Le sang bleu au Maroc
En se donnant pour descendants du Prophète, les chérifs ou Chorfas (titre donné aux descendants de Mohomed par Ali et Fatima) s´établissaient au sud du Maroc, ils s´entretuaient, et progressivement, en « séparant le bon grain de l´ivraie », les survivants s´emparaient de l´actuel Maroc. Avares apparemment de nature, ayant l´eau á la bouche, ils lancèrent des expéditions á travers le désert même pour simple objectif : le sel. Les accaparants du sang bleu s'appuieront par la suite sur ce vol á main armée pour revendiquer toute la région comprise entre le Maroc et les rives septentrionales du Niger (nord Mali) et du Sénégal (Mauritanie).
Les Chorfas se diffèrent aussi selon le goût des français, car l’ordre de succession dynastique a été á plusieurs reprises modifié par les autorités françaises en fonction de ses intérêts. Au début du siècle passé, le sultan Moulay-Abd-el-Aziz qui a régné de 1894 à 1907, a été destitué par les Français de crainte qu’il se tourne vers les Anglais. Il a été remplacé par son frère, Moulay Hafiz. Ce dernier, jugé trop germanophile, a été remplacé en 1912 par un autre de ses frères, Moulay Youssef. À la mort de Moulay Youssef, en 1927, c’est le troisième de ses fils qui est choisi par Paris pour lui succéder, au détriment des deux premiers. Il régnera sous le nom de Mohammed V. Ce même Mohamed V a été destitué et déporté à Madagascar, Paris avait mis à sa place son cousin, Ben Arafa. La France modifia sa position, autorisa la rentré en 1955 de Mohamed V, détrôna Ben Arafa, qui finira sa vie en exil à Nice en France. En décembre 1962, son successeur Hassan II fait adopter une Constitution sur mesure, devenu par laquelle le roi, commandeur des croyants, est une personnalité « inviolable et sacrée ». Une vague de répression s'abat alors sur l'opposition de gauche, suivie, après les émeutes de Casablanca en 1965, par cinq ans d'état d'exception. Au mois d'octobre de cette année-là, le chef charismatique de la gauche, Mehdi Ben Barka, est enlevé en plein Paris et secrètement assassiné.
Le danger aux Chérifs vient ensuite de l'armée. Le 10 juillet 1971, une première tentative de coup d'État fait plus de cent morts au palais royal de Skhirat. Le 16 août 1972, c'est le général Oufkir qui monte une attaque aérienne contre le roi, en abattant l'avion qui le ramène de Paris. Mettant la lumière sous le boisseau, Oufkir, responsable de l'opération, selon la thèse « officielle », se suicide. Le général Oufkir, est « exécuté » le soir même de son échec. Il faudra attendre encore trois ans pour que le roi trouve enfin un terrain d'entente avec son opposition, son armée et, sans doute, ses soumis. En novembre 1975, la « Marche verte » organisée á bras raccourcis en direction de ses voisins Sahraouis lui fournit l'occasion de calmer á la dure ses soldats et enfin ses sujets.
À Rabat, Les Chérifs Alaouites au trône se sont enrichis au détriment des pauvres marocains á telle enseigne qu’en 1956, leur grand-père ne possédait aucune fortune notable. L'essentiel de cette immense fortune a été accumulé par Hassan II, en ponctionnant l’économie marocaine. En prenant des mitaines, elle est presque toute entière investie à l'étranger en déposant des milliards de dollars dans une vingtaine de banques française, américaine et suisse. Le commerce du haschisch des Chérifs, cultivé au Nord du pays, donnait des résultats qu´on leur envie : une vingtaine de palais, plusieurs milliers d’hectares de terres agricoles, le groupe ONA (Omnium nord-africain) avec forte présence dans tous les secteurs de l’économie… À l’étranger, plusieurs immeubles à Paris et à New York, de nombreux pied-à-terre luxueux aux États-Unis et en France, notamment le château d’Arminvilliers (Seine-et-Marne) deux cents pièces et quatre cents hectares de parc… .et l´eau va á la rivière.
Le sang bleu qui règne au Maroc depuis 1666, avec le couronnement de chaque nouveau Chérif, la prise du pouvoir s’accompagnait systématiquement du pillage des richesses des pauvres sujets marocains et de leur accumulation dans les entrepôts royaux. Etant l´enfant de la balle, aujourd´hui Le salaire du roi des pauvres est de 36 000 euros mensuels. Il faut cependant rester prudent, le reste est tabou sauf bien sûr les noces d´enterrer sa vie de garçon qui se sont déroulées en présence de 1.500 invités "intimes et amis des Chérifiens". Un défilé de 1.600 soumis habillés en tenue traditionnelles représentant les provinces du royaume. Des fantasias avec plus de 1.500 cavaliers et des orchestres animaient les rues de la capitale marocaine parée de drapeaux et de portraits du roi. Plus de 300 journalistes des médias nationaux et étrangers assuraient la couverture des festivités célébrant cet événement. Ces journalistes doivent ouvrir chaque journal télévisé sur les nouvelles des Chérifs.
En outre, dans cette vieille monarchie fondée il y a 12 siècle, le sang bleu au Maroc, assurait que la Royauté constitue le garant de l'unité du pays et de la liberté des citoyens. Le Roi du Maroc incarne à la fois une autorité spirituelle et temporelle: "Le Roi, Amir Al Mouminine, Représentant Suprême de la Nation, Symbole de son unité, Garant de la pérennité et de la continuité de l'Etat, veille au respect de l'Islam et de la Constitution. Il est le protecteur des droits et libertés des citoyens, groupes sociaux et collectivités. Il garantit l'Indépendance de la Nation et l'intégrité territoriale du Royaume dans ses frontières authentiques. Le Roi nomme le Premier Ministre. Sur proposition du Premier Ministre, Il nomme les autres membres du Gouvernement. Il préside le Conseil des Ministres, le Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature, le Conseil Supérieur de l'Enseignement et le Conseil Supérieur de la Promotion Nationale et du Plan. Il promulgue la loi, signe et ratifie les traités. Le Roi est le Chef Suprême des Forces Armées Royales. Il accrédite les Ambassadeurs auprès des puissances étrangères. Les Ambassadeurs et les Représentants des organismes internationaux sont accrédités auprès de Lui. Il déclare l'état d'exception. Il exerce le droit de grâce. Tout cela est hors de cause.
Dans un monde civilisé et émancipé, a coté du geste « baisemain » inconcevable, ridicule et dégradant, Les Chérifs se dressent sur leur ergots, obligent qu´on les appellent « sidi » et « Moulay », fasse avec un grain d´encens, de grands salamalecs et des courbettes aux simples fonctionnaires. La tradition incomprise au Maroc, c’est l’omniprésence des portraits de la famille des Chérifs. Les photos de Hassan II, Mohammed VI et des princesses sont accrochées dans tous les lieux publics, dans les maisons, dans les cafés, dans les gares et même dans les rues. Il n´est plus donc étrange leur lécher les bottes puisque se sont seuls les Chérifs qui portent les culottes.
Les Chérifs au sang bleu, se croient sortis de la cuisse de Jupiter, se drapent dans leurs dignité, commandeurs des croyants tuent, exécutent, torturent, kidnappent, violent, volent, induirent et tirent d´erreurs, enrichissent et rendent pauvre. Il ne reste que le Pardon divine, si un jour il le réclament, ce sera certainement par décret royal Chérifien.
Nafaa Mohamed Salem
Représentation du Front Polisario
Stockholm.
23/09/2005.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Demonstration in Stockholm:14/09/2005.
Jan Strömdahl:Chairman Western Sahara Association:
The aim of our gathering is a submission of our requests to support the Saharawi people in Western Sahara occupied by Morocco that is now subject to intimidation, terror and torture.
Veronica Palm: (Social Democrats):
The striking thing is the extreme heat and wind and absolute dependence on Humanitarian aid. Living in refugees camps that was supposed to be temporary, now thirty years have already elapsed, the Saharawi people struggled for freedom, 14 years among which without arms.
We request from Morocco to stop the occupation, immediate release of the Saharawi Political Detainees, cooperation and give the Saharwi people the right to self-determination and freedom in his own country.
Lotta Edström: (Green):
People thought the colonialism era has gone, that is not the case of Western Sahara. Our view is that Western Sahara is the last colony. The Swedish policy deteriorated regarding the question of Western Sahara. Spain and France put a heavy weight on the EU member sates and direct their policies on Western Sahara. We request that Leila goes back to the international legality and the UN resolutions and put things on trail again.
Fredrik Malm (Liberal Youth):
The question of Western Sahara is neglected; attention is paid to violent spots everywhere (Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan) on the detriment of the peaceful struggle of the people of Western Sahara. Western Sahara is under a siege and blackout. Spain has dishonored its engagements for fish agreements. Sweden should play a vital role in the EU to make a change.
