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WEEKS 09 - 10 : 25.02. - 10.03.2007 |
27-28.02.07, Tifariti, commemoration of the 31st anniversary of SAD
Greetings from Raúl Castro, first vice-president of the Council
of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Abdelaziz Bouteflika,
Algerian president, and Colonel Vall, head of the Mauritanian state,
among others, were sent to the Saharawi president.
800 guests from 22 countries of all continents attended the
festivities, including Mohamed Cherif Abbass, Algerian minister of the
Moudjahidines, Abdelkader Messahel, Algerian deputy minister of Foreign
Affairs in charge of Africa and the Maghreb, Abdalla Baali, Algerian
Ambassador, Lempy Lucas, Namibian vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and
thousands of Saharawis from the camps.
The celebrations began with an international conference of solidarity
with the Saharawi people. The delegates spent a whole day divided
into three workshops on political support, solidarity and human rights.
Introducing the conference, the Saharawi Prime Miniser, Abdelkader
Taleb Oumar strongly condemned “all the half-baked solutions put
forward at the present time by the Moroccan government”. The conference
adopted a final document entitled “Declaration of Tifariti” [Declaration of Tifariti, 27.02.07] [Arabic] [Pictures from the International Conference 26.02.07]
During the
commemorative ceremony of the 27 February, President Abdelaziz declared
in his speech that the Polisario Front cannot accept the concept of
“internal autonomy”, “in total contradiction with the nature of the
conflict”, “a delaying tactic which deliberately violates international
law”. [full text]
In the name of Algeria, Mohamed Cherif Abbass asserted that his country
“would not accept the Moroccan proposal for autonomy and that the Baker
Plan is still valid. Abdelkader Messahel pointed out in a press
statement that “we are here to express Algeria’s solidarity and support
for the Saharawi people in its just struggle to exercise their
inalienable right of self-determination”. [Pictures of 27.02.07 ,AmbRASD Alger]
The
traditional military parade was followed by the destruction of a stock
of anti-personnel mines, in the presence of a representative of Geneva
Call.
[Press Release, Geneva Call and Saharawi Campaign to Ban Landmines, 01.03.07].
Sahara Marathon
A Spaniard, Manuel Morente won the 7th marathon, followed by his
compatriots Francisco San Marco and Ricardo García Cuervo. A
Saharawi, Abdelaziz Haddi Youssef gained first place in the
semi-marathon, and his compatriot, Salah Hmetou Ameidan was second and
the Spaniard, Juan Carlos Salvador., third. A Saharawi, Mohamed
Ethmani won the 10 km race, a New Zealander, Henrik Han the 5 km race,
followed by an Australian Franz Land.
The women’s 5 km, which comprises four categories, was taken
respectively by Mamía Husein (SADR); Margarita Alonso (Spain);
Simona Montali (Italiy) and Isabel Degriere (Germany).
Mohamed Abdelaziz invited the Saharawi athletes who took part in the
Sahara Marathon to dinner, including Salah Hmatou Ameidan who had worn
the national colours of SADR at the international competitions in
France. He also received Aouicha Ramdan, wife of the human rights
activist in Western Sahara, Ali Salem Tamek and their daughter Thawra [SPS]
OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
El-Ayoun
At the beginning of February in El Ayoun, at the request of the
Moroccan side, a meeting was held between members of ASVDH and
representatives of Moroccan human rights associations. Attacks on human
rights in Western Sahara and in Morocco were discussed. [corr.]
24.02.07, Great Britain
At the end of the meeting between the former Saharawi prisoner of
conscience, Ali Salem Tamek and the parliamentarians, Mark Williams,
from the Liberal Democrat Party, Katy Clark, Des Turner and John
Grogan, from Labour, they expressed their support of the Saharawi
people for self-determination and their condemnation of attacks on
human rights in Western Sahara. The MP, Jeremy Corbyn, who invited
Tamek to the United Kingdom, considered it scandalous that the
international community should remain incapable of imposing its
decisions relating to the referendum of self-determination in Western
Sahara.
27.02.07, El Ayoun
Several demonstrations took place in Saharawi quarters on the occasion
of the 31st anniversary of SADR. Over 25 Saharawis were arrested the
week preceding the event. [SPS]
01.03.07, El Ayoun
A group of Saharawi activists formed a planning committee charged with
creating a “civic entity”, with the aim of researching a peaceful
solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, in accordance with
international law, to monitor respect for human rights and to promote
real development in a people’s Maghreb. [corr.]
