Les forces d’occupation marocaine répriment une manifestation des travailleurs et retraités de la société Phosbucraa

El Aaiun (territoires occupés), Les forces d’occupation marocaines ont procédé jeudi à disperser par la force un sit-in organisé par les travailleurs et retraités de la société Phosbucraa, pour réclamer leurs droits dont la société s’était engagée auparavant à résoudre, a indiqueé une source proche du ministère sahraoui des territoires occupés et de la diaspora.

La police s’était intervenue brutalement contre les manifestants, blessant au mois dix citoyens sahraouis âgés majoritairement entre 65 et 80 ans, selon un manifestant cité par la même source.

Par ailleurs, un étudiant sahraoui, Hassan Maarass a été arrêté mercredi dernier à la faculté de droits d’Agadir (Maroc) par des agents de la police marocaine déguisés en civil et l’ont conduit vers une destination inconnue avant de le transférer au centre de la police d’Agadir.

La famille de Maarass se trouve devant les locaux de la police d’Agadir afin de savoir le sort de leur fils et les raison de son arrestation et de la torture dont il a été l’objet en dehors des locaux de la police, a conclu la même source.

New Danish Committee of support to the Saharawi people created in Copenhagen

A new Danish Committee of support to the Saharawi people was created last Thursday in Copenhagen and is calling on the European Union not to grant a so-called Advanced Status to Morocco, unless the occupied Western Sahara is specifically excluded from the agreement. In a press release issued Friday, of which UPES received a copy, the Danish Support Committee for Western Sahara (DSCWS), also called on the “UN Secretary General Mr. Ban ki-moon to resume the negotiation process between the Moroccan government and POLISARIO Front with the aim to enable the people of Western Sahara to exercise freely their right to Self-determination”. On the other hand, the text indicates that the new Committee aims to “raise awareness and promote the Solidarity with the Saharawi people”, as well as to “campaign for a free and fair referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people”. The Committee further expressed concerns about the serious human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, and declared its willingness to campaign “against the illegal exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources, and Promote intercultural exchange between The Saharawi and the Danish people”. “Morocco commits widespread human rights violations against Saharawi people in the occupied territories who strive for self-determination in Western Sahara. More than 500 Saharawi have disappeared since Morocco invaded the territory in 1975”, the text adds. The Danish Support Committee for Western Sahara, finally, “underlines that Morocco continues to be an illegally occupying power in Western Sahara, in violation of over 100 UN Resolutions which call for the Western Sahara’s people’s right to self-determination. Western Sahara is an occupied and annexed territory. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice has rejected Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara, and the UN considers the Western Sahara case as a decolonisation issue”. The new Committee is constituted few days after a propaganda claims spread by Rabat media according to which the representation of Western Sahara in Copenhagen has been ordered to close down by the Danish government. "Rubbish," say Danish sources, adding the false information comes as an answer to Danish media reports over a sex scandal at the Moroccan Embassy. Asking several sources in Denmark why Moroccan government-controlled media would publish such a story at this moment, all independently told AFROL News that there had to be a connection with "the very amusing story" in Denmark’s conservative daily ‘Jyllands-Posten’ about a sex scandal at the Moroccan Embassy in Copenhagen. Consul Raddad el Okbani at the Embassy is accused of sexual harassment and corruption by the Danish-Moroccan population, out of which around 200 took to the streets on 15 November to demand his resignation. Protesters told ‘Jyllands-Posten’ how the Consul repeatedly had demanded bribes and sexual services to get his signature on official documents. He was also reported to have taken photographs of visitors to the Embassy, threatening with reprisals in Morocco if his personal demands were not met. The Consul has been removed from the Moroccan Embassy in Copenhagen, probably having been sent home to Rabat. But the demonstrators are not satisfied, still demanding legal actions to be taken against him. Ms Pedersen, notably amused by the seldom scandal in the diplomatic landscape, holds that there may be a connection. The false Polisario office closure story was published "to take away the attention" from the Embassy scandal, she holds. Polisario representative Malainin agrees Moroccan officials had spread the false story "to cover and attract the public opinion from the scandalous shame in Morocco’s Embassy in Denmark." But, Mr Malainin adds, the scam was also a reaction to Polisario’s relative successes in Denmark and other Nordic countries, where some political parties now even are in favour of recognising Western Sahara as a sovereign state, in line with the AU. "The Moroccan system is worrying about the raising awareness and solidarity of the just cause of the Saharawi people ... in all Scandinavia," he holds. "This increasing awareness and solidarity reached to a point that Moroccan system propaganda machine can not influence it," Mr Malainin adds.

ACTU calls on Australian government to play “an active and positive role” on the issue of Western Sahara at the UN

