, Michèle Decaster, AFASPA
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2135>
OPINION
- In the eyes of Saharawis, France is responsible for Morocco's
intransigence, Khatry Beirouk <http://sahara_opinions.site.
voila.fr/kbeirouk112003.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles sur Sahara-Info,
liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara Info, bulletin de l'AARASD, Paris, No 123, juillet-sept. 2003, 4 p.
- TEL QUEL No 100, 09.11.03 spécial 15 pages: Autonomie,
Référendum... Ce que les Sahraouis en pensent. Voyage au Sahara :
1) Ouvrons les yeux, Ahmed R. Benchemsi
<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2475>
2) La grande boucle (reportage à Goulimine et Assa), Driss Bennani et
Yassine Zizi
<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2476>
3) Suite <http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2477>
- Liberté de la presse : 100 numéros et une ligne rouge, Ahmed R.
Benchemsi
<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2494>
- Page Blanche : T'as le bonjour de Lee, Yassine Zizi
<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2484>
- Le droit à l'autodétermination s'efface. Les limites du droit
international au Sahara occidental, Louisa Aït Hamadouche. La
Tribune, Alger, 11.11.03.
<http://www.latribune-online.com/1111/m01.htm>
- La résolution du conflit sahraoui, un test pour les relations
algéro-marocaines, Louisa Aït Hamadouche. La Tribune, Alger,
11.11.03. <http://www.latribune-online.com/1111/m02.htm>
- La nouvelle Marche verte, François Soudan, L'Intelligent no 2235,
07.11.03.
<http://www.jeuneafrique.com/articleImp.asp?art_cle=LIN09113lanouetreve0>
- Les "années Hassan II" hantent le Maroc. J.-P. Tuquoi, Le Monde,
14.11.03.
<http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3212,36-341917,0.html>
- Le Comité des Nations unies contre la torture s'inquiète de la
situation au Maroc, J.-P. Tuquoi, Le Monde, 21.11.03.
<http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3212,36-342818,0.html>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- UK's Fusion says data acquired merits more Saharan investment,
Platts Commodity News (London), 10.11.03
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1236>
- Essential parts of Sahrawi "forced labour report" repudiated,
Rainer Chr. Hennig, afrol news, 14.11.03
<http://www.afrol.com/prueba/articles/10470>
- Ambiguities of sovereignity: Morocco, the Hague and the Western
Sahara dispute, Maghraoui A.,Mediterranean Politics, 2003, 8/1:
113-126.
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-
El gobierno saharaui recibe noticias de depósitos petrolíferos, afrol
news, 13.11.03
<http://www.afrol.com/es/Noticias2003/sah047_petroleo.htm>
-Se demuestran falsas las acusaciones de trabajos forzados en los
campamentos saharauis, Rainer Chr. Hennig, afrol news, 14.11.03
<http://www.afrol.com/es/Noticias2003/sah048_oxfam.htm>
Portugais
- Frente POLISARIO vai libertar 300 prisioneiros de guerra, Noticias,
Mozambique, 08.11.03.
- Enviado de Annan reune-se com Mohamed Abdelaziz, Noticias, 19.11.03.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please excuse this long text due to so many interesting events in
this month. We will try to be more brief next time.
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-4044.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News of October
01.-31.10.03
SADR
REFERENDUM
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
HUMAN RIGHTS
MOROCCO
HUMANITARIAN AID
SOLIDARITY
COMING UP
INTERNET
NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
06.10.03
SADR - Cuba
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, received the new
Cuban ambassador, Roberto Blanco Dominguez, who presented his
credentials as ambassador extraordinary and plenipoteniary from the
Republic of Cuba for SADR. (SPS)
14.10.03
Natural Resources
The director of the Anglo-Australian company Fusion Oil & Gas NL
presented to Mohamed Abdelaziz the results of a survey of oil
exploration in Western Sahara.
John Taylor expressed his satisfaction in the results obtained and
declared himself ready to continue to cooperate with SADR. A
representative of the British company, Premier, which has recently
become associated with the cooperation agreement signed by SADR and
Fusion, attended the meeting. Fusion Oil & Gas NL concluded on 26 May
2002, an exclusive agreement of technical cooperation with the SADR
government.
XIth General Congress of the POLISARIO FRONT - 12-19.10.03
12.10.03 Opening
Held in Tifariti, in the liberated territories, with the theme
"Struggle and unity for independence and peace" the congress was
dedicated to the martyr M'Beirik Labeid Brahim. It is the first time
since its foundation that the Saharawi movement has held its congress
in the liberated territories. About 1400 delegates of wilayas,
institutions as well as the diaspora took part, as well as two
hundred foreign guests from Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Angola,
Namibia, Libya, Venezuela, Panama, Cuba, Spain, Italy, France,
Switzerland, USA, Australia etc. representatives of governments,
political parties, parliamentary groups, NGOs, trades unions, etc.
13.10.03 Abdelaziz's speech
The President of the Republic, in his opening speech, called on the
international community to assume its responsibilities in the face of
Morocco's intransigence. He pointed out that the Polisario Front will
cooperate fully with the latest Baker Plan, while remaining attached
to the initial settlement plan which was accepted by the two parties
and endorsed by the international community. "The new Baker Plan is
not a definitive solution to the conflict, but it is a basis for a
new process", he added.
14.10.03 , Committees, debates, ...
Four committees: finance, chaired by Khattri Adouh, national action
program, chaired by Abdallahi Lehbib, internal affairs and SADR's
Constitution, chaired by Hamadi Salma and finally letters and motions
chaired by Senia Ahmed Merhba. Debates were concentrated within the
working groups on the reasons which led the Polisario Front to accept
the latest Baker Plan and on the international guarantees needed to
implement this proposal.
With great emotion the plenary heard an intervention by telephone
from the Saharawi political prisoner Ali Salem Tamek speaking from
his prison cell in Morocco.
15.10.03
Reports of the committees on finance and internal organisation of the
Polisario Front and the constitution of the Saharawi Republic.
After intense discussion, members of the congress backed the decision
of the Polisario Front to accept the Baker Plan. But they demanded
that the Polisario Front ensure they have adequate international
safeguards to render this process viable. The delegates criticised
the management of education, health, food and administration.
16.10.03
Reports of the Committees on the program of national action and that
of the resolutions and motions. The program notably recommends the
strengthening and development of the army's capacity, and calls on
Saharawi people wherever they may be to redouble their vigilance, to
gather their ranks and to maintain cohesion so that no defiance
passes unnoticed in this crucial stage of the struggle for the
recovery of independence and freedom.
17.10.03
Election of the Secretary General
The XIth congress votes Mohamed Abdelaziz back to the post of
Secretary General of the Polisario Front with 92% votes. Four
candidates stood for election.
18-19.10.03
Election of the National Secretariat
The National Secretariat enlarged to 41 members by the addition of 12
people from the occupied territories is elected in two stages. See
the composition of the new leadership body of the Polisario Front:
list <http://www.arso.org/secr.nat03.htm>
Closure of the Congress.
In its final statement, the XIth Congress of the Polisario Front
calls upon the international community to "make Morocco return to
international legitimacy" and to implement "with the greatest
urgency" the peace plan drawn up by James Baker. It reaffirms its
choice "for peace and international law". It considers that its
acceptance of the Baker Plan "has had positive consequences" and
allowed "the position of the Polisario Front on the international
stage to be reinforced". It decides to mobilise all possible means to
raise awareness in international opinion on the situation in the
occupied territories of Western Sahara and to work together with
international organisations to put an end to all forms of oppression
aimed at Saharawi populations living there.
------------
DOCUMENTS - special Congress website of SPS.
<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps11cong.html>
History
- -Polisario Front from the first to theeleventh Congress, change in
continuity <http://www.spsrasd.info/ancade.html>
- -Tifariti : The symbol of resistance that receive the meetings of
the XI th congress of Polisario <http://www.spsrasd.info/ancade1.html>
Photos <http://www.spsrasd.info/sps11copho.html>
- Intervention of the AFAPREDESA and the Union of Saharawi Lawyers
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/AFAPREDESA/message/8>
- Documents sent out by the Congress (French
<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps11colettre.html>):
Lettre au Président de l'Union Africaine, S.E.M. Alpha Omar Konare
Lettre au Comité International de la Croix Rouge (CICR)
Lettre à la Coordination Européenne de Soutien au Peuple Sahraoui
Lettre à S.E.M. Jacques Chirac, Président de la République Française
-----------
27.10.03
African Union
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz received Ambassador
Tedesa, bearer of a message from the President of the African
Commission, Alpha Omar Konaré. SADR, founding member of the African
Union, was being asked to ratify the "Protocol setting up the Council
of Peace and Security" of the AU. (SPS)
29.10.03
New government
Mohamed Abdelaziz appointed a new government. Abdelkader Taleb Oumar
is replacing Bouchraya Beyoun as Prime Minister. He is a member of
the National Secretariat and was wali of Smara for four years. He has
several times served as minister.
The new team:
Four new ministers: Bachir Moustapha Sayed Minister of Education, El
Khalil Sidi M'Hamed Minister of Occupied Territories and Emigration,
Babiya Chiia Minister of Transport, Abdelkader Hamada Selma Minister
of Justice.
Several changes: Mohamed Lamine Dedi moves from Transport to the
Interior, Salek Bobih from Education to Equipment and Boullahi Said,
President of the Saharawi Red Crescent, becomes Minister of Health.
One notes further two new ministers as counsellors to the presidency,
Malainin Sadigh and Ahmedou Souelem, the creation of two secretaries
of state, one responsible for the civil service devolves to Chaibani
Abas, the other responsible for social welfare and the emancipation
of women, is taken on by Mafouda Mohamed Rahal, as well as the
creation of a General Secretariat of Government, with Moulay Ahmed
Mohamed Ahmed at its head.
Meanwhile, the President of the Republic has designated a new
President of the Constitutional Council in the person of M. Mohamed
Bouzeid, former minister of justice. (SPS) ( >> list
http://www.arso.org/03-gov03.htm )
REFERENDUM
58th session of the UN General Assembly
29.09.03-01.10.03
General Debate
In the context of the general debate, representatives of several
countries (among others Timor Leste, Angola, Mauritania, Tanzania,
Namibia, Lesotho, Honduras) spoke of the necessity of decolonising
Western Sahara in their interventions.
07-11.10.03
Fourth Commission - Commission on special political questions and
decolonisation
As every year, Western Sahara appeared on the agenda. The majority of
delegations expressed themselves in favour of the latest peace plan
proposed by Mr James Baker. The 14 Caribbean countries (CARICOM)
appealed for its rapid implementation, and the 19 countries
comprising the Rio Group (GR) asked Morocco to abide by international
law by implementing UN decisions on the subject of decolonisation.
After a detailed speech on the development of the situation by
Polisario Front representative Mouloud Said, several European
parliamentarians and NGO representatives spoke. (See UN press
statements and some complete interventions
<http://www.arso.org/UNnews1003.htm#e> - Complete declaration of the
Polisario Front representative at the UN, engl
<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e101003.html>)
16.10.03
Resolution
The 4th Commission adopts by consensus a resolution which underlines
the importance of the Baker Plan seeking an optimal political
solution to the conflict. The resolution, presented by 28 countries,
is expressed in the terms of Resolution 1495 adopted by the Security
Council on 30 June this year. (A/C.4/58/L.6 link) engl
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/GA584e.PDF>.
20.10.03
UN Secretary General's Report S/2003/1016 of 16.10.03
<http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2003/1016>
Kofi Annan proposes to the Security Council to extend MINURSO's
mandate by three months, at the request of Morocco, that is until 31
January 2004. The new Baker plan (<http://www.arso.org/BakerII.htm>),
which foresees the holding of a referendum to determine the final
status of Western Sahara after a transitional period of autonomy, was
accepted by the Polisario Front on 6 July, while Morocco has not
changed its opposition. Kofi Annan "invites Morocco to seize this
opportunity and to participate in a constructive manner in the
process by accepting the plan and implementing it." He hopes to
receive the response of Morocco before the end of the year.
The Secretary General indicates that the ICRC questioned, in the
territory from 27-29 May, four persons who figure on the list of
disappeared of the Polisario Front. He appeals to Morocco and to the
Polisario to continue to cooperate with the ICRC to find the
disappeared.
Concerning the Saharawi refugees, Annan mentions that the World Food
Program expects food shortages between now and the end of December in
the absence of new contributions. There has been some progress in the
implementation of confidence-building measures (communications by
post and telephone and family visits), but they have still not
actually happened.
23.10.03
European Parliament
The European Parliament Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people"
gives its support to the observations and recommendations of Kofi
Annan and asks Morocco to respect the international law, represented
in the resolutions by the United Nations Security Council, in
particular the Resolution 1495. Concerning the French position, the
Intergroup states that "France must respect its compromises and
obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and
honestly support the implementation of the Baker plan. (Press release
<http://www.arso.org/IPE231003.htm#Ancragee>)
23.10.03
Germany
The parliamentary group of the Liberal-Democrat party (FDP) and 27
members of parliament submitted a petition to the German parliament
asking the government to take initiatives immediately within the
Security Council for the implementation of the Baker Plan, to press
Morocco to accept this plan and to take steps with European partners
to get them to act in the same direction. The petition asks also for
funds to be made available to the WFP and UNHCR for the refugees, for
the speeding up of the repatriation plan for the refugees and for
Germany to take part in MINURSO. The parliamentarians also ask for
guarantees to the Polisario Front on the holding of the referendum
within the time-scale allowed and according to the criteria laid down
by the UN Identification Commission.
Morocco: The publication of Annan's report provokes many reactions of
rejection:
Morocco has rejected as "erroneous" the interpretation of the
Council's Resolution as contained in the recent report of UN
Secretary general, as well as any attempt to impose a solution in the
dispute without the agreement of the involved parties. This came in a
letter addressed by Morocco's representative to the UN, Mohamed
Bennouna, to the chairman of the Security Council, American
Ambassador John D. Negroponte, prior to the debate on the Sahara
issue.
14 Moroccan political parties have expressed refusal of the
referendum in the Sahara proposed by UN secretary general's personal
envoy, James Baker, saying "it is a serious escalation in an
artificial conflict", rather than "a peaceful solution to a regional
conflict".
Morocco voiced astonishment at the conclusions contained in the UN
secretary general's latest report on the Sahara and "rejects its
recommendations", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
said in a release. Morocco deplores the fact that James Baker has
failed to comply with the Security Council's resolution that called
parties to work together and cooperate with the UN to move towards a
mutually acceptable political settlement, the release goes. The
report's conclusions do not correspond to the provisions of
resolution 1495, adopted by the Security Council on July 30th, 2003,
nor to the expectations of the whole international community.
The Moroccan press :
"L'opinion" urges Annan to observe a duty of neutrality and abstain
from contradicting the will of the Security council members and the
international community. For "Assabah", Baker has played a negative
role in the quest of a solution that would guarantee stability in the
region and Morocco's sovereignty over its territories. "Al Ittihad Al
Ichtiraki" blames Annan for making a step backward in the gains
achieved by the international community. "Al Ahdath Al Maghribya"
notes the "two-standard policy" and the partial attitude of the UN
secretary general who is trying to impose a solution on Morocco.
"Liberation" says "it is a dangerous initiative". For "Le Matin du
Sahara et du Maghreb" the report is an unscrupulous deviation from
the UN charter and a source of general indignation in Morocco.
"Aujourd'hui le Maroc" comments that Annan's report "contains seeds
of a dangerous deviation in the process for a fair and lasting
solution since it reflects a biased attitude that contradicts UN
principles". Annan's attitude was described as "curious" and "biased"
by "La Nouvelle Tribune".
24.10.03
Pedro Canales writes in the Madrid daily, La Razon, that, under
pressure from the army, Morocco is in search of an "alternative plan"
to Baker's plan. A "crisis cabinet" is alleged to have met in Rabat
to evaluate the situation. It is thought to have adopted a
resolution, in the absence of the king and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, whose consequences would be serious, according to the
journalist. The army is apparently not satisfied with the way in
which the diplomats are handling the question, and is demanding
active participation in the search for a solution to the conflict.
25.10.03
RASD
The Polisario Front reacts in a statement to Morocco's refusal to be
subject to United Nations decisions, by asking for the admission of
SADR to the UN as a member, should it happen that Rabat succeeds in
sabotaging for an nth time the settlement plan which the
international community is expecting to be implemented in Western
Sahara.
25.10.03
USA
"With regard to the issue of Western Sahara, I simply want to
emphasise the American policy of continued support for the efforts of
the U.N. Secretary General and his special envoy James Baker,"Burns,
Assistant Secretary of State in charge of Near Eastern affairs, told
a news conference during a two-day visit to Algiers. Burns said the
United States would continue to encourage dialogue between Morocco
and Algeria, but that it would not seek to impose a solution on
anyone. "We hope the United States takes appropriate measures as soon
as possible to ensure Morocco accepts the Security Council resolution
and implements the Baker plan for the good of the Maghreb region,"
declares Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, the Polisario Front's ambassador to
Algeria.
25.10.03
"Lobbying"
According to the Algerian Arabic language daily El Khabar, "Moroccan
intelligence, backed by diplomatic channels and with direct financing
from the special funds of the [Moroccan] royal palace, is waging a
savage campaign targeting European human [rights] organizations to
tarnish Algeria and Polisario's image and demanding a halt to
humanitarian aid to Saharan refugees in Tindouf.
Moroccan intelligence is using a group of Saharans, who were former
middle-ranking officials in the Polisario They are presented to
humanitarian aid organizations as representatives of non-governmental
organizations under the name of "human rights organizations group in
the Sahara". This is an attempt to divert attention from the impasse
that Rabat has found itself in, following the UN secretary-general's
warning about the need for it to agree to Baker's proposal by the end
of this year."
28.10.03
USA
Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman, in his Daily Press
Briefing: «Our basic view, I think, remains the same, that we support
the efforts of the Secretary General and his personal envoy, Mr.
James Baker, and their peace plan for self-determination for the
people of the Western Sahara. We believe the Baker plan provides a
fair basis on which to move forward towards resolving this dispute,
and we've urged the parties in neighboring states to seize the
opportunity presented by the plan, and cooperate closely and actively
with the Secretary General and his personal envoy to move the process
forward. So, that's where we stand going into these meetings.»
28.10.03
Security Council Resolution S/res/1513 (2003)
(<http://www.arso.org/S-res-1513e.htm>)
Security Council extends MINURSO mandate of UN mission in Western
Sahara until January 31 by adopting unanimously Resolution 1513 on
the recommendation of the Secretary-General to accede to a request
from Morocco to give it more time to reflect and consult on the new
peace plan (Baker Plan II) the POLISARIO Front had accepted in July.
(Press Release SC/7906
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sc7906.doc.htm>)
29.10.03
SADR
In a statement, the head of Saharawi diplomacy emphasises that
"Morocco finds itself with the weighty responsibility of choosing
between the way of law and peace and that of intransigence and
delaying tactics leading to instability and confrontation". Ould
Salek appealed to the Security Council and the international
community to "deploy efforts and to use all means during these three
months to force Morocco to submit to international law.
"The Polisario Front considers that the pliability of the UN gives
comfort to Morocco in its intransigence at the same time as it erodes
the credibility of the international Organisation, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, declared. (SPS)
29.10.03
XXII Congress of the Socialist International, São Paulo Brazil
The SI expresses its support to the UN process and the resolution
1495 in order to achieve the self-determination of the people in
Western Sahara and calls all the parties to cooperate with the UN
and, in particular, with the efforts of the Secretary General of the
United Nations, as reflected in the latest report of his plan.
(Resolution
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1227>)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
29.09.03
Transfer of civil servants - Further to the news of weeks 36-39
<http://www.arso.org/01-f03-3639.htm>
According to an "Urgent Appeal to international opinion" of Saharawi
human rights defenders <http://www.arso.org/DDHS290903.htm>, the
addition to the list already published should be made of five people
illegally transferred from El Ayoun to Morocco. Their names are:
Ahmed Khabz Skhoune - moved to Rachidia, Boutazrout Mohamed - moved
to El Jadida, Beleghzal Abdlemjid - moved to Azilal, Khaadad Hamadi -
moved to Souera, Salek Jamaa - moved to Kalaat Esraghna, Habadi
Hamadi - moved to Marrakech, Raybou Abdallah - moved to Zagoura, as
well as three teachers from Boujdour: Bougnine Lahcen, trades
unionist in the FDT, general supervisor of a college transferred to
Benimellal, Saili Mohamed, trades unionist in the FDT and member of
the former FVJSAH (Forum for Truth and Justice Sahara Section) and
general supervisor at a college moved to Benguerir, Lakhal Mohamed
Salem, member of the former FVJSAH and of the local branch of the
GSU, transferred to Safi.
Four teachers from Assa have apparently also been transferred.
Four Moroccan activists, members of trades unions and NGOs and
left-wing parties, GSU and Annahj Addimoucrati, have also been moved
to Moroccan towns.
Human rights defenders speak of about fifty teachers working in
different towns of Western Sahara and southern Morocco, transferred
to towns in the interior of Morocco in flagrant violation of the
rules governing transfers within the Moroccan Ministry of education.
They are asking the government to annul all these decisions
immediately.
The Moroccan weekly Tel Quel headlines on 9 October : "Do they want
to move witnesses out of the way?" and concludes : "Briefly, with
less than one month to go before the final settlement of the question
of the Sahara, it seems that "they" may have chosen to get out of the
way the only people capable of informing civil society of what could
be going to happen on the ground".
(<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2357>
16 and 17.10.03
Saharawi and Moroccan teachers abusively transferred to Moroccan
towns organised a sit-in outside the Ministry of National Education
and Youth in Rabat. They stayed in Rabat waiting to be received by
the Minister of the Interior as they had been promised.
Teachers from Western Sahara under Moroccan control as well as those
from southern Morocco held a one-day strike in solidarity with their
comrades.
Rafto prize-winner for 2002, Mohamed Daddach, sent his
congratulations to Mrs Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner of
2003, was awarded the Rafto prize in 2001. The former Saharawi
political prisoner, as well as two of his friends were summoned by
the DST on 11 October, who warned them orally not to go to Smara,
threatening them with being expelled from Western Sahara or brought
before the law.
Meanwhile Mohamed Daddach launches an appeal for Ali Salem Tamek,
whose state of health is seriously affected by his conditions of
detention and his successive hunger strikes.
21.10.03
Trials
A committee of Spanish lawyers denounced in a press conference in
Madrid the repeated violations of fundamental rights in occupied
Western Sahara and the frequent lack of respect of the principles of
law and the presumption of innocence, the abuse of preventative
prison, etc. The committee was made up of the president of the
General Bar Council of Spain, the president of its Human Rights
Committee and a member of the delegation which attended trials of
Saharawi political prisoners. The report points out "the flagrant
violations of the norms of the Moroccan penal code" during the nine
trials the committee attended in El Ayoun, involving 29 people. The
report also notes the attempts to disguise the political character of
these trials to make it appear that they concern common law offences.
(texto completo en castellano PDF
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/informe de los juristas.pdf>)
27.10.03
At the beginning of October 2003, about a hundred Saharawi graduates
from Moroccan universities, unemployed for years, were called, in the
context of a job-creation scheme, to posts in the Moroccan civil
service. The two first groups called were to take up posts in the
courts and national education establishments. But these young
Saharawis - both young men and young women - were assigned to jobs in
Moroccan towns to the north of Marrakech. No placement was made
within the territory of Western Sahara under Moroccan control or in
the towns of southern Morocco "heavily populated with Saharawis" such
as Goulimine, Tan Tan, Assa and Tarfaya. Furthermore this operation
was reserved exclusively for young Saharawi men and women but dozens
of jobs were assigned to young Moroccan unemployed graduates on the
pretext that they lived in the territory of Western Sahara under
Moroccan control which is not the case for any of them.
It is clearly a case of a policy aiming to empty the territory of its
young inhabitants, especially well-educated ones, and to modify its
long term demography, in violation of the law.
HUMAN RIGHTS
09.10.03
Two Amnesty International delegates will visit Morocco and Western
Sahara next week (AI Index: AFR 05/005/2003) to investigate
allegations off torture of political and islamist prisoners or those
active in favour of independence for Western Sahara.
15.10.03
POWs
The Algerian daily, El Watan tells of the testimony of one of 66
Saharawi prisoners released on 30 October 1996 "I spent three years
wearing the same combat suit in which I was arrested", records Saïd
Ibrahim Moulay Zine, president of the group of 66 Saharawi prisoners
of war, imprisoned for 17 years. "They chained us in irons,
blindfolded us and forced us to undergo long and testing sessions of
interrogation and torture", he testified. "A treatment which the
Moroccan regime reserved for over 200 Saharawi prisoners". "I
remained for over 7 months in a narrow cell in complete darkness, I
only saw the guard who came and threw food to us once a day", the
ex-prisoner recalled, adding ironically : "Periodically they would
come and suggest asking for the King's pardon, but we replied each
time that we were not criminals and that we did not recognise
ourselves as subjects of the Kingdom." According to Saïd Ibrahim
Moulay Zine, there are still 121 prisoners of war in Moroccan prisons.