04.03.07, hunger strike
After over a month, the Saharawi political prisoners in the Black Prison have ended their hunger strike.
04.03.07, Norway
Aminatou Haidar is on a tour of Norway. [see some Media cover on Norvegian support committee website]
06.03.07, sentences
The court of appeal in El Ayoun sentenced Brahim Sabbar and Ahmed Sbai
to a year’s prison, Ahmeidat Mohamed Salem, Elgasmi Lahbib and Toubali
Elhafed to three years in prison. The trial of the sixth accused,
Loumadi Abdeslam, was postponed until 20 March. Sabbar was earlier
sentenced to two years in prison. [ASVDH] [ASVDH Arabic]
08.03.07, Protests
Amnesty international expressed its concern at the sentencing of two
Saharawi human rights defenders, Brahim Sabbar and Ahmed Sbai.
[Public Statement AI Index: MDE 29/004/2007 News Service No: 046 8 March 2007, Morocco/Western Sahara: Sahrawi human rights defenders sentenced to year in prison]
[Communiqué de l'Association française des Amis de la RASD, 09.03.07]
26.02.07, fishing
The King of Morocco signed the fishing agreement with EU, the last
stage before the treaty, concluded after long negotiations, enters into
force.
Souvenirs
In his biography entitled, «Work hard, study… and keep out of
politics», James Baker, former American Secretary of State and
former special envoy of the United Nations for Western Sahara refers to
the conflict. “Kofi Annan asked me to help him in the settlement of
this conflict considered as the last case of decolonization under the
United Nations”, writes James Baker, who adds that “despite the very
hard conditions in which the Saharawi people live, they remain attached
to the values of democracy and have never opted for terrorism.".[Liberté, Alger, 26.02.07]
Accusations
On the occasion of the presentation of his latest work, "Independent
Diplomat: Dispatches from an Unaccountable Elite", the former British
diplomat, Carne Ross accused Morocco of interfering with the efforts of
the UN for a just and global settlement of the conflict in Western
Sahara, in accordance with the UN plan. Ross was in charge of the
Western Sahara while he was first secretary of the British mission at
the United Nations in charge of the Middle East and the Maghreb. [28.02.07] [see Book Reviews on Independent Diplomat]
Saharawi diplomatic tour
The Angolan President, José Eduardo Dos Santos and the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Congo Brazzaville Rodolphe Adaba received M'hamed
Khaddad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, on 27.02.07 and 02.03.07
respectively. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Samuel Lewis,
had talks on 28 February with Ahmed Boukhari, special representative of
the Saharawi president. The Saharawi Ambassador in South Africa, Ubbi
Bachir, was received on 1st March by Blade Nzimande, Secretary General
of the South African Communist Party.
28.02.07, statement
A spokesman of the Algerian Ministry for Foreign Affairs made public a
declaration on the question of Western Sahara. “Algeria has constantly
and clearly marked its support for a solution based on the satisfaction
of the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
Algeria remains convinced that the Baker plan is still valid as a
political solution to the conflict as it constitutes for such a
solution the only recognised legal and framework regarded as valid by
the international community.” [texte intégral]
Moroccan autonomy proposal – promotion tour, continued
Returning from the visit of the Moroccan delegation to the USA, Robert
S. Ford, US Ambassador to Algeria, declared that “nothing concrete had
been proposed. The Moroccans did not give us any detail concerning the
content of their proposal”. He added that any proposal, not only must
not be in contradiction with resolutions already approved by the
parties to the conflict, but must recognised the Polisario Front
unquestionably as the other party to the talks. [L'Expression, Alger, 05.03.07]
After Paris, Washington and London, the inter-ministerial delegation
continued its tour of member countries of the Security Council to
present the autonomy proposal for Western Sahara.
26.02.07, European Union/Germany
The German Minister for Foreign Affairs, Walter Steinmeier, current
president of the European Union, welcomed this initiative. The European
Union, he declared, will study this plan with much interest and will
discuss it. [official statement]
28.02.07, Russia
The Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergueï Lavrov stressed
the need to arrive at a just and long-term political settlement which
would correspond to UN Security Council resolutions. He pointed
out that the proposed plan needed to be improved.
