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WEEKS 45-46 : 06.11.-19.11.2005 |
08.11.05,
Belize
Souleyman Tayeb presented his credentials in Belmopan to the General
Governor of Belize, Colvile N.Young, as Ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary of the Saharawi Republic in Belize.
[SPS]
17.11.05,
African Union
Five countries, including SADR, will make their soldiers available to
the African Union's Council for Peace and Security, according to a
statement published after the meeting of military officials from
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and SADR in Tripoli.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
01.11.05
The Moroccan opposition party, "Ennahj Edimoukrati" (Democratic Way)
in a statement asked for a "transparent inquiry to be opened into the
circumstances of the death of Lembarki Hamdi Mahjoub".
03.11.05,
arrest
Haiba Mohamed Mahmoud Razzak, 35 years, corporal in the Royal Army
Forces, was kidnapped by members of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie at
his place of work, the military barracks of the 4th genii group in
Laayoune on 3 November. His family was informed on 09.11.05 of his
detention in Agadir prison. Haiba was interrogated on 31 October by
the criminal investigation police, his house searched and ransacked
the day before.
04-05.11.05,
El Ayoun
Despite the security and military patrols and the exceptional
situation imposed on the town, demonstrations hostile to the Moroccan
occupier claiming the right to self-determination have been taking
place on 4 and 5 November 2005. Hundreds of young Saharawis turned
out on different streets, brandishing Saharawi national flags and
chanting slogans saluting the Polisario Front and in favour of
self-determination, under the eyes of the Spanish press on the
ground. The Moroccan police arrested three Spanish journalists and a
Moroccan one, while they were attending a demonstration and
confiscated their photographic equipment. Only part of it would be
returned. Taken to the police station they witnessed the blows being
struck on those arrested and heard their cries. A cynical policeman
told them: "Listen to the music"... The attitude of the police was
very threatening, they accused the journalists of provoking the
demonstrations and revealed that they were listening to their phone
calls.
The journalists were released following the intervention of the
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This same government has just
replied to a member of parliament, who was expressing concern about
freedom of expression in Morocco, that the Spanish media provide the
news "in complete liberty and in depth" on the situation in Western
Sahara... [ABC
05.11.05]
[La
Vanguardia, 05/11/2005]
[El
Periodico, 05.11.05]
[El
Periodico, 07.11.05]
06.11.05, El Ayoun
30th
anniversary of the start of the Moroccan occupation of Western
Sahara.
The official ceremony, at which only those invited participated,
slightly over 200 persons, mostly notables and those responsible for
the forces of repression, took place on Méchouar Square in the
presence of the governor.
King's
speech
On the subject of the conflict in Western Sahara, the King of Morocco
repeated his choice of a "negotiated political solution" respecting
territorial integrity of Morocco in the form of autonomy for Western
Sahara. He has the intention of consulting the political parties, "to
see how they envisage autonomy taking place concretely". The local
population and elected members of the region, notably the heads of
tribes, will be consulted in their turn. The Royal Consultative
Council for the Affairs of the Sahara, a purely decorative body, will
be "restructured". [Royal speech- full
text]
The Saharawi government immediately denounced the "intransigence" of the King of Morocco who "once again carries on recklessly showing contempt for international legality". The government called on the United Nations to decree "economic sanctions" against Morocco, considering that it is the best way of "imposing respect for international law and promoting security and stability in the region and of defending the credibility and prestige of the UN".
07.11.05,
Smara
Trial of a Saharawi student El Ismaïli Mohamed before the
magistrate's court in Smara. The prosecutor asks for one year in
prison, the court delivers a sentence of three years and a fine of
5000 Dh (about 500 dollars).
08.11.05,
Dakhla
Demonstration violently repressed for the first time with Moroccan
settlers who help the police.
08.11.05,
Boujdour
The Moroccan information services abducted a Saharawi student, El Iza
Hedi, in the evening, outside the college of the occupied town of
Boujdour.
