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WEEKS 47 - 48 : 19.11.- 02.12.2006 |
16.11.06, Questions to the European Commission
The MEP Pedro Guerreiro (GUE/GVN, Portugal), referring to the hardening
of the repression in the occupied territories by Morocco, asked “what
measures the Council intends to put in place to unblock the peace
process in Western Sahara and guarantee the legitimate and inalienable
right of self-determination for the Saharawi people, in accordance with
international law?” [portug. +reply in Finnish]
In the face of the worsening of the humanitarian situation in the
Saharawi refugee camps resulting from the massive drop in humanitarian
aid, the same parliamentarian asks what extraordinary emergency
measures will the Commission envisage taking?
In its response, the latter declares itself conscious of the critical
situation and to have noted that several donors had provided their
promised contributions to WFP. It considers that there is no need to
adopt special measures, but that to continue to send the humanitarian
aid promised in the financing decision of 2006, so as to avoid further
breaks in deliveries of aid. [full text EU]
As a consequence of the reduction in the number of beneficiaries of
humanitarian aid in the Tindouf camps from 158 000 to 90 000 persons,
on the basis of an estimate, in the absence of a trustworthy census, a
Belgian Socialist MEP asks the Commission what measures are proposed
“to make Algeria authorise the UNHCR to carry out its job”.
The Commission considers that “registration of the population would be very useful to better calibrate the aid”. [full text EU]
22.11.06, Pan-African parliament, 6th ordinary session
According to the international relations committee, the Pan-African
Parliament envisages sending a mission of information on human rights
abuses in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and recommends the
AU to “make necessary arrangements for completing the decolonisation of
Western Sahara”.[agencies]
22.11.06, Culture
The Mauritanian poet and writer, Abdallahi Ould Ebnou took part in the
refugee camps, in a cultural evening dedicated to the intifada in the
occupied territories of Western Sahara, in the company of several
Saharawi poets. [SPS]
22-28.11.06, elections
Municipal elections took place in the camps to designate the presidents
of the daïra (mayors), the members of municipal councils, as well
as representatives of national institutions and grass roots
organisations.[SPS]
22.11.06, Ecuador
The Saharawi ambassador Hadj Ahmed Berikallah presented his credentials
to the President of Ecuador, Dr Alfredo Palacio in Quito. [SPS]
22.11.06, Diplomatic recognition
The Republic of Haïti and the Saharawi Republic established
diplomatic relations at ambassador level according to a joint statement
signed by the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Renald
Clérismé and the Saharawi ambassador, Mohamed Yeslem
Beïssat. Haïti thus becomes the 82nd country to recognise
SADR. This diplomatic victory was welcomed by demonstrations of joy in
the towns of occupied Western Sahara and Southern Morocco. [SPS]
24.11.06, Mali
The Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, M'hamed Khaddad, was received in
Bamako by Moktar Ouane, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation in Mali, who recalled that “Mali has always given its
support to a just and peaceful solution” to the Saharawi conflict. [SPS]
25.11.06, desertions
According to the Moroccan daily Assabah, a Moroccan soldier called Akka
is said to have deserted with arms and munitions and joined the
Polisario Front in the night of 23 November. Five Moroccan soldiers are
alleged to have done the same during the month of October last.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND SOUTH MOROCCO
07.11.06, sentences
Imprisoned on 3 November, Chaibatta Moudafiaa, born on 18 April 1986
and Mouloud Lotfi, born on 18 November 1986, were sentenced to one year
in prison. [ASVDH]
20.11.06
A Saharawi citizen, El-Moussaoui Ahmed Ould Amberik, died as a result
of wounds sustained in the explosion of an anti-tank mine in the region
of Bakari in occupied Western Sahara. [ASVDH]
20.11.06, claims
Eight Saharawi political prisoners from Inzegane are observing an
unlimited hunger strike since 20 November 2006 to ask to be brought
together in Aït Melloul prison, for a speedy court appearance and
an inquiry into an attack on the Saharawi political prisoner, Lahmam
Salama. [ASVDH]
21.11.06, El-Ayoun
Saharawi political prisoners, Dadai Hmada et El-Moussaoui Ahmed,
detained since 10 April 2006, were sentenced to six months in prison
and released after having served more than their sentence. [ASVDH]
21.11.06, attack
The Saharawi human rights defender, Dahi Mohamed Salem, a journalist
with the Moroccan weekly, Al-Watan, member of the El Ayoun branch of
(AMDH), was insulted, beaten up and interrogated on his writings
relating to the question of Western Sahara and interviews with certain
Saharawi human rights defenders. Dahi lodged a complaint with the
public prosecutor. [ASVDH]
23.11.06, assassination attempt
A unionist and human rights defender, Jaïm Mohamed, was victim of
an assassination attempt in Benguerir, where he lives. Coming back from
a protest sit-in with Saharawi students from Marrakech on 23 November,
his car was deliberately hit by a military truck.
