Yara under police investigation for Western Sahara shipments

The fertilizer company Yara remains under investigation by Norwegian police after having purchased a shipload of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. In August 2008, it was discovered that the Norwegian fertilizer producer Yara International had imported phosphates from occupied Western Sahara, despite previous promises that they would never again carry out such imports. Yara has over the last 3 years followed the recommendations from the Norwegian government, which urges Norwegian companies to neither trade with nor invest in Western Sahara until the dispute over the territory is settled. But despite earlier promises and despite Norwegian government policy, and despite the fact that Yara is over 40 percent owned by the Norwegian government, the news service Norwatch revealed in August that Yara had imported a cargo containing 16.800 tonnes of phosphates from Western Sahara. The value of the cargo, transported by a bulk vessel named ‘African Wildcat’, was estimated to be around 4,3 million euros. See coverage of the story on Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, to the right (in Norwegian). The cargo was discharged at Yara’s harbour at Herøya, from 30th of July to 6th of August this year. Norwatch even got hold of a photo documenting the vessel at harbour (on top). “I can confirm that we have imported one phosphate shipment. We are not about to start importing phosphate originating from Western Sahara”, Bente Slaatten, public relations officer at Yara told Norwatch. Reported to the police Few days after the revelation was made, the Association of Sahrawis in Norway, together with the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara reported Yara to the police. “The production and export of the phosphates is done by an illegal occupying power in violation of the wishes and interests of the people of the territory, the Sahrawis”, the two organizations stated in the file handed over to the police on 29 August. “Thus, the phosphate exports must be considered a theft. The customer of the phosphates, Yara, has knowingly purchased the stolen goods, and thereby violated 317 of the Norwegian Penal Code on fencing of stolen property”, the statement said. The story of the reporting to the police was covered by the private national TV station, TV2 (to the right, in Norwegian). The Oslo district police has confirmed to the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara that the issue is currently under investigation. Promised to stop As late as in 2005, Yara promised in Norwegian media that it would not again import from Western Sahara. “Under the present circumstances we feel that it is correct to refrain from buying phosphate originating from Western Sahara”, Yara said to Norwegian Business Daily, Dagens Næringsliv, in 2005. After the the revelation of the August 2008 shipment, Yara has repeated numerous times to Norwegian media that this policy remains unchanged. The import in August was an exception, only related to testing of production facilities in Norway that they are investing millions of euros in, according to Yara. “We have had a project in which we tested various types of phosphate. In that project we chose to include this type, with an expectation that some time in the future the Western Sahara conflict will be resolved, and that the UN and Norwegian authorities will no longer advice against it. Now that we are investing large sums in the new plant, we must ensure that we get it right”, Slaatten told Norwatch. This message was actually also conveyed to Norwegian authorities two weeks before “African Wildcat” entered the harbour of El Aaiun, in occupied Western Sahara. The Ministry of Trade and Industry had been updated about Yara’s import already in beginning of July –but failed to prevent Yara from carrying out the trade. “Yara informed us that it would not start importing phosphate from the mentioned areas as long as the UN and the Norwegian authorities advised against import from Western Sahara”; said Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Øyvind Slåke, to Norwatch. Not yet apologized Yara has still not consulted the representatives of the Sahrawi people, nor apologized for their imports, which entails a serious political and economic loss for the Sahrawi people. Nor has Yara compensated for the loss. The value of the stolen phosphates equals 25% of the entire multilateral aid that is given by the international community to the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria in one entire year. A recent report by Norwegian Church Aid reveals that 19% of children in the refugee camps suffer from malnourishment, making the situation in the camps one of the most acute in the world. Unethical “A particularly serious violation of fundamental ethical norms e.g. because it may strengthen Morocco’s sovereignty claims and thus contribute to undermining the UN peace process”. That is what the US energy company Kerr-McGee’s involvement in Western Sahara was called by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance in 2005. The breach was considered so serious that the Norwegian government’s pension fund decided to divest from the US oil company. The three political parties in the Norwegian coalition government all have adopted strong resolutions demanding Norwegian companies to stay away from Western Sahara. The revelations of Yara’s phosphates import come shortly after three Norwegian shipping companies announced they do not wish to participate in similar trade. The Bergen-based shipping company R-Bulk was caught red-handed in April, when one of its ships had transported phosphate from the occupied country to Colombia. “We have of course taken this up with the shipping company that leased the ship, so that they will do their utmost to prevent this from happening in the future,” R-Bulk’s chairman of the board told the National Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in Hordaland. “We are located in Asia and admit that we knew nothing about Western Sahara. We have only had a single charter. But now that we have become aware of the Western Sahara issue, we won’t take on new contracts for assignments there,” Raymond Ching, vice president of Oslo Stock Exchange-listed Jinhui Shipping, told the leading English-language newspaper South China Morning Post on 11 May 2008. Jinhui withdrew from the assignments after Norwegian insurance compnay Storebrand had taken the case up with the shipping company and after Norwatch had reported the involvement. In November 2007 the Farsund-based shipping company Arnesen Shipbrokers informed NRK that it would do likewise. See an overview of the Yara coverage in Norwegian media here See Norwatch’s stories here: - 27th of August 2008:Yara Ignored Norwegian Ethical Standards - 27th of August 2008:The Government Knew about the Yara Transaction - 28th of August 2008: -NHD-bjellene skulle ringt (in Norwegian)