09.11.05,
Assa
Peaceful march ending in the principal square. A statement was read
condemning the murder of young Lembarki, refusing autonomy as
proposed by the king, and demanding the release of the political
prisoners.
10.11.05, El
Ayoun
Despite close police surveillance of educational establishments in
the occupied towns of Western Sahara and in southern Morocco, since
the start of the intifada in May 2005, Saharawi students from two
lycées set off a protest strike.
12.11.05,
inquiry
A commission of inquiry of the general inspection service of the
General Management of National Security (DGSN), designated to inquire
into the death of Lembarki, considers that "serious presumptions
weigh upon an officer and brigadier of the police in El Ayoun". The
Public Prosecutor's office ordered the opening of an investigation by
the national brigade of the criminal investigation department. The
Moroccan newspaper Al Ahdaz Al Maghrebiya says on 15.11. that two
agents, an officer, Abdarrahmane Behja and a sergeant, RachdI, had
been imprisoned in Agadir. According to SPS the two men were simply
transferred to Agadir to cool down.
13-14.11.05,
El Ayoun
After a short period of calm, demonstrations start again in El Ayoun
on a scale never equaled until now, particularly around educational
establishments. All the forces of repression were mobilised: the GUS,
the police, the CMI, the auxiliary forces and the gendarmerie.
Detachments from the army were also deployed and Moroccan settlers
came to the rescue of the police. About forty houses belonging to
Saharawis were ransacked. Demonstrators carried the emblems of SADR,
with flags flying from roofs of houses and electricity poles.
Barricades were erected in several avenues out of stones and burning
tyres. Several Moroccan national flags were burned. The CMI used
rubber bullets and tear gas. Helicopters flew over the erupting
quartiers. Over 50 people were arrested and nearly a hundred wounded.
The Spanish press speak of a state of undeclared siege, while the
Moroccan government describes the situation as "normal".
The town has become a military zone with army and gendarmerie taking operations of repression in hand. The Minister for the Interior, Moustafa Sahel arrived in El Ayoun, accompanied by the head of the armed forces of the southern zone, General Abdelaziz Bennani, the director of the gendarmerie Hosni Benslimane and General Laanigri, director of National Security. 4,000 soldiers were brought from Casablanca to El Ayoun (officially 350 men). Throughout the whole morning electricity was cut in the upper town to interrupt communications with outside. [details] [photos on ARSO]
15.11.05
Mohammed Ahmed Daaki, a student, serving a sentence of 15 months for
his participation in student demonstrations in May, was violently
attacked by Moroccan co-detainees in the prison of Kalaat Sraghna. He
was placed in isolation and his family prevented from visiting
him.
15.11.05
In Smara and Dakhla solidarity demonstrations with the victims of
repression take place, we hear.
16-17.11.05
Demonstrations continue in El Ayoun and Dakhla.
[photos]
17.11.05,
appeal
The Saharawi President writes another time to the UN Secretary
General, fearing a "possible hecatomb" and calling on the UN to
intervene urgently: "The entrance of the Moroccan army on the scene
with its arsenal of military arms and equipment constitutes a new and
dangerous development whose consequences could lead to a real blood
bath, under the eyes of the world and MINURSO, present on the
ground."
18.11.05,
trial
The Saharawi Ambassador in Algiers, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, announced
that the trial of the Saharawi human rights defenders, imprisoned for
several months, is due on Tuesday next, 22 November before the
Moroccan court in El Ayoun. "We ask the media and humanitarian
organisations of the entire world to bear witness to this judicial
mascarade", Mr Beissat said.
07.11.05,
USA
During the daily press briefing of the Department of State, the
deputy spokesman, Adam Ereli replied to a question concerning the
autonomy proposal made by the King of Morocco in his latest speech.
Ereli declared that the United States supports the efforts of the
United Nations to find a resolution to the Western Sahara conflict..
" We also support regional efforts to improve unity among the states
of the Maghreb and bilateral relations within the region. In that
respect, I think, obviously the release of prisoners in Algiers and
the return to Morocco was an important step. And we would certainly
welcome additional steps that promote that kind of regional
cooperation to address this longstanding dispute."