the Australian Council of the Trade Unions (ACTU) called on the Australian Federal government to play “an active and positive role” on the issue of Western Sahara at the UN, in a letter it sent to the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs last June. ACTU recalled Minister Stephen Smith of the position adopted by the Labour Party in its last three national conferences, and indicated that Australian Trade Unions are paying a growing attention and concerns to the situation in Western Sahara. Here is the letter sent by the ACTU, signed by the President of the Australian main Umbrella trade union, Sharon Burrow, and the Secretaries of the organisation in West Australia and New South Wells, respectively Dave Robinson and John Robertson, in addition to Peter Jennings, Executive Officer of the Union Aid Abroad APHEDA. ---------------------------- ACTU 27 June 2008 The Hon Stephen Smith, MP Minister of Foreign Affairs Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister, I am writing to draw your attention to the question of Western Sahara. The issue of Western Sahara is a decolonisation issue. There are striking similarities between Western Sahara and East Timor. Both East Timor and Western Sahara were abandoned by the former powers and occupied by neighbouring countries in 1975, but while East Timor gained its independence, Western Sahara is still on the UN’s list of the Non-Self-Governing territories waiting for the right to self-determination. Morocco constructed a 2.000 km wall to seal the Territory while it embarked on hideous human rights abuses. It also forced thousands Saharawis to flee their homeland and seek refuge in neighbouring Algeria where they have been living in dire conditions for the past 33 years. The issue of Western Sahara has an impact on issues that are relevant to Australia’s foreign policy such as the role of the UN, international peace and stability. Western Sahara is also relevant to Australia because it concerns issues of human rights, respect of international legality and the illegal exploitation of natural resources. We are proud of the fact that the trade union movement in Australia, as well as the ALP, have been very supportive for the struggle for freedom and emancipation in Western Sahara. We are delighted that the ALP has adopted during its past three National Conferences a very positive Policy on Western Sahara. (Please see Chapter 14 of the last ALP Platform-The text is attached herewith.) Since the ALP position on this issue is clear and positive I hope that the Federal government can play an active and positive role on this issue at the UN as we did in the past. Australia contributed a contingent of signals to the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in 1991 and voted in favour of resolutions supporting the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. We would be grateful if you could kindly clarify the position of the Federal Government on this issue and whether our government still supports the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. We would appreciate an early response as our organisations are very concerned about the present situation in Western Sahara. Yours sincerely Signed by: Sharon Burrow, President of the ACTU Dave Robinson, Secretary Unions WA John Robertson, Secretary Unions NSW Peter Jennings, Executive Officer Union Aid Abroad APHEDA ALP Platform: http://www.alp.org.au/platform/chapter_14.php#14western_sahara Western Sahara 139- Labor supports the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and is concerned about allegations of human rights abuses in the occupied areas of Western Sahara. Labor believes in maintaining an appropriate dialogue with the Polisario Front, the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara. In government Labor will support UN efforts to organise a free and fair referendum on independence in Western Sahara, and calls on the UN to press Morocco to implement all UN resolutions pertaining to Western Sahara. 140- Labor urges the Australian Government to extend all due assistance to the UN in its efforts to organise a free and fair referendum in Western Sahara, and to maintain an appropriate dialogue with the Polisario Front, the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara. Labor calls on the UN to press Morocco to implement UN resolutions with regards to the decolonisation process in Western Sahara, the last non-self-governing African territory on the UN decolonisation list.

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"L’armée sahraouie est prête pour le retour aux hostilités si cela est nécessaire", (commandant de la deuxième région militaire)

Tifariti (territoires sahraouis libérés), Le membre du Secrétariat national du Front Polisario, commandant de la deuxième région militaire, Brahim Ahmed Mahmoud a déclaré que l’armée de libération populaire sahraouie (ALPS) "est prêté pour le retour aux armes si cela est nécessaire".

Le commandant sahraoui qui se prononçait après les défilés militaires célébrant la deuxième édition Art Tifariti, a réaffirmé en présence des artistes et de la presse internationale, que "l’ALPS se charge de la protection du patrimoine et des sites archéologiques sahraouis".

Les participants à cette édition qui prendra fin mardi prochain, ont visité les sites archéologiques de la région de Tifariti libérée, a-t-on indiqué.

D’autre part, le représentant du Front Polisario en Grèce, Sleiman Ahmed a réaffirmé dans une déclaration à la SPS, que "Art Tifaritri constitue un soutien culturel artistique et médiatique à la cause du peuple sahraoui".

"Cet évènement artistique et culturel exprime également la solidarité internationale avec la question du Sahara occidental, à travers la présence massive des artistes venus de l’Amérique latine, de l’Europe et de l’Afrique", a ajouté le diplomate sahraoui.

"Le Maroc est isolé au niveau international, en raison de son occupation illégale d’un pays membre de l’Union africaine", a-t-il précisé, soulignant "qu’aucun pays au monde ne reconnaît la souveraineté du Maroc sur le Sahara occidental".

Le diplomate sahraoui a enfin dénoncé la répression marocaine contre les citoyens sahraouis sans défense dans les territoires occupés du Sahara occidental, qui mènent l’Intifada pacifique réclamant le droit de leur peuple à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance.

MUA concerned about shipment of phosphate from Western Sahara

The Maritime Union of Australia expressed concern about some Australian companies shipment of phosphate from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, the Union stressed in a written statement. In the statement signed by its WA Branch Secretary, Mr. Chris Cain, and his assistants, the Australian union considered its concerns “legitimate as the phosphate mined in Western Sahara and subsequently shipped to the Fermantle Ports do not belong to the beneficiaries of the trade but is a resource belonging to the Saharawi people, not the foreign occupiers of Western Sahara”, referring to Morocco. The text recalled that the Moroccan exploitation of Saharawi phosphate and other resources, with the complicity of some international companies and countries, “has been condemned in many international forums, principally in the UN”. Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, is still awaiting for the UN to fulfil its “mandate to organise a referendum of the Saharawis to determine the future of their land and resources”, MUA considered. Consequently, MUA estimated that “trading in phosphate before such a plebiscite jeopardises its results and, further, places into question future trading relations with companies complicit in the current trading arrangements”. On the other hand, MUA expressed concerns about the human rights violations “carried out by the Moroccan government since its occupation of Western Sahara since 1975”. The statement further incriminated “the forceful separation of the Saharawis by Morocco’s construction of a military wall dividing the territory and physically separating the inhabitants”. Such abomination, “is witness to the contempt the Moroccan government has towards the indigenous inhabitants” of Western Sahara, MUA said. MUA, and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the statement indicated are lobbying the Australian government to convince it carry out he policies adopted on Western Sahara by the Australian Labour Party in three previous National Conference. It is also campaigning against the Australian companies that export Saharawi phosphate to convince them give up these dubious trade. MUA, finally, declared it will keep on campaigning and raising awareness about the question of Western Sahara “until the Saharawis can determine” their future and the future of their resources. Melbourne plays host to African Studies conference Cate Lewis, AWSA Many scholars from around Australia and abroad attended the “31st annual conference of the African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific” (AFSAAP) hosted by Monash University. It was held in the centre of Melbourne at the State Library of Victoria’s conference centre 26-28 December 2008, and entitled Building a common future, Africa and Australasia, see http://www.meetings.com.au/africa/. The Australia Western Sahara Association held an information stall about Western Sahara and had the opportunity to talk with many conference-goers from Australia and overseas. It was useful to raise the profile of Western Sahara in a few cases where people confessed ignorance of the conflict. However, most congratulated us on our presence. Many greeted the stall warmly, being familiar with the issue over many years. A man from Somalia said it was high time Western Sahara achieved its independence. The conference recognises that Australia-Pacific region’s growing economic, political, social and cultural ties with Africa provide an opportunity not only to explore our communalities further but also to work together on shared issues, such as climate change, education, health and security, to develop sustainable, mutually beneficial solutions. Since 1978, the annual African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (AFSAAP) conference has been bringing together Africa-focused scholars, students, government and diplomatic staff, business, industry and individuals to discuss Africa and the issues, challenges and opportunities which the continent faces.