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TERRITOIRES OCCUPES/REPRESSION

Arrestation de deux citoyens sahraouis à la ville d’El Aaiun occupée

El Aaiun (territoires occupés), Les forces de répression marocaines ont réprimé samedi une manifestation pacifique des étudiants sahraouis au collège ‘Allal ibn Abdallah’ à la capitale occupée du Sahara occidental, El Aaiun, a rapporté le ministère sahraoui des territoires occupés et de la diaspora.

Des dizaines d’étudiants sahraouis ont organisé pacifiquement une manifestation appelant au retrait immédiat de l’occupation marocaine du Sahara occidental et scandant des slogans en faveur de l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui, avant d’être dispersé brutalement par les forces marocaines, a ajouté la même source.

Ces mêmes forces ont arrêté le jeune sahraoui, Mreihba et un autre qui n’a pas pu être reconnu,. a-t-on souligné de même source.

A cet égard des dizaines de citoyens sahraouis se sont regroupés dans le quartier ‘Erraha’ pour réclamer la libération des prisonniers politiques sahraouis et permettre au peuple sahraoui l’exercice de son droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance.

Par ailleurs les forces d’occupation marocaines avaient arrêté le mineur Elmoualati Jaafar (11ans) pendant plus de 48 heures au commissariat de la police, sans avertir sa famille, avait rappelé la même source.

Il est à noter qu’à la ville d’El Aaiun occupée, les forces marocaines mènent une campagne d’arrestations et de contrôle dans les avenues de la ville et impose un couvre feu sur toute la ville, a conclu la même source.

More shots of Port Phillip

Western Sahara Resource Watch has received more photos documenting the vessel that arrived Tasmania, Australia, end of October, carrying phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

These spectacularly coulourful photos were taken in the port of Risdon, Tasmania, Australia, on 26th of October 2008.

The photos show the vessel Port Phillip discharging phosphates for the fertiliser producer Impact. The phopshate rock originates from occupied Western Sahara, and has been shipped to Australia in violation of international law. Read a UN opinion on the illegality of such industries here.

As far as Western Sahara Resource Watch understands, the phosphate from the occupied country is transported from the harbour to the Impact factory by a firm called Jenkins Hire.

M. Abdelaziz: Le Maroc torpille la reprise des négociations de paix au Sahara Occidental

Valence (Espagne), Le Président sahraoui, Mohamed Abdelaziz, a vivement déploré que le Gouvernement marocain continue à “torpiller” la reprise des négociations avec le Polisario en imposant comme condition “sa formule coloniale appelée autonomie”, ainsi que son “obstruction à la désignation du nouveau envoyé personnel proposé par le Secrétaire général de l’ONU pour le Sahara Occidental”.

Intervenant vendredi au cours de la 32ème édition de la conférence européenne de coordination de soutien au peuple sahraoui (Eucoco), à Valence, M. Abdelaziz a condamné cette "une attitude intransigeante", renouvelant toutefois la disponibilité du Polisario à reprendre ces négociations directes "dans le cadre définis par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unis (….) avec bonne foi et sans conditions préalables".

Le Président sahraoui a en outre regretté qu’aucune pression n’a été exercé sur le Maroc de manière sérieuse au niveau international pour "protéger et imposer la légalité internationale", déplorant également "le silence complice de puissances influentes qui encouragent le Maroc à continuer à violer le Droit international".

A cet égard le Président sahraoui a évoqué l’octroi par l’UE de statut de partenaire privilégié, qui devait être soumis selon lui à "la condition de mettre fin aux violations systématiques des droits humains au Sahara Occidental et au pillage des ressources naturelles sahraouies".