Alice Åström (Left):
The Aim is freedom for the Saharawi people. The good will initiative by the Polisario to release the Moroccan Prisoners of War was faced by more Saharawis jailed by Morocco. The International Community must show seriousness and put pressure on Morocco to comply with its engagements. Sweden must act within the EU to stop the Fish Agreement with Morocco and increase the Humanitarian aid to the Saharawi people.
To the Moroccan embassy: leave Western Sahara. Respect the UN resolutions.
Birgitta Olson (Liberal):
We know the touristic picture of Morocco, but this also another picture of real Morocco (The photo of the tortured Aminatou Haidar). The media does not treat properly the Polisario Front Struggle peaceful means. The Swedish Political Parties gathering here are with different backgrounds but all agree on the just humanitarian cause.
Sonia Gardefjurd (Western Sahara Women Association):
In the name of the Swedish women: release the female prisoner: Aminatou Haidar and all her colleagues.
Résumé of the Appeal:
-Short Historical background.
- Curriculum vitae of Aminatou Haidar.
Requests:
- Release of Aminatou Haidar.
- Release of 150 Saharawis Prisoners of war.
- Uncover the fate of the disappeared people.
-Open the territory to the international observers and Independent media.
- Respect the International Law, Decolonization and Peace Plan.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Legal Issues
Facts:
Formerly Western Sahara was a colony of Spain. In 1975 the International Court of Justice ruled that the people of Western Sahara were entitled to self-determination including independence. That same year a UN mission determined that the people of Western Sahara were "categorically" for independence and opposed to the territorial claims on Morocco and Mauritania. But when Spain pulled out in 1976 it divided the territory between Morocco and Mauritania. Polisario, formed in 1973 to oppose Spanish colonialism, rejected this action and declared the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Much of the population of Western Sahara fled the territory to Polisario run refugee camps in Algeria.
Polisario, which had led an armed struggle Spain, turned its military efforts against Morocco and Mauritania. In July1978 there was a coup in Mauritania. Two days later Polisario declared a unilateral cease-fire with Mauritania. In 1979 Mauritania formally abandoned its claim to Western Sahara. Morocco immediately asserted a claim for the portion of Western Sahara previously claimed by Mauritania.
A United Nations General Assembly resolution in 1980 stated clearly that the issue of Western Sahara is one of self-determination. The resolution "Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence" and expresses "deep concern… at the aggravation of the situation prevailing in Western Sahara because of the continued occupation of that Territory by Morocco."
The question of Western Sahara was first on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in 1965, a time in which Morocco was an independent state. The argument for the liberation of the territory was based - as in so many analogous cases - on the UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960, the Declaration of the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The 1965 resolution set the tone of the many resolutions subsequently passed on the Sahara question, both by the UN General Assembly and by other international gatherings, especially the Non-Aligned Conference and the Organization of African Unity.
In 1966, The U.N. ratified the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. Morocco and Mauritania support the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence at meeting of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (June); the OAU Council of Ministers adopts its first resolution on Western Sahara, calling for the "freedom and independence" of Western Sahara (October-November); for the first time the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for self-determination to be exercised through a referendum.
In 1974 , December 13, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution (No. 3292) requesting "the International Court of Justice, without prejudice to the application of the principles embodied in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), to give an advisory opinion on the question of Western Sahara.
In 1975, A UN visiting mission tours the country, witnessing unprecedented pro-Polisario demonstrations (May 12-19) and later reporting that the overwhelming majority of Saharawis want independence and reject the territorial claims of Morocco and Mauritania. The Mission reported:
"It became evident to the Mission that there was an overwhelming consensus among Saharans within the Territory in favour of independence and opposing integration with any neighbouring country....The Mission believes, in the light of what it witnessed in the Territory, especially the mass demonstrations of support for one movement, the Frente Polisario..., that its visit served as a catalyst to bring into the open political forces and pressures which had previously been largely submerged. It was all the more significant to the Mission that this came as a surprise to the Spanish authorities who, until then, had only been partly aware of the profound political awakening of the population."
The ICJ holds its sessions in The Hague on the Western Sahara problem (June 25-July 30) and ruled that the people of Western Sahara were entitled to self-determination including independence, (October 16). The court ruled “the Court's conclusion is that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco or the Mauritanian entity. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara and, in particular, of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory”.
The UN Security Council meets and asks Kurt Waldheim to consult all interested parties (October 20 and 22) he visits Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria, discussing the possibility of transferring administration of Western Sahara temporarily to the UN (October 25-28).
Negotiations open in Madrid between Spanish, Moroccan and Mauritanian officials (Nov. 12), culminating in the signing of Madrid Agreement (Nov. 14).
The UN General Assembly adopts two resolutions advocating UN involvement in an act of self-determination (December 10)
In 1982, OAU admits SADR as a full-fledged member and in 1984 the OAU adopts resolution of AHG104 that will be the base of UN Peace Plan calling for self-determination for the Saharawi people.
In 1988 Morocco and Polisario accept UN peace plan for which in 1990 the UN Security Council resolutions 158/90 and 160/90 contain the Settlement Plan for Western Sahara, and referendum set for Jan 1992 and in 1991 Ceasefire begins, monitored by the UN but in direct violation, Morocco sends thousands of settlers to the territory and attempts to block the referendum process by forcing the UN to accept them as voters.
1992 Referendum delayed following disputes about who is eligible to vote.
1994 Start of identification of voters, a process later stopped by Morocco
1996 UN suspends registration of voters blaming Morocco for problems.
1997 Deadlock broken following talks in Houston (Houston Agreement) chaired by James Baker, former US Secretary of State.
1998 Referendum set for 7 December. Suspended after further disagreements.
1999 First voting lists published (more than 86 000 voters) and in December - referendum on independence or integration into Morocco?
2000 Failure of negotiations between Polisario Front and Morocco in London and Berlin.
2001 Tension mounting in region. Referendum has been delayed 12 times and in 2003 Morocco rejected the last possible chance for a just solution when refusing the James Baker Plan II that offers autonomy for years followed by a referendum.
Besides the obstacles put by Morocco in front of the organization of a fair and just Referendum, it engaged itself into illegal exploitation of the Natural Resources of Western Sahara, the UN made it clear in this regard:
“The foregoing legal principles established in the practice of States and the United Nations pertain to economic activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories, in general, and mineral resource exploitation, in particular. It must be recognized, however, that in the present case, the contracts for oil reconnaissance and evaluation do not entail exploitation or the physical removal of the mineral resources, and no benefits have as of yet accrued. The conclusion is, therefore, that, while the specific contracts which are the subject of the Security Council's request are not in themselves illegal, if further exploration and exploitation activities were to proceed in disregard of the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara, they would be in violation of the international law principles applicable to mineral resource activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories”.
Hans Corell, Under-Secretary for legal Affairs, The Legal Counsel.
Formerly Western Sahara was a colony of Spain. In 1975 the International Court of Justice ruled that the people of Western Sahara were entitled to self-determination including independence. That same year a UN mission determined that the people of Western Sahara were "categorically" for independence and opposed to the territorial claims on Morocco and Mauritania. But when Spain pulled out in 1976 it divided the territory between Morocco and Mauritania. Polisario, formed in 1973 to oppose Spanish colonialism, rejected this action and declared the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Much of the population of Western Sahara fled the territory to Polisario run refugee camps in Algeria.
Polisario, which had led an armed struggle Spain, turned its military efforts against Morocco and Mauritania. In July1978 there was a coup in Mauritania. Two days later Polisario declared a unilateral cease-fire with Mauritania. In 1979 Mauritania formally abandoned its claim to Western Sahara. Morocco immediately asserted a claim for the portion of Western Sahara previously claimed by Mauritania.
A United Nations General Assembly resolution in 1980 stated clearly that the issue of Western Sahara is one of self-determination. The resolution "Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence" and expresses "deep concern… at the aggravation of the situation prevailing in Western Sahara because of the continued occupation of that Territory by Morocco."
The question of Western Sahara was first on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in 1965, a time in which Morocco was an independent state. The argument for the liberation of the territory was based - as in so many analogous cases - on the UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960, the Declaration of the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The 1965 resolution set the tone of the many resolutions subsequently passed on the Sahara question, both by the UN General Assembly and by other international gatherings, especially the Non-Aligned Conference and the Organization of African Unity.
In 1966, The U.N. ratified the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. Morocco and Mauritania support the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence at meeting of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (June); the OAU Council of Ministers adopts its first resolution on Western Sahara, calling for the "freedom and independence" of Western Sahara (October-November); for the first time the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for self-determination to be exercised through a referendum.
In 1974 , December 13, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution (No. 3292) requesting "the International Court of Justice, without prejudice to the application of the principles embodied in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), to give an advisory opinion on the question of Western Sahara.