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Le Congrès des députés espagnol réaffirme le droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination

Madrid, La commission des Affaires étrangères du Congrès des députés espagnol (Chambre basse du Parlement) a adopté jeudi, à l'unanimité, une résolution appelant le gouvernement socialiste de José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero à défendre la nécessité d'une solution "urgente, juste et définitive" au conflit du Sahara occidental "dans le cadre du Conseil de Sécurité de l'ONU et conformément à la légalité internationale".

Initié par les groupes parlementaires de la Gauche républicaine catalane et de la Gauche Unie-Initiative pour la Catalogne des Verts (ERC-IU-ICV), le texte demande également à l'exécutif espagnol de "promouvoir toutes les initiatives politiques qui contribuent à aboutir à un accord consensuel" entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario, devant " respecter la légalité internationale et le droit légitime du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination, à travers l'organisation d'un référendum, en accord avec la Charte des Nations unies et les résolutions du Conseil de Sécurité".

Les parlementaires espagnols l'ont invité aussi à amener les autorités marocaines à "libérer les prisonniers sahraouis incarcérés en raison de l'exercice de leurs droits et libertés fondamentales et à garantir le respect des droits de l'homme dans ce conflit".

Dans ce contexte, ils ont invité leur gouvernement à signer des accords avec le Maroc pour permettre à une délégation non gouvernementale et parlementaire espagnole de "visiter sans restriction les territoires sahraouis occupés" afin de "connaître de près la réalité" des citoyens dans ces territoires.

Tout en exigeant du gouvernement espagnol de "s'abstenir de soutenir toute mesure unilatérale affaiblissant ses possibilités de jouer un rôle équitable dans la recherche d'une solution juste au conflit", les députés lui ont demandé de "reconsidérer les ventes d'armes (au Maroc) dans le cadre de la loi en vigueur sur le commerce des armes et du Code de conduite de l'Union européenne".

Le gouvernement espagnol est appelé, d'autre part, à "poursuivre et intensifier la collaboration avec le Front Polisario dans le domaine de l'aide humanitaire et la coopération technique, particulièrement à travers les ONG espagnoles, dans les campements de réfugiés sahraouis.

Dans ce sens, les parlementaires ont insisté auprès du gouvernement espagnol pour qu'il poursuive et renforce les mesures nécessaires visant à prévenir de manière urgente une crise alimentaire dans les campements sahraouis, en apportant les fonds nécessaires au Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM).

Les parlementaires ont souligné, par ailleurs, qu'en se rapprochant des thèses du Maroc dans ce conflit, le gouvernement espagnol "n'a pas respecté l'orientation marquée par le Congrès des députés".

Le Congrès des députés avait adopté à l'unanimité, le 17 mai 2005, une résolution sur le Sahara occidental dans laquelle il demandait au gouvernement espagnol de promouvoir toutes les initiatives politiques pour parvenir à un accord entre les parties (le Front Polisario et le Maroc), devant respecter la légalité internationale et le droit légitime du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination.

Les parlementaires ont également reproché au gouvernement d'avoir "soutenu
activement le récent accord de pêche signé entre l'UE et le Maroc, qui inclut
les eaux du Sahara occidental, ce qui a été interprété par le Front Polisario
comme un alignement sur les positions expansionnistes de Rabat".

Australian Maritime Union protests shipment

The bulk vessel Furness Karumba arrived this port in Perth, Australia, in August.


In August, Western Sahara Resource Watch wrote about the arrival of the bulk vessel Furness Karumba to Perth, Australia. The vessel contained phosphates from occupied Western Sahara, thus supporting the Moroccan illegal plundering of Western Sahara.

Upon the arrival of the vessel, the West Australian Branch of The Maritime Union of Australia on 3rd of September personally handed over a letter to the captain of the vessel, protesting such trade. The letter was also sent to the companies involved in the transport, as well as to Wesfarmers CSBP, the local importer.

Art Tifariti is an opportunity to defend Saharawi people’s right to self-determination

--(Sahara Press Service-Special Envoy)-- The President of the Association of Friends of the Saharawi people in the capital of Andalusia, Seville, Fernando Berita, said that the Seminar “ArtTifariti” is "an opportunity to defend Saharawi people’s right to self-determination". In a statement to the SPS, Fernando said that "ArtTifariti is not a neutral art, it’s in fact a way to defend peoples’ rights, in particular the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination". He denounced the repression imposed by the Moroccan authorities against defenceless Saharawi citizens in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, who demonstrate peacefully demanding their right to freely choose their future. In this regard, Fernando paid tribute to the Saharawi human rights activists, including Aminetou Haidar, who has just been awarded the Robert Kennedy Human Rights Award in recognition for her activism in favour of the respect of human rights in Western Sahara. On the other hand, POLISARIO Front’s representative in Andalusia, Bouchraya Abidine, said that the massive presence of artists from different continents, will help promote the just cause of Western Sahara at the international level. The Saharawi diplomat reiterated that ArtTifariti "is another front and a peaceful expression that backs up the rights of the Saharawi people to self-determination", denouncing the repression perpetrated by Morocco against Saharawi citizens, including the Saharawi human rights defenders in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, Southern Morocco and the Moroccan universities. The second edition of the ArtTifariti continues in the town of Tifariti in the Saharawi liberated territories, in the presence of international artists from different continents who came to express, through art, their support and solidarity with the Saharawi.

