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22.08.97
Strike at Dakhla
Workers of the new Dakhla harbour, under construction, protest by
striking because they have not received their pay since 2 months.
28.08.97
Morocco-Saharawi negociations
The Polisario in Algiers declares that the negociations of Lisbon are
an important step on the way of the resolving of the conflict but
they should not be the last. The Polisario exprimes its trust in the
Security Council and Secretary General and its satisfaction about the
activity of James Baker.
Arriving at Lisbon, the chief of the Polisario delegation, Mahfoud
Ali Beiba, SADR Prime Minister, exprimed his hope that the talks
would allow a referendum and bring peace to W.S.. Polisario
representative at Lisbon, Ahmed Salama Sidahmed, added that the
Saharawi people's dream is to return to take back its territory, its
independance, dignity and rights. He wishes that the negociations
will result in the complete implementation of the U.N. peace
plan.
29.08.97
Fourth round of negociations
The "private, direct calls" between Morocco and the Polisario take
place at Forte S. Juliao da Barra near Lisbon. The Saharawi
delegation is the same as last time, the Moroccan Prime Minister is
accompanied by Ambassador at the U.N. A. Snoussi, general A. Bennani,
commander of the south region, colonel M. Zouhri, Mr A. Hasbi,
adviser, Mr B. Boufous and Mrs A. Zarrouk from the Ministry of
Interior. Mr Baker, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for
Western Sahara, has on his side Messrs Erik Jensen, Chester A.
Crocker and John R. Bolton. Observers of the Algerian and Mauritanian
government are also present.
The meeting ended one day before scheduled, due to the progress
achieved during this session. Mr Baker told the press that it was "a
full and productive day of discussions". He said that the parties had
reached a compromise agreement with respect to the questions of
containment of troops, prisoners of war and political detainees. He
added that the progress achieved was such that they were unable to go
line by line through the proposed code of conduct to the referendum,
because the delegations did not have all the experts in this field
they needed to discuss it in detail. According to Mr Baker, the next
round of talks on Western Sahara will start between 12 and 14
September in the United States. The exact location will not be known
at least until 2 or 3 September. The Saharawi delegation exprimed its
satisfaction about the results of the talks.
29.08.97
The Moroccan and Portuguese Prime Minister met in Lisbon. A. Filali
informed Minister Guterres about the advances of the talks with the
Polisario. The President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio will reach Rabat
on September first and meet King Hassan II.
Social and cultural activities
As every year at this time an alphabetisation campaign took place in
all the camps. In the wilaya of El Ayoun the first regional meeting
of scouts was held. In all dairas people participated to maintenance
activities of basic sanitary equipments. Football and volleyball
competitions and cultural events were organized by the youth.
Manifestations in Assa
Hundreds of Saharawi people living in Assa, South Morocco, organized
on August 15th manifestations against the Moroccan power in the
streets of Assa. They came together before the official buildings and
claimed for freedom of speech, right to work, housing and access to
education.
Western Sahara Campaign UK: Annual General Meeting 1997, Saturday
20 Sept. 1997,
2-5 pm, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London.-
Registration: tel./fax 0113 245 47 86.