In 1975, A UN visiting mission tours the country, witnessing unprecedented pro-Polisario demonstrations (May 12-19) and later reporting that the overwhelming majority of Saharawis want independence and reject the territorial claims of Morocco and Mauritania. The Mission reported:
"It became evident to the Mission that there was an overwhelming consensus among Saharans within the Territory in favour of independence and opposing integration with any neighbouring country....The Mission believes, in the light of what it witnessed in the Territory, especially the mass demonstrations of support for one movement, the Frente Polisario..., that its visit served as a catalyst to bring into the open political forces and pressures which had previously been largely submerged. It was all the more significant to the Mission that this came as a surprise to the Spanish authorities who, until then, had only been partly aware of the profound political awakening of the population."
The ICJ holds its sessions in The Hague on the Western Sahara problem (June 25-July 30) and ruled that the people of Western Sahara were entitled to self-determination including independence, (October 16). The court ruled “the Court's conclusion is that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco or the Mauritanian entity. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara and, in particular, of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory”.
The UN Security Council meets and asks Kurt Waldheim to consult all interested parties (October 20 and 22) he visits Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria, discussing the possibility of transferring administration of Western Sahara temporarily to the UN (October 25-28).
Negotiations open in Madrid between Spanish, Moroccan and Mauritanian officials (Nov. 12), culminating in the signing of Madrid Agreement (Nov. 14).
The UN General Assembly adopts two resolutions advocating UN involvement in an act of self-determination (December 10)
In 1982, OAU admits SADR as a full-fledged member and in 1984 the OAU adopts resolution of AHG104 that will be the base of UN Peace Plan calling for self-determination for the Saharawi people.
In 1988 Morocco and Polisario accept UN peace plan for which in 1990 the UN Security Council resolutions 158/90 and 160/90 contain the Settlement Plan for Western Sahara, and referendum set for Jan 1992 and in 1991 Ceasefire begins, monitored by the UN but in direct violation, Morocco sends thousands of settlers to the territory and attempts to block the referendum process by forcing the UN to accept them as voters.
1992 Referendum delayed following disputes about who is eligible to vote.
1994 Start of identification of voters, a process later stopped by Morocco
1996 UN suspends registration of voters blaming Morocco for problems.
1997 Deadlock broken following talks in Houston (Houston Agreement) chaired by James Baker, former US Secretary of State.
1998 Referendum set for 7 December. Suspended after further disagreements.
1999 First voting lists published (more than 86 000 voters) and in December - referendum on independence or integration into Morocco?
2000 Failure of negotiations between Polisario Front and Morocco in London and Berlin.
2001 Tension mounting in region. Referendum has been delayed 12 times and in 2003 Morocco rejected the last possible chance for a just solution when refusing the James Baker Plan II that offers autonomy for years followed by a referendum.
Besides the obstacles put by Morocco in front of the organization of a fair and just Referendum, it engaged itself into illegal exploitation of the Natural Resources of Western Sahara, the UN made it clear in this regard:
“The foregoing legal principles established in the practice of States and the United Nations pertain to economic activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories, in general, and mineral resource exploitation, in particular. It must be recognized, however, that in the present case, the contracts for oil reconnaissance and evaluation do not entail exploitation or the physical removal of the mineral resources, and no benefits have as of yet accrued. The conclusion is, therefore, that, while the specific contracts which are the subject of the Security Council's request are not in themselves illegal, if further exploration and exploitation activities were to proceed in disregard of the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara, they would be in violation of the international law principles applicable to mineral resource activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories”.
Hans Corell, Under-Secretary for legal Affairs, The Legal Counsel.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Briefing of the latest developments in the Question of Western Sahara.
Briefing of the latest developments in the Question of Western Sahara.
1. Independence and Self-determination Uprising:
Since the 20 May 2005 "Intifada" in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara, hundreds Saharawi protesters were injured by Moroccan security forces, a new report documents. In addition, many others were tortured while in Moroccan detention and more than 20 families saw their homes ruined.
The uprising started by a group of Saharawis taking into the streets calling for an end to the Moroccan occupation and chanting pro-Polisario slogans. Met with riot police and armed troops, the protests spread to other Sahrawi towns and to several universities in Morocco.
The most prominent human rights activists in occupied Western Sahara were brutally repressed by armed Moroccan security forces. While protesters were beaten and injured in the streets of El Aaiun (Capital of Western Sahara) and other Sahrawi and Moroccan towns, Most were injured during a police attack on a peaceful sit-in organised by human rights activists on 25 May. Those detained were consequently "savagely tortured".
Further 93 "kidnapped" persons, who were detained for hours or days by Moroccan security forces. Several Moroccan torturers, including high-ranking officers of the civilian and military occupation administration are directly supervising these atrocities. Torture methods had included beating with truncheons on sexual organs, tying up and hanging prisoners by their arms and legs with the stomach down - soldiers would then "beat the prisoner and stand for seconds on his back" - using electricity and the beating of a pregnant women on the stomach. Many of those were Sahrawi students in the Moroccan cities of Rabat, Marrakech and Agadir, while others were demonstrators in the capital of Western Sahara, El Aaiun and torture is systematically used by Moroccan security forces, in particular in the occupied territory, no methods were left out to repress the "Intifada" since then.
Most of the Saharawis are held in the infamous "Black Jail" in El Aaiun, known for its terrible record of torture. The detainees - most already have sustained severe injuries due to weeks of torture.
Further victims of the Moroccan repression of the "Intifada" include a large number of families in Western Sahara and students in Morocco that have seen their homes broken into and mostly destroyed. 17 homes were smashed in El Aaiun; some were punished for providing medical aid to injured Sahrawis. At the university campuses in Marrakech, Rabat and Agadir (Morocco), tens of Sahrawi students saw their rooms demolished and belongings removed.
1.2. Echos:
The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, asked the President of the UN Security Council, H.E. Ellen Margrethe Loj, to protect Saharawi civil population against the violations perpetrated by Moroccan authorities against them in El Aaiun this week.
Here is the complete text of the letter.
"
Her Excellency Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj,
President of the Security Council
United Nations
New York
Bir Lehlu, 26 May 2005
Excellency,
The question of Western Sahara has been, since the sixties, on the agenda of the United Nations as a question of decolonisation. All resolutions adopted successively by the General Assembly and the Security Council regarding Western Sahara, including the latest one approved on 28 April 2005, called for its resolution on this basis through the exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. However, all the tremendous efforts, which the international community has deployed to this end during all those years, have been frustrated by the Moroccan intransigent position, which was blatantly made clear in April 2004.
Besides its obstruction of the implementation of the UN-OAU Settlement Plan, which it had formally concluded with the Frente POLISARIO being the other party to the conflict, Morocco has not only rejected the Peace plan for Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara” (Baker’s Plan) that was a result of remarkable efforts by the international community and which was unanimously endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1495 (July 2003), but has also declared its rejection of any solution that would not ensure its “sovereignty” over the territory of Western Sahara, which it occupied militarily and illegally on 31 October 1975. By opting for intransigence and defiance, Morocco has clearly shown its disregard for the principle of self-determination and hence for all UN principles and conventions.
More seriously, if left undeterred, this dangerous position of Morocco will inevitably jeopardise peace and stability of the entire region, which makes it imperative for the Untied Nations, whose mission (MINURSO) is already on the ground, to assume fully its responsibilities in brining about the decolonisation of Western Sahara.
I am addressing to you this letter to draw your attention to the alarming situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara where Moroccan forces continue to date its brutal repression of Saharawi civilians who, in peaceful demonstrations, have taken to the streets to demand the respect for human rights, for the Security Council resolutions regarding Western Sahara and particularly for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
Excellency,
On 21 May 2005, the Saharawi prisoner of conscience, Ahmed Mahmoud Hadi, known as Kainan, was transferred against his will by the Moroccan occupying authorities from the “Dark Prison” in the occupied El Aaiun to the prison of Ait Melloul, south of Agadir in the Moroccan Kingdom. According to many sources, the transfer, of which the family of the prisoner was not notified, took place under degrading conditions where the prisoner was ill-treated and savagely tortured and even forcibly anesthetised in the process.
In response to this unjust situation, Kainan’s family, together with a group of Saharawi human rights activists, staged a sit-in in front of the “Dark Prison” to protest against the inhuman treatment to which he was subjected and against his transfer into Morocco, which was conducted as part of a Moroccan systematic policy aimed at emptying the Territory of its active forces. The protestors also demanded that Kainan be returned immediately to his initial place of imprisonment where his family could have access to him.
At noon, on 22 May 2005, the protestors were, without warning, attacked by units of Moroccan intervention forces and police that instantly began beating them with truncheons and brutalising them, while causing numerous casualties among the protestors of whom many had to be hospitalised.