Dans cette optique, il a lancé un appel à la France et à l’Espagne "impliqués directement dans le conflit", pour "reconsidérer la situation et les décisions, afin qu’elles soient conformes aux valeurs préconisés par l’UE, contribuant ainsi à la préservation de la sécurité, la paix et la stabilité dans la région".

Par ailleurs, M. Abdelaziz a indiqué que devant l’intransigeance de Rabat et le manque de réponse adéquate de la part de la communauté internationale, le Polisario a commencé la reconstruction des zones libérées du Sahara Occidental pour laquelle il compte sur le mouvement de solidarité et l’intérêt des investisseurs pour "créer des conditions de vie meilleures, de sécurité et de tranquillité pour les citoyens sahraouis".

La 34éme Eucoco s’est ouverte ce vendredi après-midi à Valence en présence de plus de 500 délégués venus de 25 pays des différents continents, avec la participation d’une forte délégation sahraouie conduite par le Président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz.

Elle débattra durant trois jours, des thèmes de la solidarité internationale avec le peuple sahraoui et du bilan du travail réalisé depuis la dernière conférence de l’EUCOCO, tenue à Rome, comme elle doit définir les objectifs et la stratégie pour que les droits de justice et de liberté pour ce peule trouvent enfin leur chemin et qu’il puisse enfin décider librement de son destin, précise-t-on. (SPS)

Le Polisario appelle le Conseil de sécurité et le secrétaire général de l'ONU à assumer leurs responsabilités

Bir Lehlou (Territoires sahraouis libérés), Le Front Polisario a appelé, vendredi, le Conseil de Sécurité et le secrétaire général des Nations Unies à assumer leurs responsabilités face à "la fuite en avant des autorités marocaines".

Le Front Polisario a également appelé le Conseil de sécurité et le secrétaire général des Nations Unies à "poursuivre la série de négociations visant l'application des décisions des Nations Unies".

Au moment où le Front Polisario réaffirme au secrétaire général des Nations Unies "ses bonnes intentions et son entière détermination à engager des négociations sérieuses, le roi du Maroc annonce officiellement son refus de négocier en dehors du seul cadre que définissent ses conditions préalables consacrant la politique du fait accompli dans la colonisation du Sahara Occidental sous couvert de ce qu'il appelle autonomie", indique un communiqué du ministère sahraoui de l'Information.

Le Front Polisario "ne restera pas sans agir devant cette situation marquée par l'obstination du Gouvernement marocain et son rejet clairement affiché des dispositions de la Légalité internationale", ajoute la même source soulignant que le Front "saura riposter au moment opportun à cette politique aveugle de manière à préserver les droits du peuple sahraoui et défendre la Légalité et le Droit internationaux". (SPS)

The President of the Republic denounced the condemnation of the Saharawi journalist Moustapha Abd Dayem

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaiz, denounced Wednesday the condemnation by the Moroccan colonial court of the Saharawi journalist and writer, Moustapha Abd Dayem, to 3 years imprisonment and 50.000dh fine. "Denouncing this repressive systematic practices against this young Saharawi, we would like to recall you that the Moroccan government is still imprisoning more than 40 Saharawi political prisoners, only because they demanded the implementation of the UN’s resolutions for the decolonisation of Western Sahara and self-determination for its people", Mr. Abdelaziz wrote in a letter to Ban Ki-Moon. "The latest news we have report that the Moroccan authorities had transferred the Saharawi prisoners of conscience, Moustapha Abd Dayem, to the civil prison in the Moroccan city of Inzegan while they still detain the Saharawi citizens, Mohmed Elhachachi and Abd Dayem Mokhatr Naji without judgment", the Head of the Saharawi State regretted. IN this respect, the Saharawi President exhorted the UN Secretary General to exercise pressure on Morocco so as to unveil the truth on the fate of more than 151 Saharawi prisoners of war and more than 500 victims of "disappearance" since the beginning of the Moroccan invasion of the territory in 1975, the letter adds. He further called to the immediate and unconditional release of all the Saharawi prisoners of conscience maintained in the Moroccan prisons. Last week, it should be recalled, POLISARIO Front reiterated the call on the UN "tp include the protection of the human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in the mandate of the MINURSO" (UN Mission for the organisation of a referendum in Western Sahara), it should be recalled.