28.10.03
Tamek
A delegation of the Consultative Council of Human Rights (CCDH),
official body charged by the king to deal with problems of human
rights abuses, visited Ali Salem Tamek in his prison of Aït Melloul.
The Saharawi political prisoner expounded on his demands and his
actions (hunger strikes, letters to the Minister of Justice, etc>)
and handed a dossier to the members of the committee. The president
of the delegation promised he would get an official response.
MOROCCO
17.09.03
A Royal Gendarmerie patrol in the locality of Tighmert (an oasis to
the south-east of Goulimine, in southern Morocco) proceeded to the
arrest of Saber Tamdaoui ould Mohamed Lembarek, 30 years of age. The
police are at present trying to intimidate young farmers of Saharawi
origin in this region. Saber was tortured, accused of having attacked
a person in authority and sent before the magistrate's court in
Goulimine, which sentenced him to two months in prison.
Tighmert is the largest oasis in the whole of Western Sahara, in the
heart of Noun Wadi, above an artesian well the size of which has only
become known in recent years. The region has become the new Eldorado
of big property holders and agricultural landowners, notably from the
region of Houara (to the south of Marrakech, between Haouz and Souss)
and of Ouled Tayma in the Souss (between Agadir and Taroudant).
Saharawi farmers feel threatened, but they lack the means and modern
know-how to compete. Some are obliged to rent their land to these
people to survive. We are seeing now a growing awareness among young
Saharawis who are asking questions about the falsification of history
by Morocco, about the impact of the conflict in Western Sahara and
about discrimination against them. Saber's brother is one of the rare
people who dared to say in front of the MINURSO identification
commission that the information presented by the Moroccan authorities
about him was false. (corr.)
29.09.03
Bernard Petit, head of OCRTIS (Central Office for the repression of
illegal drug traffic), giving evidence to a French Senate commission
of inquiry declared: "Honesty drives me to say that 85%, even 90% of
cannabis resin intercepted in all countries of Europe comes from
Morocco. Morocco is the greatest producer of cannabis resin for the
whole of Europe. This represents about 2,000 tonnes of resin produced
in Morocco - some would go as far as saying 3,000 tonnes - and the
Moroccan authorities only recognise 1,750. It is huge. Between 600 to
700 tonnes are seized in Europe and 1000 tonnes therefore evaporate
and pass through all the filters. Morocco really is a problem in
regard to the traffic in cannabis resin." (Sahara-Info)
03.10.2003
In an interview for the weekly Tel Quel
(<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2314>),
Abraham Serfaty declares that the Baker plan "is an acceptable plan
if a few amendments are made. To reject it is an irresponsible act."
09-11.10.03
Official trip of French president Jacques Chirac to Morocco -
declarations about Western Sahara:
In an interview to MAP Bureau in Paris prior to his state visit , the
French president insisted on a "political, realistic and lasting"
solution to the Sahara dispute "which takes into account Morocco's
interests and regional stability". "We make a plea for a political,
realistic and lasting solution that takes fully into account the
interests of Morocco and the regional stability", insisted the French
president who considered it "important that discussions (between the
two parties) be carried on in line with resolution 1495 of the (UN)
Security Council". Jacques Chirac also admitted that his country,
which supports Morocco's stand on the Sahara issue, has a different
point of view from that of Algeria which backs the "Polisario", a
separatist movement claiming independence of this former Spanish
colony. (MAP)
Chirac also reiterated France's support for Morocco on the question
of the disputed Western Sahara region. "We supported Morocco" at the
UN Security Council in July on resolution 1495, which Chirac said
ensures that "no solution can be imposed without the agreement of
both parties." "At the next Security Council meeting France will
again support Morocco," said Chirac, with the Council expected to
take up Western Sahara later this month. (AFP) ( more in French
<http://www.arso.org/01-f03-4044.htm#ma>)
17-19.10.03
The Moroccan Forum for Truth and Justice organised a "Caravan of
Truth", which was due to go to the secret detention centre of Agdz
from 10-12 October, in the province of Ouarzazate. The demonstration
having been banned on that date, it was postponed by a week. Several
Saharawi former disappeared, from El Ayoun, Smara and Goulimine, as
well as several Saharawi human rights defenders took part. Members of
the "World network of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, those close
to abducted and disappeared persons" asked the Moroccan authorities,
through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders,
not to impede the activities of human rights defenders in Morocco.
(Retour à la prison secrète d'Agdz, Isabelle Broz,
RadioFranceInternationale, 21.10.03.
<http://www.rfi.fr/actuchaude/special.asp?m1=1&m2=1&SurTitre='Maroc'&Titre='Reto\
ur%20?a%20prison%20secr?%20d?Agdz'>)
HUMANITARIAN AID
05.10.03
A delegation from an Italian NGO AUSER (Associazione per
l'AUtogestione dei SERvizi e la solidarietà, an association promoting
active citizenship in solidarity) accompanied by Giuliano Giuliani,
the father of the young demonstrator killed on 21 July 2001 during
the G8 summit in Genoa, opened a school for 580 children in Dakhla
camp financed by the Carlo Giuliani Foundation. (ANSPS)
08.10.03
The German government released 250,000 euros for the Saharawi
refugees in Algeria, the German minister of Foreign Affairs
announced. (AFP)
SOLIDARITY
29.09.03: Japan
A group of Japanese citizen protested with force against the decision
of the government not to invite the SADR, member state of the African
Union, to participate to the Third Tokyo International Conference of
African Development, TICAD III. They have distributed to the
participants an appeal to the Japanese government. (appel FR, English
letter I: <http://www.arso.org/TICADbe2003.htm> letter II:
<http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003e.htm> )
04.10.03: UK
The British MEP Struan Stevenson (Conservative), chair of the
Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament, wrote to the European
Commission to ask them to press Morocco to compensate for the
pillaging of Saharawi fishing resources. In his letter to Chris
Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, S. Stevenson
points out that Morocco has "sold fishing rights in waters belonging
to the people of Western Sahara". (SPS)
Saharawi Women Visit UK
Khadidja Hamdi and Zahra Ramdan of the National Union of Saharawi
Women have recently completed a 19-day tour of the UK. Their purpose
was to gain support for their work promoting the rights of Saharawi
women - both as Saharawis in the context of the struggle for
self-determination, and as women striving to promote gender equality
within Saharawi society. Starting in London, they spoke at a meeting
in the House of Commons on their first full day and rushed around the
capital for the next two days meeting NGOs and Trade Union
representatives, and being interviewed on the BBC Arabic service.
Then they were off round the country to attend political party
conferences: first to Wales, where they spoke at the Plaid Cymru
(Party of Wales) conference and saw the party adopt a resolution
supporting the Saharawi people's struggle for self- determination.
Their itinerary took them on to Brighton (Liberal Democrat party
conference), Inverness (Scottish National Party conference),
Edinburgh (meeting in the Scottish parliament) and Bournemouth
(Labour party conference). A further interview with Zahra was later
broadcast on the BBC World Service "Everywoman" programme.
Fringe meetings on Western Sahara took place at every conference, and
at the Labour conference they were also able to meet Prime Minister
Tony Blair and discuss Western Sahara with Foreign Secretary Jack
Straw, and the well-known Labour MEP Glenys Kinnock. They met a
great number of other sympathisers from political parties, NGOs, and
trade unions and were greatly encouraged by their visit. (WSC)
04.10.03: Italie
Dans le cadre de la 5ème Assemblée de l'ONU des Peuples, la commune
de Lerici (Ligurie) a organisé un Forum sur le Sahara Occidental avec
la participation du président de l'AFAPREDESA, de la représentante de
l'UNFS, du représentant du Front Polisario en Italie et de la
présidente de l'Intergroupe parlementaire Margot Kessler, du
président de l'ANSPS et de nombreux représentants des administrations
locales. Après un débat très animé, le Forum a approuvé une motion de
soutien au Plan de paix et d'engagement des intitutions locales.
Résolution finale: <http://www.arso.org/afa041003.htm#res> (original
en italien <http://www.arso.org/afa041003.htm#resit>)
COMING UP
-Vitoria-Gasteiz, 5 al 11 de noviembre de 2003: Encuentro "Mujeres
construyendo país, el caso del Sahara Occidental a la luz de la
experiencia latinoamericana". Org: Asociación de Amigas y Amigos de
la R.A.S.D. y la Asociación Cultural Hikaateneo Elkartea
mailto:elkartea@... >> Mas info
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/tripticovit.pdf>
- Valencia: 14 de Noviembre a las 21:30 horas: II Concierto Solidario
con el Pueblo Saharaui en la Sala República de Valencia. Con los
grupos "SAHARA LIBRE y AMPARANOIA. Org: Federació d'Associacions de
Solidaritat P.S. mailto:emparsor@...
- Ferrara, Italia: 18 novembre 2003 : Festival dei Diritti, Ferrara,
ore 21:00 - Casa Cini: Le donne Saharawi, Sahara Occidentale:
Incontro e dibattito con alcune rappresentanti di associazioni di
donne Saharawi .
- RASD: 20 - 23 de noviembre 2003 : Festival internacional de cine en
los campamentos de refugiados saharauis en Tinduf, Un proyecto de la
Asociación Amigos del pueblo saharaui, Ministerio de Cultura de la
RASD y Media Luna Roja Saharaui (MLRS) Consultar el programa en
<http://www.festivalsahara.com>
Vuelos charter:
Vuelo nº 1: Madrid-Tindouf-Madrid, 18.11.03 - 23.11.03
Vuelo nº 2 : Madrid-Tindouf-Madrid, 20.11.03 - 23.11.03
Precio: 500 Euro, Información: mailto:vuelos@... Telf.
679 356 470
- Barcelona: 25 noviembre.- Conferencia sobre la Mujer Saharaui en
Cornellà de Llobregat, con la participación de la escritora Anna
Tortajada, autora de "Hijas de la Arena", y de una representante de
la Unión Nacional de Mujeres Saharauis. Asociación Catalana de Amigos
del Pueblo Saharaui (ACAPS) mailto:colonies@...
- Vuelo charter:
Desembre 2003, 04-09.12.03 : VOL "Catalunya aamb el Sahara"
Barcelona Prat - Tindouf- Barcelona: 04.12.03 - 09.12.03
Info: ACAPS-CATALUNYA, secció Vilanova i la Geltrú,
mailto:acaps_vilanova@...
- 29th European Conference of Solidarity with the Saharawi People: 5,
6 et 7 décembre 2003, Nanterre- Paris - Vitry sur Seine
Info, contact: mailto:bur.aarasd@...
>> Flyers, Programme and Pre-registering Formulas in PDF (english
>><http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/deplianang.pdf>)
- FRANCE: 4 au 19 décembre 2003, Musique sahraouie
Tournée en France de Mariem Hassan, Nayim Alal et le groupe de femmes Leyod,
04.12.03, Gonfreville l'Orcher (ECPC),
06.12.03 Le Mans (Palais des Congrès),
07.12.03 Vitry sur Seine (Gymnase Paul Eluard,
08 à 18.12.03 sous réserve Maromme, Achères, Bègles, Bordeaux,
Toulouse, Lyon...,
19.12.03 Limoges (théâtre Jean Gagnant)
- Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pays Basque: 12-13-14 de diciembre de 2003
IIIe Journées de Coopération Sanitaire avec le Peuple Saharaoui
Organizado por : Coordinación Sanitaria Saharaui en colaboración con
el Ministerio de Salud de la RASD que asistirá a las Jornadas con una
delegación de expertos.
Secretaría de las III Jornadas: Unai Arribas, Edi Feros, e-mail:
mailto:saharasalud@..., Teléfono: +34 945146490, Fax: +34
945147357
Mas informaciones : presentación
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/JORNADASsaludp.pdf> y dossier
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/JORNADASsalud.pdf> (PDF)
INTERNET
Referendum
- UN: News of October <http://www.arso.org/UNnews1003.htm#e>
Opinion
- Capitales apatridas. Decadente gestión empresarial canarias en el
Sahara Occidental, 29.09.03 (*) Grupo interuniversitario de Opinión
(Sergio Ramirez-ULPGC, Ricardo Aguasca-ULPGC, Manuel de Paz-ULL,
Carlos Ruiz-USC) 29.09.03
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/grupoop92003.htm>
- ...Not to get astonished .., Sid Hamdi Yahdih
<http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/SHY2003.htm>
Human Rights
- Rapport / Témoignage sur la prison locale d'Inezgane par Ali Salem
Tamek<http://site.voila.fr/alisalemtamek/Tamekinezgane.html>
- Report / Testimony on the local prison of Inezgane by Ali Salem
Tamek <http://site.voila.fr/alisalemtamek/Tamekinezganee.html>
- An Appeal to all those who believe in justice and humanity,
Abdallahi Ouali Ahmed Lakhfaouni -Sahrawi political prisoner-
Kénitra, Morocco, September 2003 <http://www.arso.org/Lakhfaouni.htm>
- Rapport sur les conditions critiques à l'intérieur de la prison de
Laayoune «La Prison Noire» par Ahmed Naciri ( format Word
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CarcelNegra2003.doc>ou PDF
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/CarcelNegra2003.pdf>)
- Informe de la delegación de juristas comisionada por la Comision de
derechos humanos del Consejo General de la Abogacía Española, en
misión de observación en los juicios que se desarrollan contra presos
políticos saharauis en el Sahara Occidental (abril 2002 - junio 2003)
(texto completo PDF
<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/informedelosjuristas.pdf>)
- Presos de Conciencia Saharauis, Miguel Castro Moreno, Secretario
Coordinadora Estatal de Asociaciones Solidarias con el
Sahara.<http://arso.org.site.voila.fr/presconsc2003.html>
- El Vuelo de Ícaro, nº 4, Ed. Liga Pro-Derechos Humanos, Madrid,
2003 <http://www.ligaproderechoshumanos.org/icaro/sumario4.html>
Contribuciones sobre el Sahara Occidental de Juan Soroeta Liceras,
Felipe Briones Vives, Cristina Navarro Poblet, Jose Manuel De la
Fuente Serrano, Anna Badía Martí, M'hamed Khadad.
France Libertés Report
- Les prisonniers marocains du Front Polisario. Réaction au rapport
de France-Libertés sur les conditions de vie des prisonniers
marocains et à la contribution de Laurence Mazure. AFASPA,
29.09.03.<http://www.afaspa.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=56>
- Analyse du Comité sur le Sahara Occidental, Communiqué (Réaction de
Martine de Froberville) 09.10.03, français
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/2082> en
castellano <http://sahara_opinions.site.voila.fr/FrobCRM2003.htm#esp>
- Las ONGD PTM, MPDL y Solidaridad Internacional responden a las
acusaciones de France Libertés.
<http://www.ptmhirugarren.org/secdocra.htm>
Analysis
- "Changing Minds Winning Peace ; a new strategic direction for US
Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World"( PDF document
<http://www.wsahara.net/policy.pdf>) This report was submitted by an
Advisory Group led by Edward Djerejian (Baker Institute) to the
Committee on Appropiations, US House of Representatives. To read the
complete report, go to: <http://www.state.gov> and check: Changing
Minds, Winning Peace . The report is about 80 pages.
- El largo camino jurídico y político hacia el "Plan Baker II":
¿Estación de término? Carlos Ruiz Miguel (13/10/2003), Real Instituto
de Estudios Internacionales y Estrategicos
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/documentos/67.asp>
Divers
- Mailinglist AFAPREDESA (français - espagnol)
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/AFAPREDESA/messages>
- La radio saharaui leerá mensajes de las familias catalanas de los
proyectos de acogida. L'Associació Catalana d'Amics del Poble Sahrauí
ha puesto en marcha una novedosa iniciativa para que las familias que
durante los veranos acogen a niños, bien del proyecto de colonias
bien del de niños enfermos del Sáhara, puedan hacerles llegar sus
mensajes. Mediante la dirección de correo electrónico
<amrasdradio@...>, los familiares se pondrán en contacto con la
radio, quien transmitirá los mensajes.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- «Les droits des Sahraouis ne peuvent être ni ignorés ni
confisqués», L'ambassadeur de la RASD en Algérie se livre aux Débats,
Propos recueillis par Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats, Alger, 01.10.03.
- Tour de vis sécuritaire au Maroc, Ali el Safari, Le Monde
diplomatique, Paris, juillet
2003.<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2003/07/EL_SAFARI/10263>
- Mauritanie contre vents et marées, Moktar Ould Daddah, Paris,
Karthala, 650 p.
- Paris et Rabat au coude à coude au Sahara, Luc de Barochez, Le
Figaro, Paris, 10.10.03.
- Paris seul face à ses choix, Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats, Alger, 15.10.03.
English
English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- The Mohamad VI-Bouteflika Summit, Mohamad Al Ashab, Al-Hayat,
Beirut, 28.09.03.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/OPED/09-2003/Article-20030928-e90c9221-c0a8-01ed-\
006f-3ccdcd23a063/story.html>
- BLACK gold or another black eye in Morocco? Toby Shelley, Daily
Star, Lebanon, 13.10.03.
<http://www.dailystar.com.lb/opinion/13_10_03_d.asp>
- After Iraq, Let's Attack...Morocco, Mikael Simble, American Daily,
18.10.03. <http://www.americandaily.com/item/3138>
- Mercenaries mobilized and presented as representatives of
fictitious non-governmental organizations. Moroccan intelligence
conducts campaign against Algeria in Europe, Dah Ould Mouloud,
El-Khabar, Algier, 25.10.03 (BBC Monitoring Middle East).
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1221>
- Saharawi dash by Fusion/Premier. Companies stake claim for offshore
acreage, Upstream, 16.10.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1211>
- Africa's last colony, Pascale Harter,BBC, Tifariti, 21.10.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1214>
- Morocco Is Annoyed With Annan, Mohamad Al Ashab, Al-Hayat, Lebanon,
26.10.03.
<http://english.daralhayat.com/OPED/10-2003/Article-20031026-79bb34b1-c0a8-01ed-\
002a-cc148eb68ba4/story.html>
- Sahara women relish their rights, Pascale Harter, BBC News,
30.10.03. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1226>
Castellano
Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Consideraciones preliminares sobre fuentes, metodología y
problemática de la investigación historica del Sahara Occidental,
Correale Francesco, Awraq, Volumen XXI, 2000, pp. 11-56.
- El largo camino jurídico y político hacia el "Plan Baker II":
¿Estación de término? Carlos Ruiz Miguel (13/10/2003), Real Instituto
de Estudios Internacionales y Estrategicos
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/documentos/67.asp>
- El Vuelo de Ícaro, nº 4 /J. Soroeta Liceras, Felipe Briones, Anna
Badía Cristina Navarro, J. Manuel De La Fuente M' hamed Khadad,
Observatorio Vasco de Drechos Humanos, F. José Alonso.- Madrid : Ed.
Liga Pro-Derechos Humanos, 2.003.
<http://www.ligaproderechoshumanos.org/icaro/sumario4.html>
- Abogados españoles denuncian la violación de derechos en los
juicios a presos políticos saharauis, Rebelion, 24.10.03
<http://www.rebelion.org/spain/031024sahara.htm>
- Tras criticar a la ONU y bajo presión militar, Rabat busca otra
salida para el Sahara, Pedro Canales, La Razon, Madrid, 24.10.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-10-24/noticias/noti_int04.htm>
Deutsch
- Sahara-Info, Bulletin des SUKS, Bern, Nr. 88, Sept. 2003, 8 p.
- Otto-Glöckel-Medaille an verdiente Pädagoginnen und Pädagogen,
presseportal.at, 30.09.03.
<http://www.ots.at/meldung.php?schluessel=OTS_20030930_OTS0031>
- In der Westsahara verweht der Unabhängigkeitstraum, Leo Wieland,
Frankfurter Allgemeine, 14.10.03.
- Polisario flexibel, Marokko bleibt stur, Reiner Wandler, Der
Standard, Wien, 22.10.03. <http://derstandard.at/?id=1457168>
Portugais
- POLISARIO insta ONU a concluir o plano de paz para o Sahara,
Noticias, Quotidien mozambicain, 10.10.03.
- POLISARIO em congresso, Noticias, 15.10.03.
- Abdulaziz reeleicto na lideranca da POLISARIO, Noticias, 20.10.03.
- Conflito do Sahara Ocidental: Marrocos deplora interpretação
"erronea" de Kofi Annan, Noticias, 24.10.03. [Le Maroc déplore
l'interprétation "erronée" de Kofi Annan]
- POLISARIO pede pressao da ONU sobre Marrocos, Noticias, 31.10.03.
[Le POLISARIO demande à l'ONU de faire des pressions sur le Maroc]
Italiano
- Atti della 28° conferenza di sostegno al popolo sahrawi, Modena
25-27 ottobre 2002, ANSPS, 122 p. (textes également en français,
espagnol et anglais)
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next issue : 1st November
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-3639.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
News
WEEKS 36+37+38+39
01.-27.09.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
Moroccan prisoners of war
01.09.03 : Rapatriation
The International Red Cross proceeded to repatriate 243 Moroccan
prisoners of war released by the Polisario Front. Among these
prisoners there are 13 officers and 14 civilians. The prisoners were
handed over to the regional delegate of the International Red Cross
during an official ceremony chaired by the president of the Saharawi
Red Crescent, Boullahi Siid, and in the presence of members of staff
of the Saharawi Popular Army of Liberation. (CICR
News<http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList4/0589D66B869D1CE3C1256D940\
05
C16DE>)
During the ceremony, Mr Schmid de Grueneck indicated that
"ex-servicemen claimed to be missing by Polisariohad been located and
visited by the International Red Cross, the last time in May 2003."
According to the Red Cross in Tunis, contacted by ARSO, only a few
people have been located, who represent, with the 24 others
discovered and met in 2001, about 30 persons. The International Red
Cross delegate has furthermore promised to continue research to shed
light on the fate of the persons not yet discovered.
The prisoners were handed over to the Moroccan authorities at
Inezgane base, near Agadir, where they will remain for three weeks.
"Numerous families have had to demonstrate in order to be able to
visit their relatives, for just one hour" (As-Sabah, 05.09.03). The
Moroccan weekly TEL QUEL
<http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2214>
published on 12.09.03 a long report on the conditions for welcoming
the prisoners in Morocco as well as testimonies of former prisoners.
Report of the Foundation France Libertés on the conditions of
detention of Moroccan POWS held by the Polisario Front
20.09.03 : Response of the Polisario Front
The Polisario Front published its response to the report by the
Foundation France Libertés, refuting the accusations put. The
document comprises 24 pages and several appendices. It reviews point
by point the accusations put forward by the mission of enquiry. It
points out contradictions and exaggerations, and indicates names of
unknown prisoners (since they are all registered with the
International Red Cross), announces as living prisoners declared
deceased and contests practically all the accusations. The PF judges
the report of France Libertés to be «partial, unbalanced and
dishonest" and reproaches the Foundation for its lack of vigilance
and rigour, which damages its credibility. It speaks of a mission
which is more of a "commission".
>> Full texts to read or download in PDF formate
>><http://www.arso.org/FFL2003mail.htm#fprep>.
24.09.03: A representative of the Saharawi authorities is received by
Mrs Danielle Mitterrand, President of the Foundation France Libertés.
El Khalil Sidi M'Hamed, member of the National Secretariat of the
Polisario Front, took a letter from Mohamed Abdelaziz, President of
SADR, concerning the response of the Polisario Front to the
accusations of the Foundation. (SPS
<http://www.spsrasd.info/240903.html>)
>> Other documents on the same subject. <http://www.arso.org/FFL2003mail.htm>
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Repression on an everyday basis
The Saharawi human rights defender Hammad Hmad on 7 September was the
victim once again of intimidation by the Moroccan authorities. He was
arrested at night 15 km to the south-west of El Ayoun at a police
barrier. He was submitted to interrogation on the reasons for his
late journey. His car was thoroughly searched. We are also told of
two other Saharawis, street sweepers, being mistreated by gendarmes
at their place of work, one of them had to be hospitalised it is
claimed. A woman who protested against the sentence of her son was
said to be taken to prison on 18.09.03.