Excellency,
Nor sooner had the Moroccan occupying authorities repressed the protestors than they mobilised more of their security corps that were given orders to place under siege all Saharawi neighbourhoods in El Aaiun such as Maatala quarter, Zemla quarter, Smara street and the boulevards of Tan Tan, Ras-el-Khaima, Skeikima, Boukraa, Smara as well as Sheila camp, among others.
On 24 and 25 May 2005, in order to suppress and contain the Saharawi population in those areas who only were demonstrating peacefully in order to exercise their legitimate rights to free expression and movement, the Moroccan occupying forces intensified their repressive and brutal practices including not only beating with truncheons and using tear gas but also violating the sanctity of Saharawi houses, confiscating belongings, assaulting women and children as well as arresting and kidnapping in addition to torture. All these repressive measures have already caused many casualties among Saharawi civilians of whom some are still in serious conditions.
As the Saharawi civilians cannot, under whatever circumstances, be deprived of their right to demonstrate and express their opinions peacefully, we energetically denounce this brutal repression to which many of our citizens in the occupied El Aaiun have been subjected as was the case of Ihssan Fadeli El-Bar, known as Temim.
The Moroccan campaign of repression has already caused many casualties among not only the Saharawi civilians who were demonstrating and protesting peacefully but also many others who did not take part in the demonstrations.
Excellency,
The Saharawi civilians who organised those peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins were fully acting in line with their legitimate demands as provided for in international conventions. What they were demanding was the release of all Saharawi prisoners of conscience and the accounting for all those who have disappeared as well as the recovering of the remains of those who have already perished in detention; the respect for their fundamental rights to the freedom of expression and the freedom of movement as enshrined in international conventions; and, in particular, the exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence through the holding of a free and fair referendum whereby the Saharawi people can choose their future in a free, democratic and transparent manner and in accordance with the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
We are firmly confident that, despite the oppressive practices pursued by the occupying Moroccan authorities, our citizens in the occupied territories will remain steadfastly attached to their inalienable right to assert their national rights. As they were peacefully demonstrating and fully acting in accordance with the dictates of international legality, the oppressive campaign, which is being conducted by the Moroccan occupying forces under the eye of MINURSO, is an extremely serious matter that necessitates your immediate intervention as to providing the UN mission with the necessary mandate in order to protect the lives of the Saharawi citizens, to ensure their safety and to provide them with the basic conditions for expressing their opinions and political convictions in a peaceful and democratic way.
We avail ourselves of this opportunity to urgently call upon you to ensure that the Security Council intervenes immediately in order to protect the Saharawi citizens in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in general and in El Aaiun in particular. According to the latest information, the situation in those territories is deteriorating dramatically and may lead to further tension owing to the persistence of the Moroccan occupying forces in their campaign of oppression and terror against the Saharawi civilians who remain attached to their legitimate rights to demonstrate and express their opinions peacefully.
Whilst facing the Moroccan terrorist and oppressive apparatus, the Saharawi civilians have great faith and hope that the Untied Nations will assume its full responsibilities as to providing them with protection pending the completion of the decolonisation process. They also remain hopeful that the Untied Nations will exert all necessary pressure on the Moroccan Government in order to abide by international legality and allow the Saharawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, so that genuine peace and stability may be restored in the Maghreb and the entire region of North Africa.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Mohamed Abdelaziz,
President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic,
Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO.
Speech delivered to Congress by Rep. Judge Poe of Texas:
Recently, Moroccan police and security forces have arrested and tortured peaceful protestors. For example, as recently as July 20th, reports indicate that Moroccan security forces abducted five human rights activists (Mohamed Elmoutaoikil, Noumria Brahim, Elhoucine Lidri, Larbi Massaoud, and Gaoudi Fdaili). According to the reports, all five of these people suffered psychological torture for long hours, humiliation, and threats of rape. Unfortunately, this was all done due to their opinion concerning the status of Western Sahara.
After this incident, reports indicate that both Noumria Brahim and Lhoucine Lidri were subjected to further torture (including being burned, handcuffed and blindfolded, and being brutally beaten). The Moroccan officials that perpetrated these horrendous acts of torture are reported to be the Wali of Security in El Ayun, Brahim Bensami, and the Urban Security Group Chief Officer, Ichi Abou Hassan, and Abdelhap Rabii, a security officer. When these torturers were finished, they locked their victims in the Black Jail in El Ayun on July 23rd, 2005. Reports indicate they are still being held captive.
Such acts of violence and abuse against peaceful protestors and human rights activists have escalated in the last few weeks in Morocco. Other reports indicate that on, July 21, 2005, a group of six Saharawi political prisoners who were arrested during a protest in El Ayun, were presented to the court of appeal in El Ayun. The report reveals the group was tried in a show trial on June 23, 2005. They were sentenced to up to five years imprisonment-one of the victims of this injustice is human right activist, Bougarfa Abderrahmane. Mr. Abderrahmane is 53 years old and a father to ten children. The others were sentenced to three years in prison ( Hamma Achrih, Chyahou Brahim )and two years in prison (Mohamed Salem Essallami, Azlai Abdellah).
Sources say the Court of Appeal in El Ayun was firmly controlled by the Moroccan security forces while the trial was taking place. Some Saharawi citizens were forbidden to enter the court room. In addition, a French journalist, Agata André, from the newspaper, Charle Hebdo, who came to El Ayun to attend the trial of these political prisoners was put in a separate room until the Saharawi political prisoners' trial was over.
Furthermore, it is reported that the families of the five activists arrested were banned from bringing food to their relatives as well as from seeing them. No telephone contact with them is possible. Unfortunately, these reports of torture and injustice are commonplace for the Saharawi people who are denied equal rights under the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
On one of Secretary Condoleezza Rice's trips overseas, Secretary Rice delivered a strong message to the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, concerning the lack of civil liberties in the kingdom of Morocco. The Spanish newspaper, La Razon, reported on June 30th that Ms. Rice expressed her concerns regarding the Moroccan regime's continuous violations of freedom of press and of expression.
Amidst recent reports of escalating repression by
Morocco's intelligence and security services against dissenting voices, and the repression perpetrated against Saharawis, Ms. Rice is reportedly urged the King to bring an end to the repression and allow progressive voices to be heard.
Other countries have expressed similar concerns about Morocco's human rights record regarding the Saharawis. Earlier this month in Spain, Spanish news sources reported that a Spanish delegation, composed of parliamentarians and representatives of the civil society of Aragon, was not allowed by Moroccan authorities to visit the occupied capital of Western Sahara, El Aaiun. The delegation planned to investigate allegations of human rights abuses by Moroccan forces. One of the delegates was quoted as saying Morocco's denial of the visit was absolutely unacceptable.
Morocco has been occupying Western Sahara for decades. The United Nations Security Council has continued to uphold the right of Western Sahara to self-determination. On April 29th, 2004, the Security Council adopted Resolution No. 1541 which reaffirmed support for the Peace Plan for Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara devised by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy, James Baker. Two years prior, the Security Council upheld the right to self-determination in a meeting to discuss the conflict over Western Sahara. In this 2002 meeting, the Security Council rejected other proposed options and clearly stated that the only viable resolution to this conflict must be based on the Saharawi people's right to self-determination.
There is a long history of international consensus that supports Western Sahara's right to self-determination. The International Court of Justice, issued on October 16, 1975 the following decision concerning the conflict over Western Sahara, "The Court's conclusion is that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco or the Mauritanian entity. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara, and in particular, of the principle of the self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the territory."
I agree with many of my colleagues that Morocco is an important partner to the United States in our War on Terror and in international trade. However, the examples of human rights abuses that Moroccan officials have exhibited against the Saharawi people and the peaceful protestors is not the type of behaviour we expect from our friends.
A conclusion for the conflict over Western Sahara is long overdue. Both sides of the conflict need to come together and implement the Settlement Plan elaborated by Secretary James Baker. A great step towards a peaceful resolution would be for Morocco to release all their political prisoners, including Mr. Tamek and Mrs. Haidar, to stop detaining and torturing peaceful protestors and human rights activists, and to allow freedom of thought and expression both in Morocco and in occupied Western Sahara.
Letter of 104 European Parlament members to Kofi Annan
Mister Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations,
New York Brussels, 23rd June 2005
Subject: Violations of Human Rights in Western Sahara
Mister Secretary General,
We are writing to you in relation to the very serious situation that is currently developing in the territory of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation.
Since 21 May 2005, peaceful demonstrations have taken place in Western Sahara calling for the implementation of UN resolutions as the sole solution to a conflict that has lasted for almost 30 years.
The Moroccan authorities have responded to these peaceful demonstrations with brutal repression, thus violating the most fundamental principles of the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression.
Up until now, the number of victims is of more than 300 wounded, some of them suffering from very serious injuries, struggling to stay alive and being denied any medical assistance in hospital, 85 imprisoned, and more than 30 people missing. In addition, entire families are being harassed in their own homes. What is more, the territory is completely sealed off to the media and at least three delegations of parliamentarians and other personalities, especially coming from Spain, have not been allowed to enter the land to see for themselves the gravity of the current situation.