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POLISARIO urges the UN to send a mission of investigation in Western Sahara

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Wednesday, to send a mission to investigate on the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Mr. Abdelaziz warned, in an interview to the Spanish press agency, EFE, against the "dangers that may result from the current situation in the territories of Western Sahara under the Moroccan occupation". He held "the Moroccan authorities accountable of crimes, abductions and arrests against the Saharawis because of their political opinion", adding that the “repression is the daily life of the Saharawi population in the occupied zones of Western Sahara". "It seems strange, to us, that this is taking place before the eyes of the UN Mission for the organisation of a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)", he deplored. He urged the UN to include the protection of the human rights in the mandate of its Mission on the ground. "It is time for Morocco to say to Morocco to put an end to the obstacles its is erecting in front of the peace process, as well as its violations of the Security Council’s resolutions that call for direct negotiations without pre-conditions between the two parties to the conflict, POLISARI and Morocco", he underlined. Mr. Abdelaziz reiterated the "availability of POLISARIO to continue the negotiations in good will, conforming to the decisions of the UN with a view to reach a solution that guarantee Saharawi people’s right to self-determination". He finally called in the "French and Spanish governments to review the current position, that POLISARIO considers as favourable to Morocco".

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A young Saharawi girl kidnapped and tortured by Moroccan forces in the occupied city of El Aaiun

The Moroccan forces of occupation kidnapped, last Monday, the young Saharawi student, Miss. Enguia Elhawassi, upon her leaving of the secondary school, a source from the Saharawi Ministry of occupied zones and Diaspora indicated. The 18 years old girl was driven by a group of Moroccan agents to an unknown destination outside the occupied city of El Aaiun, to be tortured and abandoned in a "pitiful state", the same source regretted. Miss. Enguia Elhawassi was victims of arrest and torture at lease six times during the last three years. She is usually arrested after participating to peaceful demonstrations in favour of the independence of her homeland.

End of the President’s visit to New York

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, was received by the President of the Security Council, Mr. Jorge Urbina, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UN, after he met with the UN Secretary General, and the President of the General Assembly, Saharawi diplomatic source in New York indicated. During this meeting the parties discussed the engagements of the Security Council and the implementation of the resolutions related to the conflict in Western Sahara as well as the human rights situation in the last colony in Africa. Mr. Abdelaziz presented to the President of the Security Council, the Saharawi concerns with regards to the paralysis of the process of negotiations and the impasse registered in the peace process because of the Moroccan obstructions. The President also met with Ambassadors of many countries, members in the Security Council, mainly of the UK, Ireland and Russia. Finally, President Abdelaziz and the Saharawi delegation accompanying him was received by Ambassadors and representatives of the Non-Aligned Countries members of the Security Council, especially South Africa, Libya, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Panama, Cuba and Indonesia.

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Comunicado de Imprensa

Organização Mundial de Solidariedade exige que um território ocupado seja excluído da cooperação europeia

4 de Novembro de 2008

As conversações para a concessão do chamado Estatuto Avançado a Marrocos estão prestes a concretizar-se. Se prosseguir com esta cooperação, a União Europeia poderá vir a violar o direito internacional.
A organização de solidariedade Observatório dos Recursos Naturais do Sara Ocidental (WSRW, sigla em inglês Western Sahara Resource Watch) exige que uma condição prévia para a concessão a Marrocos de um tal estatuto privilegiado seja que as partes ocupadas do Sara Ocidental fiquem especificamente excluídas da cooperação.
“Esperamos que o acordo saído das conversações sobre o Estatuto Avançado especifique claramente que a cooperação não se estenderá para sul da fronteira meridional internacionalmente reconhecida de Marrocos, com a latitude de 27º 40’ N”, declara uma carta que hoje foi enviada a Benita Ferrero-Waldner, a Comissária da UE para as Relações Exteriores.
Nenhuma precisão como esta foi feita até agora. O Conselho de Associação UE-Marrocos, reunido pela sétima vez a 13 de Outubro de 2008 no Luxemburgo, não faz menção da aplicabilidade territorial do acordo.
Marrocos continua a ocupar uma grande parte do Sara Ocidental, violando mais de 100 resoluções da ONU, que declaram que o povo do Sara Ocidental tem o direito à autodeterminação. A ONU trata o Sara Ocidental como uma questão de descolonização, e considerou o território como tendo sido ocupado e anexado. O Tribunal Internacional de Justiça rejeitou reivindicações infundadas de Marrocos sobre o território.
"É claro que, por força do direito internacional consuetudinário, a UE e os seus Estados membros têm o dever de não reconhecer a anexação ilegal do Sara Ocidental por Marrocos. O que a UE deve fazer é especificar claramente qual o território com que vai cooperar"- disse Sara Eyckmans, coordenadora do Observatório dos Recursos Naturais do Sara Ocidental, Bélgica.
Se a UE fizer tal precisão, estará a seguir o exemplo dos Estados Unidos da América, que excluiram especificamente o Sara Ocidental do seu acordo de comércio-livre com Marrocos.
"Se a cooperação UE-Marrocos não excluir claramente o território do Sara Ocidental, tal facto levará a um fortalecimento das reivindicações ilegais e infundadas de Marrocos sobre o seu país vizinho. A UE não deve apoiar uma ocupação brutal como esta", disse Eyckmans.
Marrocos pratica graves violações de direitos humanos contra os Saraouis que lutam pela autodeterminação do Sara Ocidental. Mais de 500 Saraouis foram vítimas de “desaparecimentos” desde que Marrocos invadiu o território em 1975.
WSRW é uma rede mundial, que tem como membros organizações em mais de 30 países e que trabalha para a protecção dos recursos naturais do povo Saraoui contra os interesses comerciais marroquinos e estrangeiros no Sara Ocidental ocupado.
Para mais informações, por favor contactar:

Pedro Pinto Leite, IPJET- Plataforma Internacional de Juristas por Timor-Leste, Coordenador da Associação Internacional de Juristas pelo Sara Ocidental na Holanda
Tel: +31-71-5221065
Email: ipjet2@gmail.com

John Gurr, coordenador da Western Sahara Campaign UK
Tel: (+ 44) (0) 845-458-9577
Email: wsc.cymru@tiscali.co.uk

Jan Strömdahl, coordenador da Swedish Western Sahara Association
Tel: (+ 46) 704-3888-41
Email: jan.stromdahl@politik.sll.se

Sara Eyckmans, WSRW Bélgica
Tel: (+ 32) (0)475-458695
Email: sara_eyckmans@yahoo.fr

Leia mais sobre o Observatório dos Recursos Naturais do Sara Ocidental em www.wsrw.org, saraocidentalonline.blogspot.com

Morocco launches homepage on Advanced Status including occupied Western Sahara as part of its own territory

A new Moroccan webpage about the Advanced Status to the EU has now seen its light. The homepage, www.statut-avance.com, was registered on the 22nd of October 2008, and was announced on the Moroccan ministry of information propaganda service, MAP, on November 4th. It is not clear on the webpage who is behind it. But according to MAP, it could be the Moroccan government: "Morocco has launched, on Tuesday, a website dedicated to the advanced status granted by the EU to Morocco in view of promoting this agreement as well as the reforms undertaken by the Kingdom", MAP wrote. The site is "meant to provide information on the status and pays a tribute to those who support Morocco’s endeavours", according to MAP. The webpage mentions places within Western Sahara as being part of Morocco, such as the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, which are quoted as being important ports for Moroccan processing of fish. Even the small logo of the entire page carries a map of Morocco, including territories that are both under Moroccan occupation and Polisario control. See its logo on the right. No countries in the world, including none of the EU states, recognise Western Sahara as being part of Morocco. Controversial sister pages The new page which according to MAP is launched by "Morocco" is affiliated to a number of obscure Moroccan propaganda sites which have appeared over the last two years. It is registered by the US based company www.DomainsByProxy.com, the same registrant as used by a number of other services from the Moroccan ministry of information. The US blogger Will Sommer has on his blog One Hump or Two uncovered how the Moroccan sites are all related through the same servers. This is the case for anti-Polisario pages such as www.polisario-confidentiel.com, www.polisario-verdad.org, www.camps-sequestres.org, www.lavage-de-cerveau.com and www.rabouni.com. They all appear to have the same graphical designer and registered on the same server. They also produce and reproduce the same news, together with MAP. Also the now closed propaganda site www.speakforsaharawis.org, which claimed to be a voice for Sahrawis abused by Polisario, had the same registrant. Most of the news on these sites are inventions, mentioning events, organisations etc. that do not exist, and quoting people erroneously. The interesting new development, is that MAP now admits that www.statut-avance.com, which is on the same registrant as the mentioned propaganda sites, is actually made by what can only be interpreted as the Moroccan government. The new webpage on the Advanced Status does not mention what plans Morocco has to withdraw from the territory it illegally occupies. Morocco remains in Western Sahara, despite of over 100 resolutions from the UN Security Council and General Assembly demanding right to self-determination for the people of Western Sahara to be implemented. On 6th of November 1975, 33 years ago, Morocco entered its neighbouring country despite of the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which said Morocco has no legitimate claim over the territory. Read the full version of the 1975 opinion here. A petition was launched by Western Sahara Resource Watch this week-end to demand from the EU Commission that the Advanced Status shall only cover Morocco as it is internationally recognised, and not to include occupied Western Sahara. After 4 days, 52 organisations have so far signed the petition. The petition, with all signatories, will be sent to the Commission on December 4th.