Inaugural launch of the Australian Parliamentary Friendship Group with Western Sahara

The Australian “Parliamentary Friends of Western Sahara Group” was officially launched Wednesday night (26 November 2008), during a dinner held at Parliament House in Canberra. The inaugural dinner was attended by many members of Parliament from all parties, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of NGOs and trade unions as well as members of the Australian Western Sahara Association (AWSA). The Friendship Group is composed until now of about 20 members from all the main Australian political parties and from the two Houses of Parliament (House of Representatives and the Senate). The Chair of the Group is from the governing party, the Labour Party, the Deputy Chair of the Group is from the main opposition, Liberal Party and the Secretary of the Friendship Group is from the Australian Greens Party. Ms. Janelle Saffin, Member of the House of Representatives and member of the Friendship Group, spoke during the launch ceremony, on behalf of the Chair of the Group. Ms. Saffin, MP, pledged the support of the members of Parliament to the Saharawi people and their just cause. She underlined the fact that the Saharawi cause enjoys the support of all political parties in Australia. She said that Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara is illegal and must end. Ms. Saffin explained that she has witnessed first hand the difficulties of life in the refugee camps during a visit few years ago. The Representative of Polisario Front in Australia, Mr. Kamal Fadel, expressed the sincere thanks and gratitude of the Saharawi people to the members of Parliament who have joined the “Parliamentary Friends of Western Sahara Group”. He also thanked the group of Ambassadors who have attended and all those who were present and particularly the members of the AWSA, who contributed towards the success of the launch event. The Saharawi Representative further explained that the launch of the Group is a historic and very significant event. The number of Parliamentarians who have joined and “the fact that they represent all the main political parties in Australia is important”, he stressed. He said that this initiative will help raise the profile of Western Sahara in Australia. He also outlined about how Western Sahara is relevant to Australia because Australia is interested in the role of the UN and the respect of international legality. Australia also gives high priority to the respect of international human rights standards and is dependent on the phosphate imported from Western Sahara, though its illegal to exploit natural resources of Non-Self-Governing territories. The Representative of Polisario explained the background of the issue of Western Sahara and its similarities with East Timor in which Australia played an important role. He hoped that the Australian people will continue their support to the Saharawi cause until they achieve their freedom and return to their homeland to live in liberty and dignity. Ms. Lesley Osborne, Deputy President of the Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) spoke during the event, stressing her association’s great satisfaction that the Friendship Group has been established. She reaffirmed AWSA’s support to the Group, explaining that the association has been active in promoting the Saharawi cause in Australia and is very pleased that a great number of Parliamentarians have joined this noble struggle for international justice.

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Un activiste sahraoui interdit de poursuivre ses études universitaires à Agadir (Maroc)

Agadir (sud du Maroc), L’étudiant sahraoui, Lamine Sahel a été refusé d’enregistrement à la faculté des droits d’Ibn Zuhr à Agadir de la part des autorités marocaines, en raison de ses opinions politiques en faveur de l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui.

L’administration de l’université avait dans un premier temps donné son accord, mais brutalement elle a changé d’avis en refusant l’enregistrement de cet activiste sahraoui, sans donner les raisons, a déploré une source du ministère sahraoui des territoires occupés et de la diaspora.

Un comité d’étudiants sahraoui qui voulait agir afin de permettre à leur compatriote de poursuivre ses études, a été surpris par la décision de l’administration de l’université, visant à empêcher les activistes sahraouis des droits humains qui souhaitent poursuivre leurs études.

"L’enregistrement des activistes sahraouis dépend de l’accord du ministère de l’intérieur marocain, parce qu’ils sont des ennemis du régime marocain", a précisé le directeur de l’université Ibn Zuhr.

Il est à rappeler que l’interdiction à l’étudiant sahraoui, Lamine Sahel, l’enregistrement à la faculté des droits, des sciences économiques et sociales d’Ibn Zuhr, intervient après celle du défenseur sahraoui des droits humains et ex prisonnier politique, Ali Salem Tamek.

Les Pays-Bas pour l'autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental (M. Verhagen)

Alger, Le ministre des Affaires étrangères des Pays Bas, M. Maxime Verhagen, a exprimé mercredi à Alger le soutien de son pays aux efforts des Nations unies pour le droit à l'autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental.

"Les Pays-Bas soutiennent le secrétaire général de l'Onu dans ses efforts pour arriver à une solution politique qui prévoit l'autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental", a affirmé M. Verhagen lors d'une conférence de presse à Alger animée conjointement avec le ministre algérien des Affaires étrangères, M. Mourad Medelci.

Le ministre hollandais a indiqué qu'"une solution durable au conflit ne servira pas uniquement le Sahara occidental et le Maroc, mais ouvrira les portes de la coopération dans la région du Maghreb".

"Nous soutenons le secrétaire général de l'Onu ainsi que son envoyé spécial au 5ème round des négociations (de Manhasset) entre le Front Polisario et le Maroc", a-t-il souligné.

M. Verhagen, qui était lundi la veille en visite au Maroc, a précisé qu'il avait fait la même déclaration à Rabat concernant le conflit entre ces deux pays. "J'ai dit la même chose au Maroc et je pense que cela est clair", a-t-il encore dit.

Arrestation de six citoyens sahraouis au cours d’un sit-in pacifique à la ville occupée d’El Aaiun

El Aaiun (territoires occupés), les forces de répression marocaines ont procédé mardi à l’arrestation de six citoyens sahraouis dont des ex prisonniers politiques, avant de les transférer au juge d’instruction pour comparaître ce mercredi devant le procureur du roi à la cour de première instance d’El Aaiun, a rapporté le CODESA.

Les citoyens sahraouis, Moustapha Karim, Jamaa Ramdan, Limam Khalil, Moustapha Raqaoui, Elhanafi et Alabadilla ont été arrêtés au cours d’un sit-in organisé par les chauffeurs sahraouis des minibus réclamant l’amélioration de leurs situations et la fin de leur harcèlement de la part des autorités marocaines.