17.09.03: The nine young Saharawis from the "Smara group", arrested
in September 2001 during uprisings in Smara (see weekly news week
47/2001 <http://www.arso.org/01-f01-47.htm#Ancragesmara>) and
sentenced on 24.04.02 to two years in prison (see weekly news, week
17/2002 <http://www.arso.org/01-f02-17.htm#Ancragesmara>) have been
released at the end of their sentence. One of them, Nafi Maslah
Hamadha El Mousaoui (Nefi/Nafâi), has been held for unknown reasons
at the moment he was getting ready to leave the prison. Mohamed
Daddach and friends who wanted to welcome the former prisoners as
they left the prison were warned by the police that they were
forbidden to enter into contact with them. (corr.) (communiqué French
- Spanish<http://www.arso.org/comtam170903.htm#s>)
21.09.03: Eleven young Saharawi students, aged from 20 to 25 years,
have managed to get to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria from the
occupied territories, fleeing repression, following their
participation in various peaceful demonstrations for the respect of
human rights in Western Sahara... (communiqué AFAPREDESA French
<http://www.arso.org/afa210903.htm>)
23.09.03: On the occasion of the new school year the Moroccan
authorities have proceeded with abusive transfers of numerous
Saharawi teachers to Moroccan towns. At the present time we are aware
of a dozen cases including five with detailed information. Other
sources consider that 80 Saharawi civil servants may have been
transferred. This would concern human rights activists and trades
unionists, moved away because of their civilian activities:
1. Lidri Elhoucine: member of the executive of the former Forum for
Truth and Justice Sahara branch (FVJSAH) and member of the former
committee to liberate Daddach, philosophy teacher at the high school,
was moved to Chichawa. This activist had asked last year for transfer
to Goulimine. When school went back he signed a contract to take up
work in Goulimine but the Moroccan Ministry of Education ordered him
to present himself at Chichawa, 80 km south of Marrakech.
2. Latif Allal: English teacher at El Ayoun, moved to Erfoud, near
Errachidia. He is close to a member of the former FVJSAH. Several
times he has demonstrated his solidarity with human rights defenders.
3. Laghzal Elloud: teacher at El Ayoun. He is the brother of the
former Saharawi political detainee Laghzal Brahim. He has been moved
to Khenifra in the High Atlas mountains.
4. Mayara Mohamed Salem: teacher at El Ayoun. He is a member of the
executive of the former FVJSAH and member of the former committee for
Daddach. He has been moved to Elhawz near Marrakech.
5. Iguilid Hammoudi: philosophy teacher in El Ayoun. President of the
local branch of AMDH. He has been moved to Erfoud.
Teachers demonstrated in El Ayoun and in Boujdour with a 24 hour
strike of solidarity with the people who have been transferred.
19-21.09.03: Economic Agreements
A delegation made up of about fifty representatives from economic
milieux of the Canary Islands and the Azores went to Western Sahara,
in the aim of improving commercial relations with - to use their
expression - "the South of Morocco". The trip, which the Spanish
government tried to prevent, was supposed to take place discreetly.
At the end of the visit of businesses and infrastructure utilities in
El Ayoun and Dakhla, an agreement was signed between the Chambers of
Commerce of the Canaries, the Azores and the "South of Morocco"
concerning the development of economic and cultural relations. The
Polisario Front representative in the Canaries accused the president
of the Canaries Chamber of Commerce of "violating international law
by trying to pillage the wealth of a colonised people." (afrol news
and other agencies)
REFERENDUM
22.09.03: Appeal to the Security Council
The Polisario Front asks the Security Council to "show firmness" with
Morocco to make it accept a just and lasting settlement, the Saharawi
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Salem Ould Salek affirmed. He accused
Morocco of being "the principal obstacle to peace in the region", and
denounced the international campaign being carried out by Morocco
aiming for the rejection of the new Baker plan.
Moroccan diplomatic Offensive
Delegations of tribal chiefs (sic!) and members of the Moroccan
Consultative Council for Saharan Affairs, including several defectors
from the Polisario Front, have been criss-crossing European capitals
to campaign against the new Baker plan. They met governmental and
political officials in Spain, France, Germany, Great Britain and with
the European Union. At the same time the King of Morocco met his
friend Jacques Chirac in Paris. He addressed the UN General Assembly
on 23 September, where he argued "for a realistic and definitive
political solution" for the conflict, "respecting Morocco's
sovereignty and territorial integrity, as was proposed by the United
Nations themselves in June 2001 (reference to the Framework Agreement
= Baker plan 1!!]"
24.09.03: USA-Morocco
During a private meeting between Mohamed VI and George W Bush, the
latter is said to have urged the monarch, according to an American
official who wishes to remain anonymous, to commit himself in favour
of an acceptable resolution of the disputed status in Western Sahara,
while assuring him that Washington "will not impose a solution".
(agencies)
24.09.03: European support
A delegation of the group from the European Socialist Party received
first a Moroccan delegation and then a delegation from the Polisario
Front, with the aim of examining the current situation. At the end of
these two meetings Pasqualina Napoletano declared that the Group
supports the Baker Plan and the efforts of the Polisario, and "asks
Morocco to accept the United Nations Plan which could be an element
for stability and peace in the region". (communiqué PSE
French<http://www.arso.org/PSE240903.htm>- communiqué Sidati 25.09.03
French<http://www.arso.org/FPEU250903.htm> -
Spanish<http://www.arso.org/FPEU250903.htm#es>)
24.09.03: Algeria
Before the UN General Assembly the Algerian President emphasised that
because of his country's support for the "peace plan for the
self-determination of the people of Western Sahara", "Algeria again
marks its willingness to make a full contribution to the settlement
of this conflict within the respect of the right of the people of
Western Sahara to decide in a sovereign way its destiny through a
free and fair referendum of self-determination organised and
supervised by the United Nations."
In the evening the King of Morocco Mohamed VI received the Algerian
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. This meeting, which was not planned
in the program, was held at the request of the Moroccan party,
according to APS.
29.09.03: Japan
"No development is possible of Africa without the peace and
self-determination of Western Sahara!" 3rd appeal on the occasion of
the 3rd conference of TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on
African Development) <http://www.arso.org/TICADcf2003.htm>
SOLIDARITY
19.09.03 : Italie, Bologne
Dans le cadre de la "Festa nazionale dell'Unità" l'association El
Ouali a organisé un débat sur "Le Sahara Marathon, une course pour la
paix et les droits humains". Les organisateurs du marathon ont
souligné son rôle de sensibilisation de l'opinion publique. Mohamed
Sidati, ministre conseiller à la Présidence, a insisté sur la
nécessité de faire front commun pour imposer au Maroc une solution
juste au Sahara Occidental. Marisa Rodano, secrétaire de l'ANSPS, a
appelé à la vigilance au sujet du nouveau plan Baker.
20.09.03 : Italie, Bologne
L'Association nationale de solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui (ANSPS)
a tenu son assemblée annuelle au siège de la province, avec la
participation des associations et des administrations locales.
Mohamed Sidati a illustré les raisons qui ont amené le Front
Polisario à accepter le plan Baker II. L'assemblée a établi un plan
de travail et une nouvelle stratégie pour renforcer sa capacité
d'opérer sur le plan national.
COMING UP
02.10.03, Barcelona: Presentació de la 10ena Caravana Catalana
Solidaria per el Sàhara, l'acte començarà a les 19 hores del dijous
dia 2 d'Octubre al Palau de la Virreina (La Rambla, 99).
07-10.10.03, Murcia
Fundación CajaMurcia convoca en el Centro Cultural Las Claras a una
serie de expertos en Relaciones Internacionales, Historia, Derecho y
el Sáhara Occidental para celebrar unas jornadas específicas sobre el
tema . (programma <http://ww.arso.org/07.htm#murcia>)
08.10.03, Italia, Ferrara: Festival dei Diritti dedicata al
continente africano.
L'edizione di quest'anno prevede una fitta serie di appuntamenti, non
solo conferenze e dibattiti pubblici, ma anche momenti dedicati alla
musica, al teatro ed alla letteratura. Le attività si svilupperanno
nel periodo che va da ottobre a dicembre, con una piccola coda nel
mese di gennaio e febbraio.
Mercoledì 8 ottobre 2003 si parlerà di Diritti Umani in Sahara
Occidentale: Desaparicion e repressione sotto l'occupazione
marocchina (ore 21:00 - Casa Cini). Ne parleranno Abdeslam Lahssen,
Presidente di Afapredesa (Associazione delle famiglie dei prigionieri
e dei desaparecidos Saharawi) e Jacqueline Philippe Responsabile per
l'Italia di Birdhso (Ufficio Internazionale per il rispetto dei
Diritti umani nel Sahara Occidentale). Sarà presente un
rappresentante in Italia del popolo Sahahrawi.
Il Programma completo sarà disponibile nei prossimi giorni sul sito
del Festival: http://www.festivaldeidiritti.it.
EUCOCO
29ème Conférence européenne de solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui
29th European Conference of Solidarity with the Saharawi People
29a Conferencia europea de solidaridad con el pueblo saharaui
5, 6 et 7 décembre 2003
Nanterre- Paris - Vitry sur Seine
Info, contact: mailto:bur.aarasd@...
Musique sahraouie
4 au 19 décembre 2003: Tournée en France de Mariem Hassan, Nayim Alal
et le groupe de femmes Leyod.
04.12.03, Gonfreville l'Orcher (ECPC), 06.12.03 Le Mans (Palais des
Congrès), 07.12.03 Vitry sur Seine (Gymnase Paul Eluard, du 08 au
18.12.03 sous réserve Maromme, Achères, Bègles, Bordeaux, Toulouse,
Lyon..., 19.12.03 Limoges (théâtre Jean Gagnant)
INTERNET
Documents about POWs and the France Libertés report (list
<http://www.arso.org/FFL2003mail.htm>)
Communiqués des Territoires occupés:
- Collectif des Défenseurs des Droits de l'Homme Sahraouis
"territoire du Sahara Occidental sous contrôle marocain" (Communiqué
05.09.03 <http://www.arso.org/DDHS050903.htm>)
- Les activistes des Droits de l'homme sahraouis et les familles des
séquestrés et disparus sahraouis. (Appel à l'opinion publique
10.09.03 <http://www.arso.org/ADHFS100903.htm>)
Bulletins
- Sahara-Info No 122, bulletin de l'AARASD sur le net
<http://www.sahara-info.org/>
- Nouvelles Sahraouies No 109, bulletin du comité suisse de soutien
au peuple sahraoui, Genève. <http://site.voila.fr/NouvellesSahraouies>
- Westsahara Zeitung <http://www.arso.org/D2003.html>
Analysis
- Cambios estratégicos en la negociación del Plan de paz para la
libre determinación del pueblo del Sáhara Occidental Haizam Amirah
Fernández, Real Instituto Elcano, 04.09.03.
<http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/analisis/330.asp>
- Self Determination Struggle in the Western Sahara Continues to
Challenge the UN, Ian Williams and Stephen Zunes, Silver City, NM &
Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, September 2003.
<http://www.fpif.org/papers/sahara2003.html>
Medicina
- Estado de la situación sanitaria en los Campamentos de Refugiados
de Tindouf, Manuel Galán, técnico de proyectos para África, Médicos
del Mundo España, 08.09.03
<http://www.medicosdelmundo.org/PLTS/GCNT/pagina/plantillas/DESED_01F_00001.jsp?\
IDENTIFICADOR_CONTENIDO=209&TIPO_CONTENIDO=EDITORIAL&FECHA_CONTENIDO=08/09/2003&\
IDIOMA_CONTENIDO=01>
Saharawi music:
<http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=2003091310190652>
-
Actualizacion del web de Um Draiga <http://www.umdraiga.com>
OPINION
- Moroccan democracy-phobia and the last UN's discolonization
challenge, Malainin Lakhal <http://www.arso.org/lakhal2003.htm>
- Have you read "France Libertés" last report on Moroccan POWs!! Read
it again, Malainin Lakhal <http://www.arso.org/lakhalb2003.htm>
- Western Sahara, USA, and the Impasse , by a Sahrawi who loves
Sahara. <http://www.arso.org/EBUSA2003.htm>
- Les prisonniers de guerre marocains détenus par le Front Polisario
et la question de la désinformation des journalistes, Laurence
Mazure. <http://www.arso.org/LMAZ2003.htm>
- Moroccan POWs held by the Polisario Front and the issue of the
disinformation of journalists, Laurence Mazure.
<http://www.arso.org/LMAZ2003e.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara Info, Bulletin de l'AARASD, Paris, no 122, avril-juin 2003,
16 p. (PDF)
- Nouvelles Sahraouies No 109, bulletin du comité suisse de soutien
au peuple sahraoui, Genève. http://site.voila.fr/NouvellesSahraouies
- Sahara occidental : les prisonniers de guerre marocains seraient «
contraints aux travaux forcés », Florence Beaugé, Le Monde, Paris,
19.09.03.
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- The geoarchaeology of Western Sahara. Preliminary results of the
first Anglo-Italian expedition in the «free zone», Nick Brooks,
Savino Di Lernia, Nick Drake, Margaret Raffin and Toby Savage,
Sahara, 14/2003, Segrate (Milano), pp. 63-80.
<http://www.saharajournal.com/14/pages/abs_14.html#p63>
- AU Can Take a Leaf From China's Book, Francis Kornegay,
Johannesburg Business Day (Johannesburg), 01.09.03.
<http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1422201-6078-0,00.html>
- On counterproductive solidarity, Editorial, Rainer Chr. Hennig,
afrol News, 07.09.03. <http://www.arso.org/afrol070903.htm>
- Self Determination Struggle in the Western Sahara Continues to
Challenge the UN, Ian Williams and Stephen Zunes, Silver City, NM &
Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, September 2003.
<http://www.fpif.org/papers/sahara2003.html>
- Interview with Saharawi Singer Mariem Hassan, ARomero, world music
central, 15.09.03.
<http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20030915090130462>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Entrevista con Ahmed Bujari, delegado del Frente Polisario ante las
Naciones Unidas, Berria (periodico vasco),
03.08.03.<http://www.arso.org/berria030803.htm>
- «Bubisher. Poesía saharaui contemporánea» de los poetas Limam
Boicha, Luali Lahsan, Ebnu, Saleh Abdalahi, Ali Salem Iselmu, Chejdan
Mahmud. Editorial Puentepalo: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 2003.
- Sáhara y la solidaridad contraproductiva, Editorial, Rainer Chr.
Hennig, afrol News, 07.09.03
<http://www.afrol.com/es/Noticias2003/sah036_editorial_fl.htm>
- Estado de la situación sanitaria en los Campamentos de Refugiados
de Tindouf, Manuel Galán, técnico de proyectos para África, Médicos
del Mundo España, 08.09.03.
<http://www.medicosdelmundo.org/PLTS/GCNT/pagina/plantillas/DESED_01F_00001.jsp?\
IDENTIFICADOR_CONTENIDO=209&TIPO_CONTENIDO=EDITORIAL&FECHA_CONTENIDO=08/09/2003&\
IDIOMA_CONTENIDO=01>
Portugues
- Polisario liberta prisioneiros, Noticias, quotidien mozambicain, 02.09.03.
Italiano
- Disincanto e trincee: siamo senza parole, Reds, 09.03, con Dietro
al piano Baker per il Sahara Occidentale, di Toby Shelley, Middle
East Report, 01.08.03, traduzzione de Behind the Baker Plan for
Western
Sahara..<http://www.ecn.org/reds/etnica/sahara/sahara0309.html>
Deutsch
- Westsahara-Zeitung , GFSV, IFAK, Kritische Oekologie
<http://www.arso.org/D2003.html>
Norwegian
- "Ny utvikling i Vest- Sahara: en analyse. Endelig håp om FN-
løsning i Vest-Sahara.["New development in Western Sahara: an
analysis. Finally a hope for a UNsolution in Western Sahara"] Oslo,
18. juli 2003, Ronny Hansen", 18 July
2003.<http://www.arso.org/brenner.htm#RH>
- Brenner for Vest-Sahara ["Devoted to the cause of Western Sahara"],
Interview with Ronny Hansen, Norwegian Support Committee for Western
Sahara, Østlandsposten, Larvik, 2 August
03.<http://www.arso.org/brenner.htm>
Marokko håner Raftoprisen ["Morocco mocks the Rafto Prize"], Endre
Hovland, Bergens Tidende, 15. August 03, ["The [Moroccan]description
of the Rafto Prize as a prize without international recognition is
sharply contrasted by the fact that the UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan earlier this year praised the Rafto Foundation. He thanked the
- Rafto Foundation for succeeding in getting Daddach to Bergen, where
he was reunited with his sister and his 89 year old mother."]
<http://www.bt.no/utenriks/article.jhtml?articleID=176168>
- Når Marokko håner Raftoprisen ["When Morocco mocks the Rafto
Prize"], Commentary by Arne Liljedahl Lynngård, Chairman of the Rafto
Foundation Bergens Tidende, 20 August 03 ["The reactions from Morocco
reveal that the authorities are annoyed by the attention that the
Rafto Prize has received, especially in North Africa and on the
Iberian peninsula. About a hundred news pieces in newspapers,
magazines, TV and radio in more than ten countries led to increased
debate about Morocco’s occupation of Western
Sahara."]<http://www.bt.no/meninger/debatt/article177021>
- Slipper fanger ["Release of prisoners"], Klassekampen, 3 September
2003,(Paper version) [The liberation front for Western Sahara,
Polisario, on Monday released 243 prisoners of war. Supporters say
Polisario shows that they are willing to show great
flexibility.]<http://ww.arso.org/brenner.htm#slipper>
Swedish:
- Kompromiss om Västsahara ["Compromise on Western Sahara"],
Arbetaren, 7 aug. 03. <http://www.arbetaren.se/2003/32/nyhet3.html>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-3235.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
WEEKS 32+33+34+35
03.-31.08.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- HUMAN RIGHTS
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
04.08.03
Algiers
Inauguration in Algiers of the SADR diplomatic mission's Information
Centre named after the "Martyr Mohamed Fadel Ismaïl", in the presence
of the Ambassador of SADR in Algeria and representatives of Algerian
political parties and civil society.
10-12.08.03
Extraordinary meeting
The highest body of the Polisario Front, the National Secretariat,
met in an extraordinary session, expressed itself satisfied by the
adoption of the Security Council resolution 1495/2003. It reaffirmed
"the willingness of the Polisario Front to continue to cooperate with
the UN Secretary General and with his special envoy, James Baker, in
their efforts to hasten the decolonisation of Western Sahara, the
last colony of Africa." The Polisario Front considers that only the
exercise by the Saharawi people of their right to self-determination
through a free, democratic and transparent referendum is capable of
putting an end both the suffering endured by the Saharawi people for
three decades and instability in the region. (SPS)
14.08.03
Release of Moroccan prisoners of war
The Polisario Front announces that it has decided on the unilateral
release of 243 Moroccan prisoners of war at the request of the head
of the Spanish government, José Maria Aznar. The Polisario Front
recalls on this occasion "the ordeal of Saharawi political detainees
and prisoners of war in Morocco".
The list of those released is published on the site of the Sahara
Press Service. <http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-180803.html>
The Moroccan prisoners of war will be repatriated to their country on
1 September through the offices of the International Committee of the
Red Cross and the Spanish Red Cross. (SPS)
26.08.03
Diplomacy
Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, Polisario representative in South Africa,
appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of SADR in
Algeria, has presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Belkhadem.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
01.08.03
US military base?
General Jeffrey B. Kohler from the American Air Force visited Morocco
in July to discuss with the senior officers of the Moroccan army
technical details of the opening of an American military base, which
could be situated in Western Sahara in the region of Dakhla. This
project, according to a Moroccan weekly, is already well advanced and
will be finalised during the visit of Mohamed VI to Washington due to
take place at the end of 2003.
11.08.03
Letter to the Rafto Foundation
Saharawi political prisoners and imprisoned human rights activists
sent an open letter to the Rafto Foundation, which last year awarded
its human rights prize to Mohamed Daddach. They ask it to take on
coordinating an international campaign for human rights in Western
Sahara, jointly with other NGOs, in order to obtain the release of
Saharawi political prisoners, to shed light on the fate of the
disappeared, to put pressure on the Moroccan authorities to improve
the conditions of detention of political prisoners and to give moral
and financial support to the families of Saharawi prisoners and
disappeared.(full text english BIRDHSO web
<http://www.birdhso.org/communiqueasddh.html#raftoopenlettre>)
14.08.03
Letter to Spain
Saharawi political prisoners and human rights activists held in the
"black prison" of El Ayoun send an open letter to King Juan Carlos,
to Spanish civil society and to the people, the government and
institutions. After a long speech on the disappointing development of
the peace process and on the violation of fundamental rights in
Morocco, the occupying power in Western Sahara, the authors appeal to
Spain, since Morocco is not respecting international law, to assume
its responsibility as an administrative power and to "protect the
legitimate rights of the Saharawi people", as the young King declared
he would in El Ayoun on 2 November 1975. (full text
Spanish<http://www.arso.org/afa140803.htm>)
22.08.03
Release of political prisoners at the end of their sentence
Mohamed Nigrou, released after having served his sentence, statement:
On the occasion of my release on Friday morning 22 August 2003 at 9
o'clock, after having served a complete year's imprisonment, I take
this opportunity to congratulate all the international and Moroccan
human rights organisations and all democrats who supported me during
my experience of detention, without forgetting the big efforts
provided by the "Action Committee for the release of Tamek Ali Salem
and all Saharawi political detainees". By drawing attention to the
inhuman conditions in which Saharawi political detainees are held in
Moroccan prisonsm which contradict the minimal norms for the
treatment of detainees, I launch a solemn appeal to all people of
good will to start an international campaign on Saharawi disappeared
and the release of all Saharawi political detainees. Mohammed NIGROU,
Political detainee released from Ait Melloul prison, N° d'écrou 1120
(http://www.arso.org/nigro.htm)
Hammadi Abdelah Belaoui, born in 1972, arrested on 23 August 2002 in
El Ayoun in the same circumstances as Nigrou and sentenced during the
same trial, was also released on 22.08.03 at 10 am from the black
prison of El Ayoun. He was led away by inspectors of the Moroccan
police to the central police station where he was informed of a
measure of banishment for five years from the region of El Ayoun.
This additional punishment had not been confirmed during the appeal.
Protesting against this injustice, Belaoui received the reply that
there were orders from above... .
REFERENDUM
07.08.03
The United Nations Secretary General has appointed Alvaro de Soto
(Peru) as the new special representative for Western Sahara. Mr de
Soto, a man from the UN stable, was key adviser for Cyprus from 1999
after having served in various capacities in the Secretary-General's
office over 13 years.
20.08.03
King's speech
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the "Revolution of the
King and the People", which commemorates the deportation in 1953 of
King Mohamed V by the French authorities, Mohamed VI declares in a
speech that "the preservation of our territorial integrity remains
for us an imperative duty". He accuses Algeria, without naming it, of
having "disguised the fact that it is the real adversary" and of
wishing to establish, "through the separatists pawns (Polisario
Front) "a total hegemony over all our southern provinces". He claims
that "Morocco remains open to any constructive and frank dialogue to
settle the problem within the context of the preservation of our
territorial integrity and our national sovereignty, over which we
will never accept, and I mean never, any bargaining."
24.08.03
Reaction
The Moroccan government should be penalised for its "flagrant
violation" of international law, the Saharawi government considers,
in a statement calling the international community to impose on Rabat
the implementation of Security Council resolutions. The Saharawi
government considers that the King of Morocco has "categorically
rejected" the latest resolution of the Security Council (1495/ 2003),
which "constitutes an act of defiance to the international
community", the communiqué stresses. (SPS)
29.08.03
Japan
In May last over thirty Japanese citizens and NGOs sent an open
letter <http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003.htm> to the government, asking
for SADR to be invited to the 3rd TICAD (Tokyo International
Conference on African Development) on the same basis as other African
countries, including Morocco. (see week 20/2003
<http.//www.arso.org/01-e03-20.htm#ticad>) The reply by a head of
section in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not having satisfied them,
the same signatories sent a new letter
<http://www.arso.org/TICADbe2003.htm> in which they stress the fact
that SADR is part of the African Union and should on that basis be
invited to participate in a conference treating the major problems
concerning the African continent. The letter also criticises the
Japanese government for having a passive attitude and asks it to take
advantage of the TICAD to push forward a settlement of the conflict
giving respect for the right to self-determination. The friends of
the Saharawi people are called to participate in the action and to
send in their turn a letter along the same lines to the Japanese
government.
30.08.1988 - 30.08.2003
Fifteen years ago, Morocco and the Polisario Front accepted the peace
plan put forward by the UN Secretary General.
HUMAN RIGHTS
07.08.03
Expulsion
Afifa Karmous and Pauline Dubuisson, from France Libertés, travelling
to Morocco to meet former Moroccan prisoners of war released from the
camps in Tindouf in order to complete their mission of investigation,
were turned back at Rabat airport, with no explanation and without
delay. They had also asked to visit Ali Mrabet and Ali Salem Tamek,
both prisoners of opinion.
14.08.03
Prisoners of war
France Libertés published the report of its international mission of
inquiry from 11 to 25 April 2003 into the conditions of detention of
the Moroccan prisoners of war held by the Polisario Front. The
testimonies of over 300 prisoners are reported. Pointing out the
inhuman and degrading conditions, forced labour, tortures etc, the
human rights NGO calls on the Polisario Front to release immediately
all Moroccan prisoners of war, and recommends that while they are
waiting their conditions of detention should be improved and the
responsibilities should be investigated . It recommends that Morocco
should bring to justice those responsible, among former Polisario
Front members now defected to Morocco, guilty of war crimes and to
shed light on the circumstances of forced disappearances of civilian
and military Saharawis.