07-09.03.07,
The proposal was also presented to the King of Saudi Arabia, Abdallah
Ibn Abdelaziz, to the head of the Mauritanian state, to leaders in
Senegal and the United Arab Emirates.
05.03.07, MINURSO
The new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Western
Sahara, Julian Harston, arrived in Laayoune (1251km south of Rabat), to
take up his post as new head of the MINURSO.
08.03.07, UN
The Saharawi president travelled to New York, where he met
representatives of member countries of the Security Council. On 9
March, he talked for 45 minutes with the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
He continued his visit in Washington.[full text english]
At the end of April the Security Council will discuss the question of
Western Sahara, the mandate of MINURSO will end on 30 April. A report
of the Secretary General to the Security Council is announced for 20
April.
The European Coordination of support for the Saharawi people sent a letter on 8 March to the Secretary General .[letter english] and launched an appeal for signatures on the internet:
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Sign - firmare
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02.03.07, Spain
On the eve of the Spanish-Moroccan summit, the Spanish branch of
Amnesty International, in a letter to the head of government, pointed
out the question of the human rights situation in Western Sahara and
that of the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people. [Nota]
05-06.03.07, eighth Spanish-Moroccan summit
The two governments met in Rabat to discuss bilateral relations. The
meeting concluded in several economic and political agreements, putting
into action the excellent relations between the two countries. The
question of Western Sahara was likewise on the agenda.
According to a final joint statement, “the Spanish party welcomed the
Moroccan proposal [of autonomy] with interest and considers that it
could set off a new impetus to dialogue to overcome the present impasse
and to progress on this basis to reach a resolution of this dispute
which assures the principle of self-determination”.
Morocco and Spain “renewed their commitment to finding a political,
just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution within the framework of
the United Nations” to the question of the Sahara.[AFP] [EFE]
For the Spanish
press, which reported these statements widely, Spain is aligning itself
with Morocco, accepts the autonomy plan, abandons the Sahara... [revista de prensa Sahara-Info 07.03.07]
Several
Polisario Front representatives expressed their disappointment in the
face of this “demonstration of hostility”, described as “a dangerous
and disappointing declaration”. Ahmed Boukhari deplored the Spanish
government’s new shift in position and its precipitation in supporting
the unilateral proposal of autonomy. Brahim Ghali demanded the Spanish
government to defend international law and the political powers as well
as Spanish civil society to “oppose firmly” the “attempts to confiscate
the legitimate rights of the Saharawi people to decide freely their own
destiny”.
For the Spanish solidarity movement, the position of the government,
called “shameful”, is “a betrayal of the Saharawi people and support
for the occupation”. The Coordination of Spanish associations in
solidarity with the Sahara CEAS, warns that Spanish support for the
Moroccan plan will only bring war and suffering both for the Saharawis
and for the Moroccans and the rest of the region.[revista de prensa Sahara-Info 08.03.07] [revue de presse Sahara-Info 07.03.07] [Declaracion de la Fedissah - Federación estatal de instituciones solidarias con el pueblo saharaui, 08.03.07][Declaracion de la CEAS, Coordinadora estatal de asociaciones solidarias con el Sahara, 09.03.07]
Political parties
The secretary general of the United Left (Izquierda Unida - the
government coalition) considers that Zapatero has put relations with
Morocco before the right to self-determination and that he has betrayed
the Saharawi cause. During a press conference he demanded of the
government to review “immediately” its policy on the conflict in
Western Sahara, in contradiction with the position of the Parliament.
The Popular Party (opposition) for its part accuses the government of
having broken the principle of active neutrality which had
characterised the traditional position of Spain. Several regional
parties expressed similar strongly critical views.
06.03.07, judicial inquiry
The public prosecutor of the National Audience, the highest penal body
in Spain, asked Judge Baltasar Garzon to investigate a complaint of
genocide lodged last September against 32 Moroccan officials. The
advice of the public prosecutor is dated 5 December. [El Mundo, 06.03.07, in Sahara-Info]
The
complaint had been lodged on 14 September 2006 by several human rights
organisations against 32 Moroccan leaders and soldiers by reason of
their responsibility in the genocide, torture, illegal detentions,
abductions and disappearances practised by the Kingdom of Morocco
against the Saharawi people since October 1975. [news weeks 37-38/2006] [Rebelion, 16.09.06]
On 15 September 1998 a complaint of genocide against the Saharawi
people had been lodged against Hassan II. Judge Garzon had shelved the
complaint because of the immunity pertaining to current heads of state.