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The President of the Republic congratulates Obama for his “historical electoral victory”

The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, sent a message of congratulations Today to the newly elected President of the US, Barack Obama, for his “historical electoral victory”. Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, and secured nearly 63 million votes, the largest total in history. He led Republican candidate, John McCain, 52 percent to 46 percent in the popular vote--the highest percentage of any Democratic presidential nominee in 40 years. Here is the complete text of the letter sent Today by President Mohamed Abdelaziz to President Barack Obama: ------------------------------ November 5, 2008 The Honorable Barack Obama The President-Elect Obama for America P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL 60680 Dear President-Elect; On behalf of the people of the Western Sahara; its Government and my own, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations upon your historic electoral victory which brings so much hope to many people and nations, in particular to the Sahrawis that have been denied justice for so long. I am confident that your election not only will lead your great country to further prosperity but also will contribute to creating a more stable world based on the respect for the international legality. The people of the Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, has a great hope in your leadership to ensure that justice will prevail in that part of Africa and that a democratic solution is implemented through a free and fair referendum in which the Sahrawi people can determine its future. While I wish you success in your noble Mission, Mr. President-Elect, Please accept the expression of my highest consideration. Mohamed Abdelaziz President of the Sahrawi Republic Secretary General of the Polisario Front

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President Mohamed Abdelaziz met with Mr. Ban Ki-moon

POLISARIO Front’s Secretary General and President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, met on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York, with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, with the presence of the latter assistants, a source from the Presidential delegation indicated. The discussions tackled the efforts of the United Nations aimed to decolonise Western Sahara and the process of negotiations between the two parties to the conflict, POLISARIO Front and Morocco, with a view to implement the UN Security Council’s resolutions. The Saharawi President, who affirmed the attachment and engagement of POLISARIO to continue the negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, regretted the attitude of Morocco that continue to put obstacles in front of this process and that uses all kinds of delaying tactics to postpone the official announcement of the name of the new Personal Envoy. Mr. Abdelaziz also recalled POLISARIO Front’s attachment to the international legality and underlined that the "respect of the Saharawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence is the only solution to the conflict". President Mohamed Abdelaziz drew the attention of his interlocutor to the daily violations of the human rights committed by the Moroccan authorities in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and in the south of Morocco. In this respect, the Head of the Saharawi State stressed the need to enlarge the mandate of the UN’s Mission on the ground, MINURSO, to include the protection and monitoring of human rights, in addition to the need to publish the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, elaborated since 2006 by a mission from the commissioner that visited the occupied zones of Western Sahara and the refugee camps. On his side, Mr. Ban Ki-moon affirmed to President Abdelaziz his determination to continue with his efforts for a prompt resuming of the process of negotiations under the auspices of his new Personal Envoy. He thanked POLISARIO Front, in this regard, for its cooperation as well as its help and assistance to the MINURSO. The meeting was also attended, from the Saharawi side, by Mr. Mhamed Khadad, Saharawi Coordinator with the MINURSO, Mr. Boukhari Ahmed and Mr. Moulud Said respectively POLISARIO Front’s representatives in New York and in Washington.

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Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, Mustapha is transferred to Inzegan prison

The Saharawi writer and journalist, member of UPES, Mustapha AbdDaiem, was transferred yesterday to the local prison of Inzegan (Agadir-Morocco), where he was immediately handcuffed and put in punishment cell. The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES), consider this practice exercised against the Saharawi journalist and activist as an act of vengeance from the Moroccan colonial authorities against Mustapha. Moroccan colonial court in the city of Gulemim (South of Morocco) sentenced the Saharawi journalist and writer, Mustapha AbdDaiem, Tuesday 4 November, to 3 years imprisonment and 5000 Moroccan dirham fine, because of his political opinions. Mr. Mustapha AbdDaiem is an active human rights activist, and member of UPES (Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union), who usually unveils and condemns the Moroccan human rights violations in the occupied zones of Western Sahara, in the South of Morocco and in Moroccan universities against Saharawi students. He was kidnapped last Monday 27 October in the city of Assa, after he clearly supported some Saharawi demonstrators, who were victims of Moroccan police violence. The Saharawi journalist entered the Moroccan court raising his hands in sign of victory and chanting slogans in favour of the independence of Western Sahara. He openly declared that the Moroccan police has falsified all his statements during the interrogatory, and asked the Moroccan judge not to consider any of the false information presented by the criminal police. The Moroccan judge, however, didn’t take note of the victim’s declaration and quickly sentenced him to three years imprisonment after a brief break. The lawyers of the Saharawi journalist were surprised and declared that the trial lacked the most fundamental condition of fair judgment. It should be noted that the sister of the Saharawi journalist was arrested the same day, in the occupied city of Dakhla some 1400 km south the city where her brother was arrested. The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES) condemned this new violation of Saharawi people’s most fundamental rights, and called on all international human rights organizations and trade unions to support the Saharawi journalist in his plight. UPES informs all concerned that it will soon start an international campaign for the support to the Saharawi journalist, AbdDaiem, and for his immediate and unconditional release. And ask all friends and lovers of justice to support this action.