France Libertés finally announces it will suspend its aid projects in
the Saharawi refugee camps until the release of all the prisoners.(>>
documents, reactions, opinions <http://www.arso.org/FFL2003mail.htm>)
20.08.03
Denial
In a statement, the Polisario Front representation in France calls
the accusations in France Libertés' report "gratuitous and partial",
and announces the publication, in the near future, of a detailed
response.
SOLIDARITY
30.08.03
Australia
On the occasion of its 3rd annual general meeting the Australia
Western Sahara Association renewed its support for the Saharawi
people, it welcomes the decision of the UN to continue working for a
peaceful solution to the conflict, it deplores the categorical
refusal of the referendum by Morocco and calls for pressure to be
applied to put an end to its defiance of international law, it asks
the UN and the Australian government to do their utmost to enable the
Saharawi people to freely choose their future. They also draw
attention to the dire human rights abuses in the territories occupied
by Morocco and call on the UN to mandate MINURSO to monitor the human
rights situation in the occupied territories.(full text
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1177>)
30.08.03
International Day of the Disappeared
On the occasion of the international day of the disappeared Amnesty
International is launching an English language website on
"disappearances" : http://www.web.amnesty.org/mavp/av.nsf/pages/dofd
Information on "disappearances" in Morocco & Western Sahara can be
accessed directly via:
http://www.web.amnesty.org/mavp/av.nsf/pages/MDE_dod#morocco
COMING UP
12 - 16.10.03
11th Congress of the Polisario Front.
INTERNET
Documents:
- An Open Letter to RAFTO Strugglers for Human Rights from The
Sahrawi Political Prisoners and the Human Rights Sahrawi Activists
Imprisoned in the Local Jail of Laayoune City.
<http://www.birdhso.org/communiqueasddh.html#raftoopenlettre>
- Rapport France Libertés: Mission internationale d'enquête. Les
conditions de détention des prisonniers de guerre marocains détenus à
Tindouf (Algérie) - 11-25.04.2003.
(PDF<http://www.france-libertes.fr/actu/actudhci/rapport_pgm_0703.pdf>)
- Informe France Libertés: Misión internacional de investigación. Las
condiciones de detención de los prisioneros de guerra marroquís
detenidos en Tindouf (Argelia) - 11-25.04.2003.
(PDF<http://www.france-libertes.fr/actu/actudhci/Informe_Tindouf.pdf>)
- Report France-Libertés: International Mission of Inquiry. The
Conditions of Detentions of the Moroccan POWs Detained in Tindouf
(Algeria) - 11th-25th April 2003.
<http://www.france-libertes.fr/actu/actudhci/report_tindouf.pdf>
OPINIONS
- Time to pressure Morocco, Kamal Fadel
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1168>
- ¿Y Ahora qué toca ?, Luís Hernández Rocha ( en Sahara-Info del
15.08.03)<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1975>
- La mentira humanitaria y la verdad política (Crítica del informe
Karmous-Dubuisson) Carlos Ruiz Miguel. (WS-Online)
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/menthumpol.html>
- The Problem of POW , Sid Hamdi Yahdih
<http://www.arso.org/FLsidhamdi2003.htm>
- Moroccan POWs, an issue or a part of Saharawi's sufferings towards
freedom! , Malainin Mohamed Lakhal
<http://www.arso.org/FLlakhal2003.htm>
Nuevo sitio
- Entender Sáhara. <http://www.entender-sahara.com/>
- Blog sulla causa Saharawi e sulle iniziative del Comitato Saharawi
Pavia. <http://saharawi.splinder.it>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
-Caratini Sophie 2003, La République des sables, Anthropologie d'une
Révolution, L'Harmattan, Paris, 266 p.
<http://www.harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=15020&motcle=rÈp\
ublique%20sables&mode=AND>
- Maroc : revers diplomatique au Sahara occidental, Florence Beaugé
et Jean-Pierre Tuquoi.
Le Monde 14.08.03. <http://www.lemonde.fr/article/0,5987,3232--330435-,00.html>
- Main de fer sur des militants, Dkhil Moussaoui, Bazid Salek et
Ahmed Nasiri, une des cinq Lettres contre l'oubli d'Amnesty
international section suisse, Amnistie n° 34, sept. 2003.
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- "Justice will eventually prevail", Jean-Jacques Cornish, Mail &
Guardian Online, South Africa, 04.08.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/message/1167>
- Democratic institution building in the context of a liberation war:
the example of Western Sahara and Polisario Front, Elisabeth
Bäschlin, New Challenges in Local and Regional Administration, Jan.
2004. <http://www.giub.unibe.ch/sg/publikationen/publikationen.html>
- Book Review by Toby Shelley in Middle East International issue 705,
25 July 2003: A colonial affair, Western Sahara Since 1975 Under
Moroccan Administration: Social, economic and political
transformation, Akbarali Thobhani, Edwin Mellen Press, London 2002 .
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1179>
- Behind the Baker Plan for Western Sahara, Toby Shelley, MERIP,
August 1, 2003. <http://www.merip.org/mero/mero080103.html>
-Playing with aging prisoners in the Western Sahara, Opinion By Toby
Shelley, The Daily Star online, Lebanon, 14.08.03.
<http://www.dailystar.com.lb/opinion/29_08_03_c.asp>
- Time to pressure Morocco to abide by the UN Security Council
resolution. By Kamal Fadel, 14.08.03, Greenleft org, Australia
<http://www.greenleft.org.au/current/550p19.htm>, idem in Online
Opinion <http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=617>
- Promise of peace, John Cherian, Frontline, India, Volume 20, Issue
18, August 30-September 12, 2003.
<http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2018/stories/20030912000306000.htm>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Revista de la prensa española de la semana:
http://www.nodo50.org/fpolisario/Prensa.htm
- Noticias de prensa, Recopilación semanal de todos los articulos de
la prensa de España:
http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/
Deutsch
- Anlauf zur Lösung des Westsahara-Konflikts, Grünes Licht des Frente
Polisario - Obstruktion Marokkos, ach, Neue Zürcher Zeitung,
12.08.03. <http://www.nzz.ch/2003/08/12/al/page-article90YBR.html>
- West-Sahara, Das Palästina der Marokkaner, Wolfgang Meyer, Pogrom,
Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker, Göttingen, 3/2003,
pp. 18-19.<http://www.gfbv.de/bestell/pogrom/texte/219_mayr.htm>
- Sahrauis, Die Wut des Sandes, Umberto Romano, ibid., pp. 20-22.
Português
- Entrevista del Representante del Frente Polisario en Portugal
,Hamdi Bueha, O Independente, Portugal.
- POLISARIO liberta prisioneiros, Noticias de Moçambique, 18.08.03.
Norwegian:
- Ny utvikling i Vest- Sahara: en analyse ["New development in
Western Sahara: an analysis"], 18 July, by Ronny Hansen, Norwegian
Support Committee for Western Sahara.
- Det er fortsatt langt igjen før etikk blir butikk for
fondsforvaltningsselskapet Banco. ["Still a long way to go before
ethics become profits for fund manager Banco"], 22 July, Bård
Bjerkholt, Dagens Næringsliv print version.
Swedish:
- Folkomröstning om självständighet dröjer minst fem år
["Independence referendum delayed at least five years"], 3 August,
Göteborgs- Posten.
Italiano
- Nomadi del desierto a scuola di fotografia, MISNA, 30.08.03
<http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=2&id=96182>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------------------------------------------
There will be no WEEKLY NEWS during the month of August.
- You can find selections from the English language press on Sahara
Update <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages > or by
subscription to <Sahara-Update-subscribe@yahoogroups.com> or on
Western Sahara Online <http://www.wsahara.net/news.html>.
- Selections from the French and Spanish language press on
Sahara-Info <http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages>
or by subscribing to <mailto:sahara-info-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>.
- News of SADR on Saharawi Press Service <http://www.spsrasd.info> or
by subscription in French <mailto:sps-info-subscribe@...>
or Spanish <mailto:Agencia-SPS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > or English
<mailto:SPS-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
--------
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-3031.htm
original french
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
WEEK 30 + 31
20.07.-02.08.2003
- OCCUPIED TERRITOIRIES
- REFERENDUM
- MORROCCO
- SOLIDARITY
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Ali Salem Tamek political prisoner
19.07.03: Saharawi political prisoners in the black prison of El
Ayoun start a hunger strike of 48 hours in solidarity with Ali Salem
Tamek, on hunger strike since 9 July. (communiqué french
<http://www.arso.org/afa190703.htm#fr> + spanish
<http://www.arso.org/afa190703.htm>)
20.07.03: AFAPREDESA, concerned by the deterioration in the state of
health of Tamek, appeal to the Moroccan authorities to intervene.
(comunicado spanish <http://www.arso.org/afa200703.htm>)
24.07.03: Discussions take place between the representatives of three
Moroccan human rights NGOs, AMDH, OMDH and the FVJ, with the Minister
for Justice, who promises to restore to Tamek the advantages he
gained in Salé prison. As nothing was happening, Tamek decides on 27
July on self-immolation on the 30th. (Appeal of the Action Committee
for the release of Tamek and all Saharawi political prisoners
<http://www.arso.org/Tamek100902.htm#Ancragenew> - Press release WSC
UK, 29.07.03 <http://www.arso.org/wsc2003.07.htm>)
The UN Secretary General, called on by Mohamed Abdelaziz over Tamek's
case, assures that he will give the matter of the situation of the
political prisoner the attention it deserves. (SPS)
30.07.03: Tamek Ali Salem postpones his decision and calls off his
hunger strike. In a statement (French
<http://www.arso.org/Tamek100902.htm#270703>),he explains his
decision, which is a response to the request of several national and
international human rights organisations and his fellow activists.
Following a dialogue with the Minister for Justice and the Director
of Aït Melloul prison, and in the presence of an envoy from the Forum
for Truth and Justice, some of his demands are met, but have still to
be implemented.
See also: A Brief record of the life of Ali Salem Tamek, a paper
prepared by the Action Committee for the Liberation of Ali Salem
Tamek and all the Sahraoui prisoners.(Word document to download
<http://www.arso.org/ASTameke.doc>)
REFERENDUM
29.07.03
The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ana Palacio, receives in
Madrid the Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mohamed
Abdelaziz, as part of consultations on the search for a solution to
the conflict in Western Sahara. (SPS)
<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-300703.html>
30.07.03
Kofi Annan receives Mhamed Khaddad, Saharawi coordinator with the UN,
who gives him a message from the President of SADR, concerning the
latest developments on the question of Western Sahara in the light of
James Baker's proposal. The UN Secretary General expresses his "great
appreciation of the position of the Polisario Front in relation to
Baker's proposal".
31.07.03
Security Council resolution S/RES/1495 (2003)
<http://www.arso.org/S-res-1495e.htm> (PDF
<http://www.arso.org/S-res-1495e.pdf>)
The Security Council extends MINURSO's mandate until 31 October 2003
asking the parties to accept the new UN Peace Plan. Several expert
sessions, several meetings of the Council and intensive discussions
were necessary to end up with a resolution which "supports" the Peace
Plan for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara
(Baker plan 2), "as an optimum political solution on the basis of
agreement between the two parties". The Council asks the parties to
work on the acceptance and implementation of this Peace Plan.
The US draft resolution was strongly contested by France, at the
request of Morocco, which refused the new Baker plan categorically.
Even the day before the decision of the Council, the Moroccan
government expressed "its rejection of the draft Peace Plan proposed
by the Secretary General's Personal Envoy in so far as it considers
it contrary to its fundamental national interests and to peace and
security in the Maghreb region", and the King, in his speech on the
anniversary of his enthronement, affirmed "that Morocco has closed at
an internal level, the question of the legitimate recuperation of its
southern provinces and that it is mobilised and holding itself ready
with all its forces to defend its territorial integrity."(Press
Release SC/7833
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sc7833.doc.htm>)
REACTIONS
Polisario Front
Mhamed Khadad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, expresses the
Polisario Front's satisfaction in the failure of Moroccan attempts to
oppose the efforts of the United Nations. He considers that this
resolution has the capacity to re-launch the peace dynamic and
reminds Morocco that the policy of intransigence and escapism is
dangerously counter-productive and causes the region to run serious
risks for which it alone holds responsibility. France, he adds, which
shone in the debate within the Council by its partiality and siding
with Morocco, revealed to the peoples of the Maghreb that it does not
want a just and lasting peace in this region which is so close to it.
(Declaration <http://www.arso.org/Boukhari100703.htm#310702e>)
Ahmed Boukhari, Polisario representative at the UN, declares that the
adoption of the resolution signifies "a defeat for Morocco" and
proves that "the international community is not disposed to play
Morocco's game." "We hope that Morocco will wish to collaborate", he
concludes.
Morocco
Morocco's Ambassador at the UN, Mr Benounna, also stated himself to
be satisfied "because the resolution does not impose the Baker plan
on the parties". But he repeats that Morocco does not accept the
electoral body foreseen in the plan nor the referendum of
self-determination, even though it is ready for direct negotiations
with Algeria and the Polisario Front.
In parallel with the debate in the Security Council on Western
Sahara, at least two Moroccan weeklies have dared to tackle the
problem. Tel Quel published a provocative article and opened a
subsequent discussion
(http://www.telquel-online.com/tns.php?site=1&rub=read&pid=2082), and
Le Journal published a big feature with contributions from Jamaï,
Serfaty, Mohsen-Finan, Lopez-Garcia and Monjib (scanned documents
available onrequest in JPG format, 3 Mo)
Algeria
Algeria welcomes "with satisfaction" the adoption of the resolution,
and "hails the new highly promising direction which results from
it".(APS) The Deputy Minister responsible for Maghreb and African
affairs affirmed that the resolution "creates a new dynamic towards a
lasting settlement for the question of Western Sahara".
Spain
Mr. Arias, Ambassador to the UN, considers that the adoption of the
resolution by consensus is an important step towards achieving a just
and lasting peace. Spain, which has always maintained a neutral
policy of not imposing a solution, spared no effort to assemble as
large a consensus as possible. It wishes to call on the parties not
to let this occasion pass and to start a dialogue which will lead to
acceptance of the Peace Plan. (UN News)
MOROCCO
25.07.03
General Hamidou Laânigri, head of the DST, has been appointed to the
position of General Director of National Security replacing Hafid
Benhachem to whom the monarch has not given another job.
The King also appointed Ahmed Harari to the position of Director
General of the DST to replace General Hamidou Laânigri. Ahmed Harari,
who is reputed to be close to King Mohamed VI, formerly directed the
DST services in Casablanca, it was learned in Rabat. (AFP)
SOLIDARITY
Austria - Slovenia
On saturday 12.07.03 ten Western Sahara children arrived in Austria.
They will stay for holidays 5 weeks in Austria and one week in
Slovenia as guests of the Western Sahara support Society (Ljubljana)
at the Slovenian coast. It will be the first group who have ever
visited Slovenia from a refugee camp.
INTERNET
Firmar:
- MANIFIESTO DE LOS PROFESORES ESPAÑOLES DE DERECHO INTERNACIONAL Y
RELACIONES INTERNACIONALES SOBRE EL EJERCICIO DEL DERECHO A LA LIBRE
DETERMINACIÓN DEL PUEBLO DEL SAHARA OCCIDENTAL.
<http://www.sc.ehu.es/ziwqulof>
A signer
- MANIFESTE des PROFESSEURS ESPAGNOLS DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL et
RELATIONS INTERNATIONALES SUR l'EXERCICE DU DROIT à la LIBRE
DETERMINATION DU PEUPLE DU SAHARA OCCIDENTAL.
<http://scsx01.sc.ehu.es/ziwqulof/MANIFESTE%20des%20PROFESSEURS%20ESPAGNOLS%20DE\
%20DROIT%20INTERNATIONAL.htm>
To sign up
- MANIFESTO OF SPANISH LECTURERS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ON THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT TO
SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN SAHARA.
<http://scsx01.sc.ehu.es/ziwqulof/Spanish%20lecturers%20manifesto%20EN.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Plan Baker au Sahara occidental: Polisario : Attachement à
l'autodétermination, Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats, Alger, 23.07.03.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1937>
- Les termes du plan de paix, Une autonomie de fait pour les Sahraouis, ibid.
- L'Algérie réitère ses positions, Priorité aux " garanties de
sécurité et d'équité ", ibid.
- Que décidera le Conseil de sécurité ? Z'hor Chérief, Les Débats,
Alger, 30.07.03.
- Entretien avec le chercheur Yahia Zoubir «Sahara occidental : une
question géopolitique pour l'Algérie», ibid.
<http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/08.zip>
- Tamek est en danger de mort, ibid. <http://www.lesdebats.com/pdf/09.zip>
English
English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Behind the Baker Plan for Western Sahara, Toby Shelley, August 1,
2003, Middle East Report Online.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1165>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Sahara: La salida al interminable conflicto con Marruecos divide al
pueblo, Paco Soto, Diario Sur, Malaga, 26.07.03.
<http://servicios.diariosur.es/pg030726/prensa/noticias/Portada/200307/26/SUR-AC\
T-240.html>
- Represión y dolor en el Sahara, ibid., 27.07.03.
<http://servicios.diariosur.es/pg030727/prensa/noticias/Mundo/200307/27/SUR-MUN-\
099.html>
- El Sahara pide a España un papel más activo, ibid., 28.07.03.
<http://servicios.diariosur.es/pg030728/prensa/noticias/Mundo/200307/28/SUR-MUN-\
070.html>
- La necesidad de conocer las dos versiones, ibid., 28.07.03.
<http://servicios.diariosur.es/pg030728/prensa/noticias/Mundo/200307/28/SUR-SUBA\
RTICLE-071.html>
Deutsch
- Marokko unter Erwartungsdruck, wie, Frankfurter Allgemeine, 17.07.03.
-Polisario gibt überraschend nach, Rainer Wandler, Der Standard,
Wien, 14.07.03.
Italiano
- DOSSIER SAHARAWI, Cultur-e [La rivista], 15.07.03:
- Dune contese, Alessandro Dattilo.
<http://www.cultur-e.it/content_s.asp?subc=743>
- La società delle donne, Catherine Cornet.
<http://www.cultur-e.it/content_s.asp?subc=745>
- Fieri figli del Sahara, Gaia Vendettuoli.
<http://www.cultur-e.it/content_s.asp?subc=742>
- Oltre il muro di sabbia, Paola Donatucci.
<http://www.cultur-e.it/content_s.asp?subc=750>
- Nel deserto dei diritti umani, Paola Donatucci.
<http://www.cultur-e.it/content_s.asp?SUBC=741>
Norwegian
- Vest-Sahara, Susanne Bygnes, Issue 23 of student magazine "Brodd",
University of Bergen <http://rosso.uib.no/pdf/brodd23.pdf>
-Livet i en sandkasse ["Life in a sandbox"], Lars Skeide, in "Bulle"
weekly paper of the Norwegian School of Economics and Business
Administration students, Bergen, 25 February 2003
<http://www.nhhs.nhh.no/bulle/bullenews/news_item.asp?NewsID=84>
- Trusler skal stoppe planlagt olje-utvinning ["Threats supposed to
halt planned exploitation of oil"], Stavanger Aftenblad, 27 May 2003
<http://aftenbladet.no/nyheter/article.jhtml?articleID=162907>
- Advarer mot Vest-Sahara ["Warning against Western Sahara"], Kristin
Haug, Klassekampen Daily, Oslo, 27 May 2003
<http://www.saih.no/Detailed/1338.html>
- Vest-Sahara: Seismikkindustrien får advarsel ["Western Sahara:
seismic industry receives warning"], Terje Johansen, NOPEF Aktuelt,
magazine of the Norwegian Oil- and Petrochemical Workers Union, 30
May 2003 <http://www.nopef.no/art.asp?art=5633>
- Stavanger svartelister selskaper ["Stavanger blacklists
companies"], Bjørn G. Sæbø, Rogalands Avis, 04 June 2003.. "Companies
who violate human rights will be blacklisted by Stavanger
municipality. Investment in unethical shares will end. Last year's
revelation of the municipality's investment in TGS Nopec via
SR-Forvaltning, accelerated the ethical debate among Stavanger's
politicians. TGS has a contract with the Moroccan state and
TotalFinaElf for oil exploitation in Western Sahara, thereby
supportinng Morocco's illegal occupation."
<http://www.rogavis.no/nyheter/article682513.ece>
- Konflikter i Verden: Vest-Sahara ["World conflicts: Western
Sahara"], André Larsen Avelin in "Balder", Magazine for Norwegian
conscientious objectors, issue 4, 2003
<http://www.baldermagasin.no/balder4/konflikter.htm>
Swedish
- Socialdemokraterna uppmärksammar Polisario:s jubileum ["The Social
Democrats attend Polisario's jubilee"], 20 May 2003
<http://www.socialdemokraterna.se/sapdesign.nsf/main?openagent&layout=ReadSimple\
Doc&docid=74123888FF2A30FFC1256D2C005385C>
-Sif belönar solidaritetsarbete ["SIF rewards solidarity work"],
SIFtidningen, 11 June 2003.
http://www.siftidn.sif.se/nyh/arkiv/nyhs/20030611172603a_nyh.shtml
- Befria Afrikas sista koloni ["Liberate Africa's last colony"],
Birgitta Ohlsson, member of parliament for Folkpartiet Liberalerna
(Sweden's liberal party) Piteå- Tidningen, 13 June 2003.
http://www.inorr.se/pt/index.php?artikel=66004
- Ett steg framåt i frågan om Västsahara ["A step forward in the
issue of Western Sahara"], TT- Reuters, 12 July 2003
<http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=160242&previousRenderType=8>
- Stor eftergift från Polisario inför FN-beslut om Västsahara ["Big
concession by Polisario on eve of UN decision on Western Sahara"],
Jan Strömdahl, Chairman of Swedish Support Committee for Western
Sahara, 15 July 2003
- Ny plan för Västsahara - men det finns många frågetecken ["New plan
for Western Sahara- but many question marks remain"], Proletären,
29/2003
<http://www.proletaren.se/Proletaren/Prolarkiv/Proletaren0329/Pro0329sahara.html\
>
- En bortglömd ockupation ["A forgotten occupation"], Upsala Nya
Tidning, 2 Aug 2003,
<http://www2.unt.se/first/1,1205,2,00.html?main=/avd/1,2883,MC=2-AV_ID=266134-AT\
_DP=articlegen1,00.html>
- Article & audio program file: Framsteg i tvisten om Västsahara
["Progress in dispute over Western Sahara"], Johan Schmidt, Swedish
Radio, 1 August 2003
<http://www.sr.se/ekot/artikel.asp?artikel=268645>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Western Sahara Campaign UK
PRESS RELEASE
29th July 2003 For Immediate Release
Prisoner of Conscience sets Wednesday 30th as date for Self-Immolation
Here follows a statement released in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara
on 27th July 2003 from the "Action Committee for the Liberation of
Ali Salem Tamek and all Saharawi Political Prisoners" :
"Save the life of Tamek"
Appeal by the Action Committee for the Liberation of Ali Salem TAMEK
and all Saharawi Political Prisoners
After having tried various forms of action, the political prisoner
Ali Salem Tamek, who has been observing an indefinite hunger strike
since Wednesday 9th July, in protest against his arbitrary transfer
from Sale prison to Ait Melloul and the withdrawal of his essential
rights that follow from his status as prisoner of conscience, has
decided to immolate himself by fire on Wednesday 30th July.
He is aware that representatives of the AMDH (Moroccan Association of
Human Rights), OMDH (Global Human Rights Observatory) and FVJ (Forum
for Truth and Justice) had had an audience with the [Moroccan]
Minister of Justice this week, during which the minister promised to
restore to Tamek all the gains he had made while he was imprisoned in
Sale.
Faced with the non-fulfillment of these promises, Tamek has taken
this difficult decision.
The Action Committee for the Liberation of Ali Salem Tamek and all
Saharawi Political Prisoners, while holding the Minister of Justice
and all concerned responsible, launches a pressing appeal, in
distress, to summon all people of democratic beliefs to work urgently
to save the life of Ali Salem Tamek
El Ayoun, 27th July 2003
The Western Sahara Campaign appeals to the Moroccan authorities to
restore Tamek's rights as a prisoner of conscience immediately, and
set in motion the procedure for his release as soon as possible.
The Campaign recalls that Tamek has been adopted as Prisoner of
Conscience by Amnesty International. He was sentenced to two years
imprisonment solely on the basis of statements allegedly extracted
under torture from other human rights activists, and his open belief
in the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco. He has been a
leading member of the Forum for Truth and Justice, a human rights NGO
in which Moroccans and Saharawis have worked together.
He has previously twice been imprisoned for trying to leave
Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara to join the Saharawi refugee camps
in Algeria, and has repeatedly been denied a passport by the Moroccan
authorities.
For further information please contact
Tim Braunholtz, Western Sahara Campaign UK
tel.: 0113 245 4786 / 0775 131 8982 ; email :
<mailto:wsc@...>wsc@...
