Moroccan authorities prevent a Saharawi human rights activist from boarding a plane to Ireland

The Moroccan authorities prevented Saharawi human rights activist, Ms. Dagja Lachgar, from boarding a plane to fly to Ireland, where she is expected to participate to an international conference. The Saharawi activists, member of the Executive Bureau of the Saharawi Association of the Victims of Flagrant Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH) was arrested by the police in the airport of Mohamed V in Casablanca. Ms. Dagja is an ex-victim of forced disappearance. She spent 11 years in Moroccan secret detention camps from 1980 to 1991. The Saharawi activists was invited to participate to the Irish Ethical Development Action (EDA) Annual Conference 2009, which will take place this year under the theme: “Global Resources, Human Rights and the Environment: The Western Sahara Conflict”, this Friday 3rd April 2009, 9.00 am– 5.00 pm at Gresham Metropole Hotel Cork, Ireland. This year, EDA’s annual conference will be opened by Minister for foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, TD, and will draw the attention to the decades-old conflict between the people of Western Sahara (the Saharawi), the last remaining colony in Africa, and the occupier of two-thirds of their country, Morocco, EDA’s official website indicates. EDA’s conference will investigate and challenge aspects of this conflict. Speakers will include Saharawi from the refugee camps, representatives of POLISARIO, the government of Western Sahara, and key international speakers, who together will focus on issues such as food security, gender, the environment, human rights, international law and conflict resolution. These speakers will include: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD; two representatives from Western Sahara; a member of POLISARIO; Simon Coveney TD; Michael D. Higgins TD (TBC); Tom Kitt TD; Dr Tara Shine, Environmental Scientist and TV Presenter; Professor Willem Van Cotthem, UNICEF Dryland Agricultural Advisor; Dr. Nadia Bernaz (Law Department, Middlesex University); Adam Komorowski (Mines Advisory Group, UK); Mark Mc Loughlin (Journalist/Documentary Film Maker); Jim Loughran (Frontline Defenders); Alice Wilson (Cambridge University)