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16-17.06.99
President Mohamed Abdelaziz was present for the inauguration of
South African President Thabo Mbeki (Sahrawi Ministry of
Foreign Affairs).
19.06.99
BBC correspondent in Morocco, Nick Pelham, was turned away at
Ceuta, on the Moroccan-Spanish border. Certain political circles
in Morocco have qualified his articles and correspondence as
"insulting, defamatory and false." The next day Moroccan
authorities lifted the expulsion order. (AFP)
20.06.99
In a press release issued on the anniversary of the Zemla
uprising, AFAPREDESA raised questions about "the silence of the
Spanish government," responsible for the massacre of Sahrawi
civilians during a peaceful demonstration in Zemla, a
neighbourhood in El Ayoun, on June 17, 1970, and the disappearance
since then of Mohamed Basiri, leader of the "Vanguard organization
for the liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro." the
precursor to the Polisario Front. The Sahrawi human rights
organization is demanding that the Spanish government "explain the
fate of Mohamed Basiri."
20.06.99
Identification, week one
During week one of identification, 523 applicants were questioned,
413 in El Ayoun, 110 in the Smara wilaya. Two new stations, in
Tan-Tan and Goulimine (southern Morocco), were opened this week.
Chioukh and Sahrawi observers were the target of harassment by
applicants, and Moroccan authorities prevented family members from
having any contact with them. CIVPOL was able to prevent any major
incidents.(SPS).
20.06.99
Repression
Moroccan police cracked down on a demonstration by 35 unemployed
Sahrawi graduates demanding work. Two people were injured, Bachir
Toubali and an unidentified young girl, and two others arrested,
El Alem Mohamed and Emjid M´Hamed. AFAPREDESA has called on
MINURSO to intervene to free the prisoners and to conduct an
inquiry into this latest violation of human rights.
21.06.99
Mr. Eagleton called his meetings with Sahrawi President Mohamed
Abdelaziz "fruitful" and "encouraging." In a letter to the Sahrawi
President, dated June 15, 1999, Mr. Eagleton thanked the President
for laying the groundwork for the repatriation of Moroccan
prisoners of war "liberated by the Polisario Front in March 1997
on humanitarian grounds, during Mr. Baker's visit to the Sahrawi
refugee camps." (SPS)
21.06.99
European Union Presidency Statement
The European Union reiterates its "full support for the Settlement
Plan proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations for
Western Sahara." It hopes "that the proposals can now be
implemented without further delay in line with the deadlines set
out in the Secretary-General's report of 28 April. Concerning the
return of the refugees the EU stresses "that the return of the
refugees in accordance with the principles of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees is a key element of the Settlement
Plan." It welcomes the ongoing talks of both parties with the
UNHCR and hopes that these consultations will soon lead to the
conclusion of agreements which will allow the necessary measures
to be taken for the return of the refugees. Concerning the
prisoners of war, the Union expresses "its hope that all parties
concerned will do their utmost in order to find a solution to this
humanitarian problem in the near future and restates its full
support for the efforts undertaken in this connection by the
International Committee of the Red Cross."(full
text)
21.06.99
Ghana's Vice-President, John Atta Mills, granted audience to
Mohamed Salerm Ould Salek, Foreign Minister of the SADR and
assured him of Ghana's continued support through the end of the
territory's struggle for freedom. Salek called with a message from
SADR President Abdelaziz, inviting President Jerry John Rawlings
to visit the territory. He called for Ghana's intervention to
lobby other countries like Nigeria to support the cause
(PANA).
21.06.99
5th conference of Interior Ministers of western Mediterranean
countries
Representatives from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Algeria,
Morocco, Tunisia and Libya met in Algiers and addressed the issues
of organized crime, drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
Driss Basri stated his desire to take this opportunity to address
bilateral relations between Algeria and Morocco. He was received
the next day by the Algerian President. Following the meeting,
Basri stated that steps are currently "underway, on both sides, to
normalize Algerian-Moroccan relations." (APS)
22.06.99
UN
The special committee in charge of studying the implementation of
the declaration on granting independence to colonial countries and
peoples, discussed the Western Sahara and East Timor in New York.
A statement was made on the topic by a representative of the
POLISARIO, Mulud Saïd. He said the Western Sahara peace plan
had been altered by Morocco's attempt to turn the referendum into
a plebiscite to legitimize its occupation. The last 20 years had
allowed Morocco to strengthen its occupation, drastically alter
the demographic composition of the Territory and step up its
repression of the people who had been there before the occupation.
Real gains had been made in the Houston Agreements, which
POLISARIO and Morocco had negotiated under the auspices of James
A. Baker III, the Secretary-General's Representative for Western
Sahara. However, there was no doubt that the decolonization of
Western Sahara had yet to be carried out. Said mentioned the
similarity between the two issues, and called on the UN to exert
all efforts toward settlement of conflicts. The Committee decided
to transmit all the relevant documents on the issue to the General
Assembly for consideration at its fifty-fourth session.(U.N
Press rel.)