We firmly believe that this situation must be dealt with urgently by deploying all the political tools required. Let us not forget that this is a latent conflict, in which the UN is struggling to maintain a very fragile ceasefire.
Therefore, we call on the UN:
1. To put pressure on Morocco so that it immediately stops the repression of civilians.
2. To make sure that the national and international media can enter the territory and do their job without any kind of impediments.
3. To set up an international inquiry commission to investigate these events.
4. To send permanent international observers and human rights organizations in the aim of protecting the Saharawi civil population that is constantly being harassed by the Moroccan army, police and rapid intervention forces.
Mister Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations,
New York Brussels, 23rd June 2005
2.EU-Morocco Fishery Agreement:
Against the international Law related to the Exploitation of the natural resources of the Non-self-governing territories the EU illegally signed a fishery Agreements with Morocco that includes the waters of Western Sahara recognized internationally as non-autonomous territory.
2.1.Reaction:
The Polisario Front sent a letter to the European Commissioner:
Brussels, 18th May 2005
H.E. M. Joseph Borg
Commissioner
Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
European Commission
Dear Mr Borg,
I would like to express, as the European Representative for Europe of the Frente POLISARIO, our great concern for greater transparency and respect for International Law of the European Commission in its current negotiations with the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of Fisheries Policy.
As you know, following the United Nations doctrine in the case, the Western Sahara is a Non-Self Governing territory, pending on a decolonisation process under the monitoring of the United Nations through its Mission on the field MINURSO (French acronym for “Mission des Nations Unies pour le Referendum au Sahara Occidental”).
The European Commission has launched recently a new negotiations process with the Kingdom of Morocco in the Fisheries sector. As you know, Morocco’s key tactic to illegally maintain its occupation in Western Sahara is to include the Western Sahara waters within its “fishing areas under Moroccan control” in order to involve European interests in its military illegal occupation and the permanent violation of International Law. As you also know, following the International paramount treaty in this matter, the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, of which Morocco is Part), and the January 2002 Legal opinion of the United Nations Under-secretary for Legal Issues, on the status of Western Sahara natural resources, Morocco could not extend or claim since February 1976 any jurisdiction over the entire waters of the Western Sahara.
Taking account the illegal or “technical” precedents that marked the European Commission Fisheries agreements with Morocco in the 80s and 90s, we would strongly urge the European Commission to fully respect the internationally recognised border between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Western Sahara, that it’s the 27º 40’ parallel -as clearly mentioned in the United Nations doctrine and practice- and use all the European political leverage to preserve the Western Sahara waters and its 1000 coastline from any kind of agreement involving European fleets that would further deplete its critical fisheries biomass.
In this line, the European Commission should, at least be coherent with the international legality and finally take an example from the crystal clear position of the United States government (statement annexed) where its Representative for Trade, Mr Robert ZOELLICK stated on July 2004 that the United States clearly recognised the international borders of Morocco and Western Sahara in the framework of its Free-trade Agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco.
I note in your speech to the EC Maritime Law Course of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI, Malta, 4 April 2005) that you state: “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, (…) is considered today to be a universal instrument of international law. It is the main framework for the management of ocean affairs around the globe, built on the principle that: “all the problems of ocean space are closely inter-related and need to be considered as a whole”.
I would urge you to make sure that this great and constructive will of the European Commission comes soon with clear and enforceable rules regarding the current Western Sahara International Law status as a Non-Self Governing Territory.
Yours sincerely,
Mohamed SIDATI
Minister Delegate for Europe
Member of the National Secretariat of the POLISARIO Front
3. Release of the Moroccan POWs:
The Polisario Front decided unilaterally to set free the remaining 404 Moroccan POWS captured during the war (1975-1991) in a good will gesture to boost the peace plan in Western Sahara and to put an end to the current its deadlock.
Statement of release:
We would like to inform you that the Polisario Front has decided to liberate on 18 August, the last Moroccan prisoners of war. These officers, sub-officers and soldiers were captured in the course of fighting which set the forces of the Army of Saharawi Popular Liberation against the forces of the Moroccan army.
The Polisario Front which in the past proceeded to the unilateral release of several groups of Moroccan prisoners of war in gestures of good will, intends with this latest initiative, to finish and complete the operation of final liberation of all Moroccan prisoners of war.
This decision has been undertaken as a response to requests, as the Polisario Front has always been sensitive to appeals coming from all those who are working for the triumph of the national rights of the Saharawi people.
It also comes at a moment when the United Nations Secretary General has just appointed a new Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, and this will contribute, we hope, to generate a climate which will favour a dynamic for peace, which we would like to believe will be irreversible.
This decision which must be described as generous, expresses the magnanimity of the Saharawi people; but is taken with immense difficulty, at a time when Morocco dressed in the rags of its political blindness, is hounding unrelentingly a whole people and their rights. This decision is the harder to take, in that Morocco has instituted a reign of terror and the arbitrary against Saharawi populations in the territories of Western Sahara, which it occupies illegally.
The Polisario Front, adopting this courageous decision while the conflict is still unconcluded, also makes a challenge to Morocco to liberate the Saharawi prisoners of war (over 150 combatants), whose existence it still denies, and to shed light on the fate of over 500 Saharawis which it is caused to disappear since the beginning of this conflict.
If the Polisario Front shows itself respectful of international humanitarian law in releasing the last Moroccan prisoners of war, the same cannot be said for Morocco, which tramples underfoot the international conventions to which it is a signatory and shows intransigence and contempt towards the international community's efforts for peace.
As a result of this gesture, the Polisario Front has no further debts to anyone, there are no possible reproaches to be made. We hope thus to contribute to the reduction of the suffering of the Saharawi people in the territories occupied by Morocco as well as contributing towards a just and lasting resolution of the conflict through the exercise by the Saharawi people of its legitimate right to self-determination.
Brussels, 17.08.05
Mohamed SIDATI
3.1. Echos:
Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by the Frente POLISARIO to release all remaining 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, who are being repatriated today to the Kingdom of Morocco by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He expresses his appreciation to all parties involved, in particular the ICRC and United States Senator Richard Lugar.
The Secretary-General considers the release a positive step, and expresses his hope that it will serve to foster better relations between the parties and contribute to overcoming the present political impasse.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Kingdom of Morocco, and on the Frente POLISARIO to continue cooperating with the ICRC to account for those who are still missing.
Sweden:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Freivalds welcomes Polisario's decision to release all Moroccan war prisoners
"It is very pleasing that Polisario has decided to release all Moroccan prisoners of war," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Laila Freivalds.
"I presume the parties are taking advantage of the improved conditions that have now been created to break the deadlock that the conflict has reached. In the peace process that we hope can recommence, the UN and Secretary-General's Personal Envoy play a central role. Sweden is prepared to give the Envoy all the support necessary to ensure that the Saharan people's right to self-determination can be realised
War on Want:
War on Want welcomes the Polisario Front’s release today of all remaining Moroccan prisoners of war. The freeing of the prisoners leaves the ball firmly in Morocco’s court to agree to a peace plan which will allow Saharawi self-determination over Western Sahara.
US-Western Sahara Foundation:
The US-Western Sahara Foundation welcomed the imminent release of Moroccan POWs by the Polisario, but simultaneously called for Morocco to reciprocate by releasing the 151 Sahrawis it has held during the same period, as well as the 1,700 political prisoners that have been seized in occupied Western Sahara.
"Just recently in May, Morocco violently crushed a peaceful demonstration for self-determination in occupied Western Sahara by rounding up hundreds of Sahrawis, breaking into homes and beating men, women and children," explained US Western Sahara Foundation Chairman Suzanne Scholte. Today, five Sahrawis remain in prison: Noumria Brahim, Lidri El Houssein, El Arbi Messaoud , Moutawakil Mohamed and Ali Salem Tamek and they have now have joined the list of 1,700 who have disappeared during Morocco's brutal occupation of Western Sahara which began when it invaded the country in 1975.
"While the Polisario have accounted for every single POW they have held and allowed regular visits by the International Red Cross, the Moroccans continue to deny access to the Sahrawis that are held in Morocco's infamous jails, as well as deny access by the international community to the occupied territory," said Carlos Wilson, Executive Director of the USWSF. "Moroccan-Occupied Western Sahara is essentially shut off from the rest of the world."
Several planeloads of parliamentarians from Spain and Europe, who recently traveled to the occupied territory to investigate Morocco's abuses against the Sahrawis, were forced to turn back when Moroccan authorities would not allow them to deplane. During the same period, journalists from Spain and Norway were deported for trying to report about the issue.
The Polisario has done the right thing by releasing these POWs and reuniting them with their families," said Scholte. "It is time for Morocco to do the same: release the Sahrawis and end its brutal occupation of Western Sahara, so that the Sahrawi families can be reunited as well."