25.11.06, trial
A Saharawi political prisoner Hassan Abdallahe, in Aït Mellou
prison, appeared before the instructing magistrate in Agadir, on a new
charge, questioning the sacred principles of Morocco. He was sentenced
to 6 years in prison on 5 September 2006.
19-30.11.06, visit of Ali Salem Tamek to South Africa
The Saharawi human rights activist and former political prisoner, Ali
Salem Tamek, is in South Africa carrying out a visit to raise awareness
about the human rights abuses in Western Sahara. Tamek was received by
many human rights organisations , churches, political parties, trades
unions, by the President of the Pan-African Parliament and members of
the South African government. He took part in a TV broadcast on SABC
and with Timothy Othieno, a specialist on the Western Sahara conflict,
in a seminar organised by the Institute for Global Dialogue on “The UN
and its Obligations to Protect Human Rights in the Non Self Governing
Territories: The Case of Western Sahara”. [details -->SPS] [arabic UPES or Cahiers du Sahara]
24-26.11.06, Rome
During a meeting of civil society of the Mediterranean for peace,
justice, rights and democracy organised by Medlink 2006, El-Ghalia
Djimi, vice-president of the Saharawi Association of Victims of Serious
Violations of Human Rights perpetrated by the Moroccan State, (ASVDH),
spoke of the situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. [Intervention]
The Saharawi activist also took part in an informal meeting concerning
the Magreb Social Forum with representatives of human rights
organisations from all the countries of the North African Maghreb.
26.11.06, shipwreck
31 young Saharawis dead or disappeared – victims of illegal emigration
For several months, various sources have mentioned the increase in
illegal emigration to the Canaries, in particular by young Saharawis.
According to the enquiry by Tomas Barbulo [El Pais]
the routes between Western Sahara and the Canary Islands, which had not
been used for two years, have been reactivated since the beginning of
the year. About a hundred boats arrived in the Canaries of which 70 in
the last four months. The emigrants are no longer Sub-Saharans, but
young Saharawis. 200 requests for political asylum have been lodged
since September, over half in the last fortnight. The journalist points
out that young Saharawis are pushed into emigration by the Moroccan
authorities, who facilitate their departure. Moroccan repression in
Western Sahara is ferocious, certain immigrants carry traces of torture
or documents showing they have been detained.
The Polisario Front representative in the Canaries regrets these
departures, for which the responsibility rests with Morocco and recalls
the dangers undergone by the emigrants. Since January, 50 Saharawis
have reportedly been lost at sea. The latest tragedy happened off
Boujdour, when two boats with 44 young Saharawis on board capsized.
Fourteen bodies have been found on the beach, thirteen persons swam to
safety. Among the dead was an activist and human rights defender, Naji
Mohamed Salem Ali Fal (Boukhatem), born in 1970, member of the ASVDH.
17 persons are still missing. The Moroccan owner of one of the two
boats, Brahim Sergheni, one of the principal traffickers, survived and
was not troubled. The Saharawi representative in Spain, Brahim Ghali,
denounced the “impunity” enjoyed by the people traffickers and the
“complicity” of various Moroccan security bodies, the beaches of
Boujdour from which the little boats leave were perfectly well-known
and identified: Rmila, Tbila, Haimar Mah et Awzioualet.
The Spanish committee for refugees CEAR considers, in a statement, that
the increase in the exodus of young Saharawis is the consequence of the
repressive policy of the Moroccan regime.[Comunicado CEAR] [Comunicado LEPDDHH]
The Coordination of Spanish associations in solidarity with the Saharawi people
(CEAS-Sahara) called on the Spanish government to denounce before
international bodies the violations of human rights committed by
Morocco in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and to demand the
“immediate” holding of a referendum of self-determination of the
Saharawi people. [more...]
28.11.06, repression
Saharawi human rights activists Toubali Elhafed, El-Gasmi Mohamed
Lahbib, Ahmeidate Ahmed Salem and Loumadi Abdessalam appeared before an
instructing judge in El-Ayoun. They allege to have been mistreated by
the police while being moved around. In protest, Saharawi political
prisoners in the Black Prison observe a 48-hour hunger strike and
reaffirm their support for the struggle of the Saharawi people and the
Polisario Front. The Moroccan authorities forbade access to the Black
Prison to Aminatou Haidar, Brahim Dahane and Bachir Lakhfawni. [ASVDH]
22.11.06, EU-Morocco fishing agreement
The Moroccan Chamber of Representatives adopted the fishing agreement.
The Party for Development and Justice (PJD, Islamists), indicated that
the financial reward from which Morocco benefits in virtue of this
agreement is “derisory” in relation to the possibilities of fishing
offered to the EU. The Moroccan Chamber of Councillors must also
pronounce on it before the agreement is put to the king. The agreement
was concluded on 28 July 2005, its ratification was delayed thanks to
the efforts of the group “fishelsewhere”, which considers that the agreement is illegal because it includes Saharawi territorial waters.