22.06.99
US Senate
The US Senate approved an amendment on the State Department
Reauthorization Bill, requiring the Secretary of State to report
regularly to the relevant Congressional Committees on all specific
measures taken by the Moroccan government and the Polisario Front
to guarantee a free, fair and transparent referendum for
self-determination of Western Sahara. The reports should include a
detailed description of preparations for the referendum, with the
guarantees of free access to the territory by representatives of
independent international organisations, including international
media and observers. The reports should also mention efforts made
by the State Department to guarantee that the referendum is held
on the date set in the time-table proposed by the UN
secretary-general, as well as an assessment of strict compliance
with the July 2000 deadline. The Senate also demanded that the
State Department make a detailed description of obstacles to the
process of voter registration and efforts made by the US
government to overcome such obstacles. It also requested an
assessment of progress made in refugee repatriation
operations.(S.886, 106 Cong.,1st Sess)
23.06.99
Statement
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, stating that "Morocco has illegally
occupied the former Spanish colony since 1975" declared that "A
solution to the conflict over Western Sahara will enhance security
and stability in Northern Africa. After more than ten years of
delay, the people of the Western Sahara should be permitted to
determine for themselves who will govern them." Kennedy,
Republican Senator Gordon Smith and Democratic Senator Patrick
Leahy sponsored the amendment accepted by the Senate. "Morocco has
been a faithful ally of the United States for more than 200
years," said Kennedy, "but its refusal to allow the people of the
Western Sahara to determine their own political future undercuts
America's efforts to promote democracy worldwide."
23.06.99
British Parliament
Early
Day Motion 745 welcomes the agreement by the Polisario Front
and the Government of Morocco on the United Nations
Secretary-General's timetable and calls on Her Majesty's
Government to reintroduce its contingent to the United Nations
Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara. Presently signed by
69 deputees.
24.06.99
Human rights
Twelve young Sahrawis, between the ages of 12 and 14, arrested for
writing slogans and sporting tattoos in favour of independence,
were brought before the courts in El Ayoun (see
week 23, 11.06.99). Seven of them were sentenced to several
years of "reeducation" in youth centres in Casablanca, 1300 km
away from where they live, while the other five were freed.
The seven who were sentenced:
The five who were freed:
24.06.99
Public statement by Amnesty International.
In a statement
A.I confirms its International Council Meeting could not take
place in August in Morocco as scheduled. Regretting the decision
of the Moroccan authorities AI considers it "a missed opportunity
for human rights promotion in Morocco." No clear reason has been
provided but references have been made by various Moroccan
authorities to public events planned for the ICM (about human
rights violations in Morocco) , disrespectful statements made by
AI and the recent report "Morocco
/ Western Sahara "Turning the Page": Achievements and
Obstacles".
In the French newspaper Le Monde of June 25, J.-P. Tuquoi adds
another reason :"In June 1998, the Secretary General of Amnesty,
Pierre Sané, went to Morocco to open the headquarters of
the local section of AI. During a closed-door meeting in a hotel
among Amnesty officials, statements were made which were recorded,
unbeknownst to them. The recordings were transmitted to the King,
who is said to have been very angry by what he heard, as the
recordings apparently contained some unfortunate statements."
24.06.99
Bundestag resolution
The German parliament unanimously adopted a resolution expressing
support for the peace agreement, and calling on the government to
exercise its influence on the parties, especially Morocco, to
prevent any further delays to the process, and to maintain its
involvement in MINURSO.
26.06.99
The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
On this day, the Sahrawi Union of Jurists pointed out that
Moroccan authorities continue, with impunity, to make arbitrary
arrests and forced disappearances, and to conduct unfair trials of
Sahrawi citiznes in the occupied zones of Western Sahara. The
Union called on MINURSO to intervene immediately in the recent
arrests and sentencing of Sahrawi school children and
demonstrators. (press release)
COMING UP...
28.06.99: Report of UN Secretary-general.
Asociación Granadina de Amigos de la R.A.S.D. y
Ayuntamiento de Peligros organiza: 03.07.99, Peligros,
Granada: III Sáhara Rock 1999. Sábado 3 de Julio.
21:00 h. Estadio Municipal "Antonio Bailon". En directo: A Palo
Seko, Tatanka, NatSat, S.D.G., Luis Ricardo Burriquero y su amigo
el farfollas. Entrada: 600 ptas. anticipada. 800 ptas. en
taquilla.Más información: http://www.arrakis.es/~saharagr
Lega dei Diritti dei Popoli:
Dal 29 luglio al 31 agosto 1999 ECOSY (i giovani socialisti
europei) e la Sinistra Giovanile organizzano a Livorno un
campeggio con la presenza anche di alcuni giovani Saharawi.
Inoltre, alla Festa dell'Unità di Livorno di questa estate
ci saranno delle iniziative di sensibilizzazione alla causa
Saharawi, il programma seguira.
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