We suggest, if you can, to send a fax to one of the following people
emphasising that
a) Tamek should never have been in prison in the first place
b) steps should be taken immediately to prepare for his release
c) he should be informed of his imminent release in time to prevent
him going through with his decision to burn himself
Moroccan Minister of Justice:
M. Mohammed Bousoubaa, Ministre de la Justice, Palais de la Mamounia,
Rabat, Morocco.
Fax : 00 212 37 73 27 10.
Moroccan Minister of the Interior:
M. Al Mustapha Sahel, Ministre de l'Intérieur, Quartier
Administratif, Rabat, Morocco
Fax : 00 212 37 76 20 56.
Moroccan Ambassador in London:
HE Mohammed Belmahi, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, 49 Queens
Gate Gardens, London, SW7 5NE
Fax: 020 7225 3862
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-2829.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
WEEKS 28+29
06.-19.07.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- MOROCCO
- ALGERIA
- HUMANITARIAN AID
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
10-12.07.03
Ordinary session Summit of the African Union
A Saharawi delegation, led by the SADR President, took part in the
summit at Maputo. (SPS)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
09.07.03
Tamek
The political prisoner, Ali Salem Tamek started an unlimited hunger
strike on 9 July in protest at his transfer from Salé prison to Aït
Melloul prison where he is deprived of the advantages granted to him
as a political prisoner, as a result of previous strikes. On the same
day Tamek refused to receive the first deputy of the King's Public
Prosecutor at the Appeal Court of Agadir who has never kept his
promises. The latest news is that Tamek, suffering from fainting
attacks, has been taken as an emergency case to Inzegane hospital.
(Statement from the Action Committee for the release of TAMEK Ali
Salem and all the Saharawi political
detainees<http://www.arso.org/Tamek100902.htm#0907>)
Write to him:
ALI-SALEM TAMEK
n° d'écrou 1519
Prison locale de Aït Melloul
Aït Melloul Maroc
mailto:tamekalisalem@...
REFERENDUM
Extension of MINURSO's mandate
<http://www.arso.org/Boukhari100703.htm#engl> or WS online
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/newdev03.html>
08.07.03
In the Security Council the Spanish government is preparing a
resolution in favour of the Baker plan, asking Morocco and the
Polisario Front to negotiate on the basis of the plan. (El Periodico)
09.07.03
In reaction, Brahim Ghali, Polisario Front representative in Spain,
makes clear that the Saharawis "will not accept to live under the
sovereignty of Morocco for a single day". He asks the Spanish
government to abandon its intention of supporting the Baker plan. The
interim period, under international control, could end in genocide,
he believes. (El Periodico)
10.07.03
The representative of the Polisario Front at the United Nations,
Ahmed Boukhari, announces that "the Polisario Front, without
abandoning the 1991 Settlement Plan, will be disposed to contribute
to the examination of the way forward proposed by Mr Baker in order
to achieve the inevitable objective of the self-determination of the
Saharawi people. This position is not only the reflection of our
attachment to a just and lasting peace in the context of respect for
international law, but also responds to wishes emphatically expressed
by various countries, within the Security Council and outside,
including Algeria and Spain."
Security Council
11.07.03
Initial deliberations
The current president of the Council, the Spanish Ambassador, Arias,
indicates that the draft resolution put down by the United States
gives support to the Baker plan and insists that the parties accept
it. The Polisario Front and Algeria indicated to the Council their
agreement in principle, unlike Morocco. This proposal is submitted to
experts on 16 July. The Council is due to pronounce on it before 31
July, the expiry date of MINURSO's mandate.(UN News)
Reactions
Morocco
The first reaction of the Ambassador of Morocco at the United Nations
is to call the proposal "counter-productive", and to express doubt
that it will find a majority in the Council. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs then announces the categorical rejection of his government:
"The position of Morocco is clear, we refuse to have any decision
whatsoever imposed on us relating to the sovereignty of the Kingdom".
He added that "Morocco is willing to take part in a sincere, frank
and democratic dialogue to reach a political solution which respects
the integrity and sovereignty of our country over the Sahara."
The king talks on the subject by telephone with George Bush, José
Maria Aznar, Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair.
Headlines in the Moroccan press: "Urgent need for national
mobilisation". "Morocco finds itself in a difficult position..."
"Morocco affirms that the new Baker plan is anti-democratic"
"Spanish-American Masquerade in the UN", "Dangerous and deviant turn
taken by the special envoy of Kofi Annan. Morocco cannot pay the
price of the incompetence of the international community". "Sahara:
No to the "Diktat"!
France
The French Ambassador in the United Nations declares that "this plan
cannot be imposed if it is not accepted by both the parties" and
French diplomacy rushes to the help of Morocco. It appears they have
proposed amendments to the draft resolution. Chirac himself is
thought to have contacted members of the Council. Experts from
Security Council member countries are due to meet again on Monday 21.
Spain
The Spanish government says that it will make sure that Morocco and
the Polisario Front can reach an agreement based on the Baker plan,
which will be a step forward, and avoid a simple extension of
MINURSO. (18.07.03)
Polisario Front - clarifications
In an interview with the Algerian daily Le Matin*
<http://www.lematin-dz.net/quotidien/lire.php?ida=7330&idc=9&taj=1>on
14.07.03, Mohamed Sidati, Counselor minister to the SADR presidency,
considers it necessary to "favour a way out of the conflict between
the two states, and in some way promote reconciliation between the
Moroccan and Saharawi peoples and thus to seek a way forward which is
likely to end up with a solution which will both grant and guarantee
to the Saharawi people the full exercise of their inalienable right
to self-determination, through the organisation of a free and fair
referendum. In declaring ourselves ready to examine the Mr Baker's
proposals as a basis for discussion, this in no way says that we are
denying the foundation of our struggle which consists in recovering
independence and sovereignty over our country. The Saharawis will not
go to the meeting without demanding from the international community
to take charge through the competent bodies in the UN, of the
administrative management of the territories of Western Sahara during
the different stages of this process which will finish with the
organisation of the free and fair referendum. (* trad en castellano
<http://www.canariastelecom.com/personales/elguanche/lamatinsidati.htm>)
Visit of President Mohamed Abdelaziz to the USA
The SADR president arrived on 14 July 2003 in Washington for a
working visit of several days. On 15.07.03 he had several meetings
and talked with Congress members among whom were George Radanovich,
Joseph Pitts and Senator James Inhofe. The president also had a
meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate and had
talks with Congressmen Donald Payne and Mark Green from the
Sub-Committee of the House of Representatives. During a reception
offered in the Congress in his honour by NGOs active in solidarity
work with the Saharawi people, the President emphasised the
importance of the moment for the Saharawi cause and added: "our
commitment in favour of peace is only equal to our determination to
accept some concession concerning our inalienable right to
self-determination and independence. The international community and
the United States in particular are called to assume their
responsibility by supporting resolutely the efforts aiming to bring a
just and definitive solution of the conflict. The attitude of France
in the bargaining going on in the Security Council proves that this
country unfortunately is still the major obstacle to the efforts of
the United Nations towards reaching a fair and lasting solution to
the conflict. It is time to put an end to the injustice imposed on
the Saharawi people for nearly three decades. The Settlement Plan and
the Houston Agreement constitute the framework of preference for an
authentic decolonisation of Western Sahara.
The European parliamentary intergroup
Margot Kessler, MEP, in a letter to Ambassador Arias, President of
the Security Council, on 15.07.03 expresses the support of the
intergroup Peace for the Saharawi people for the efforts which are
contributing towards resolving the conflict, in a democratic manner
and with international guarantees. Any future solution to the problem
should be in accordance with the clear principles and adequate
machinery contained in the United Nations Charter, she added, asking
for a mechanism to be put in place which would oblige Morocco to
respect international law established by the Charter. (full text
spanish <http://www.arso.org/IPPSarias.htm>)
17.07.03
Manifesto of 130 Spanish professors of international law and
international relations on the exercise of the right to free
determination of the people of Western Sahara.
In ten points these specialists recall that the Western Sahara
conflict is a question of unfinished decolonisation, and point out
the particular historical, legal and moral responsibility of Spain.
They conclude that the UN should apply international norms, the only
solution which conforms to international law is still the settlement
plan of 1990. The illegal Moroccan occupation could, the manifesto
concludes, justify the application of chapter 7 of the United Nations
Charter which defines actions "in cases of threat to peace, of
breaking the peace and acts of agression". (full text spanish
<http://www.arso.org/manifderecho.htm>)
MOROCCO
Following a protest campaign, the "North Africa to Iran" office of
Reporters without borders (RSF - Reporters sans frontières) decided
to withdraw a map of Morocco which included Western Sahara. This map
which did not conform to international law figured in RSF
publications relating to the campaign for Ali Lmrabet. The President
of the Spanish office, said that she realised the map used expressed
the expansionist claims of Morocco, but wanted to make clear that RSF
did not campaign politically about it, as they were trying to save
the life of the Moroccan journalist !!!
ALGERIA
10.07.03
Belgian-Algerian Committee of support for the Saharawi people
Margot Kessler, MEP, president of the intergroup, "Peace for the
Saharawi people", five Spanish members of parliament, one British
member of parliament, Pierre Galand, Senator and coordinator of
EUCOCO (Coordination of European Committees of support for the
Saharawi people), the personal representative of Mr Daniel Ducarme,
Minister president of Brussels-Capital, Mohamed Sidati,
representative of the Polisario Front in Europe, the Ambassador of
Algeria for Belgium and Luxembourg and many journalists met in
Brussels to celebrate the birth of the Belgian-Algerian Committee of
Solidarity with the Saharawi people. A provisional executive was
chosen to be responsible for arranging an inaugural meeting next
September. (Le Soir d'Algérie)
HUMANITARIAN AID
14.07.03
Spain will contribute 240,000 euros to the UNHCR program of
humanitarian aid for the Saharawi refugees. (EFE)
SOLIDARITY
The XIth international conference of the Association of women of the
Mediterranean region AWMT, devoted to "Strategies of Women for Peace
in the Mediterranean", which was held in Bologna from 10-13.07.03,
adopted a resolution on Western Sahara supporting self-determination.
16.07.03
The Pope gave an audience to a group of Saharawi children on holiday
in Italy at the invitation of the association "JAIMA saharawi" from
the province of Reggio Emilia.
INTERNET
OPINION
-- La larga espera, Ahmed Mulay-Ali <http://www.arso.org/AMA0703.htm>
- -Los niños saharauis, Liman Boicha, <http://www.arso.org/LB0703.htm>
Nouveau site:
-- CREIMA, centre de recherches et des études et de l'information du
Maghreb arabe, site en arabe/français (peu) <http://www.creima.net>
A lire sur le site du CICR:
--Présentation du livre :"Un droit dans la guerre ?" Cas, documents
et supports d'enseignement relatifs à la pratique contemporaine du
droit international humanitaire by Marco Sassòli et Antoine A.
Bouvier.
<http://www.icrc.org/Web/fre/sitefre0.nsf/iwpList74/B51334878E20D142C1256D3D002A\
33F1>
--- Chapitre IV: Les règles spéciales concernant les territoires
occupés: IV. Les règles spéciales concernant les territoires occupés.
<http://www.icrc.org/Web/fre/sitefre0.nsf/html/5N9BBZ?OpenDocument&style=Custo_F\
inal.3&View=defaultBody2>
--- Cas n° 205, Le conflit du Sahara occidental.
<http://www.icrc.org/Web/fre/sitefre0.nsf/html/B51334878E20D142C1256D3D002A33F1?\
OpenDocument&Style=Custo_Final.3&View=defaultBody6>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Abdelkader Messahel, Ministre délégué aux Affaires africaines / «Le
critère économique, élément central de notre politique extérieure»,
T. Hocine, El Watan, 03.07.03.
http://www.elwatan.com/journal/html/2003/07/03/sup_html.htm
-.Le Sahara Occidental et l'Algérie / Concession ou abandon ?, A.
Samil, El Watan, Alger, 06.07.03.
<http://www.elwatan.com/journal/html/2003/07/06/sup_html.htm>
- Trafic de drogue, La route marocaine du kif, Mustapha Amine, Le
Soir d'Algérie, Alger, 06.07.03.
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/Edition06072003/actualite.htm>
- Des députés européens critiquent le Maroc, Liberté, Alger,
07.07.03. <http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=11645>
- Danger à l'ouest, Aziouz Mokhtari, Le Soir d'Algérie, Alger,
08.07.03.
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/Edition08072003/actualite.htm/>
- Sahara occidental, Voyage au cour de la psychologie onusienne,
Laurent Pointier, Afrik.com, 07.07.03.
<http://www.afrik.com/article6327.html>
- Sahara Occidental et intox intermaghrébines, Des calomnies en guise
de politique, Mohamed Derar, L'Expression, Alger, 09.07.03.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/articles.php3?category=4&id=16789&datedeb=2003-07-\
09>
- Naissance du comité belgo-algérien de soutien au peuple sahraoui,
Aziouz Mokhtari, Le Soir d'Algérie, Alger, 10.07.03.
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/Edition10072003/>
Sur les délibérations du Conseil de sécurité voir:
> presse francophone sélection du 11.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1909> et
>suivantes: >> 12.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1910> >>13 et
>14.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1914> >>
>15.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1916> >>16.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1918> >>
>17.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1921> >>18.07.03
><http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1923>
- Sahara Info, Bulletin de l'AARASD, Paris, no 121, janv.-mars 2003, 16 p.
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Western Sahara: whither Polisario now? Toby Shelley, Middle East
International. <http://meionline.com/current/behind.html>
About the deliberations of the UN Security Council :
>> Newswires 11+12.07.03 (Reuters, BBC,
>>VOAnews)<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara---Update/message/1146>
>> Sahara Press Service, 12.07.03 <http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e120703.html>
>> Morocco rejects Baker plan, Reuters 16.07.03
>><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1148>
>> Morocco rejects Sahara peace plan, afrol News, 17.07.03
>><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1149>
>> Algeria invites Morocco to mend tense ties, Reuters 17.07.03
>><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1150>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Dajla, una ciudad controlada donde se respira la ocupacion militar,
Texto y fotos: Pau Lanao, Setmanari del Diari Balears del 6 al 12 de
juny del 2003.
<http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/noticias/Dajla.pdf>
- Movimiento de la presidencia espanola del Consejo de seguridad de
la ONU, Madrid promueve el 'plan Baker' para resolver la crisis del
Sáhara, Marco Schwartz, El Periodico, 08.07.03.
<http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=5&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_P\
K=56837&idseccio_PK=8&h=030708>
- El Polisario pide a Madrid que no promueva el 'plan Baker',
Federico Peña, El Periodico, 09.07.03.
<http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=5&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_P\
K=57063&idseccio_PK=8&h=030709>
- España quiere que la ONU vote este mes la apertura del diálogo
entre Marruecos y el Polisario, EFE, 09.07.03.
<http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/07/07/internacional/1057594858.html>
- Frente Polisario está dispuesto a explorar el Plan Baker, EFE,
10.07.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=5109559>
- Un acuerdo justo sobre el Sáhara puede activar el camino hacia la
democracia en Marruecos, Gaceta Sindical, 2ª edición, 11.07.03.
<http://www.ccoo.es/diariodigital/hoy.pdf>
-Polisario pone la pelota en el campo de Marruecos Naciones Unidas,
EFE 11.07.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=5110462>
- El Frente Polisario decide aceptar el plan Baker para el Sahara
Occidental, Alfonso Armada, ABC, Madrid, 11.07.03.
<http://www.abc.es/internacional/index_asp.asp?dia=11072003>
- El Gobierno español concede nuevas ayudas a ACNUR para los
refugiados saharauis y los desplazados colombianos ACNUR, EFE,
11.07.03. <http://es.news.yahoo.com/030711/4/2u4e1.html>
- "La ONU siempre es complaciente con Marruecos", Mohamed Sidati,
representante para Europa del Frente Polisario en "Le Matin"
(Argelia), 14.07.03 (trad. de Fernando Guijarro)
<http://www.canariastelecom.com/personales/elguanche/lamatinsidati.htm>
- Hispanos bajo ocupación, Isaac Bigio, El Peruano, 16.07.03.
<http://www.editoraperu.com.pe/edc/03/07/16/opi.asp>
-Sobre las deliberaciones del Consejo de seguridad:
-- prensa española selección del 11.07.03
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1908> y
seguentes
del 12.07.03
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1911> >>del
13.07.03
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1912> >> del
14.07.03
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1913> >> del
15.07.03 <http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1914>
del 15/16.07.03
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1917>
>> del 17.07.03
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1919> >> del
18.07.03 <http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1922>
- Francia vuelve a plantar cara a Estados Unidos, ahora a cuenta del
Sahara, ABC, A. Armada 18.07.03
<http://www.abc.es/internacional/noticia.asp?id=195632&dia=18072003>
Norwegian
- Marokko og medialakeiane deira ["Morocco and their media lackeys"],
Ivar Jørdre, Friheten Weekly, 11.07.03.
<http://www.friheten.no/uriks/2003/07/polis.html>
Deutsch
- Sahara-Info, Bulletin des SUKS, Bern, Nr. 87, Juli 2003, 8 p.
- Westsahara: Die Polisario gibt nach, Reiner Wandler, taz, Berlin,
14.07.03. <http://www.taz.de/pt/2003/07/14/a0075.nf/textdruck>
- Frieden in Sicht? Vanessa FischerDeutsche Welle, 16.07.03
<http://www.dw-world.de/german/0,3367,1454_A_920841_1_A,00.html>
Português
- Sahara Ocidental: Povo deve decidir livremente o seu destino
-afirma Bouteflika, Noticias, Mozambique, 18.07.03.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-27.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
WEEK 27
29.06.-05.07.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- HUMAN RIGHTS
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
28-29.06.03
Algiers - International meeting on the exploitation of Western
Sahara's natural resources
Several international lawyers as well as representatives of SADR and
European Committees of solidarity with the Saharawi people took part
in this meeting, organised by the Algerian Committee of solidarity
with the Saharawi people. In his opening address the Saharawi
President reaffirmed the attachment of the Saharawi people to the
referendum. In the final document, the meeting denounced Morocco's
colonial policy, and "the attitude of certain multinational companies
in their projects of plunder of the resources of Western Sahara", and
"welcomed the withdrawal of the Norwegian company TGS-NOPEC from the
consortium of companies active" in occupied Western Sahara. The
meeting decided to refer the matter to representatives of the
international community asking them to act in favour of the respect
of UN resolutions and the immediate cessation of all exploration and
exploitation of Western Sahara.
01.07.03
Referendum
Speaking on a broadcast from Channel 3 on Algerian TV, the Saharawi
president ruled out the option of returning to war: "I don't think
that there could be a return to hostilities in the region", he
declared, pointing out that "political action has taken over from
military action" and that "the Saharawi leadership is sticking to the
organisation a referendum of self-determination". (Le Jeune
Indépendant, Algiers)
02.07.03
Oil
According to Africa Energy Intelligence, Total has for the moment put
on hold its activity in offshore Western Sahara. The French group,
holding a reconnaissance permit offshore from Dakhla... last year
carried out a seismic survey of the area, of which the results are
believed to be disappointing, and a new study, planned initially, has
been postponed, or even cancelled. According to Upstream, "the
growing brouhaha over whether Morocco has the right to manage
exploration and production activity offshore" is not unconnected with
this decision. Kerr McGee... may also be slowing down its
reconnaissance work in the area. (Africa Energy Intelligence -
Edition française N° 466
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1895>)
Meanwhile the director of the Norwegian seismic survey company
Multiwave says it will not undertake surveys in disputed territories
such as Western Sahara.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
29.06.03
Ali Salem Tamek
The political prisoner, Tamek Ali Salem, is continuing his
intermittent hunger strikes to claim his rights, the last was on
27-28 June. In an appeal, the Committee of Action for the release of
Tamek Ali Salem and all Saharawi political prisoners makes it known
that the health of the Saharawi political detainee keeps getting
worse and gives rise to concern.
Tamek himself in "A Call from Darkness" exposes his conditions of
detention and "launches an urgent appeal to all human rights
defenders, to all human rights organizations and to all peace-loving
people everywhere to intervene to bring pressure to bear on the
Moroccan authorities and help save my life. " A Call from Darkness
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/tamekdark03.html>
01.07.03
Dissolution of the Sahara Section of the Forum for Truth and Justice (FVJ).
The Moroccan Forum for Truth and Justice denounced the dissolution of
its branch in Western Sahara on the occasion of the presentation of
its annual report for 2002 on the human rights situation in Morocco.
Its president, Mr Sebbar pointed out that the accusations of
spreading pro-Polisario propaganda were not supported by any proof.
In his opinion the court confused a moral agent, the FVJ, with
physical persons. (the legal documents are available in Arabic
<http://www.arso.org/docu/fvjsdiss.htm> and summarised in French
<http://www.arso.org/docu/fvjdissFr.htm> and English
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/ftjsah03.html>)
Amnesty international
The Amnesty international woldwide appeal for the month of July is
dedicated to " Western Sahara civil society activists", in particular
the political prisoners Moussaoui Dkhil, Salek Bazaid and Ahmed
Nasiri . (AI Appeal
<http://web.amnesty.org/appeals/index/mar-010703-wwa-eng>)
02.07.03
Manipulated verdict
The Appeal Court of El Ayoun passed sentence on the prison warder
accused of having caused the death of Mohamed Boucetta and two
Saharawi common law prisoners who helped him. (full story
<http://www.arso.org/NI281102.htm>)
The verdict is quite different than expected: the prison warder was
acquitted, while the two co-detainees were sentenced to two years'
imprisonment and a fine of 5000 dirhams (500 US dollars). It seems
that this is the way the Moroccan authorities, which would be
responsible for the actions of state officials, can get out of having
to pay compensation to the family of the victim.
04.07.03
Human rights defenders
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in a
statement on the sentencing of Dkhil El Moussaoui, member of the
Forum for Truth and Justice (FVJ), by the Appeal Court of El Ayoun,
to one year in prison and 5000 dirhams' fine for "incitement to
disturbances in public order", (see week 25/26/2003) recalls the
context of continual harassment of defenders denouncing human rights
abuses in Western Sahara and calls for the immediate release of all
persons arrested arbitrarily because of their work defending and
promoting human rights in Western Sahara, the end of harassment of
members of the Sahara Section of the Forum for Truth and Justice, the
lifting of the ban on this same branch, a guarantee for all human
rights defenders to be able to exercise their freedom of expression
in accordance with the international instruments of human rights
defence and the Declaration of human rights defenders adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1998.(Statement in
French: <http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1896>)
REFERENDUM
Spain
In his speech during an exchange of toasts with the Mauritanian
President Mr. Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, King Juan Carlos 1
emphasised that Mauritania and Spain both want a quick and agreed,
fair and workable solution for all concerned on the question of the
Sahara within the context of the United Nations.
02.07.03
European Parlament
Meeting of the EP Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people":
Statement in French <http://www.arso.org/IPE020703.htm#Ancragef> -
Comunicado en castellano <http://www.arso.org/IPE020703.htm>
02.07.03
Spain
On the occasion of the start of his office as chair of the Security
Council for July, Inocencio Arias, Spanish Ambassador at the UN, gave
expression to the Spanish position on Western Sahara. (see Spanish
press <http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1892>
03.07.03
Algeria
In an interview, the Algerian minister for African Affairs, Messahel
stated that "Algeria considers that the new proposal of Mr James
Baker, in so far as its implementation would guarantee the exercise
of the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to
self-determination..., constitutes a constructive approach which
includes interesting elements and which creates a new dynamic in the
search for a just, fair and definitive solution." (El Watan)
HUMAN RIGHTS
04-11.07.03
Badajoz, Spain
In the course of "Study Days on Western Sahara, the legal antecedents
and the present situation of the conflict", organised by the College
of Lawyers in this town, the Observatory for human rights was
inaugurated, there were also various activities, lectures,
exhibitions etc. Contact: mailto:observatorio_2@...
SOLIDARITY
12.07.03, 12 h., Madrid, Plaza Mayor: Fiesta de solidaridad y
encuentro «Los niños y niñas saharauis exigen paz y libertad». Para
apoyar esta fiesta y conseguir su objetivo entregaremos al Presidente
del Gobierno un manifiesto firmado por las familias acogedoras y
simpatizantes de la causa saharaui.
«Un alumno unladrillo - Ikasle bat, adreilu bat» Proyecto de EHIGE
para el SAHARA. "Euskal Herriko Ikasleen Gurasoen Elkartea",
Federaciones y Asociaciones de Madres y Padres de Alumnado de los
Centros Públicos de Euskal Herria. Web: http://www.ehige-sahara.org/
COMING UP
Refugee camps: Film Festival 13 -16.11.03.
Contact:<info@...> <http://www.arso.org/07.htm#cine>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- L'Insurrection sahraouie, De la guerre à l'Etat, 1973-203, Ali Omar
Yara, L'Harmattan, Paris, 182 p.