Les forces de répression ont également procédé au quadrillage du lieu où devait se tenir le sit-in, par le déploiement des agents de la police marocaine épaulée par des forces auxiliaires, afin d’empêcher les manifestants, majoritairement des diplômés sahraouis contraints au chômage de protester contre leur marginalisation de la part des autorités marocaines.

Ces mêmes forces ont contraint les manifestants à quitter le lieu du sit-in, arrêté à peine 20 bus, qui les ont conduit au parc de la police marocaine à la ville occupée d’El Aaiun, a jouté la même source.

US law firm refuses Western Sahara dialogue

In an extraordinary show of arrogance and disdain for representatives of civil society organizations, the Washington based law firm Covington & Burling flatly refuses to engage with the global solidarity network Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) and this year's Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights Award laureate, Mrs. Aminatou Haidar. The US law firm is, because of a legal analysis it provided, the source the world phosphate industry refers to when they claim the phosphate trade from Western Sahara to be legal.



OCP, the Moroccan state phosphate company that illegally exploits phosphates in Western Sahara, is Covington & Burling's client. The legal analysis made by Covington for OCP, which WSRW believes contains a large number of factual errors and the conclusions of which are seriously flawed, is used by phosphate importers in several countries in defence of their imports from the occupied country.

Both the Belgian importer BASF and the Spanish importer FMC Foret refer to Covington & Burling's legal analysis, but neither wish to disclose the report. BASF has urged WSRW to contact Covington & Burling for further questions. However, the prospects for any assistance from those quarters seem slim, at best.

Last week, human rights activist from occupied Western Sahara, Mrs. Aminatou Haidar, received the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights Award. Haidar has spent four years in Moroccan jails for her activism, and is today a strong opponent of the Moroccan plundering of her country's main natural resource, phosphates.

A few days prior to the award ceremony, Western Sahara Resource Watch sent the letter below to the Washington based law firm Covington & Burling. The letter is a follow up on a letter sent to Bruce S. Wilson, Partner in Covington & Burling by WSRW in February 2008. Since the US law firm for months has refused to reply to WSRW in writing, WSRW decided to request a meeting to discuss the matter.

After sending the mail below, Mr. Ronny Hansen of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara called Mr. Bruce Wilson of Covington & Burling. Hansen was in Washington at the time of Haidar's award ceremony, and had asked for a meeting.

"Mr. Wilson simply refused to engage in any conversation or exchange with us. He stated clearly that 'I completely exclude the possibility of giving you a response to your questions, in writing or otherwise.' He also said that he's 'not at liberty to disclose to you who our clients are, or on what basis. If I were, I wouldn't anyway.' When confronted with the fact that their work on behalf of OCP is public knowledge and posted on their own website, Mr. Wilson said that "I'm not obliged to respond to you. We're not engaging with you at all regarding anything at all. You're not my client, and as far as I can see you have no interest or stake in our company.'

He then proceeded to hang up on Mr. Hansen.

"When researching and campaigning against the powerful vested interests in Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara we're used to tough language, but rarely do we meet such a lack of civility and willingness to engage. Covington & Burling's arrogance and level of secrecy really sets them apart and tickles our curiosity about their activities even further. If importers such as BASF and FMC Foret wish
to retain any credibility at all, they should now be the ones to release the legal analysis they base their defence on", says Hansen.


Open letter to Mr. Mr. Bruce S. Wilson, Partner of Covington & Burling
Melbourne, 4 November 2008

Catherine Lewis
PO Box 164
Clifton Hill
Victoria 3068
Australia

Mr. Bruce S. Wilson
Covington & Burling LLP
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2401

25th of February 2008, Western Sahara Resource Watch sent you a letter regarding the legal analysis which your law firm elaborated on the Moroccan phosphate industry in occupied Western Sahara.

In that letter, in addition to requesting a copy of your legal analysis on the industry, we requested an answer to a few specific questions, so we could understand how Covington & Burling could come to the conclusion that the unethical Moroccan phosphate plundering of its occupied neighbouring country could possibly be defended legally.

As far as we understand, the opinion was made on behalf of your client, OCP, which is the same Moroccan state phosphate company that carries out the controversial phosphate exploitation in the Bu Craa mines.

From what we have learned from one of the phosphate importers, Spanish FMC Foret, the opinion that Covington & Burling produced contains conclusions that clearly misinterprets some very basic principles of international law when it comes to the legal status of the occupied and non-self governing territory Western Sahara, and the exploitation of natural resources in the Bu Craa mines.

We believe it is important that Covington & Burling’s opinion be published, and properly debated, for the interest of stakeholders both within the fertiliser industry, among the investor environment, as well as for the Sahrawi people both living under occupation and in exile.

We urge you to reply in writing to the letter we sent in February, and make public your opinion. Our former international coordinator, Javier Garcia Lachica, tried personally to follow up your lack of reply, by calling your partner in Brussels, Mr. George Berrish in September, but only to find that he was basically rejected, being told “If we haven't answered your letter is because we have nothing to say. Thanks and goodbye".

It would be highly contradictory if it is true that your legal analysis on one hand gives evidence that the industry is perfectly defendable, and is actually in respect of the wishes and interests of the people of Western Sahara, while on the other hand it remains out of reach for the Sahrawi people, their representatives and concerned non-governmental organisations like ours. That in itself would be an indication showing that the opinion’s conclusions perhaps could be inherently wrong, and that your arguments perhaps are neither in line with the facts on the ground nor with mainstream understanding of international law.

Seen from the outside, one can say that it seems rather unfortunate that your firm is representing or counselling a client such as OCP. Considering that OCP is involved in supporting a kind of business that the UN General Assembly has repeatedly condemned, and taking into consideration that OCP represents 3 decades of violation of international law, systematic discrimination of its Sahrawi workers, and ignoring of the interests of wishes of the people of Western Sahara, one could wonder whether defending such unethical industry is really something that Covington & Burling wants to be associated with. So if your arguments in the opinion are convincing, and actually well-founded and based on an elaborate analysis of the situation on the ground and international law, we believe will be in Covington & Burling’s own interest to have it published.