The AU:
Addis Abeba, 22/08/2005 (SPS) African Union Commission (UA), which hailed the release by Polisario Front last Thursday of the last 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, called Morocco to "reciprocate concerning the Saharawi ‘disappeareds’ and prisoners", exhorting the international community to "seize" this positive initiative to resolve the problem of Western Sahara conforming to the international legality, reported Algerian Press Service, APS, on Monday.
The release of Moroccan prisoners of war constitutes "an humanitarian initiative that should help the two parties, to the conflict on the territory of Western Sahara (Morocco and Polisario Front), recover confidence in each other", the AU’s Commission indicated.
Morocco and the international community must then seize this generous Saharawi initiative to resolve the Western Sahara conflict and start "reciprocating" by releasing more than 30 Saharawi political prisoners, some 150 Saharawi prisoners of war and more than 500 civilian ‘disappeareds’ since the starting of the Moroccan invasion of the territory in 1975.
The commission hoped that "the international community exploits the present action of prisoners release to encourage the two parties to the conflict to more efforts aimed at facilitating the search of definitive solution to the conflict".
The settlement of Western Sahara’s conflict must be "conform to the UN’s resolution, especially the resolution 1495; which is unanimously adopted by the Security Council", the AU’s Commission affirmed.
France:
Paris, 19/08/2005 (SPS) Paris "is happy with the positive gesture" undertaken by Polisario Front, who released the last Moroccan prisoners of war on Thursday, indicated The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Friday, reported Algerian Press Agency, APS.
France, who "hails the release of the 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, Polisario Front detained", is "happy with this positive gesture undertaken with the intermediation of the USA in accordance with the ICRC", the Quai d'Orsay’s Spokesperson said.
On another hand, he indicated that "France recalls her constant support to the search of a political solution" to the question of Western Sahara, "within the framework of the UN", the same source said.
1. Independence and Self-determination Uprising:
Since the 20 May 2005 "Intifada" in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara, hundreds Saharawi protesters were injured by Moroccan security forces, a new report documents. In addition, many others were tortured while in Moroccan detention and more than 20 families saw their homes ruined.
The uprising started by a group of Saharawis taking into the streets calling for an end to the Moroccan occupation and chanting pro-Polisario slogans. Met with riot police and armed troops, the protests spread to other Sahrawi towns and to several universities in Morocco.
The most prominent human rights activists in occupied Western Sahara were brutally repressed by armed Moroccan security forces. While protesters were beaten and injured in the streets of El Aaiun (Capital of Western Sahara) and other Sahrawi and Moroccan towns, Most were injured during a police attack on a peaceful sit-in organised by human rights activists on 25 May. Those detained were consequently "savagely tortured".
Further 93 "kidnapped" persons, who were detained for hours or days by Moroccan security forces. Several Moroccan torturers, including high-ranking officers of the civilian and military occupation administration are directly supervising these atrocities. Torture methods had included beating with truncheons on sexual organs, tying up and hanging prisoners by their arms and legs with the stomach down - soldiers would then "beat the prisoner and stand for seconds on his back" - using electricity and the beating of a pregnant women on the stomach. Many of those were Sahrawi students in the Moroccan cities of Rabat, Marrakech and Agadir, while others were demonstrators in the capital of Western Sahara, El Aaiun and torture is systematically used by Moroccan security forces, in particular in the occupied territory, no methods were left out to repress the "Intifada" since then.
Most of the Saharawis are held in the infamous "Black Jail" in El Aaiun, known for its terrible record of torture. The detainees - most already have sustained severe injuries due to weeks of torture.
Further victims of the Moroccan repression of the "Intifada" include a large number of families in Western Sahara and students in Morocco that have seen their homes broken into and mostly destroyed. 17 homes were smashed in El Aaiun; some were punished for providing medical aid to injured Sahrawis. At the university campuses in Marrakech, Rabat and Agadir (Morocco), tens of Sahrawi students saw their rooms demolished and belongings removed.
1.2. Echos:
The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, asked the President of the UN Security Council, H.E. Ellen Margrethe Loj, to protect Saharawi civil population against the violations perpetrated by Moroccan authorities against them in El Aaiun this week.
Here is the complete text of the letter.
"
Her Excellency Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj,
President of the Security Council
United Nations
New York
Bir Lehlu, 26 May 2005
Excellency,
The question of Western Sahara has been, since the sixties, on the agenda of the United Nations as a question of decolonisation. All resolutions adopted successively by the General Assembly and the Security Council regarding Western Sahara, including the latest one approved on 28 April 2005, called for its resolution on this basis through the exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. However, all the tremendous efforts, which the international community has deployed to this end during all those years, have been frustrated by the Moroccan intransigent position, which was blatantly made clear in April 2004.
Besides its obstruction of the implementation of the UN-OAU Settlement Plan, which it had formally concluded with the Frente POLISARIO being the other party to the conflict, Morocco has not only rejected the Peace plan for Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara” (Baker’s Plan) that was a result of remarkable efforts by the international community and which was unanimously endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1495 (July 2003), but has also declared its rejection of any solution that would not ensure its “sovereignty” over the territory of Western Sahara, which it occupied militarily and illegally on 31 October 1975. By opting for intransigence and defiance, Morocco has clearly shown its disregard for the principle of self-determination and hence for all UN principles and conventions.
More seriously, if left undeterred, this dangerous position of Morocco will inevitably jeopardise peace and stability of the entire region, which makes it imperative for the Untied Nations, whose mission (MINURSO) is already on the ground, to assume fully its responsibilities in brining about the decolonisation of Western Sahara.
I am addressing to you this letter to draw your attention to the alarming situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara where Moroccan forces continue to date its brutal repression of Saharawi civilians who, in peaceful demonstrations, have taken to the streets to demand the respect for human rights, for the Security Council resolutions regarding Western Sahara and particularly for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
Excellency,
On 21 May 2005, the Saharawi prisoner of conscience, Ahmed Mahmoud Hadi, known as Kainan, was transferred against his will by the Moroccan occupying authorities from the “Dark Prison” in the occupied El Aaiun to the prison of Ait Melloul, south of Agadir in the Moroccan Kingdom. According to many sources, the transfer, of which the family of the prisoner was not notified, took place under degrading conditions where the prisoner was ill-treated and savagely tortured and even forcibly anesthetised in the process.
In response to this unjust situation, Kainan’s family, together with a group of Saharawi human rights activists, staged a sit-in in front of the “Dark Prison” to protest against the inhuman treatment to which he was subjected and against his transfer into Morocco, which was conducted as part of a Moroccan systematic policy aimed at emptying the Territory of its active forces. The protestors also demanded that Kainan be returned immediately to his initial place of imprisonment where his family could have access to him.
At noon, on 22 May 2005, the protestors were, without warning, attacked by units of Moroccan intervention forces and police that instantly began beating them with truncheons and brutalising them, while causing numerous casualties among the protestors of whom many had to be hospitalised.
Excellency,
Nor sooner had the Moroccan occupying authorities repressed the protestors than they mobilised more of their security corps that were given orders to place under siege all Saharawi neighbourhoods in El Aaiun such as Maatala quarter, Zemla quarter, Smara street and the boulevards of Tan Tan, Ras-el-Khaima, Skeikima, Boukraa, Smara as well as Sheila camp, among others.
On 24 and 25 May 2005, in order to suppress and contain the Saharawi population in those areas who only were demonstrating peacefully in order to exercise their legitimate rights to free expression and movement, the Moroccan occupying forces intensified their repressive and brutal practices including not only beating with truncheons and using tear gas but also violating the sanctity of Saharawi houses, confiscating belongings, assaulting women and children as well as arresting and kidnapping in addition to torture. All these repressive measures have already caused many casualties among Saharawi civilians of whom some are still in serious conditions.
As the Saharawi civilians cannot, under whatever circumstances, be deprived of their right to demonstrate and express their opinions peacefully, we energetically denounce this brutal repression to which many of our citizens in the occupied El Aaiun have been subjected as was the case of Ihssan Fadeli El-Bar, known as Temim.
The Moroccan campaign of repression has already caused many casualties among not only the Saharawi civilians who were demonstrating and protesting peacefully but also many others who did not take part in the demonstrations.
Excellency,
The Saharawi civilians who organised those peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins were fully acting in line with their legitimate demands as provided for in international conventions. What they were demanding was the release of all Saharawi prisoners of conscience and the accounting for all those who have disappeared as well as the recovering of the remains of those who have already perished in detention; the respect for their fundamental rights to the freedom of expression and the freedom of movement as enshrined in international conventions; and, in particular, the exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence through the holding of a free and fair referendum whereby the Saharawi people can choose their future in a free, democratic and transparent manner and in accordance with the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
We are firmly confident that, despite the oppressive practices pursued by the occupying Moroccan authorities, our citizens in the occupied territories will remain steadfastly attached to their inalienable right to assert their national rights. As they were peacefully demonstrating and fully acting in accordance with the dictates of international legality, the oppressive campaign, which is being conducted by the Moroccan occupying forces under the eye of MINURSO, is an extremely serious matter that necessitates your immediate intervention as to providing the UN mission with the necessary mandate in order to protect the lives of the Saharawi citizens, to ensure their safety and to provide them with the basic conditions for expressing their opinions and political convictions in a peaceful and democratic way.