09.11.05,
Morocco-USA
The King of Morocco conferred the title of "Commander of the alawite
ouissam" on the American parliamentarians, John McCain and Lincoln
Diaz-Balart. The latter participated in the latest Congress hearing
on Western Sahara (see below).
09.11.05,
Netherlands
During an interview with M'hamed Khaddad, responsible for Saharawi
liaison with the UN, the Dutch deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Hugo H. Siblesz, expressed the support of his government for "a
solution (to the conflict of Western Sahara) in accordance with
international law within the framework of the United Nations",
underlining that "he follows with great interest the developments of
the issue" (press statement of the Polisario Representation in the
Netherlands).
14.11.05,
interview
The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, in an
interview with the daily El Pais, deplored that "the UN has never
acknowledged that Morocco has gone back on its undertakings.
Today...it tells us that the positions are irreconcilable. With this
logic we will make no progress. They must say clearly that the
Saharawis respect international law and that Morocco is opposed to
it...". "Morocco is a dictatorship which does not respect human
rights, and which does not respect the UN's decisions. It is the
spoilt child of the French Government and the Spanish Government in
the Maghreb region", he added. [El
Pais]
http://www.elpais.es/articulo/elpporint/20051114elpepiint_13/Tes/Marruecos/acepta/legalidad/internacional/retomaremos/armas
17.11.05,
United States Congress
The Congress Sub-Committee for Africa, Human Rights and International
Operations devoted a hearing to Western Sahara. Those contributing
included, Congressmen Christopher H. Smith, James Inhofe, Lincoln
Diaz-Balart, Joe Pitts, Donald M. Payne, Gordon Gray from the
Department of State, Toby Shelley, journalist, Ambassador Frank
Ruddy, former vice-president of MINURSO's Identification Commission,
Erik Jensen, former UN Special Representative, and Ali El Jaouhar,
former Moroccan prisoner of war. [Getting to "Yes": Resolving
the 30-Year Conflict over the Status of Western Sahara :
Hearing
of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International
Operations,
17.11.05 ]
30th anniversary of the Madrid Accords
11.11.05,
International Conference
Brahim Ghali, Saharawi representative in Spain, declared during a
press conference preceding the conference that the Sahara cannot be
the exception to the implementation of UN directives on
decolonization. Mohamed Sidati, Saharawi Minister responsible for
Europe, announces having sent a memorandum to the European Union to
denounce the Fishing Agreement, which he called illegal since it
covers Saharawi territorial waters.
"30 years of
injustice and suffering! 30 years is enough! Decolonization of
Western Sahara now".
The aim of the conference, organised by the CEAS-Sahara (Coordinadora
Estatal de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Sáhara) in
collaboration with Paz Ahora, was to express solidarity with the
Saharawi people on the occasion of the anniversary of the Madrid
Accords and to recall Spain's historic responsibility towards the
Saharawi people.
It was the occasion for numerous interventions.
The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, declared that "the Madrid Accords violated international law and tarnished the prestige of certain civilized nations who have contributed to the progress of Humanity, such as France, which intervened militarily in the conflict and continues today within the United Nations Security Council to support Morocco, in this way preventing peace from coming about in our region". For Abdelaziz, the only solution to resolve the conflict is the referendum.
An official delegation from East Timor took part in the conference. Agio Perea, director of the cabinet of the Timorese President Xanana Gusmao, expressed the support of his country for the self-determination of the Saharawi people. South Africa, through the voice of its ambassador in Madrid, Gert V. Grobler, echoed the same sentiment. The Austrian MEP, Karin Scheele, representatives of Spanish political parties (Popular Party, Izquierda Unida, Socialist Party and regional parties), as well as many representatives of Spanish and international solidarity, spoke.