- Graves provocations marocaines contre l'Algérie, Aziouz Mokhtari,Le
Soir d'Algérie, Alger, 26.06.03.
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/Edition26062003/actualite.htm>
- 40 ans de relations algéro-marocaines, Un autre regard sur une
époque, Mohamed Derar, L'Expression, Alger, 28.06.03.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/articles.php3?category=4&id=16437&datedeb=2003-06-\
28>
- La presse algérienne sur la conférence d'Alger:
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1889>
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1891>
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1893>
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1895>
- Sahara occidental : une ONG dénonce la fermeture de sa section à El
Ayoun, AFP, 01.07.03.
<http://www.africatime.com/maroc/afp_popup.asp?no_nouvelle=71501&no_pays=36&no_l\
angue=1&pos_nouv=&UrlRecherche=>
- Ecartant l'option du retour à la guerre, Le président sahraoui
affirme que l'action politique a pris le dessus, Hamidou B., Le Jeune
Indépendant, Alger, 02.07.03.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1893>
- Sahara Occidental: le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU dans l'impasse,
AP, 02.07.03.
<http://www.edicom.ch/news/international/030702195644.we.shtml>
- Abdelkader Messahel (Ministre délégué aux Affaires africaines) /
«Le critère économique, élément central de notre politique
extérieure», T. Hocine, El Watan, Alger, 03.07.03.
<http://www.elwatan.com/journal/html/2003/07/03/actualite.htm#ABDELKADER%20MESSA\
HEL%20(Ministre%20dÈlÈguÈ%20aux%20Affaires%20africaines)%20/%20´Le%20critËre%20È\
conomique,%20ÈlÈment%20central%20de%20notre%20politique%20extÈrieureª>
- Communiqué de l'Observatoire pour la Protection des Défenseurs des
Droits de l'Homme, 04.07.03.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1896>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Morocco/Western Sahara: Clampdown on civil society activists,
Amnesty International - Worldwide Appeals, July 2003
<http://web.amnesty.org/appeals/index/mar-010703-wwa-eng>
- Total has rain check in Western Sahara, Barry Morgan, Upstream
Online, 13.06.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1144>
- Sahrawi leader tours New Zealand, Felicity Coggan, The Militant,
Vol. 67, No. 21, 23.06.03.
<http://www.themilitant.com/2003/6721/672110.html>
- UN plan delays vote on Western Sahara sovereignty, Annalucia
Vermunt, The Militant, Vol. 67, No. 23, 07.07.03.
<http://www.themilitant.com/2003/6723/672312.html>
- Players take the cautious approach off hotly disputed desert
territories, Nassir Shirkhani, Upstream Online, 04.07.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1144>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Denuncian la explotación de riquezas del Sahara Occidental, EFE,
Argel, 28.06.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=5058769>
- España/Mauritania, Europa Press, 01.07.03.
<http://es.news.yahoo.com/030701/4/2tjy0.html>
- Declaraciones Arias, Presidente del Consejo de Seguridad, en la
prensa, 02.07.03:
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1892>
- Una asociación comprometida con los Derechos Humanos denuncia el
cierre de su sede en el Sáhara Occidental, Europa Press, 02.07.03.
<http://es.news.yahoo.com/030702/4/2tk0k.html>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-2526.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
WEEKS 25 + 26
15.-28.06.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- MOROCCO
- ALGERIA
- HUMANITARIAN AID
- SOLIDARITY
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
RASD
11.06.03
Polisario Front
At a regular meeting of the National Secretariat, the second
political body of the Polisario Front, it was announced that the 11th
Congress of the organisation would be held in October. (SPS)
17.06.03
The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, presided at the
Chahid El Ouali military school, over the graduation of a new group
of non-commissioned officers and troops of the Saharawi Popular
Liberation Army. (SPS)
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
18.06.03
Moroccan Court Upholds Closure of the Sahara branch of a prominent HR
Organization
On June 18, 2003, the Moroccan court of first instance in El Aaiun
decided to uphold its decree by dissolving the Sahara branch of the
Forum for Truth and Justice, a prominent human rights organization.
The court ruled that the group had "performed illegal and separatist
activitists that did not comply with its status." The court also
banned the group from holding any meetings, ordered the closure of
the branch's office and the transfer of its assets to the executive
office of the Forum marocain pour la vérité et la justice, the parent
organization.(>> Dossier <http://www.arso.org/170403FVJS.htm#180603e>)
Original documents of the trial and accusation will be available soon.
Protests:
- Lettre de l'AFASPA , 15.06.03 <http://www.arso.org/afaspa150603.htm>
- Communiqué AARASD 19.06.03
- Appel urgent de l'Observatoire pour la Protection des Défenseurs
des Droits de l'Homme, 20.06.03.
- Lettre de la députée européenne Yasmine Boudjena à l'ambassadrice
du Maroc à Bruxelles, 20.06.03.
- Comunicado AFAPREDESA 21.06.03
- Communiqué du Bureau exécutif du Forum marocain pour la vérité et
la justice, 23.06.03.
- In Australia a petition is circulating to be sent to the Moroccan
authorities.
25.06.03
Sentence
The court of appeal in El Ayoun sentenced El Moussaoui Dkhil to one
year in prison and 5,000 dirhams' fine (500 US dollars). The packed
courtroom was guarded by large numbers of police. Two Spanish lawyers
were able to be present at the trial, which took place behind closed
doors, which is a first in the judicial annals of the town. The
defence was provided by five barristers both Saharawi and Moroccan.
The accused had been abducted from his place of work in Dakhla on 8
April last, see more >>. <http://www.arso.org/080403MousaouiD.htm>)
REFERENDUM
12.06.03
USA
Before the US Congress, Congressman PITTS declared: I am deeply
concerned that the negotiations over the Western Sahara for the past
decade have all been for nothing. Former Moroccan Minister of
Interior Driss Basri recently said, "The Houston Agreement did not
come as a way to find a solution to the issue of Sahara . It came as
a starting point of an American plan and it will preserve the
American interests,'' and as U.N. diplomat Marrack Goulding wrote,
"for enhanced autonomy for Western Sahara within the kingdom of
Morocco.'' I find it deplorable and offensive that various officials
of Morocco, the U.N., and the U.S. engaged in what amounted to a
farce. They spent over $530 million and negotiated an agreement to
hold a referendum for the people of Western Sahara without ever
intending to hold that referendum. Mr. Speaker, this is not a game.
The people of Western Sahara agreed to a ceasefire on the basis that
all parties would uphold the negotiated agreement of a free, fair,
and transparent referendum for self-determination. The people of
Western Sahara have no desire to suffer under the colonial rule of
the kingdom of Morocco; and so the United States, the U.N., and
Morocco should stop the game-playing and implement the referendum.
(full text
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2003_record&page=H52\
70&position=all>)
Denmark
Organised by the Danish Party Det Radikale Venstre (Social-Liberal
Party), a conference on Western Sahara was held lately at the Danish
Parliament, to which Mr. Sidi Omar, Representative of Frente
POLISARIO in Denmark, was invited as a guest speaker. In his
presentation, Mr. Omar firstly recalled the historical background to
the Saharawi question and then proceeded to expound on the current
situation of human rights in the Saharawi territories under Moroccan
occupation, as well as the ongoing UN peace process in Western
Sahara. In his closing remarks, Mr. Ole Olsen, Vice-Chairman of the
party's Committee of International Relations, declared his party's
vehement condemnation of all sorts of occupation and expansionism and
reaffirmed its full support to the international legality and to the
UN resolutions calling for the democratic and free exercise by the
Saharawi people of its internationally-recognised right to
self-determination and freedom.
18.06.03
EU
The member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Intergroup
"Peace for the Saharawi people", Margot Kessler received a letter
from the Member of the European Commission responsible for External
Relations, Mr Christopher Patten. "Regarding the conflict over the
territory of Western Sahara opposing Morocco and the Frente
Polisario, the European Union would like to see a quick resolution of
this conflict. We give our full support to the efforts of the United
Nations Secretary General towards finding a mutually acceptable
solution, while fully respecting international legality. We also
encourage the parties in conflict to engage in a constructive mutual
dialogue and to adopt confidence building measures concerning
humanitarian aspects".
MOROCCO
17.06.03
Ali Lmrabet sentenced on appeal
The Moroccan journalist who had been dealt a sentence of four years
in prison together with a fine and a ban on his two weekly papers,
saw his sentence reduced by one year at the appeal. Lmrabet is
accused of insulting the king and attacking territorial integrity
(articles on Western Sahara). He observed a hunger strike which he
ended after 50 days.
- comunicado AFAPREDESA 21.06.03 <http://www.arso.org/afa210603.htm>
- communiqué AARASD du 17.06.03 <http://www.arso.org/AARASD170603.htm>.
ALGERIA
14.06.03
On the occasion of the visit to Algiers of the Moroccan Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Benaïssa, his Algerian counterpart Belkhadem
indicated that concerning the question of Western Sahara: "What
matters is to reach a settlement on this question which guarantees
rights". "Even though it has been going on a long time, the question
of Western Sahara should not get in the way of the progress of our
two countries and two peoples towards consultation, cooperation and
working together on economic, cultural, political and diplomatic
levels", affirmed Mr Belkhadem. (APS)
16.06.03.
According to Le Soir d'Algérie, Bouteflika and Mohamed VI could meet
"very soon" in Washington on the occasion of the summit which will
allow the two heads of state to straighten out their differences on
the subject of Western Sahara and to decide the date of the
re-opening of the Algerian-Moroccan border.
HUMANITARIAN AID
20.06.03
Denial by Enfants réfugiés du monde (Refugee Children of the World)
"We are therefore extremely shocked to read in an article published
by the Maroc Hebdo International, No 561 of 6 June 2003, the
following phrase: "... the use of (Saharawi) refugee children in a
wide paedophile network in Cuba condemned by organisations such as
"Enfants Réfugiés du Monde" ... (the title of the article:
Misappropriation of humanitarian aid by the Polisario, the milch
cow). We issue a formal denial of this claim which is not based on
any statement written or oral coming from our association. We ask you
therefore to note this in your next issue."
SOLIDARITY
16.06.03: The Basque government and SADR have signed an agreement of
mutual help and collaboration in the fields of justice and human
rights. The Basque government will finance information gathering by
the judicial service, the training of staff as well as research into
Saharawi disappeared and prisoners held by the Moroccan government.
21.06.03
Saharawi woman's Tour of Australia and NZ concludes
The tour of the first Saharawi woman to visit Australia and New
Zealand began on 20 May in Sydney with a reception hosted by the Hon
Dr Meredith Burgmann, MLC, President of the Legislative Council at
the NSW Parliament. This was the auspicious occasion on which Fatima
Mahfoud, representing the National Union of Saharawi Women, was
welcomed.
Fatima then spent a busy ten days in New Zealand, speaking at
meetings in Auckland University, Waikato University in Hamilton,
University of Canterbury at Christchurch, Lincoln University and
Victoria University in Wellington. She met and addressed many groups
interested in international development. Talks with politicians
included the Labour Party and Green Party Members of Parliament. Two
interviews were published in the New Zealand press. [URL:
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/10/1055220599970.html>]
In Canberra for two days, Fatima had meetings with MPs and senators,
the ALP National Security Caucus Committee and the Status of Women
Caucus Committee. Fatima also addressed a meeting of the
international NGO UNIFEM (United Nations Fund for Women). In a
separate visit later in the tour, Fatima was able to talk with the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Sydney offered many opportunities for Fatima to meet the press
including an interview with the main Sydney newspaper (Sydney Morning
Herald) [URL:
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/10/1055220599970.html>] as
well as a radio interview on ABC's Late Night Live and to record
interviews with SBS for Arabic, Italian and African programs.
Audiences had the chance to hear Fatima speak at universities
(Sydney, UNSW, Western Sydney), in the Trades Hall, at a community
health centre and at a school and to ask lots of questions at
"Politics in the Pub" at the Gaelic Club. The SBS documentary on the
forgotten conflict in Western Sahara was shown several times as it
was, also, in Melbourne. Social events included a lunch in Sydney
attended by the Federal Member of Parliament Tanya Plibersek.
Fatima Mahfoud concluded her visit to Melbourne on 21.06 with a tea
ceremony at a Saturday market. Earlier in the week she was welcomed
with a dinner hosted by Senator Lyn Allison and attended by a member
of the Victorian state parliament, Glenyys Romanes. She was
interviewed on a popular radio program, also on community radio, met
many NGOs and spoke with Sharan Burrow the president of the ACTU
(national trade union body). She took part in a panel discussion
about decolonization and addressed a meeting organised by the Refugee
Council of Australia for World Refugee Day on 20 June. A World
Refugee Week exhibition of Danielle Smith's photos of the Saharawi
refugee camps continues until 8 July. An interview was recorded with
the International Women's Development Agency for a special feature on
the Saharawi cause.
25.06.03: Wien, Das vergessene Wüstenvolk, Podiumsgespräch mit Najad
Hamdi, Vertreterin der Frente Polisario in Österreich, Ali
Kohlbacher: Vorstandsmitglied der österreichisch Sahrauischen
Gesellschaft (Organisat. die Donaustädter Sozial- und
Entwicklungshilfe).
INTERNET
- Traduction en français du communiqué de l'Intergroupe Paix pour le
peuple sahraoui du 04.06.03 <http://www.arso.org/IPPPS0603.htm#fr.htm>
- Le nouveau Plan Baker: un chemin vers le chaos, Carlos Ruiz Miguel
<http://www.arso.org/crmmundo2003.htm#fr> (Trad de El nuevo plan
Baker: un viaje hacia el caos, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, El Mundo, Madrid,
16.06.03.
<http://www.elmundo.es/papel/2003/06/16/opinion/1417998.html> par M
de Froberville)
- Actualización de la web de Sahara News Papers
<http://bdrockartsahara.webcindario.com>
- Actualización de la web de Um Draiga <http://www.umdraiga.com>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- La République des sables, Anthropologie d'une révolution, Sophie
Caratini, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2003, 266 p.
- Le chef de la diplomatie marocaine à Alger, La diversion Benaïssa,
Mounir B., Le Quotidien d'Oran, 14.06.03.
<http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2566/even.htm>
- Redynamisation de la coopération Algérie-Maroc : Les deux parties
conviennent de mettre en place trois commissions, APS, 14.06.03.
<http://www.aps.dz/fr/pageview.asp?ID=43406>
- Bouteflika va rencontrer Mohamed VI à Washington, Nawal Imès, Le
Soir d'Algérie, Alger, 16.06.03.
- Le nouveau plan Baker: un chemin vers le chaos, Carlos Ruiz Miguel,
Professeur de droit consitutionnel à l'université de Saint-Jacques de
Compostelle, Traduction française de Martine de Froberville.
<http://www.arso.org/crmmundo2003.htm#fr>
- Chronique d'une intégration noyée dans la guerre des sables, K.
Selim, Le Quotidien d'Oran, 25.06.03.
<http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2576/even.htm>
- Témoignages de responsables algériens et marocains autour du Sahara
Occidental, K. Selim, Le Quotidien d'Oran, 26.06.03.
<http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2577/even.htm>
- Nouvelles sahraouies, No 108, juin 2003. (PDF)
<http://site.voila.fr/NouvellesSahraouies>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Western Saharan Deadlock, Yahia H. Zoubir and Karima
Benabdallah-Gambier, Middle East Report, 227, Summer 2003.
<http://www.merip.org/mer/mer227/227_zoubir.html>
- U.S. Refugee Admissions Program For Fiscal Year 2004,
Recommendations of The Refugee Council USA May 2003.
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/refcounsah03.html>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- El nuevo plan Baker: un viaje hacia el caos, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, El
Mundo, Madrid, 16.06.03.
<http://www.elmundo.es/papel/2003/06/16/opinion/1417998.html>
- Gobierno vasco y la República Arabe Saharaui Democrática firmaron
hoy un convenio de ayuda y colaboración en el ámbito de la Justicia y
los Derechos Humanos, Europa Press, 16.06.03.
<http://noticias.ya.com/jsp/JPrint.jsp?f=5351510>
- Palacio buscará en la ONU en julio un consenso sobre el Sáhara,
Margarida Pinto, El Pais, Madrid, 24.06.03.
<http://www.elpais.es/articulo.html?xref=20030624elpepinac_21&type=Tes&anchor=el\
pporesp>
- España ve posible un acuerdo por el Sahara en su presidencia del
Consejo de Seguridad, Cristina Sen,. La Vanguardia, 25.06.03.
<http://www.lavanguardia.es/web/20030625/51141428380.html>
Deutsch
- Frente Polisario wird ungeduldig, Ungeklärte Westsahara-Frage,
interview mit Emhamet Khaddad, Frankfurter Rundschau, 26.06.03.
<http://www.fr-aktuell.de/ressorts/nachrichten_und_politik/international/?cnt=23\
8587>
- Polisario geht auf Baker zu, Hinnerk Berlekamp, Berliner Zeitung,
26.60.03.
<http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/politik/255132.html>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-2324.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
Weeks 23 + 24
01.-14.06.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- SOLIDARITY
- PROXIMAMENTE
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
10.06.03
The President of the Saharawi Republic vigorously condemned the
attempted coup in Mauritania, and congratulated the Mauritanian
President, Maouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, for having thwarted it. (SPS)
External intervention?
According to the Spanish daily "La Razon", the putchists intended to
recover the part of Western Sahara that Mauritania gave up in 1979
after signing an accord with the POLISARIO Front. According to the
same source, the Moroccan Armed Forces played an active role in the
dfeat of the insurgency. A detachment of paratroops equipped with
anti-tank missiles was sent from Western Sahara to Mauritania to
combat the putchists' armoured units. (La Razòn
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-06-11/noticias/noti_int04.htm>)
01.01.04
Rally Crosses Western Sahara Anew
The Telefonica Dakar 2004 (Total is no longer the top sponsor!) has
announced that "the organisers decided to revert to tradition and
design a "classic" race for 2004..."... see the map at
<http://www.dakar.com/2004/presentationus/index.html>
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
03.06.03
Hunger Strike
Ali Salem Tamek announced that he would launch a 48-hour hunger
strike on 09.06.03 to protest against his transfer to Ait Melloul
prison where he has been deprived of his rights as a political
prisoner.
On 06.06.03, Tamek's family declared their absolute and unconditional
support for his hunger strike and denounced the "carrot and stick"
tactics of the Moroccan authorities. They demanded the restitution
of his legal rights and called on all human rights organisations to
support their son and campaign for his release.
The Action Committee for the Liberation of Ali Salem Tamek and all
Saharawi Political Prisoners published a statement in which they
denounce the degrading conditions in which Saharawi detainees are
held and the prison authorities' abuses of power. The Committee
reaffirms its solidarity with Tamek and all Saharawi political
prisoners and demands their release. (statment of 08.06.03 in French
<http://www.arso.org/comiteTamek0603.htm>)
On the first day of his hunger strike, Tamek was transferred to the
prison hospital due to his state of health.
05.06.03
Case for Dissolution of the Sahara Section of the Forum for Truth and
Justice <http://www.arso.org/170403FVJS.htm>)
The El Ayoun civil court received the case of the lawyers for the
defence of the Forum. Judgement will be pronounced on the 18th June.
06.06.03
Oil
Oil companies Total and Kerr-McGee announced their intention of
undertaking a second deepwater seismic survey the lenght of Western
Sahara. The first study by Norwegian company TGS-NOPEC was recently
completed. The latter company ruled ought any further involvement,
on ethical grounds. A campaign organised by the Nprwegian Support
Committee for Western Sahara has denounced the illegal character of
prospection in the Moroccan-occupied territories. (Upstream) ( see
also week 22/2003 <http://www.arso.org/01-e03-22.htm>)
Disappearances
The collective of human rights defenders in Western Sahara has come
into possession of more detailed information on the fate of Elhaf El
Kotb and Said Kairaouane, lifted in 1993 by plainclothes police and
imprisoned in the CMI [paramilitary police] barracks in El Ayoun.
According to a witness they were savagely torutred. One of the
victims succumbed to the torture, and his companion was killed in
cold blood to eliminate any embarassing witnesses. The two
Saharawis' bodies were taken in a green 4-wheel drive vehicle of the
DST ["Homeland Security Police"] and buried several kilometres to the
East of El Ayoun, on the way to Smara. Commissaire Hariz Elaarbi, a
known torturer in Western Sahara since 1976, is implicated in the
case.
REFERENDUM
28.05.03
USA
Fifteen members of the US Congress called on US President George w
Bush to "support the organisation of the Western Sahara REferendum"
in a letter. Recalling that "the UN Security Council has clearly
stated that the only viable solution to this conflict is that based
on the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination", the
signatories deplored "the continued delay in the organisation of this
referendum", a cause of "regional instability". (SPS)
04.06.03
Europe
The European Parliament Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi People",
meeting to evaluate the situation after the latest discussions at the
UN, expressed its "concern" over the proposals for resolving the
conflict presented by Mr James Baker and called for a return to the
1991 UN Plan, judging this to be fitting and in conformity with
international law. (Press release
<http://www.arso.org/IPPPS0603.htm>)
04.06.03
Japan
The Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry has responded to the Open
Letter to the Japanese government on the occasion of the 3rd TICAD
(Tokyo International Conference on African Development)(Response
<http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003.htm#answer>).
10.06.03
UN
Speaking at the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation, Ahmed
Boukhari expressed reservations on the latest "Peace Plan for the
Self Determination of the Poeple of Western Sahara" presented by
James Baker. The POLISARIO Front is opposed to any Moroccan
sovereignty over the territory and to according the rights to vote to
tens of thousands of colonists transferred to Western Sahara by
Morocco. (Press release
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/gacol3085.doc.htm>)
SOLIDARITY
- 05.-21.06.03, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Exposición fotografica: Mendebaldeko
Sahara, Sahararren Herria - El Sahara Occidental, el País de los
Saharauis" de Javier Errasti e Idoia Zabaleta.
<http://www.arso.org/07.htm#vitoria>
- 09.06.03 Madrid: Acto de solidaridad : EL PUEBLO SAHARAUI, 30 AÑOS
SIN RESPUEST, Con motivo de cumplirse el 20 de Mayo, el XXX
aniversario de la fundación del Frente Polisario.
- Australia: "Hear Fatima Mahfoud speak", Programme from 06.06. -
21.06.03 <http://www.arso.org/07.htm#australia>
PROXIMAMENTE
08.06.- 07.09.03 Madrid, El Torreón del Canal de Isabel II,
Exposición titulada "Christine Spengler. «Los años de guerra". Exhibe
únicamente 38 imágenes en blanco y negro y de gran formato -140
centímetros. Su sofisticado aspecto, algo excéntrico, hace que cueste
imaginarse a esta mujer, de la que emana vitalidad, visitando los
núcleos de los conflictos bélicos en Irlanda del Norte, Afganistán,
Líbano, donde fue arrestada y casi ejecutada, Sahara, Nicaragua,
Vietnam, Camboya o Irán».
Asociación de amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Santomera esta
organizando la mayor concentración de guitarras eléctricas de la
historia con el objeto de establecer el récord guinness de mayor
numero de guitarras eléctricas tocando al unísono el legendario tema
de Deep Purple "Smoke on the water". El fin de esta concentración es
dar a conocer la problemática en el Sahara y recaudar fondos para su
población. Será el 21 de junio en la localidad murciana de Santomera
y habrá paella gigante, sorteo de una guitarra, conciertos, zona de
acampada etc... Para mas información pueden visitar la web
http://www.guitarraguinness.com
INTERNET
- L'OUEST SAHARIEN / THE WESTERN SAHARA, Cahiers d'études
pluridisciplinaires / International Multidisciplinary Studies
<http://site.voila.fr/OUEST_SAHARIEN>
- Carlos Ruiz Miguel, Contribution à une bibliographie espagnole sur
le Sahara Occidental, in L'Ouest saharien, vol 1, 1998, L'Harmattan,
Paris. <http://web.usc.es/~ruizmi/bso.html>
- Sitio web de UJSARIO arabe y castellano: <http://www.ujsario.net>
- Saharawi -Laboratorio di pace: Sitio del'Associazione per il popolo
Saharawi - Lerici - La Spezia <http://www.saharawi.tk>
- Western Sahara on richardknight.com
<http://richardknight.homestead.com/files/westernsahara.htm>
- "The solution to the issue of Sahara will only be an American
solution", former Moroccan interior minister, Driss Basri in an
interview with the Moroccan weekly 'Al-Ayam' 29 May - 4 June 03 ,
translation by Khatry Beirouk
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/alayambasrieng.html>,
Original arabic<http://www.wsahara.net/03/alayambasria.html> -
Traduction en français (arso) <http://www.arso.org/alayambasfr.htm>
OPINION
A propos de la lettre de Danielle Miterrand à M. Abdelaziz
(<http://www.arso.org/FFL200503.htm>:
- L'humanitarisme piégé, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, Martine de Froberville
<http://www.arso.org/FrobCRM2003.htm>
- De l'application du droit international humanitaire, réponse de la
Fondation France Libertés par Afifa Karmous
<http://www.arso.org/FFLopinion.htm>.