We avail ourselves of this opportunity to urgently call upon you to ensure that the Security Council intervenes immediately in order to protect the Saharawi citizens in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in general and in El Aaiun in particular. According to the latest information, the situation in those territories is deteriorating dramatically and may lead to further tension owing to the persistence of the Moroccan occupying forces in their campaign of oppression and terror against the Saharawi civilians who remain attached to their legitimate rights to demonstrate and express their opinions peacefully.
Whilst facing the Moroccan terrorist and oppressive apparatus, the Saharawi civilians have great faith and hope that the Untied Nations will assume its full responsibilities as to providing them with protection pending the completion of the decolonisation process. They also remain hopeful that the Untied Nations will exert all necessary pressure on the Moroccan Government in order to abide by international legality and allow the Saharawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, so that genuine peace and stability may be restored in the Maghreb and the entire region of North Africa.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Mohamed Abdelaziz,
President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic,
Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO.
Speech delivered to Congress by Rep. Judge Poe of Texas:
Recently, Moroccan police and security forces have arrested and tortured peaceful protestors. For example, as recently as July 20th, reports indicate that Moroccan security forces abducted five human rights activists (Mohamed Elmoutaoikil, Noumria Brahim, Elhoucine Lidri, Larbi Massaoud, and Gaoudi Fdaili). According to the reports, all five of these people suffered psychological torture for long hours, humiliation, and threats of rape. Unfortunately, this was all done due to their opinion concerning the status of Western Sahara.
After this incident, reports indicate that both Noumria Brahim and Lhoucine Lidri were subjected to further torture (including being burned, handcuffed and blindfolded, and being brutally beaten). The Moroccan officials that perpetrated these horrendous acts of torture are reported to be the Wali of Security in El Ayun, Brahim Bensami, and the Urban Security Group Chief Officer, Ichi Abou Hassan, and Abdelhap Rabii, a security officer. When these torturers were finished, they locked their victims in the Black Jail in El Ayun on July 23rd, 2005. Reports indicate they are still being held captive.
Such acts of violence and abuse against peaceful protestors and human rights activists have escalated in the last few weeks in Morocco. Other reports indicate that on, July 21, 2005, a group of six Saharawi political prisoners who were arrested during a protest in El Ayun, were presented to the court of appeal in El Ayun. The report reveals the group was tried in a show trial on June 23, 2005. They were sentenced to up to five years imprisonment-one of the victims of this injustice is human right activist, Bougarfa Abderrahmane. Mr. Abderrahmane is 53 years old and a father to ten children. The others were sentenced to three years in prison ( Hamma Achrih, Chyahou Brahim )and two years in prison (Mohamed Salem Essallami, Azlai Abdellah).
Sources say the Court of Appeal in El Ayun was firmly controlled by the Moroccan security forces while the trial was taking place. Some Saharawi citizens were forbidden to enter the court room. In addition, a French journalist, Agata André, from the newspaper, Charle Hebdo, who came to El Ayun to attend the trial of these political prisoners was put in a separate room until the Saharawi political prisoners' trial was over.
Furthermore, it is reported that the families of the five activists arrested were banned from bringing food to their relatives as well as from seeing them. No telephone contact with them is possible. Unfortunately, these reports of torture and injustice are commonplace for the Saharawi people who are denied equal rights under the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
On one of Secretary Condoleezza Rice's trips overseas, Secretary Rice delivered a strong message to the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, concerning the lack of civil liberties in the kingdom of Morocco. The Spanish newspaper, La Razon, reported on June 30th that Ms. Rice expressed her concerns regarding the Moroccan regime's continuous violations of freedom of press and of expression.
Amidst recent reports of escalating repression by
Morocco's intelligence and security services against dissenting voices, and the repression perpetrated against Saharawis, Ms. Rice is reportedly urged the King to bring an end to the repression and allow progressive voices to be heard.
Other countries have expressed similar concerns about Morocco's human rights record regarding the Saharawis. Earlier this month in Spain, Spanish news sources reported that a Spanish delegation, composed of parliamentarians and representatives of the civil society of Aragon, was not allowed by Moroccan authorities to visit the occupied capital of Western Sahara, El Aaiun. The delegation planned to investigate allegations of human rights abuses by Moroccan forces. One of the delegates was quoted as saying Morocco's denial of the visit was absolutely unacceptable.
Morocco has been occupying Western Sahara for decades. The United Nations Security Council has continued to uphold the right of Western Sahara to self-determination. On April 29th, 2004, the Security Council adopted Resolution No. 1541 which reaffirmed support for the Peace Plan for Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara devised by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy, James Baker. Two years prior, the Security Council upheld the right to self-determination in a meeting to discuss the conflict over Western Sahara. In this 2002 meeting, the Security Council rejected other proposed options and clearly stated that the only viable resolution to this conflict must be based on the Saharawi people's right to self-determination.
There is a long history of international consensus that supports Western Sahara's right to self-determination. The International Court of Justice, issued on October 16, 1975 the following decision concerning the conflict over Western Sahara, "The Court's conclusion is that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco or the Mauritanian entity. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara, and in particular, of the principle of the self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the territory."
I agree with many of my colleagues that Morocco is an important partner to the United States in our War on Terror and in international trade. However, the examples of human rights abuses that Moroccan officials have exhibited against the Saharawi people and the peaceful protestors is not the type of behaviour we expect from our friends.
A conclusion for the conflict over Western Sahara is long overdue. Both sides of the conflict need to come together and implement the Settlement Plan elaborated by Secretary James Baker. A great step towards a peaceful resolution would be for Morocco to release all their political prisoners, including Mr. Tamek and Mrs. Haidar, to stop detaining and torturing peaceful protestors and human rights activists, and to allow freedom of thought and expression both in Morocco and in occupied Western Sahara.
Letter of 104 European Parlament members to Kofi Annan
Mister Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations,
New York Brussels, 23rd June 2005
Subject: Violations of Human Rights in Western Sahara
Mister Secretary General,
We are writing to you in relation to the very serious situation that is currently developing in the territory of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation.
Since 21 May 2005, peaceful demonstrations have taken place in Western Sahara calling for the implementation of UN resolutions as the sole solution to a conflict that has lasted for almost 30 years.
The Moroccan authorities have responded to these peaceful demonstrations with brutal repression, thus violating the most fundamental principles of the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression.
Up until now, the number of victims is of more than 300 wounded, some of them suffering from very serious injuries, struggling to stay alive and being denied any medical assistance in hospital, 85 imprisoned, and more than 30 people missing. In addition, entire families are being harassed in their own homes. What is more, the territory is completely sealed off to the media and at least three delegations of parliamentarians and other personalities, especially coming from Spain, have not been allowed to enter the land to see for themselves the gravity of the current situation.
We firmly believe that this situation must be dealt with urgently by deploying all the political tools required. Let us not forget that this is a latent conflict, in which the UN is struggling to maintain a very fragile ceasefire.
Therefore, we call on the UN:
1. To put pressure on Morocco so that it immediately stops the repression of civilians.
2. To make sure that the national and international media can enter the territory and do their job without any kind of impediments.
3. To set up an international inquiry commission to investigate these events.
4. To send permanent international observers and human rights organizations in the aim of protecting the Saharawi civil population that is constantly being harassed by the Moroccan army, police and rapid intervention forces.
Mister Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations,
New York Brussels, 23rd June 2005
2.EU-Morocco Fishery Agreement:
Against the international Law related to the Exploitation of the natural resources of the Non-self-governing territories the EU illegally signed a fishery Agreements with Morocco that includes the waters of Western Sahara recognized internationally as non-autonomous territory.
2.1.Reaction:
The Polisario Front sent a letter to the European Commissioner:
Brussels, 18th May 2005
H.E. M. Joseph Borg
Commissioner
Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
European Commission
Dear Mr Borg,
I would like to express, as the European Representative for Europe of the Frente POLISARIO, our great concern for greater transparency and respect for International Law of the European Commission in its current negotiations with the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of Fisheries Policy.
As you know, following the United Nations doctrine in the case, the Western Sahara is a Non-Self Governing territory, pending on a decolonisation process under the monitoring of the United Nations through its Mission on the field MINURSO (French acronym for “Mission des Nations Unies pour le Referendum au Sahara Occidental”).