On 13th of November 2008, the Western Sahara human rights activist Aminatou Haidar will receive the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award on Capitol Hill, after her campaigns for Sahrawi human rights and against the natural resource plundering of her homeland. Upon that occasion, a number of representatives of Western Sahara Resource Watch from some of your our 30 member countries will be present in Washington. http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/2008_haidar/

On that occasion, we would like to request a meeting with your firm in Washington for either 13th or 14th of November. We believe it could also be possible for you to meet the laureate Mrs. Haidar, if you are interested. Please respond to this meeting request to Mr. Ronny Hansen, chairman of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, on tel +47 94250270 or ronnyha@gmail.com.

In such meeting, we would be happy to brief you on the history of the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, the human rights violations committed by Moroccan forces in the territory, the situation for the Sahrawis who have been forced to flee their homeland and living in exile in refugee camps in Algeria, or the illegality of natural resources exploitation from Western Sahara.

We would at last like to underline that a lack of response to a civil society organisation like ours, is in general not a very common strategy for companies that want to give the appearance of being socially responsible.

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Cate Lewis
International coordinator,
Western Sahara Resource Watch
www.wsrw.org

Copy sent to
Kathy King, Head of Public Relations, Covington & Burling, klking@cov.com
Mrs. Aminatu Haidar
FMC Foret

In an extraordinary show of arrogance and disdain for representatives of civil society organizations, the Washington based law firm Covington & Burling flatly refuses to engage with the global solidarity network Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) and this year's Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights Award laureate, Mrs. Aminatou Haidar. The US law firm is, because of a legal analysis it provided, the source the world phosphate industry refers to when they claim the phosphate trade from Western Sahara to be legal.
24.11 - 2008 22:43 Printer version


OCP, the Moroccan state phosphate company that illegally exploits phosphates in Western Sahara, is Covington & Burling's client. The legal analysis made by Covington for OCP, which WSRW believes contains a large number of factual errors and the conclusions of which are seriously flawed, is used by phosphate importers in several countries in defence of their imports from the occupied country.

Both the Belgian importer BASF and the Spanish importer FMC Foret refer to Covington & Burling's legal analysis, but neither wish to disclose the report. BASF has urged WSRW to contact Covington & Burling for further questions. However, the prospects for any assistance from those quarters seem slim, at best.

Last week, human rights activist from occupied Western Sahara, Mrs. Aminatou Haidar, received the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights Award. Haidar has spent four years in Moroccan jails for her activism, and is today a strong opponent of the Moroccan plundering of her country's main natural resource, phosphates.

A few days prior to the award ceremony, Western Sahara Resource Watch sent the letter below to the Washington based law firm Covington & Burling. The letter is a follow up on a letter sent to Bruce S. Wilson, Partner in Covington & Burling by WSRW in February 2008. Since the US law firm for months has refused to reply to WSRW in writing, WSRW decided to request a meeting to discuss the matter.

After sending the mail below, Mr. Ronny Hansen of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara called Mr. Bruce Wilson of Covington & Burling. Hansen was in Washington at the time of Haidar's award ceremony, and had asked for a meeting.

"Mr. Wilson simply refused to engage in any conversation or exchange with us. He stated clearly that 'I completely exclude the possibility of giving you a response to your questions, in writing or otherwise.' He also said that he's 'not at liberty to disclose to you who our clients are, or on what basis. If I were, I wouldn't anyway.' When confronted with the fact that their work on behalf of OCP is public knowledge and posted on their own website, Mr. Wilson said that "I'm not obliged to respond to you. We're not engaging with you at all regarding anything at all. You're not my client, and as far as I can see you have no interest or stake in our company.'

He then proceeded to hang up on Mr. Hansen.

"When researching and campaigning against the powerful vested interests in Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara we're used to tough language, but rarely do we meet such a lack of civility and willingness to engage. Covington & Burling's arrogance and level of secrecy really sets them apart and tickles our curiosity about their activities even further. If importers such as BASF and FMC Foret wish
to retain any credibility at all, they should now be the ones to release the legal analysis they base their defence on", says Hansen.


Open letter to Mr. Mr. Bruce S. Wilson, Partner of Covington & Burling
Melbourne, 4 November 2008

Catherine Lewis
PO Box 164
Clifton Hill
Victoria 3068
Australia

Mr. Bruce S. Wilson
Covington & Burling LLP
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2401

25th of February 2008, Western Sahara Resource Watch sent you a letter regarding the legal analysis which your law firm elaborated on the Moroccan phosphate industry in occupied Western Sahara.

In that letter, in addition to requesting a copy of your legal analysis on the industry, we requested an answer to a few specific questions, so we could understand how Covington & Burling could come to the conclusion that the unethical Moroccan phosphate plundering of its occupied neighbouring country could possibly be defended legally.

As far as we understand, the opinion was made on behalf of your client, OCP, which is the same Moroccan state phosphate company that carries out the controversial phosphate exploitation in the Bu Craa mines.

From what we have learned from one of the phosphate importers, Spanish FMC Foret, the opinion that Covington & Burling produced contains conclusions that clearly misinterprets some very basic principles of international law when it comes to the legal status of the occupied and non-self governing territory Western Sahara, and the exploitation of natural resources in the Bu Craa mines.

We believe it is important that Covington & Burling’s opinion be published, and properly debated, for the interest of stakeholders both within the fertiliser industry, among the investor environment, as well as for the Sahrawi people both living under occupation and in exile.

We urge you to reply in writing to the letter we sent in February, and make public your opinion. Our former international coordinator, Javier Garcia Lachica, tried personally to follow up your lack of reply, by calling your partner in Brussels, Mr. George Berrish in September, but only to find that he was basically rejected, being told “If we haven't answered your letter is because we have nothing to say. Thanks and goodbye".