12.11.05
The March and the Declaration of Madrid
A big demonstration took place in the streets of Madrid. Spanish
associations of solidarity with the Saharawi people mobilised 30,000
people to participate in this "March for the Freedom of the Saharawi
people". Among them representatives of Spanish political parties,
artists, writers and delegations of several European countries. On
the Plaza Major the Declaration of Madrid was read. The Swiss
committee associated itself with this appeal. It demands that the
Spanish government should act in a resolute fashion towards the
decolonization of Western Sahara, and requires the Moroccan
government to stop immediately the repression against the Saharawi
population and to release the prisoners. [Photos on
blog
of Poemario por un Sahara Libre
- Cahiers
du Sahara
]
06.11.05,
Phosphates
15 Saharawi workers from the company Phoboucraa, denied their rights
when the business, which extracts the phosphate of Western Sahara,
transferred from Spain to Morocco in 1976, have lodged a claim with
the Moroccan courts. 700 Saharawi workers and employees were the
victim of injustice at the time when Spain departed.
19.-20.11.05:
Melbourne Social Forum
Workshop: Decolonization and exploitation in Western Sahara
Western Sahara's natural resources, are being illegally exploited by
its northern neighbour and occupying power, Morocco. A UN mission
known as MINURSO has not only failed to deliver a referendum of
self-determination, but is turning a blind eye to human rights
abuses, and also the exploitation of Western Sahara's resources:
phosphates, fishing grounds and now oil. It is currently allowing an
American company, Kerr McGee to prospect for oil off its Atlantic
seaboard and Australia may turn out to be importing phosphates from
Western Sahara.
Run by Kamal Fadel, representative of the Polisario Front in
Australia
24.11.05,
Stockholm
Föreningen för Utvecklingsfrågor - Swedish
Development Forum -
inbjuder i samarbete med Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, ABF och
Stiftelsen Global Kunskap till ett seminarium: Västsahara i
fokus - ett seminarium om naturresursernas politiska betydelse i
Västsaharakonflikten.
Medverkande:
Hans Corell, Pedro Pinto Leite, Toby Shelley, Pål Wrange,
Magnus Schöldtz, Moderator: Lennart Wohlgemuth, direktör
för Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
Tid: Torsdag
24 november, kl. 17:30&endash;20.00
Plats: Hedénsalen, ABF-huset, 4tr, Sveavägen 41,
Stockholm (T-bana: Rådmansgatan).
Anmäl gärna ditt deltagande till: Föreningen för
Utvecklingsfrågor Tel: 08-6434275 Tegelviksgatan 40116 41
Stockholm Infos: fuf[at]fuf.se Hemsida:
www.fuf.se
24-26.11.05,
Barcelone
Première « Conférence
méditerranéenne des nations sans Etats ».
Initiée par des associations et des syndicats catalans et
soutenue par la Géneralité de Catalogne, cette
rencontre a pour but de faire se rencontrer les représentants
de peuples méditerranéens minoritaires dans leurs Etats
respectifs. Participeront à ces journées, outre la
Kabylie, la Corse, le Kurdistan, la Catalogne, la Palestine, le
Sahara Occidental, la Sardaigne et la Sicile.
ITALIA -
ROMA: Sabato
26 Novembre 2005: Sit
in davanti
alla Ambasciata del regno del Marocco, via Spallanzani 8 (zona porta
Pia) - ROMA dalle ore 11.00 alle 13.00
Denuncia delle violazioni dei Diritti Umani nei confronti dei
cittadini saharawi nel Sahara Occidentale occupato dal Marocco
Solidarieta con i saharawi prigionieri di opinione nelle carceri
marocchine e con le centinaia e centinaia di
desaparecidos.
30.11.05:
Colloque sur l'accord de pêche Maroc - UE organisé par
l'Intergroupe "Paix pour le peuple sahraouie" du Parlement belge
Pour s'inscrire: vanbrabant[at]s-p-a-spirit.polgroups.senate.be
ou 02/501.77.01
Novembre 1975
- novembre 2005
30ème anniversaire de la Marc he Verte/ Accords de Madrid -
30th anniversary of the Green March/ Madrid Accords - 30. aniversario
de la Marcha Verde/ Acuerdo de Madrid
+ articles dans la presse voir dans Sahara-Info
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