BASF will not repeat importation of phosphate from Western Sahara

The Belgian branch of German chemical company BASF is not planning further imports from occupied Western Sahara. Early in October, the branch of Western Sahara Resource Watch in Belgium discovered that a Belgian subsidiary of BASF had imported phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. On 22nd of October, German former MEP Margot Kessler, together with Western Sahara Resource Watch, wrote to BASF, asking for a clarification regarding the imports of phosphates. The letter requested information on the scope of the BASF imports. In a reply yesterday, the company confirmed having received this shipment, but said they do not expect further imports. "For the time being, this was an isolated replacement delivery from this territory which we do not expect to be repeated in the future. ", wrote Mrs. Anne Forst from BASF sustainability center in a mail to WSRW. "A part of BASF’s phosphate demand is covered by Moroccan phosphate delivered by Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP). OCP has been a reliable supplier of phosphate from mines in the Kingdom of Morocco for over 20 years. In spring 2008, OCP contacted us because of a supply shortage at the Moroccan mine from which BASF usually receives the phosphate. OCP offered a temporary replacement order with phosphate in an alternative quality from a different mine operated by OCP in the Western Sahara region, which we accepted", Forst wrote. The BASF representative says that the OCP has assured in an "expert opinion" that the OCPs operations in Western Sahara are to be beneficial locally. OCP has been running operations in occupied Western Sahara since shortly after Moroccan forces moved into Western Sahara on November 6th 1975. "OCP provided an expert opinion which was able to demonstrate to BASF that OCP’s operations in the Western Sahara are beneficial through job creation for the local people, investments in the local infrastructure, community engagement, and economic stimulus. We are fully confident that the operations of OCP at Boucraa and the purchase of the replacement delivery were consistent with international law.", Horst wrote. Since taking over the plant in 1975, OCP has replaced most of the Sahrawi workers with Moroccan settlers, who have been moved into the territory in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

POLISARIO Front reiterates demand to include the protection of human rights in the mandate of the MINURSO

POLISARIO Front denounced the pursuit of the "flagrant human rights violations" committed by the Moroccan authorities in many regions of the occupied Western Sahara and in the south of Morocco. In a letter he addressed to the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, POLISARIO Front Secretary General, Mohamed Abdelaziz, reiterated demand to "include the protection of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in the mandate of the MINURSO" (Mission of the UN for the Organisation of a Referendum in Western Sahara). The letter informed the UN Secretary General of the latest developments in Assa and the victims of the Moroccan forces attack against Saharawi unemployed who were peacefully demanding their legitimate right to work. POLISARIO Front called on the UN "to immediately intervene so as to protect the Saharawi citizens and guarantee their legitimate rights to the freedom of expression, demonstration and movement". The text also demanded the release of all Saharawi political prisoners, underlining the need to draw the light on the fate of more than 500 disappeared and 151 Saharawi prisoners of conscience, and to implement the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Violent confrontations took place last Monday 27 February 2008 in the city of Assa between the Moroccan colonial forces and peaceful Saharawi demonstrators who protested against the marginalisation and asked for legitimate rights to work and decent life. Saharawi students and citizens joined force to face the Moroccan police violent intervention against peaceful unemployed who wanted to organsie a sit-in to demand the right to work. The demonstrator lifted the flags of the Saharawi Republic and chanted slogans in favour of the independence of Western Sahara, and demanded the release of all Saharawi political prisoners from Moroccan jails. Moroccan colonial forces, from different corpses of police and military forces, violently attacked the peaceful demonstrators. The reaction from the Saharawi population was quick. Roads were closed by tyres in fire and the Saharawi youth started resisting the attacks with stones. The Moroccan authorities sent more forces from the neighbouring cities, and violently responded causing some injured and arresting others, while some Saharawi houses were stormed in by police and military agents. According to a first list, the injured victims are: Khouah Lhayba, Mustapha Charkaoui, Lghali Chayn, Lmjakri Chrayaf, Lkntawya Banga, Souakh Brahim. Others were arrested by the Moroccan forces, namely Abdaim Lmkhtar, Mohamed Lhchaychi, Jilali, Baldi Mohamed. Many houses were ransacked by Moroccan forces and their furniture and goods stolen or damaged.