21.11.06, declaration
During a press conference in Geneva, the UN Secretary General replied
to a question on the principle of self-determination, “Let me say that
the right of auto-determination is something that we at the UN should
and must respect. It is that right that is driving us in our
discussions with Polisario and the Moroccans. I don't think the
UN can turn its back on that.” [UN news]
23.11.06, Italy
The Legislative Assembly of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna called
the government of Romano Prodi to recognise SADR and to begin
diplomatic and political moves with the European Union for the full
exercise of the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people. [texto]
24.11.06, analysis
In an article, the former representative for Western Sahara, Francesco
Bastagli wrote : “ France, which has the lead in the European Union on
Western Sahara, is a stalwart champion of Morocco. It should use its
privileged relationship to advocate a more courageous and innovative
stand. As permanent members of the Security Council, the United States
and France should join forces to prompt the Council into robust action.
Western Sahara has remained at the periphery of the international
agenda for too long. Acting with the Council, the new secretary general
could secure progress in the early stages of his mandate. Failure to do
so may soon bring Western Sahara and its surrounding region to the
front pages for all the wrong reasons.” [International Herald Tribune]
28-30.11.06, ONU, committee of the 24
Within the framework of the second decade of the United Nations for the
elimination of colonialism, the Committee of the 24 organised a seminar
on the island of Yanuca, Fiji, dedicated to the situation in
non-self-governing territories. Kamal Fadel in the name of the
Polisario Front deplored the fact that the United Nations had closed
its eyes to Morocco’s abuses, its violations of UN resolutions and its
rejection of any peace plan. He called on the OHCHR to publish their
report on Western Sahara and asked the committee of the 24 to send a
delegation to the area.
22.11.06, repression
Following organised demonstrations in the Moroccan universities of
Marrakech and Agadir on 13-14 November to denounce the tripartite
agreement of Madrid, the Moroccan authorities reacted in the usual
fashion, arresting three Saharawi students in Agadir and wounding four
others in Marrakech,
Meanwhile, it is reported that Saharawi students have also been
attacked in their rooms and wounded by Moroccan students under the
complicit eye and of the administration. In Moroccan universities there
is lack of respect and jealousy towards Saharawi students as
repeated attacks on them bear witness.
30.11.06, first Africa- South America summit
The King of Morocco participated in person in this summit in Abuja in
Nigeria and expressed himself in favour of South-South cooperation. The
setting up of a Forum of Africa-South America Cooperation, framework
within which the governments of the two zones meet every two years,
alternatively in Africa and South America were decided upon. [Afrik.com]
Cantabria por el Sáhara ha editado un precioso calendario de pared con algunas de las fotografías de la exposición "Miradas con Voz. Saharauis en tierra prestada" y sus poemas. e-mail mahbes@nodo50.org
05.12.06, Paris,
MARDI DE L'AFASPA, 20 heures au CICP, 21 ter rue Voltaire Paris 11°
(métro rue des Boulets).« Le Maroc va-t-il perdre le
Sahara Occidental : nouvelle donne » avec la participation de
Ennaâma Asfari, de retour des territoires occupés et Kenti
Ouballa, militant des droits humains.
26.02.07 - Sahara Marathon 2007 --> INFO (EN, SP, FR, IT) (deutsch)
Website
Documents
Radio
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
NOUVEAU livre:
Quand le Maroc sera islamiste, Nicolas Beau (Canard enchaîné) et
Catherine Graciet (Le Journal Hebdo), La Découverte, Paris (sortie le 7
décembre).
English
>> English publications on Sahara Update mailinglist: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/messages
Castellano
>> Revista de la prensa en español: http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/revista-de-prensa-sahara-occidental/messages
NUEVO libro:
Miradas con voz, Saharauis: en tierra prestada, 96 p. 42
fotográfias de Poli Celis, Poemas de Sergio Balbontin, Limam
Boicha, Mariano Calvo, Julio Ceballos, Evalinda Coleman, Isaac Cuende,
Marcos Díez, Gabriel Esmero, Maribel Fernández, Alberto
Gandarillas, Anabel García, Arancha García, Vicente
Gutiérrez, Miguel Ibáñez, Fernando Llorente Haya,
Fernando Llorente de la Peña, Ramón Maruri, Regino Mateo,
Antonio Montesino, Noé Ortega, Mª Ángeles
Pérez, Ana Rodríguez, Javier San José, Alberto
Santamaría, Mohamed Sidati, Angel Sopeña, Ahmed Yacob.
Editor: Cantabria por el Sáhara, Distribución:
mahbes@nodo50.org
Italiano
Attualità in italiano: El Ouali Bologna: http://www.saharawi.org/saharawi.htm + Radio for Peace: http://www.radiokcentrale.it/du.htm
Deutsch
Arabe
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