The European Commission has launched recently a new negotiations process with the Kingdom of Morocco in the Fisheries sector. As you know, Morocco’s key tactic to illegally maintain its occupation in Western Sahara is to include the Western Sahara waters within its “fishing areas under Moroccan control” in order to involve European interests in its military illegal occupation and the permanent violation of International Law. As you also know, following the International paramount treaty in this matter, the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, of which Morocco is Part), and the January 2002 Legal opinion of the United Nations Under-secretary for Legal Issues, on the status of Western Sahara natural resources, Morocco could not extend or claim since February 1976 any jurisdiction over the entire waters of the Western Sahara.
Taking account the illegal or “technical” precedents that marked the European Commission Fisheries agreements with Morocco in the 80s and 90s, we would strongly urge the European Commission to fully respect the internationally recognised border between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Western Sahara, that it’s the 27º 40’ parallel -as clearly mentioned in the United Nations doctrine and practice- and use all the European political leverage to preserve the Western Sahara waters and its 1000 coastline from any kind of agreement involving European fleets that would further deplete its critical fisheries biomass.
In this line, the European Commission should, at least be coherent with the international legality and finally take an example from the crystal clear position of the United States government (statement annexed) where its Representative for Trade, Mr Robert ZOELLICK stated on July 2004 that the United States clearly recognised the international borders of Morocco and Western Sahara in the framework of its Free-trade Agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco.
I note in your speech to the EC Maritime Law Course of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI, Malta, 4 April 2005) that you state: “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, (…) is considered today to be a universal instrument of international law. It is the main framework for the management of ocean affairs around the globe, built on the principle that: “all the problems of ocean space are closely inter-related and need to be considered as a whole”.
I would urge you to make sure that this great and constructive will of the European Commission comes soon with clear and enforceable rules regarding the current Western Sahara International Law status as a Non-Self Governing Territory.
Yours sincerely,
Mohamed SIDATI
Minister Delegate for Europe
Member of the National Secretariat of the POLISARIO Front
3. Release of the Moroccan POWs:
The Polisario Front decided unilaterally to set free the remaining 404 Moroccan POWS captured during the war (1975-1991) in a good will gesture to boost the peace plan in Western Sahara and to put an end to the current its deadlock.
Statement of release:
We would like to inform you that the Polisario Front has decided to liberate on 18 August, the last Moroccan prisoners of war. These officers, sub-officers and soldiers were captured in the course of fighting which set the forces of the Army of Saharawi Popular Liberation against the forces of the Moroccan army.
The Polisario Front which in the past proceeded to the unilateral release of several groups of Moroccan prisoners of war in gestures of good will, intends with this latest initiative, to finish and complete the operation of final liberation of all Moroccan prisoners of war.
This decision has been undertaken as a response to requests, as the Polisario Front has always been sensitive to appeals coming from all those who are working for the triumph of the national rights of the Saharawi people.
It also comes at a moment when the United Nations Secretary General has just appointed a new Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, and this will contribute, we hope, to generate a climate which will favour a dynamic for peace, which we would like to believe will be irreversible.
This decision which must be described as generous, expresses the magnanimity of the Saharawi people; but is taken with immense difficulty, at a time when Morocco dressed in the rags of its political blindness, is hounding unrelentingly a whole people and their rights. This decision is the harder to take, in that Morocco has instituted a reign of terror and the arbitrary against Saharawi populations in the territories of Western Sahara, which it occupies illegally.
The Polisario Front, adopting this courageous decision while the conflict is still unconcluded, also makes a challenge to Morocco to liberate the Saharawi prisoners of war (over 150 combatants), whose existence it still denies, and to shed light on the fate of over 500 Saharawis which it is caused to disappear since the beginning of this conflict.
If the Polisario Front shows itself respectful of international humanitarian law in releasing the last Moroccan prisoners of war, the same cannot be said for Morocco, which tramples underfoot the international conventions to which it is a signatory and shows intransigence and contempt towards the international community's efforts for peace.
As a result of this gesture, the Polisario Front has no further debts to anyone, there are no possible reproaches to be made. We hope thus to contribute to the reduction of the suffering of the Saharawi people in the territories occupied by Morocco as well as contributing towards a just and lasting resolution of the conflict through the exercise by the Saharawi people of its legitimate right to self-determination.
Brussels, 17.08.05
Mohamed SIDATI
3.1. Echos:
Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by the Frente POLISARIO to release all remaining 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, who are being repatriated today to the Kingdom of Morocco by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He expresses his appreciation to all parties involved, in particular the ICRC and United States Senator Richard Lugar.
The Secretary-General considers the release a positive step, and expresses his hope that it will serve to foster better relations between the parties and contribute to overcoming the present political impasse.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Kingdom of Morocco, and on the Frente POLISARIO to continue cooperating with the ICRC to account for those who are still missing.
Sweden:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Freivalds welcomes Polisario's decision to release all Moroccan war prisoners
"It is very pleasing that Polisario has decided to release all Moroccan prisoners of war," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Laila Freivalds.
"I presume the parties are taking advantage of the improved conditions that have now been created to break the deadlock that the conflict has reached. In the peace process that we hope can recommence, the UN and Secretary-General's Personal Envoy play a central role. Sweden is prepared to give the Envoy all the support necessary to ensure that the Saharan people's right to self-determination can be realised
War on Want:
War on Want welcomes the Polisario Front’s release today of all remaining Moroccan prisoners of war. The freeing of the prisoners leaves the ball firmly in Morocco’s court to agree to a peace plan which will allow Saharawi self-determination over Western Sahara.
US-Western Sahara Foundation:
The US-Western Sahara Foundation welcomed the imminent release of Moroccan POWs by the Polisario, but simultaneously called for Morocco to reciprocate by releasing the 151 Sahrawis it has held during the same period, as well as the 1,700 political prisoners that have been seized in occupied Western Sahara.
"Just recently in May, Morocco violently crushed a peaceful demonstration for self-determination in occupied Western Sahara by rounding up hundreds of Sahrawis, breaking into homes and beating men, women and children," explained US Western Sahara Foundation Chairman Suzanne Scholte. Today, five Sahrawis remain in prison: Noumria Brahim, Lidri El Houssein, El Arbi Messaoud , Moutawakil Mohamed and Ali Salem Tamek and they have now have joined the list of 1,700 who have disappeared during Morocco's brutal occupation of Western Sahara which began when it invaded the country in 1975.
"While the Polisario have accounted for every single POW they have held and allowed regular visits by the International Red Cross, the Moroccans continue to deny access to the Sahrawis that are held in Morocco's infamous jails, as well as deny access by the international community to the occupied territory," said Carlos Wilson, Executive Director of the USWSF. "Moroccan-Occupied Western Sahara is essentially shut off from the rest of the world."
Several planeloads of parliamentarians from Spain and Europe, who recently traveled to the occupied territory to investigate Morocco's abuses against the Sahrawis, were forced to turn back when Moroccan authorities would not allow them to deplane. During the same period, journalists from Spain and Norway were deported for trying to report about the issue.
The Polisario has done the right thing by releasing these POWs and reuniting them with their families," said Scholte. "It is time for Morocco to do the same: release the Sahrawis and end its brutal occupation of Western Sahara, so that the Sahrawi families can be reunited as well."
The AU:
Addis Abeba, 22/08/2005 (SPS) African Union Commission (UA), which hailed the release by Polisario Front last Thursday of the last 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, called Morocco to "reciprocate concerning the Saharawi ‘disappeareds’ and prisoners", exhorting the international community to "seize" this positive initiative to resolve the problem of Western Sahara conforming to the international legality, reported Algerian Press Service, APS, on Monday.
The release of Moroccan prisoners of war constitutes "an humanitarian initiative that should help the two parties, to the conflict on the territory of Western Sahara (Morocco and Polisario Front), recover confidence in each other", the AU’s Commission indicated.
Morocco and the international community must then seize this generous Saharawi initiative to resolve the Western Sahara conflict and start "reciprocating" by releasing more than 30 Saharawi political prisoners, some 150 Saharawi prisoners of war and more than 500 civilian ‘disappeareds’ since the starting of the Moroccan invasion of the territory in 1975.
The commission hoped that "the international community exploits the present action of prisoners release to encourage the two parties to the conflict to more efforts aimed at facilitating the search of definitive solution to the conflict".
The settlement of Western Sahara’s conflict must be "conform to the UN’s resolution, especially the resolution 1495; which is unanimously adopted by the Security Council", the AU’s Commission affirmed.
France:
Paris, 19/08/2005 (SPS) Paris "is happy with the positive gesture" undertaken by Polisario Front, who released the last Moroccan prisoners of war on Thursday, indicated The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Friday, reported Algerian Press Agency, APS.
France, who "hails the release of the 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, Polisario Front detained", is "happy with this positive gesture undertaken with the intermediation of the USA in accordance with the ICRC", the Quai d'Orsay’s Spokesperson said.
On another hand, he indicated that "France recalls her constant support to the search of a political solution" to the question of Western Sahara, "within the framework of the UN", the same source said.
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