It would be highly contradictory if it is true that your legal analysis on one hand gives evidence that the industry is perfectly defendable, and is actually in respect of the wishes and interests of the people of Western Sahara, while on the other hand it remains out of reach for the Sahrawi people, their representatives and concerned non-governmental organisations like ours. That in itself would be an indication showing that the opinion’s conclusions perhaps could be inherently wrong, and that your arguments perhaps are neither in line with the facts on the ground nor with mainstream understanding of international law.

Seen from the outside, one can say that it seems rather unfortunate that your firm is representing or counselling a client such as OCP. Considering that OCP is involved in supporting a kind of business that the UN General Assembly has repeatedly condemned, and taking into consideration that OCP represents 3 decades of violation of international law, systematic discrimination of its Sahrawi workers, and ignoring of the interests of wishes of the people of Western Sahara, one could wonder whether defending such unethical industry is really something that Covington & Burling wants to be associated with. So if your arguments in the opinion are convincing, and actually well-founded and based on an elaborate analysis of the situation on the ground and international law, we believe will be in Covington & Burling’s own interest to have it published.

On 13th of November 2008, the Western Sahara human rights activist Aminatou Haidar will receive the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award on Capitol Hill, after her campaigns for Sahrawi human rights and against the natural resource plundering of her homeland. Upon that occasion, a number of representatives of Western Sahara Resource Watch from some of your our 30 member countries will be present in Washington. http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/2008_haidar/

On that occasion, we would like to request a meeting with your firm in Washington for either 13th or 14th of November. We believe it could also be possible for you to meet the laureate Mrs. Haidar, if you are interested. Please respond to this meeting request to Mr. Ronny Hansen, chairman of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, on tel +47 94250270 or ronnyha@gmail.com.

In such meeting, we would be happy to brief you on the history of the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, the human rights violations committed by Moroccan forces in the territory, the situation for the Sahrawis who have been forced to flee their homeland and living in exile in refugee camps in Algeria, or the illegality of natural resources exploitation from Western Sahara.

We would at last like to underline that a lack of response to a civil society organisation like ours, is in general not a very common strategy for companies that want to give the appearance of being socially responsible.

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Cate Lewis
International coordinator,
Western Sahara Resource Watch
www.wsrw.org

Copy sent to
Kathy King, Head of Public Relations, Covington & Burling, klking@cov.com
Mrs. Aminatu Haidar
FMC Foret

Moroccan-Saharawi soap opera in Denmark

Based on Moroccan Ministry of Defence information, four Rabat media report that the representation of Western Sahara in Copenhagen has been ordered to close down by the Danish government. "Rubbish," say Danish sources, adding the false information comes as an answer to Danish media reports over a sex scandal at the Moroccan Embassy. ‘ASM’, a publication issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Defence, earlier this week was the first Rabat media to announce that "the government of Denmark" had taken the "decision" to "close down the office of Polisario in Copenhagen." Polisario, a movement fighting for the decolonisation of Western Sahara since the 1970s and which forms the exiled government of this African Union (AU) member country, has relatively good ties with Denmark and other Nordic countries, meaning that its ousting would mean a significant propaganda blow for the Saharawis. During the week, also the government-close, but relatively credible Moroccan newspapers ‘Le Point’ and ‘Le Soir’ reported about the closure of the Polisario representation in Denmark. Finally today, the more radical ‘Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb’ celebrated the "news" as "a significant decision" by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due to the Saharawis’ "undue political agitation" in the Nordic country. But, neither the Danish Foreign Ministry nor the Danish press has reported about any decision to close a "Polisario representation in Copenhagen." Indeed, Danish journalist Ingrid Pedersen, who has followed the Morocco-Western Sahara conflict closely, told afrol News the Moroccan press reports were "pure rubbish." Ms Pedersen explains that a closure would be impossible "because Polisario indeed does not have any [accredited] representation office in Denmark. They have a representative that lives in a two-room flat on Amager Island" just outside Copenhagen. "The Foreign Ministry has nothing to do with his businesses, except that he has permission to live and work in Denmark," she adds. Polisario’s representative in Denmark, Abba Malainin, also denied the Moroccan reports, telling afrol News the "Polisario Representation still working as usual in Denmark." The stories had originated in "the Moroccan propaganda machine," he added. Asking several sources in Denmark why Moroccan government-controlled media would publish such a story at this moment, all independently told afrol News that there had to be a connection with "the very amusing story" in Denmark’s conservative daily ‘Jyllands-Posten’ about a sex scandal at the Moroccan Embassy in Copenhagen. Consul Raddad el Okbani at the Embassy is accused of sexual harassment and corruption by the Danish-Moroccan population, out of which around 200 took to the streets on 15 November to demand his resignation. Protesters told ‘Jyllands-Posten’ how the Consul repeatedly had demanded bribes and sexual services to get his signature on official documents. He was also reported to have taken photographs of visitors to the Embassy, threatening with reprisals in Morocco if his personal demands were not met. The Consul has been removed from the Moroccan Embassy in Copenhagen, probably having been sent home to Rabat. But the demonstrators are not satisfied, still demanding legal actions to be taken against him. Ms Pedersen, notably amused by the seldom scandal in the diplomatic landscape, holds that there may be a connection. The false Polisario office closure story was published "to take away the attention" from the Embassy scandal, she holds. Polisario representative Malainin agrees Moroccan officials had spread the false story "to cover and attract the public opinion from the scandalous shame in Morocco’s Embassy in Denmark." But, Mr Malainin adds, the scam was also a reaction to Polisario’s relative successes in Denmark and other Nordic countries, where some political parties now even are in favour of recognising Western Sahara as a sovereign state, in line with the AU. "The Moroccan system is worrying about the raising awareness and solidarity of the just cause of the Saharawi people ... in all Scandinavia," he holds. "This increasing awareness and solidarity reached to a point that Moroccan system propaganda machine can not influence it," Mr Malainin adds.