- El humanitarismo trampa, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, Martine de Froberville
<http://www.arso.org/FrobCRM2003.htm#esp>
- Sobre la aplicación del Derecho Internacional Humanitario,
respuesta de la Fondation France Libertés por Afifa Karmous
<http://www.arso.org/FFLopinions.htm>
A propos des déclarations de Dris Basri à Al-Ayam (Français
<http://www.arso.org/alayambasfr.htm> - English
<http://www.wsahara.net/03/alayambasrieng.html>:
- How dare you, Mr. Basri? Khatry Beirouk
<http://www.arso.org/kbeirouk52003.htm>
- Comment osez-vous, M. Basri ? Khatry Beirouk
<http://www.arso.org/kbeirouk52003.htm#fr>
- ¿Como se atreve Vd., señor Basri? Khatry Beirouk
<http://www.arso.org/kbeirouk52003.htm#s>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- ONU, Assemblée générale, Sahara Occidental: document préparé par le
Secrétariat, A/AC.109/2003/14, 25.04.03.
<http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/335/90/PDF/N0333590.pdf?OpenElement>
- Kofi Annan propose un nouveau plan de paix pour le Sahara
Occidental: Référendum sous drapeau... marocain, Mounir B., Le
Quotidien d'Oran, 31.05.03.
<http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2554/even.htm>
- Question écrite posée par Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) au Conseil
(17 juillet 2002). Objet: Droits de l'homme au Sahara occidental,
Journal officiel de l'Union européenne, 137 E/63,
12.06.03.<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/fr/dat/2003/ce137/ce13720030612fr00620063\
.pdf>
English
English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- UN General Assembly, Western Sahara. Working paper prepared by the
Secretariat, A/AC.109/2003/14, 25.04.03.
<http://www.un.dk/doc/AAC109200314.pdf>
- Ending the Exile , A recent photographic exhibition in the European
Parliament highlighted the plight of the forgotten refugees of
Western Sahara, Brian Johnson, the Parliament magazine, Vol. 162,
02.06.03, p. 41.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1128>
- Problematic Oil Exploration In Western Sahara, Neftegaz.RU,
04.06.03. <http://www.neftegaz.ru/english/lenta/show.php?id=36190>
- War drums beat at Sahrawi plan, Upstream, 06.06.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1130>
- Life and slow death in a desert no man's land, Tony Stephens, The
Sydney Morning Herald, 11.06.03
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/10/1055220599970.html>
- Written question by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Council (17
July 2002). Subject: Human rights in Western Sahara, Official Journal
of the European Union, 137 E/63, 12.06.03.
<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/dat/2003/ce137/ce13720030612en00620063.pdf>
Castellano
Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Crónica Sáhara, Agencia Canaria de Noticias, 03.06.03.
<http://es.news.yahoo.com/030602/155/2rhu1.html>
- Christine Spengler ofrece en una exposición un homenaje a las
víctimas de las guerras, Mila Trenas, Heraldo de Aragon, Zaragoza,
05.06.03. <http://www.heraldo.es/heraldo.html?noticia=73166>
- Amigos de los saharauis piden a España que no use el Sáhara como
"moneda de cambio" en sus relaciones con Rabat, Europa Press,
06.06.03. <http://es.news.yahoo.com/030605/4/2rqz1.html>
- ANÁLISIS DE UN SAHARA INDEPENDIENTE. Inexactitudes del
representante de Marruecos en Canarias, Grupo Interuniversitario de
Opinión , Canarias ahora, 09.06.03.
<http://www.canariasahora.com/opinion/editar_opinion.asp?idopinion=1014>
- El Frente Polisario teme un periodo "sangriento" con Plan Baker,
EFE, 09.06.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=4977440>.
- Militares marroquíes ayudaron al presidente de Mauritania a
aplastar el intento de golpe. Pedro Canales, La Razon, 11.06.03
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-06-11/noticias/noti_int04.htm>
- Pregunta escrita de Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) al Consejo (17 de
julio de 2002). Asunto: Derechos humanos en el Sahara Occidental,
Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea, 137 E/63, 12.06.03.
<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/dat/2003/ce137/ce13720030612es00620063.pdf>
- Aznar expresa Mohamed VI compromiso España salida consenso Sahara,
EFE, 12.06.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=4991239>
- Bárbulo pide que España "suture la herida" del Sahara en la ONU,
EFE, 13.06.03.
<http://www.canariasahora.com/portada/editar_noticia.asp?idnoticia=20679&idtemag\
eneral=7>
NUEVO LIBRO: «Las jaimas de Ard-El-Gamar. Viajeros de León hasta la
pasión saharaui», Francisco Javier Prada Fernández.
Català
- El nou pla Baker, Investigador per la pau, Andreu Sola Martin, El
Punt digital, 03.06.03.
<http://nosaltres.vilaweb.com/info/vilaweb/elpunt.noti_elpunt?p_id=-574253>.
Norway - Sweden
- Sceptical of Western Sahara, The warning against taking on
assignments off occupied Western Sahara is working, Tor Dagfinn
Dommersnes, Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway, 28.05.03.
<http://aftenbladet.no/nyheter/article.jhtml?articleID=163048>
(english translation
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1127>)
- Det är dags att befria den sista kolonin ["It's time to liberate
the last colony"], Staffan Heimerson, columnist in Aftonbladet,
Stockholm,
31.05.03.<http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,313668,00.html>
- Protokoll fra Stavanger bystyre: Spørsmål fra Sonja Tinnesand (SV)
vedr. etiske retningslinjer for kommunens investeringer [Protocol of
meeting in Stavanger City Council: Question from councellor Sonja
Tinnesand re. Ethical guidelines for municipal investments],
Stavanger Aftenblad, 10.2.03.
<http://www.stavanger.kommune.no/publikum/Offentli.nsf/Bystyret/C12567BB00452C8F\
C1256CCD004C49AC?OpenDocument>
- Avvikler i Vest- Sahara ["Packing up in Western Sahara"],
Næringsavisen, Anette Hansen Hunstad, saih.no, 26.04.03.
<http://www.saih.no/Detailed/1283.html>
- De glemte flyktningene ["The forgotten refugees"], Interview with
Erik Hagen & Ingrid Toreid of the NSCWS, Norwegian Broadcasting Corp.
web & radio, 30.04.03.
<http://www.nrk.no/programmer/radio/sann_er_livet/2724804.html> -
Radio program
<http://www.nrk.no/dynasx?p_lenke_id=393450&p_artikkel_id=2724804&mswmext=.asx>
- Skagenfondene tar tap på 14 mill. av etiske grunner ["Skagen Funds
takes loss of 14 million on ethical grounds"], Tor Dagfinn
Dommersnes, Stavanger Aftenblad,
14.05.03.<http://aftenbladet.no/nyheter/article.jhtml?articleID=161370>
- Skagen måker ut aksjer ["Skagen throwing out shares"], Odd Steinar
Parr, Hegnar Online, 14.5.03. ["Skagen Funds rid themselves totally
of dangerous [Kerr-McGee] shares"]
<http://www.hegnar.no/hegnar/newsdet.asp?id=113128&cat=112>
- SKAGEN Vekst selger aksjene i Kerr McGee ["Skagen Vekst sells Kerr
McGee shares"], Skagen Funds commentary,
14.05.03.<http://www.skagenfondene.no/newsOne.asp?News_ID=1295>
- Bak ligger etikken på lur ["Behind the scenes, ethics lurk"], Line
Noer Borrevik, Stavanger Aftenblad,15.05.03. ["In this case the batle
for Western Sahara provides insecurity, which the financial market in
turn translates into risk. No one in Skagen Funds has become any
nobler lately, but ethics have at least won a small victory over
capital"].
<http://aftenbladet.no/nyheter/okonomi/article.jhtml?articleID=161547>
Deutsch
-Neuer Friedensplan, rwm, Der Bund, Bern, 31.05.03.
Português
- POLISARIO prevê "periodo sangrento" no Sahara Ocidental, Noticias,
Mozambique, 11.06.03.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-22.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
- OIL
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- MOROCCO-SPAIN
- ALGERIA
- HUMAN RIGHTS
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
OIL
28.05.03
Oil
During the first international Conference on gas and oil, which was
held at Marrakech, the Moroccan authorities announced that after over
three years' reconnaissance, two big international oil companies are
going to take their explorations further in the off-shore zones, by
starting forages between now and the end of 2003. This probably means
the French company, Total and the American one, Kerr-McGee with which
Morocco signed contracts concerning also Western Sahara. (week
40/2001<http://www.arso.org/01-e01-40.htm>)
The British company Premier Oil signed a commercial agreement with
the Anglo-Australian Fusion Oil & Gas to take part in the future
exploration of oil reserves off-shore from Mauritania and Western
Sahara. In exchange for financial backing Fusion Oil would grant its
partner 35% in an exploration licence signed with SADR. Fusion Oil
already holds an exploration agreement with SADR signed in 2002.
(week 21+22 / 2002<http://www.arso.org/01-e02-2122.htm>) (Financial
Times, 28.05.03.
<http://financialtimes.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&
urlID=6430220&fb=Y&partnerID=1744>)
The Norwegian Committee of solidarity with Western Sahara sent a
letter to 51 specialised enterprises in marine seismic exploration, a
preliminary to oil exploration, to warn them of the risks connected
with any contract involving the seabed off the coast of the
territories occupied by Morocco. These companies "should prepare for
massive negative PR, shareholder sell-outs, and possible law-suits".
This warning follows a campaign which the Norwegian Committee has
successfully waged and which ended with the abandonment, by the
Norwegian Company TGS-NOPEC, of any new contract in the sector.
(Press release Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1116>)original
letter<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/files/Various_documents >(see
also week 10/2003 <http://www.arso.org/01-e03-10.htm>, week 07/2003
<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-07.htm> )
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Further acts of intimidation and threats
Si Mohamed, Emman and Ahrayam, close to human rights activists, were
arrested and interrogated on 19.05.03, on the pretext of not being in
possession of their identity cards and the house of one of them was
searched.
Lidri Elhoucine, already harassed by emissaries of the pasha (week
21<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-21.htm>), was denounced for procuring
to the owner of his house, so that he, a Saharawi ex-disappeared,
would lodge a complaint against Lidri Elhoucine for endangering
public morals.
25.05.03
The detainee Ali Salem Tamek<http://www.arso.org/Tamek100902.htm>,
who was serving his two-year sentence in Salé prison, has been
transferred to the prison of Aït Melloul, 15 km from Agadir, where
two other Saharawi political prisoners are, Ahmed Nassiri and Mohamed
Mhamed Brahim Nigro. Meanwhile, Tamek, while still in Salé, has been
the subject of a new attack by the same co-detainee who attacked him
before. The pentitentiary compound of Salé has been partially emptied
of many detainees to take in those accused of the Casablanca attacks.
You can write to Ali Salem Tamek, No d'écrou 1590, Prison d'Aït
Melloul, Aït Melloul, Morocco.
28.05.03
The trial of Moussaoui Dkhil, which should have taken place on 28 May
has been postponed until 25 June, due to the absence of a witness and
on request from his lawyers, who needed more time to prepare their
case. Two barristers from the Canaries attended the court session in
El Ayoun.
REFERENDUM
20-22.05.03
UN Special Committee on Decolonisation
The Seminar adopted the following recommendation on Western Sahara:
"The participants emphasized the nature of the question of Western
Sahara as a decolonisation issue and expressed the need to implement
without further delay the United Nations Settlement Plan; agreed by
the Kingdom of Morocco and Polisario, in particular the holding of an
impartial, free and fair referendum for the People of Western Sahara,
in order to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their
rights to self-determination".
23.05.03
Secretary General's Report S/2003/565 ( PDF
<http://www.arso.org/S-2003-565e.pdf>)
Kofi Annan asks the Security Council either to abandon the idea of
finding a solution acceptable to all the parties and to impose one,
the new Baker plan, or to simply drop the matter.
Annan considers that "after over 11 years and nearly 500 million
dollars of contributions", the Council should ask the parties to
accept this new plan. He proposes a new extension of MINURSO's
mandate for two months to study it, which the Council accepted
unanimously.
The Secretary General considers that the United Nations Settlement
Plan, which they have been trying to put in place since 1991, cannot
be implemented in its present form.
To the four options proposed by Annan last year to the Security
Council (S/2002/178)<http://www.arso.org/S-2002-178.htm> (1.
implementation of the settlement plan without the assent of the
parties, 2. framework-agreement or Baker Plan I, 3. partition of the
territory, 4. withdrawal of the UN), another has now been added as a
5th option, Peace Plan for self-determination in Western Sahara
(Baker Plan II). <annex III in S/2003/565, PDF
<http://www.arso.org/S-2003-565e.pdf>> Annan considers this 5th
option as "an optimal political solution", a "fair and balanced
proposal", which "gives partially, if not entirely, satisfaction to
each of the parties", and which "gives to the authentic inhabitants
the possibility of deciding their future".
He does not demand the consent of the parties, it is non-negotiable.
The Polisario Front, in its stance annexed to the report <annex III
in S/2003/565 ( PDF <http://www.arso.org/S-2003-565e.pdf>), prefers
the initial Settlement Plan, and proposes an acceleration of the
process by accepting the immediate treatment of the appeals for
identification without the help of Shioukh (tribal leaders), as well
as measures to guarantee the respect of the results of the
referendum. For Algeria, the Baker Plan II "contains the terms for a
bid for peace in the Maghreb", but it must be supported by real
guarantees. Morocco remains favourable to the solution of autonomy
(framework-agreement/Baker Plan I). For it the referendum should only
have two questions: autonomy or integration with Morocco. The SG, as
a compromise proposes a vote in two stages with 3 possibilities:
independence, autonomy or integration. If none obtains a majority in
the first round, whichever has the least number of votes is
eliminated.
MOROCCO-SPAIN
27.05.03.
Abderrahman Leibek has just been designated Moroccan Consul for the
Canary Islands. Born in Dakhla in 1948, this Saharawi mining engineer
joined the Polisario Front in 1979, when he worked as a Saharawi Red
Crescent official and as director of the 27 February School. Leibek
defected in March 1990.
ALGERIA
26.05.03
A Saharawi delegation, led by Prime Minister Bouchraya Beyoun, went
to Algiers to express the condolences of the Saharawi people and
government after the earthquake which hit Algeria. They took symbolic
aid to the national fund of solidarity "as a token of the ties of
fraternity and solidarity which united our two peoples". (SPS)
HUMAN RIGHTS
21-24.05.03
The Secretary General of the Union of Saharawi Lawyers took part in
the Congress of the International Association of Democrat Lawyers in
Marseilles (France). In the course of this conference, the Saharawi
lawyer had talks with representatives of NGOs and lawyers, whom he
informed about the latest developments of the conflict. He made a
contribution during the closing plenary session along the same lines,
drawing the attention of participants to the fact that the Saharawi
people are not asking more than to be able to exercise their right to
self-determination.
SOLIDARITY
23.05.03
New Zealand
POLISARIO representative Fatima Mahfoud has begun a ten day speaking
tour of New Zealand. On May 22 in Auckland she spoke at a meeting at
Auckland University organised by members of the executive committee
of the Auckland University Students' Association and the Students for
Justice in Palestine. That evening she addressed a public meeting. In
attendance were members of the Women's International League for Peace
and Freedom, the African community, refugee organisations,
Palestinian solidarity activists and members of human rights
organisations. On May 23 Fatima spoke at a meeting at Waikato
University in Hamilton, organised by a professor in the department of
education. Fatima also had an opportunity to meet with Keith Locke,
Green Party member of Parliament to discuss the issue of Western
Sahara.
25.05.03
Africa Group of Ambassadors/High Commissioners on Celebration of
Africa Day, Maputo (Mozambique)
«We urge the Saharawi Democratic Republic and Morocco to implement
both UN-OAU settlement of peace plan and the Houston Agreement
accepted by themselves. A free, just and impartial referendum of
self-determination is only the democratic solution which permits the
Saharawi people to choose their destiny in order to achieve lasting
peace in the region. We call upon the International Community to move
quickly towards the implementation of the peace process.»
24-25.05.03, Dunya Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The music
group El Ouali, based in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, and 2
Sahrawi poets (Ali Mohamed Ali Salem and Ahmed Sulaiman Chiaâ) gave
several succesful performances during the Dunya Festival. For this
occasion, the group was invited to come with 6 musicians and dancers.
The opening concert of the festival was entirely dedicated to the
Sahrawi culture, with a combined program of music, danse, poetry and
images (projection of pictures of the Western Sahara and the refugee
camps). The Sahrawi artists succeeded in spreading during all their
performances a message of peace and an appeal for mutual respect with
the neighbouring countries.
26.05.03: le conseil municipal de NONANTOLA (province de Modène,
Italie) a adopté une résolution en faveur de l' autodétermination du
peuple sahraoui. Une lettre a été envoyée au Secrétaire Général de
l'ONU.
HUESCA TERRITORIO HUMANO
Jornadas solidarias con destino a los Campamentos de Refugiados
Saharauis , 27-31.05.03.
Barcelona, 29.05.03
Sàhara Occidental la violació sistemàtica dels drets humans.
Participants: Anna Badia, Catedràtica de dret internacional públic,
UB, Cristina Navarro, Jurista, membre de l'Associació Internacional
Juristes pel Sàhara, Emboirik Ahmed, Delegat del Front Polisario a
Catalunya, Jordina Tarré Periodista.
INTERNET
- Sahara-Info, Bulletin der Gesellschaft der Freunde des Sahrauischen
Volkes, München, Nr. 1&2, April 2003, 31 p.,
PDF<http://www.eineweltgruppe.de/>
- La Asociación de Vecinos de Cabrerizos (Salamanca) organizó el
pasado otoño un concurso de relatos cortos. Entre los ganadores
figura un cuento tilulado "La niña saharaui acogida" que está a
disposición de los lectores en la URL
<http://perso.wanadoo.es/asveca/cuentos/nina.htm>
- Offener Brief über das Problem der Westsahara anlässlich der 3.
Konferenz TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African
Development) <http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003d.htm>
- An Open Letter about the Problem of Western Sahara on the Occasion
of the TICAD III (Tokyo International Conference of African
Development) <http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003e.htm>
OPINION
- Analisis de un Sahara independiente. HORA DE ELEGIR. Grupo de
opinion interuniversitario: Ricardo Aguasca Colomo, U.L.P.G.C, Sergio
Ramirez Galindo, U.L.P.G.C., Carlos Ruiz de Miguel, U.S.C., Manuel De
Paz Sanchez, U.L.L. <http://www.arso.org/grupoop52003.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Rapport d'Amnesty International 2003: Maroc/Sahara Occidental.
<http://www.amnesty.asso.fr/asp/Detail.asp?DocumentID=3547&Commander=2>
- Sahara occidental : l'enlisement du plan de paix, Bruno Callies de
Salies, Confluences Méditerranée, N°45, Printemps 2003.
- Sahara: Les principales dispositions du nouveau plan de l'ONU, AFP,
28.05.03.
<http://www.algeria-interface.com/new/rubriques/french/depecheafp.php?doc=030529\
003051.7z0wpqvc.xml>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Western Sahara independence fighter will tour New Zealand and
Australia, Annalucia Vermunt, Christchurch, New Zealand, Vol. 67/No.
17, 19.05.03. <http://www.themilitant.com/2003/6717/671763.html>
- Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonization Grapples with
"Historical Anomalies" on United Nations List of Non-Selfgoverning
Territories, Anguilla, 20-22.05.03.
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/gacol3081.doc.htm>
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/gacol3076.doc.htm>
- Western Sahara, The struggle of Africa's last colony continues, ANC
Today, Vol. 3, No 20, 23.05.03.
<http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2003/at20.htm#art1>
-English translation of the speech delivered by Mr Mustapha Mohamed
Ali, Western Sahara (SADR) Minister for the Occupied territories,
"Western Sahara Day", Stockholm, Sweden, 25.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1115>
- Annan Backs Self - Government for W. Sahara, AP, 27.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1120>
- UN: Western Sahara: Annan proposes new peace plan, extension for UN
mission, AP, 27.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1120>
- Western Sahara: The world seismic industry receives warning from
Norwegian NGO, Press Release, Norwegian Support Committee for Western
Sahara. 27.05.03.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1116
- Oil industry warned on Sahara engagements, Afrol News, 27.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1119>
- UN Special Committee on Decolonisation Calls for the implementation
of the UN settlement Plan, London, 28.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1118>
- Saharawi call for NZ help, Mike Crean, Stuff, 27.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1122>
- Amnesty international report 2003: Morocco/Western Sahara
<http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/Mar-summary-eng>
- Fusion Oil & Gas plc, Multiple Asset Transaction with Premier Oil
Plc, Financial Times, 28.05.03.
<http://mwprices.ft.com/custom/ft-com/story.asp?siteid=ft&dist=ft&guid=%7B3E6172\
BB%2DA099%2D4F55%2DB326%2DBFC17EDEC7BE%7D>
- Premier Oil acquires stakes in West Africa, Toby Shelley, Financial
Times, 28.05.03.
<http://financialtimes.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlI\
D=6430220&fb=Y&partnerID=1744>
- Newsletter of the Western Sahara Campaign UK, Leeds, May 2003.
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Abderrahman Leibek: "Hay que tener en cuenta que las mafias de la
inmigración son hispanomarroquíes", La Provincia de Las Palmas,
27.05.03.
<http://www.editorialprensacanaria.es/periodicos/1/2003-05-27/articulo8510.html>
- Decision de las Naciones unidas sobre el Sahara Occidental, Antonio
Baquero, El Periodico de Catalunya, 28.05.03.
<http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=5&idioma=CAS&idnotici
a_PK=48709&idseccio_PK=7&h=030528>
- Annan propone al Consejo que imponga una solución en el Sahara o se
retire, Exige a Marruecos y al Polisario que hagan concesiones para
llegar a un acuerdo, Pedro Canales, La Razon, Madrid, 30.09.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-05-30/noticias/noti_int04.htm>
Portugais
- Amanha e dia da Africa, Noticias, Luanda, Mozambique , 24.05.03.
- União africana privilegia a paz, segurança e democracia, Noticias, 30.05.03.
Deutsch
- Es geht um die Existenz eines ganzen Volkes, Interview mit Ch.
Steinbrink, Vorstand der Gesellschaft der Freunde des sahrauischeeen
Volkes,Kurdistan Report, Nr 108, mai 2003.
- UNO sucht Lösungen für Westsahara, Oliver Meiler, Tagesanzeiger
Zürich, 30.05.03
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-21.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
WEEK 21
18.-24.05.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- NATURAL RESOURCES
- REFERENDUM
- MOROCCAN PRISONERS
- SOLIDARITY
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
20.05.1973 - 20.05.2003
30th anniversary of the POLISARIO Front
The festivities marking the 30th anniversary of the start of the
armed struggle in Western Sahara under the leadership of the
Polisario Front took place in the wilaya of Ausserd, presided over by
the Head of State and in the presence of several thousand
participants and foreign guests. The Algerian delegation was large
with about a hundred people, parliamentarians, journalists, and
representatives of civil society. Diplomats (from Angola, Congo,
Ghana, Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Syria, Cuba),
representatives of Palestinian organisations, as well as NGOs from
Spain, Italy, France, Great Britain, Austria, Greece and Sweden. A
big march past of military and paramilitary contingents, school
children and the general population, who "bear witness to the
organisation of our people and our determination to fight until we
achieve independence", according to the President of the Saharawi
Parliament, Salem Lebsir.
"Any solution which does not respect the will of the Saharawi people
will be rejected", said Prime Minister Beyoun, adding that "this
year's celebration of 20 May should be a message of the Saharawi
people determined to defend their inalienable right to
self-determination and independence."
In his speech, Mohamed Abdelaziz reiterated the attachment of the
Saharawi people to the recovery of their "legitimate national
rights". He stressed the willingness of the Saharawi party to work
with the United Nations, historically responsible for the successful
conclusion of the decolonisation process. He pointed out that any
settlement solution should respect "the will of the Saharawi people"
and their legitimate rights. Mohamed Abdelaziz called, once again,
the Moroccan government to a "real and responsible dialogue". In a
press conference, the head of the Saharawi state revealed his
response to James Baker's latest proposal, explaining that the only
"concession of any size", which could be made concerns the question
of the voters in the referendum. The Polisario is asking that the
work should be carried out by the UN identification commission on the
examination of the appeals put forward by Rabat. "The UN will decide
who will be an elector and we will respect its decision", Mr
Abdelaziz declared, insisting that the referendum should be held "as
quickly as possible".
M'hamed Khaddad, responsible for relations with the UN: "We say to
the international community that we are still here, that the door is
open for a peaceful and lasting solution which does not make a
mockery of the rights of the Saharawi people". Then adding: "So long
as our rights are not respected the military choice remains a live
option." The new plan of James Baker is unfortunately far from
satisfying the Saharawis, he affirmed, for "it takes account more of
the sovereignty of the cherifian kingdom than of the inalienable
right of the Saharawi people for self-determination". It is
completely logical, he explained, for the plan to be rejected
officially by the Saharawis.