[news week 43/1998] , and [news week 01/1999]
03.03.07
Within the context of an EU/Morocco meeting in Barcelona and the
inauguration of the PEV (European Neighbourhood Program], the European
commissioner responsible for external relations and neighbourhood
policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, proposed aid amounting to 654 million
euros to support the “process of very ambitious reforms” undertaken by
Morocco. This package represents an increase of nearly 20% in relation
to the annual average for the period 1995-2006 and bears on social,
economic development, human rights and governance, the environment as
well as institutional support.
23.02.-03.03.07, Navarra
During a 2nd interparliamentary meeting, the Saharawi National Council
and the Parliament of Navarra exchanged experiences in the aim of
making institutions more democratic internally.
24-25.02.07, Norway
The National Council of the Norwegian Liberal Party, in a resolution,
asks Norway to recognise Western Sahara as an independent state; to put
pressure on Morocco to respect the rights of Saharawis and for all
prisoners of conscience to be released; that Norway in collaboration
with other member countries of AELE, should follow the example of the
United States and demand that the association agreement between Morocco
and AELE should exclude merchandise sourced in Western Sahara.[Norwegian original text] [English statement]
26-28.02.07, Norway
Trades Union delegates of the Landsorganisasjonen i Norge - LO [General
Confedération of Labour of Norway], meeting in Trondheim, demand
also the recognition of SADR and respect for human rights in Western
Sahara, but in addition that Norway should put pressure on the Moroccan
and French authorities to respect the legitimate rights of the
Saharawis; that Norway should commit itself to obtaining a ban on
economic relations with the occupied territory and that it should
increase its aid to the Saharawi refugees in Algeria.[original text] [texte en français]
01.03.07, Venezuela
The second national meeting of solidarity with the Saharawi cause,
organised by the Venezuelan delegation to PARLATINO, the Latin American
Parliament, was opened in Caracas by the MP Gustavo Hernandez. It took
place in the presence of numerous guests, including the Saharawi
Ambassador Baricalla and representatives of Asovessa, the
Venezuelan Association of solidarity with the Sahara.[statement in English]
04.03.07, France
The Saharawi community in France celebrated in Mantes-la-Jolie the 31st
anniversary of the proclamation of SADR in the presence of the Saharawi
former political prisoner Ali Salem Tamek and the representative of the
Polisario Front in France, Sadafa Bahia.
06.03.07, Colombia
The Colombian parlliament approved a resolution in favour of the decolonization of Western Sahara.
08.03.07, "International Women’s Day”
The National Union of Saharawi Women launched an appeal on this occasion [Llamamiento de las Mujeres Saharauis]
COMING
UP...
Mujer y Cooperación en San Sebastian de los Reyes (Madrid)
Delegación de Cooperación al Desarollo del Ayuntamiento
Exposiciones: 26 de febrero al 9 de marzo: «Miradas»,
Centro Claudio Rodriguez 1 al 15 marzo: “Mujer en el Sahara”, Centro
Actúa 15 al 30 de marzo: “Casas de Mujer”, Centro Actúa.
Coloquios y talleres formativos: 8 de marzo, 19 horas: La
situación de la mujer saharaui en los campamentos y su
participación en el conflicto saharaui.
15 de marzo, 17 horas: Las mujeres en la cooperación al desarrollo. http://www.ssreyes.org/
5, 6, and 7 april 2007, Vth Congress of the National Union Saharawi Women, NUWS, Saharawi refugee camps, Tindouf, Algeria
Charter flight
Madrid- Tindouf - Madrid: 3/4 avril - 8 avril 2007
Info, contact: Zahra Ramdan, e-mail: saharawiwomen[at]yahoo.es y Victoria Peralta, e-mail: grupoapoyounms[at]hotmail.com
Site web officiel du gouvernement de la RASD (arabe): http://www.rasd-state.ws/
Sitio web oficial del Gobierno de la RASD (arabe): http://www.rasd-state.ws/
Official website of the SADR Government (arabe); http://www.rasd-state.ws/
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
English
>> English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
New book:
Independent Diplomat: Dispatches from an Unaccountable Elite, Ross Carne, Cornell Univ Pr, 2007, 240 p.
Castellano
>> Revista de la prensa en español http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
Italiano
Deutsch
Norsk
Svensk
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