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Demonstration in front of the Moroccan consulate in Las Palmas to demand the release of Saharawi prisoners of conscience

Demonstrators organised a rally in front of the Moroccan Consulate in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) to demand the "immediately and unconditionally release all the Saharawi prisoners of conscience", a source from the Saharawi representation in Madrid indicated. Organised by the Canary Islands Association of support to the Saharawi people, the demonstration that took place on Thursday gathered many demonstrators lifting the Saharawi national flags and a placard that reads: "freedom for the Saharawi prisoners of conscience". They also chanted slogans in favour of the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and independence. The demonstrators handed over a letter protesting against the human rights violations committed by the Moroccan State against the Sahara people in the occupied zones and in the south of Morocco, but the employees of the consulate refused to receive it, the same source added.

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Le président de la République félicite Bouteflika à l’occasion du 54 anniversaire du 1er novembre

RASD/ALGERIE/ANNIVERSAIRE

Bir Lehlou, Le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz a adressé vendredi, un message de félicitations à son homologue algérien, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, à l’occasion de la célébration du 54ème anniversaire de la Révolution de libération algérienne déclanchée contre l’occupant français le 1er novembre1954.

Le président sahraoui a exprimé à l’occasion de ce glorieux anniversaire les chaleureuses félicitations au peuple algérien, réitérant "la volonté sincère du peuple sahraoui à renforcer les liens de fraternité et d’amitié unissant la République algérienne et la RASD".

"Le peuple sahraoui en bénéficiant des leçons de la lutte et la résistance d’un million et demi des martyrs, exprime sa profonde reconnaissance à la position indéfectible de l’Algérie à la juste cause du peuple sahraoui et son droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance", a écrit le président sahraoui à Bouteflika.

Le Front Polisario réitère sa demande d'inscrire la protection des droits de l'Homme au titre des prérogatives de la MINURSO

RASD/NATIONSUNIES

Bir Lehlou,Le Front Polisario a dénoncé la poursuite des "violations graves des droits de l'Homme" par les autorités marocaines dans plusieurs régions du Sahara Occidental occupé et dans des régions du Maroc où vivent les sahraouis.

Dans une lettre adressée par le secrétaire général du front Polisario, Mohamed Abdelaziz au secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki Moon, le Front Polisario a réitéré sa demande "d'inscrire la protection des droits de l'Homme dans les territoires sahraouis occupés au titre des prérogatives de la Minurso" (Mission de l'Onu pour l'organisation d'un référendum au Sahara Occidental).

La lettre révèle également les derniers développements des évènements qui ont fait des victimes parmi les citoyens sahraouis dans la ville d'Assa au sud du Maroc depuis lundi matin lorsque des travailleurs et chômeurs sahraouis s'étaient réunis dans un sit-in pacifique au centre-ville pour protester contre le chômage et les conditions de travail.

Les personnes rassemblées "ont été violemment réprimées par les forces de l'ordre marocaines (...) ce qui a fait plusieurs blessés parmi les manifestants pacifistes alors que d'autres ont été interpellés", précise la même source.

D'autres sahraouis ont organisé près du siège de la commune d'Assa des manifestations pacifiques pour protester contre la répression dont ont fait l'objet les premiers manifestants et appeler à la libération de tous les détenus politiques sahraouis.

Ces manifestations ont également été réprimées par les forces de l'ordre marocaines qui "ont poursuivi les manifestants dans les rues et ruelles usant de moyens répressifs et sauvages et perquisitionné les établissements éducatifs, et les maisons".

Les forces de l'ordre ont poursuivi, le lendemain, "leur répression et perquisitions des établissements éducatifs" et "dispersé les manifestants par la force en utilisant les bombes lacrymogènes qui ont en blessé plusieurs".

Après avoir dénoncé "l'attaque sauvage" commise par les forces de l'ordre marocaines contre des civils de la ville d'Assa, le Front Polisario a appelé les Nations Unies à "une intervention immédiate en vue de protéger les citoyens sahraouis et leur garantir leurs droits légitimes en matière de libre expression, de rassemblements et de circulation".

Il a réitéré son appel pour la libération de tous les détenus politiques sahraouis soulignant la nécessité de faire la lumière sur le sort de 500 disparus et 151 prisonniers de guerre sahraouis et d'appliquer les recommandations issues en 2006 du Haut commissariat des Nations Unies pour les droits de l'Homme.