POLISARIO will not allow Morocco to use Western Sahara as a transit for drug dealers

The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, affirmed Monday that "Morocco is a country that produces and exports drug", stressing that "POLISARIO Front will not accept that the Saharawi liberated territories serve as a transit to the commerce of drugs from Moroccan drug dealers". The Saharawi President, who was giving a speech during the opening of the judiciary year 2008-2009, added that "POLISARIO Front will not allow threats to the possessions and dignity of the Saharawi people by those who seek quick profit through drugs trade and other phenomenon". The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, reiterated the readiness of the Saharawi State to support the justice and law, adding that "we are accountable at the level of leadership and executive bodies for the protection and security of our citizens". He further stressed that the Saharawi people, who are famous in the region of been the most tolerant and so far safe from the phenomenon of extremism, is under immediate threat of the raise of extremism in the region. “We are targeted, the President of the Republic, because of the unity that we enjoy, and because of our moderation and straight understanding of Islam as a religion of tolerance, and compassion”. He encouraged the Saharawi security services to be ready and firmly counter any foreign attempt to threaten the stability and security in the region, especially from the Moroccan services.

Botswana reiterates full support to the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and independence

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, Fando Tumbola, reiterated his country’s support to the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and independence. During a reception he offered to the Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, Botswana’s Head of diplomacy denounced the systematic human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. He also expressed solidarity with the Saharawi Republic, denouncing the Moroccan tergiversations and obstacles Rabat is still erecting in front of the UN’s efforts to organise a referendum on self-determination that should give the Saharawis a chance to decide over their future. On his side the Saharawi Minister of Foreign Affairs informed his counterpart about the latest developments of the question of Western Sahara.

Postponement of the European Parliament’s mission to the occupied territories

The European Parliament’s mission, which was due to visit the occupied territories of Western Sahara from the 21 to the 24 of November, was postponed following a demand from the members of the EP Ad-hoc Committee to Western Sahara, it was indicated on Friday. The members of the Committee preferred to postpone their departure to next January, refusing the programme that was proposed by the Moroccan authorities, because it doesn’t meet the objectives of the mission, the same sources indicated. During a meeting at the seat of the European Parliament last September 10 the President of the delegation Maghreb, Carlos José Iturgaiz Angulo, declared that the Moroccan Ambassador in Brussels told him that the Moroccan authorities accepted this joint visit of five Parliamentarians, including two of the Ad-hoc Committee, and the members of the Delegation Maghreb. Nevertheless, a group of parliamentarians expressed doubts that this visit would ever take place despite of the promises of the Moroccan Embassy in Brussels. Representatives of some political groups in the EP, on their side, expressed reserves about the idea of constituting a joint mission, taking into consideration that the Ad-hoc Committee to Western Sahara was supposed to visit the territory alone. POLISARIO Front’s representative in Brussels, Mr. Jamal Zakari, declared that the European institutions are called to exercise more pressures on Morocco to “allow the EP ad-hoc Committee to complete its mission its was mandate for by the European Parliament". It should be recalled that the European Parliament decided to send an ad-hoc Committee to investigate on human rights situation in Western Sahara since 2005. The delegation was able to visit the Saharawi refugee camps and the Saharawi liberated zones under POLISARIO control in 2006, while Morocco didn’t collaborate with it since then.

A concessão do Estatuto Avançado a Marrocos deve excluir o Sara Ocidental

Nós, os signatários desta petição, instamos a União Europeia (U.E.) a não conceder o chamado Estatuto Avançado a Marrocos, a menos que a parte ocupada do Sara Ocidental seja especificamente excluída do acordo.
A U.E. e Marrocos estão actualmente em conversações no sentido de aprofundarem os seus laços através desta cooperação mas, até agora, não tem havido qualquer menção nos relatórios das conversações sobre o que tenha sido feito para impedir que o Sara Ocidental ocupado esteja incluído no acordo de cooperação.
Se a U.E. concedesse de facto o Estatuto Avançado ao Sara Ocidental ocupado, através das suas negociações com a potência ocupante, iria dar um lamentável sinal de apoio às reivindicações infundadas de Marrocos sobre o território. Como consequência, a U.E. poderia prejudicar os esforços da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) para a descolonização do território.
Queremos salientar que Marrocos continua a ocupar ilegalmente o Sara Ocidental, violando mais de 100 resoluções da ONU, que declaram que o povo Sarauí tem direito à autodeterminação. Várias resoluções apontam para o facto de o Sara Ocidental ser um território ocupado e anexado. Além disso, o Tribunal Internacional de Justiça rejeitou as reivindicações de Marrocos sobre o Sara Ocidental e a ONU considera o problema do Sara Ocidental como uma questão de descolonização.
Por força do direito internacional consuetudinário, a U.E. e os seus Estados membros têm o dever de não reconhecer a anexação ilegal do Sara Ocidental por Marrocos e de apoiar a descolonização do território. É também uma obrigação moral, uma vez que o povo sarauí sofre, quer no exílio, quer sob a grave violação dos direitos humanos cometida pelas forças marroquinas nos territórios ocupados do Sara Ocidental.
A U.E. deve, por isso, certificar-se de forma inequívoca que o Sara Ocidental fique excluído da aplicabilidade territorial do Estatuto Avançado, sem delegar essa responsabilidade a Marrocos.
Se a U.E. fizer tal precisão estará a seguir o exemplo dos Estados Unidos da America, que excluíram especificamente o Sara Ocidental do seu acordo de comércio-livre com Marrocos. Estará também a seguir o seu próprio exemplo, uma vez que excluiu os territórios palestinos do Acordo de Associação U.E.-Israel. Instamos a U.E. a observar estes precedentes e a apoiar o processo de paz da ONU, cumprindo o seu dever de não-reconhecimento.
Nós, os signatários desta petição, não somos, em princípio, contra uma cooperação mais intensa entre a U.E. e Marrocos. No entanto, exigimos que o acordo que saia das conversações sobre o Estatuto Avançado especifique claramente que a sua aplicabilidade não se estenderá para sul da fronteira meridional internacionalmente reconhecida de Marrocos, ou seja, o paralelo 27 ° 40' N.
Atentamente,


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