See special Sahara Press Service page with photos etc :
<http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-30an.html>
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
13.03.03
Mohamed Salem Jedou, Hamid Ben Hemdan and Halim Sidati, members of
the Forum for Truth and Justice, Sahara section (FVJSS), were
interrogated and threatened by agents of the DST and the criminal
investigation department in Tan-Tan, their homes were searched
without a warrant, and all because of the presence of Polisario
flags, raised in the streets on 6 and 7 March last.
On 29.04.03, Arbi Messaoud, also a member of the FVJSS and former
political prisoner, was interrogated for three hours in Tantan about
the same events and their relation to the FVJ.
23.04.03
Nourdin Mohamed Knaybich, born on 23.05.75 in Tantan, Mahyub
Bouchaab, born in 1971 in Tantan, Laarosi Lbaikam, born in 1974 in
Goulimime, had deserted the Moroccan army to join the Polisario. Back
in Morocco, they were arrested and tortured for 25 and 70 days
respectively. On 23 April 2003 they were sentenced by the military
tribunal in Rabat to three years' imprisonment. they are incarcerated
in the penitentiary centre of Rabat-Salé.
On the eve of the anniversary of the Polisario Front, threats and
intimidations against Saharawi activists increased in the occupied
territories and southern Morocco, the police looking for leaflets and
Saharawi flags.
An example:
20.05.03
An emissary of the pacha of El Ayoun paid a visit to a Saharawi
defender of human rights, Lidri Elhoucine, to ask him to go to the
office of the pacha, which Lidri refused because there was no
official summons. The same evening the pacha himself, who was
following Lidri in his car, told him he knew about his "separatist"
activities. The pacha threatened him with arrest if the Polisario
flags, which he was accused of possessing, were distributed. Lidri is
a professor of philosophy, a member of the former executive of the
Forum for Truth and Justice in El Ayoun, his name figures on the list
of 18 Saharawis accused in the case concerning the dissolution of the
FVJ Sahara section.
NATURAL RESOURCES
14.05.03
"The risk of being part of the American oil company Kerr-McGee is
considerably greater than predicted, and we are selling, says
portfolio manager Kristian Falnes at Skagen Vekst to Aftenbladet.
Half the shares were sold yesterday, and the rest will be sold
shortly. The reason Skagen Vekst no longer wants to own shares in
Kerr-McGee, are the contracts the American company has signed with
the Moroccan government. The operations off the Western Sahara coast
can rebound on the oil company in other connections, for example that
they can be excluded from other assignments. If the international
society turns its back on the company, it is running a considerable
financial risk, says Falnes. Skagen Vekst was the largest Norwegian
shareholder in Kerr-McGee Corporation, holding 100.000 shares. They
were worth 30 million kroners (1 USD = 6,9 Norwegian kroners). Skagen
Vekst has had a loss of 14 million kroners in the 2 years they held
shares in Kerr-McGee. (Stavanger Aftenblad)
REFERENDUM
Security Council : delay
The consultations on Western Sahara have been postponed until Tuesday
27 May. The Secretary General, in his last report, asks for a two
month extension for MINURSO's mandate. Meanwhile, the Special
representative for WS, William Swing, has been appointed Special
representative for the Congo (DRC) from 1 July. He has held the post
for WS since November 2001.
MOROCCAN PRISONERS
A delegation of the ICRC visited the Moroccan prisoners in the hands
of the Polisario Front from 22 April to 6 May. The delegates talked
individually with 707 of the 1,157 prisoners still held to this day.
(Morocco / Western Sahara: ICRC visits Moroccan prisoners in
Polisario hands, ICRC News
03/56,19.05.03<http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList4/0848D94CB0C8873\
4C1256D2B0053BC72>)
20.05.03
Mrs Danielle Mitterrand, in a letter (French) sent to Mohamed
Abdelaziz, asks for the liberation of the Moroccan prisoners of war
still being held. <http://www.arso.org/FFL200503.htm>
SOLIDARITY
20 May celebrated in Australia
The 30th anniversary of the founding of the Polisario and the start
Sydney, Australia at the NSW parliament with a reception hosted by
the Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann, MLC, President of the Legislative
Council (state parliament). She welcomed Fatima Mahfoud to Sydney at
the start of her tour of Australia and New Zealand. For details of
Fatima's program see: <http://www.awsa-westernsahara.org>
19.-23.05.03
Brussels, European Parliament: "The Sahara in the European
Parliament" Exhibition of photographs by Carlos Bautista (MEP) taken
during the visit of the EP delegation to the Saharawi refugee camps
in December 2001. <http://www.andalucistaseneuropa.org/?ID_PAGINA=110>
25.05.03
Sveden
Western Sahara Day at the Ethnographic Museum in Stockholm, from
10.00-17.00 Various activities during the whole day, exhibitions,
films, lectures, discussions etc. Special guests present included
Mohamed Ali Mustapha, Danielle Mitterrand, Marianne Eriksson (MEP),
Pierre Galand president of EUCOCO, Ronny Hansen from Norwegian
Support Committee for Western Sahara, the writer Monica Zak,
researcher, Claes Olsson, Saharawis from the camps, diplomats,
members of parliament, journalists (further details in English
<http://www.arso.org/07.htm#su>).
[Vittoria - Madrid - Pays Basque - Pays-Bas, see week
20]<http://www.arso.org/01-e03-20.htm>
INTERNET
- UADI KENTA Western Sahara - e-cards.
OPINION
- EL SÀHARA I LES ELECCIONS. Els sahrauís també volen votar, Salvador
Pallarès-Garí (Català) <http://www.arso.org/SPG52003.htm>
- EL SÁHARA Y LAS ELECCIONES. Los sahrauís también quieren votar,
Salvador Pallarès-Garí (castellano)
<http://www.arso.org/SPG52003.htm#esp>
- Los tres beduinos, Luís Hernández Rocha <http://www.arso.org/LHRocha9.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- La ministre espagnole des Affaires étrangères à propos du Sahara
Occidental: «Nous prônons la neutralité», Achira Mammeri,
L'Expression, Alger, 18.05.03.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/articles.php3?category=4&id=15412&datedeb=2003-05-\
18>
- Les sahraouis interpellent la communauté internationale "Nous
sommes toujours là !", Hafida Ameyar, Liberté, Alger, 21.05.03.
<http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=9691>
- Sahara Occidental, Un dossier toujours pendant, Daouadi Miloud, le
quotidien d'Oran, 21.05.03.
<http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2546/even.htm>
- RASD : 30e anniversaire de la lutte armée, Vers le rejet de la
solution onusienne, Mekioussa Chekir, Le Matin, Alger, 21.05.03.
<http://www.lematin-dz.net/quotidien/lire.php?ida=5386&idc=41&taj=1>
-Trente ans après le déclenchement de la guerre contre les Espagnols,
Ni guerre ni paix au Sahara occidental, B. Takheroubt, L'Expression,
Alger, 21.05.03.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/articles.php3?category=4&id=15529&datedeb=2003-05-\
21>
- 30 années de lutte du Front POLISARIO, Plus près de la guerre que
de la paix, Tarek Hafid, Le Soir d'Algérie, 21.05.03.
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/rubriques.php?name=Publication&file=article&sid=8\
194>
- 30ème anniversaire de la création du Front Polisario "Le droit à
l'autodétermination comme unique alternative", Sid-Ahmed Mérabet, El
Moudjahid, 20.05.03.
<http://www.elmoudjahid.com/stories.php?story=03/05/20/1249454>
- Mohamed Khaddad : "Un message de paix, de résistance et de défi",
El Moudjahid, Alger, 20.05.03.
<http://www.elmoudjahid.com/stories.php?story=03/05/20/1310336>
- Mohamed Khaddad réaffirme la "volonté inébranlable" du peuple
sahraoui de lutter pour ses droits légitimes, Aps, 200.5.03.
<http://www.aps.dz/fr/pageview.asp?ID=41715>
- Le Sahara Occidental au Parlement européen, L'art au service du
droit, A.M., Le Soir d'Algérie,
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/rubriques.php?name=Publication&file=article&sid=8\
193>
- Prix des droits de l'homme pour un ex-prisonnier, Amnistie !,
journal d'Amnesty international, Section suisse, Berne, No 2/03.
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
- Editor faces jail for lampooning king, Giles Tremlett, The
Guardian, 21.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1112>
- Polisario warns of taking up arms if no referendum, Middle East
Online, 22.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1114>
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Revista de la prensa española de la semana:
http://www.nodo50.org/fpolisario/Prensa.htm
- Noticias de prensa, Recopilación semanal de todos los articulos de
la prensa de España:
http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/
- UE/Sáhara - Bruselas confía en que el contencioso del Sáhara se
resuelva "lo antes posible", Europa Press, 16.05.03.
<http://es.news.yahoo.com/030516/4/2qbcn.html>
- El Gobierno niega que haya cambiado su postura sobre el Sahara y
seguirá a la ONU, Javier Aguilar, La Razon, Madrid, 17.05.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-05-17/noticias/noti_nac14.htm>
- ONU-SAHARA: Informe de ONU sobre el Sahara se retrasa en medio de
desacuerdo Naciones Unidas, EFE, 20.05.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=4890364>
- SAHARA-ANIVERSARIO, Abdelaziz promete resistencia frente "bulimia
territorial", EFE, 20.05.03
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=4889414>
- SAHARA-ANIVERSARIO, La autodeterminación, un espejismo en el
desierto, Antonio Lafuente, EFE, 20.05.03.
<http://www.efe.es/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=6&id=4885747>
- Sáhara - El Polisario advierte de que los saharauis podrían caer en
el "extremismo" si no se cumplen sus expectativas, Europa Press,
20.05.03. <http://es.news.yahoo.com/030520/4/2qjx3.html>
- La probable prórroga de la misión de la ONU en el Sahara marca el
30 aniversario del Frente Polisario, Darío Menor, La Razon, 20.05.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-05-20/noticias/noti_int05.htm>
- El pueblo saharaui celebra los 30 años del Frente Polisario
pendientes de la decisión de la ONU, Darío Menor, La Razon, 21.05.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-05-21/noticias/noti_int03.htm>.
- «España debe protagonizar la solución en el Sahara», Mohamed
Abdelaziz / Secretario general del Frente Polisario, Darío Menor, La
Razon, Madrid, 22.05.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/ediciones/anteriores/2003-05-22/noticias/noti_int06.htm>
- El Frente Polisario celebra sus treinta años con un gran despliegue
militar, ABC, 21.05.03.
<http://www.abc.es/internacional/noticia.asp?id=182373&dia=21052003>
- «España debe jugar un papel relevante», según Abdelaziz, Luis de
Vega, ABC, 21.05.03.
<http://www.abc.es/Internacional/noticia.asp?id=182374&dia=21052003>
- El Frente Polisario lanza un mensaje de firmeza en el 30
aniversario de su creación, Gara, 21.05.03.
<http://www.gara.net/orriak/P21052003/art63397.htm>
- Sahara El Frente Polisario empieza a estar harto de la espera,
Cirilo Dávila, Deia, 21.05.03.
<http://www.deia.es/21-5-2003/21AraD2xxx575859A.htm>
- Rabat lanza una ofensiva diplomática para suavizar el informe de
Annan sobre el Sahara, Alfonso Armada, ABC, 21.05.03
<http://www.abc.es/internacional/noticia.asp?id=182372&dia=21052003#>
- Los saharauis celebran el mayor desfile militar desde el alto el
fuego con Rabat, Canarias ahora, EFE, 22.05.03.
<http://www.canariasahora.com/portada/editar_noticia.asp?idnoticia=19659&idtemag\
eneral=3>
- UE/Sáhara - El Parlamento Europeo acoge una exposición fotográfica
sobre la vida en los campamentos saharauis de Tinduf, Europa Press,
20.05.03. <http://es.news.yahoo.com/030520/4/2qjfk.html>
Português
- Questão do Sahara Ocidental de novo em debate no CS, Noticias,
Mozambique, 22.05.03.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.arso.org/01-e03-20.htm
WESTERN SAHARA
Weekly News
original french
WEEK 20
11.-17.05.2003
- SADR
- OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
- REFERENDUM
- SOLIDARITY
- COMING UP
- INTERNET
- NEW PUBLICATIONS
SADR
14.05.03
The president of the party of democrats of the left (Democratici di
sinistra), Massimo D'Alema, met two representatives of the Polisario
Front in Italy and reaffirmed on this occasion solidarity and support
for self-determination of the Saharawi people by his political group.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
09.05.03
Late sentence
More than three years after the offence of which they are accused,
the court of first instance in Agadir sentenced five young Saharawis
to two months in prison and a fine. They are two men students,
Mohamed Fadel Abou ElHassan and Moustafa Hamadi and three women
students H´Jaiba Manaoui, Saadia Bayan and Batoul Aalali. The
sentences relate to acts which took place back on 29 February 2000
( >>week 09/2000 <http://www.arso.org/01-e00-09.htm#TO>), when
Saharawi students were demonstrating outside Inzegan prison (Agadir)
to protest against the imprisonment of three Saharawi political
prisoners, Cheikh Khaya, Brahim Najem Laghzal and Larbi Saïd. (>>week
51/1999 <http://www.arso.org/01-e99-51.htm#TO>)
12.05.03
Repression
Hedi Mohamed Fadel alias El Kainnan, has been sentenced by the court
of first instance in Agadir, in an emergency sitting, to three years'
imprisonment for insulting the king and the government. He had been
apprehended during a clash with police. El Kainnan spent 6 months in
the "black prison" of El Ayoun in 2002, sentenced following an
altercation with Police Superintendant Alkoufili Hassan.
From the beginning of the month Moroccan authorities have been
reinforcing security measures in the occupied Territories, deploying
large contingents of police particularly in areas where Saharawis are
living, in the aim of preventing any demonstration on the occasion of
the anniversaries of the foundation of the Polisario and the start of
the liberation struggle on 10 and 20 May. In Smara leaflets and
Polisario flags were distributed at night. Several people have been
apprehended and released after interrogation, among them Moujahid
Ayachi Mohamed and Bouhali Dah Omar Ahmed. The first has just come
out of prison at Aït Melloul pardoned by the king on the occasion of
the birth of the heir to the throne.
REFERENDUM
Intense diplomatic activities before the treatment of the question of
Western Sahara by the Security Council. The Spanish Minister for
Foreign Affairs had talks in New York with Kofi Annan on the question
of Western Sahara, she is going to Algiers on 17 May to meet the
Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Moroccan ministers have met
heads of state of member countries on the Security Council, bearing a
royal message about the conflict in the Sahara. Even ex-Prime
Minister Youssoufi is taking part in this lobbying.
You can read Baker's proposal in French /PDF
(<http://www.arso.org/planbaker.pdf>) and the response of the Frente
Polisario in English <http://www.arso.org/FP080303.htm>.
19.05.03
The UN Secretary General will deliver his report on Western Sahara.
Consultations on the subject will start on 23 May with the Security
Council.
SOLIDARITY
12.05.03
On the initiative of the Association Japan-Sahara, and the Japanese
campaign for Western Sahara, an open letter, signed by several
university figures and Japanese NGOs was sent to the Japanese
government before the third TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on
African Development). (French
translation)<http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003.htm>
The signatories criticised the invitation to Morocco to take part in
this conference, while this country which is illegally occupying
Western Sahara. is not a member of the African Union, on the
contrary, SADR is a founder member of this organisation, and has not
been invited.
COMING UP
17.05.03
A Saharawi Woman speaks out.
Fatima Mahfoud, the first Saharawi woman to visit Australia, arrives
in Sydney on Saturday 17 May. She will tour Australia and New Zealand
until the end of June raising awareness about the situation of the
Saharawi people, seen from a woman's perspective. On 20 May there
will be an official welcome with a reception in the NSW state
parliament. <http://www.awsa-westernsahara.org>.
Netherlands
On 23, 24 and 25 of May, Sahrawi culture will be presented during a
big festival of world music in Rotterdam. The festival is organized
by the Dunya Foundation. Will participate a musical group from the
refugees camps, and 2 Sahrawi poets. A special program entirely
dedicated to Sahrawi culture will take place in a theater the evening
of 23th of May preceding the festival itself, with poetry, Sahrawi
music and dance and a projection of pictures during the performance.
The poems will also be read in Dutch translation. On the 24th of May,
one of the poets will read poems in the evening session of the
literary program, during which the Free Word Award will be given (to
a Tchechene poet).
On the 25th of May, the 2 poets will read again, this time
accompanied by Sahrawi musicians, in the traditional way. The music
group will perform shortly in a special program for the official
guest, and in the late afternoon, the music group will have its long
performance on one of the stages.
Madrid, Casa de América (Pº de Recoletos nº 2): 20 de Mayo, horas
19'30 : "Los baúles del retorno", largometraje de la directora
canaria María Miró, con guión de ella misma y Manuel Gutiérrez
Aragón. Este film, estrenado en 1995, narra una hitoria de ficción
ubicada en el contexto histórico de los refugiados saharauis en los
campos de Tindouf, desde la huída al desierto tras la invasión de
Marruecos. En él participan multitud de saharauis además de actores
profesionales españoles, entre ellos Silvia Munt.Entrada: 2 euros.
Euskadi jugará en el Sahara
La selección de fútbol de veteranos de Euskadi disputará el próximo
día 20 de mayo un partido contra el combinado saharaui en el campo de
refugiados de Tinduf (Argelia) como gesto de apoyo a la causa de este
pueblo africano, que reclama la independencia de Marruecos.
<http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/20030516/NOTICIA57881711.html>
INTERNET
NUEVO
- Pagina de la Asociacion Ayuda al Pueblo Saharaui Jaen - Sáhara Jaen
Solidario: http://www.sahara-jaensolidario.org
- Sahara News Papers nº2, Revista electronica sobre cultura y arte
rupestre del Sahara Occidental, Mayo 2003.
<http://uadi-kenta.webcindario.com/revista02.htm>
- NAR (fuego- feu - fire) Nuevo CD del cantautor saharaui Nayim Alal,
ed. Nube Negra. Mas informacion
<http://www.nubenegra.com/catalogo/index_ampli.php3?id=91>
NOUVEAU
- Photos de la rencontre de familles de disparus sahraouis à Genève
fin mars 2003 (BIRDHSO): PHOTO/1
<http://www.birdhso.org/photospn2003.html> et PHOTO/2
<http://www.birdhso.org/photosjd2003.html>
DOSSIER:
- Les phosphates du Sahara Occidental, une richesse du peuple
sahraoui, Philippe Riché, Paris, mars 2003
<http://www.sahara-occidental.com/pages/informer/ressources/framsommsup.htm>
OPINION
- La historia podra repetirse, Carta de indignaciòn de un saharaui
desde los territorios ocupados <http://www.arso.org/carta120503.htm>
REFERENDUM
- Plan de paix pour l'autodétermination du peuple du Sahara
occidental, "Plan Baker II", texte complet /PDF
<http://www.arso.org/planbaker.pdf>
- Réponse du Front POLISARIO à Baker, 08.03.03 (traduction)
<http://www.arso.org/FP080303f.htm>
- Response of the Frente POLISARIO to J. Baker, 08.03.03
<http://www.arso.org/FP080303.htm >
- Lettre ouverte au gouvernement japonais à l'occasion de la 3ème
conférance de TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African
Development) 12.05.03. <http://www.arso.org/TICAD2003.htm>
NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days
because the servers are restarted]
Français
- Les dépêches, articles, etc, sont accessibles aux non-abonnés sur
Sahara-Info, liste de courrier (français et espagnol):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- La décolonisation du Sahara occidental, Les Débats, hebdomadaire
algérien, No 76, 30 avril-6 mai 2003
<http://www.arso.org/debats762003.htm>
--La balle est dans le camp de la paix, Hafida Ameyar
--Interview de Haissan Abba: «Rien se fera sans le consentement des
Sahraouis» Entretien réalisé par Z'hor
Chérief<http://www.arso.org/debats762003.htm#abba>
--Interview de Emmanuel Martinoli: « La solution viendra de la
négociation» Entretien réalisé par Z'hor
Chérief<http://www.arso.org/debats762003.htm#em>
- Le ministre des Affaires étrangères sahraoui réagit au dernier
rapport de Baker: «C'est un complot», K. B., Le Soir d'Algérie,
Alger, 12.05.03.
<http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/rubriques.php?name=Publication&file=article&sid=7\
868>
- Driss Basri avertit Mohammed VI: Dangers et dérives au Maroc,
Mounir B., Le Quotidien d'Oran, 12.05.03.
<http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2538/even.htm>
- Sahara Occidental, «La France est derrière les blocages», Brahim
Takheroubt, L'Expression, Alger, 12.05.03.
<http://www.lexpressiondz.com/articles.php3?category=7&id=15291&datedeb=2003-05-\
12>
- Dossier sur le Sahara occidental, Les Débats No 78, 14 au 20 mai
2003 <http://www.arso.org/debats782003.htm>
--Annan et la conspiration du palais, Hafida Ameyar
--Batailles autour du corps électoral. L'implication de hauts
fonctionnaires onusiens, Z'hor
Chérief<http://www.arso.org/debats782003.htm#bat>
--Malaise au sein de l'ONU. Révélations et démissions, Z'hor
Chérief<http://www.arso.org/debats782003.htm#mal>
--Le ministre sahraoui des Affaires étrangères invité d'El Khabar «
Nous sommes hélas plus proches de la guerre », Z'hor
Chérief<http://www.arso.org/debats782003.htm#os>
English
- English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
-Skagen Funds accepts a loss of 14 million on moral grounds. Tor
Dagfinn Dommersnes, Stavanger Aftenblad, 14.05.03
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1104>
- Skagen sells out. Skagen Funds is getting rid of its dangerous
shares.Odd Steinar Parr, Hegnar Online 14.05.03.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1104>
- Norwegians sell Kerr-McGee, Barry Morgan, Upstream Online, 15 May
2003.<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-Update/message/1107>
- SAHARA ANALYSIS, Western Sahara Campaign UK, No. 21, 12.05.03.
Castellano
- Todos los despachos, articulos de prensa, etc, son acessible por
no-abonados en Sahara-Info, lista de correo (castellano y francés):
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/messages
- Noticias de prensa, Recopilación semanal de todos los articulos de
la prensa de España:
<http://www.nodo50.org/labarored/interpueblos/Sahara/>
- Palacio abordará hoy con Kofi Annan la situación en Irak, Oriente
Próximo y el Sáhara Occidental, Europa Press, 09.05.03.
<http://es.news.yahoo.com/030509/4/2ps4b.html>
- Estados Unidos presiona a España para que acepte el Plan Baker, El
Semanal Digital, 12.05.03.
<http://www.elsemanaldigital.com/articulos.asp?idarticulo=3300>
- Compromiso hispano-marroquí para solucionar la crisis del Sahara,
P. Canales, La Razon, Madrid, 12.05.03.
<http://www.larazon.es/noticias/noti_nac03.htm>
- España promete a Marruecos «avances significativos» en el
contencioso saharaui El "número dos" de Exteriores justifica la nueva
situación en la mejora de las relaciones bilaterales, El Mundo,
Madrid, 12.05.03.
<http://www.periodistadigital.com/object.php?o=11657>
- Sáhara.- El Polisario afirma que la posición de España sigue
"invariable" y reta a Marruecos a que acepte el referéndum, Europa
Press,12.05.03
<http://es.news.yahoo.com/030512/4/2q001.html>
- Presion marroqui antes de vencer el plazo para el Sahara, El
Polisario dice que la posición española no ha cambiado y reta a
Marruecos a aceptar el referéndum, Libertad digital, 13.05.03.
<http://www.libertaddigital.com/./noticias/noticia_1275759632.html>
- Rabat pide negociar sobre el Sáhara con el Frente Polisario, Annan
presentará el sábado un nuevo informe sobre la ex colonia, Isabel
Piquer, El Pais, Madrid, 13.05.03.
<http://www.periodistadigital.com/object.php?o=11726>
- Ahmed Bujari, Representante del Frente Polisario en Naciones Unidas
"Si hay diálogo abierto, todo será posible con Marruecos", "Hacen
falta presiones inteligentes para que las dos partes caminen hacia
una solución", Juan Carlos Sanz, El Pais, 15.05.03.
<http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/sahara-info/message/1770>
Deutsch
- Völkerrechtliche Aspekte des Westsahara-Konfliktes, Thomas Hayn,
Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des Magistergrades an der
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, 2000.
Portugais
- Marrocos Admite Dialogar com Polisário, Fernando Sousa, Publico,
Lisboa, 14.05.03 <http://jornal.publico.pt/2003/05/14/Mundo/I06.html>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A R S O
Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental
Address: cp 2229 CH-2800 DELEMONT 2
E-mail: mailto:arso@... URL: http://www.arso.org
Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01
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