National Archive continues the fight to preserve Saharawi history

Like a turret guarding a medieval fortress, the National Archive of Information of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) sits atop a hill in the Saharawi administrative camp of Rabouni. Here in the Archive, an electronic battle is waged to preserve the history of the Saharawi people as the Polisario Front (the leaders of the Saharawi movement for independence) stages a diplomatic war to secure their future.

The original Archive was opened in 1984, within the SADR Ministry of Information s compound. The building, however, was too dark, crowded and permeable to protect the documents, tapes and books within from the elements.

"It was a catastrophe," says Saleh, the current director of the National Archive. "We lost a bunch of material to the rain, the heat and the humidity."

In 2005, however, the Austrian Development Cooperation (GEZA) provided the Saharawis with a generous donation to construct a new facility at the Archive s present location. The new building touts weather-proof construction, photo and negative scanners, audio conversion equipment, central air conditioning, and a central server connected to ten PCs with satellite Internet.

"This new space is incredible," says Ayshetu, who has worked in the Documents Department at the Archive for four years. "It is much better for the documents and much better for the workers. We no longer fear that all of our work will be destroyed by bad weather. In the rains of 2006, we lost a ton of documents."

The National Archive consists of five different departments – Photography, Documents, Sound Recordings, Audiovisual and Administration – each of which is run by a handful of individuals dedicated to making digital versions of materials to better preserve them.

For example, in the Sound Recordings Department, every radio broadcast over the past several decades has been filed and saved in condensed format on a central sever. In this way, information concerning the history of the Saharawis is preserved and easily accessible.

Hundreds of pictures worth millions of words
Mulay Mehdy, who has been working in the Photography Department since 2005, is in charge of ensuring that the plethora of photos taken since the early 1970s are digitalized, and thus preserved.

"We have lots of negatives from the 70s and 80s," boasts Mehdy. "We have pictures of everything: women s organizations, the military, political meetings, etc. I don t know how many negatives and photos we actually have, but there must be thousands."

Since its foundation in the early 1970s, the Polisario Front has been especially careful to preserve the photographic history of its movement. Working through its Department of Photography, Polisario paid for and collected photos of political events, military endeavors and the everyday lives of the Saharawis. It then registered and archived these photos.

"Our job is to digitalize all these," said Mehdy, as he pulled out a huge, white binder full of hundreds of negatives. "The climate here in the camps is terrible for the preservation of pictures, so we want to make them all digital."

Mehdy then demonstrated the digitalization process. Using a scanner that reads both negatives and photos – also donated by GEZA – he scans a strip of negatives onto his PC. He then cuts and edits the pictures one at a time, using advanced photo-editing software. The pictures are then separated into folders based on their content, and a description is added to the photo if the specifics of the subject matter are known. All of these electronic files are then saved on the computer s hard disk and a central server in the Archive.

"Some of the pictures were taken in extreme situations," admits Meheli, showing a photo of a group of soldiers preparing for an attack, "so the photographer couldn t write down where or when the picture was taken."

History through the written word
In the Documents Department, written materials are preserved, filed and digitalized, when possible. The department includes Saharawi newspapers, magazines, speeches and political documents.

Ayshetu s work within the Documents Department is currently dedicated to cataloging the digital versions of the various Saharawi magazines and periodicals, including May 20th, March 8th (a magazine published by the National Union of Saharawi Women) and Free Sahara. The now-digitalized magazines date back to 1973 and are preserved in Arabic, Spanish and French.

"The physical documents, particularly the magazines, are a new window to the past, especially for the youth who go to study in Algeria, and return here to do research on our past," says Ayshetu.

Against the odds
In the most developed countries in the world, preserving the documented history of a nation can be a challenge. Here in the Saharawi refugee camps, it is a near impossibility.

"It is an extremely difficult challenge," admits Saleh. "The Saharawis are a nomadic people. They are not using to documenting things, much less saving those documents. We are trying hard to change that mentality."

"Even here in the Archive," adds Ayshetu, "there are workers who don t know how to take care of the documents. So you can imagine about the average Saharawi."

To encourage Saharawis in the camp and in the territories of the Western Sahara occupied by Morocco, the National Archive has published brochures detailing its activities and outlining the importance of preserving the historical records of the Saharawi people.

"We ve even developed a new program. If somebody does not want to donate their materials to the Archive, they can come and have them digitalized, and then we give them their documents or photos right back," points out Mehdy. "But like I said, it s still a new program, and we haven t gotten a big response yet."

"Nobody brings anything to us," admits Ayshetu. "If we want to save something here in the Archive, we have to go get it ourselves."

Worth its weight in gold
Ever since the 1991 ceasefire between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco, the Saharawis have dedicated their time to finding peaceful ways to wage the war for their UN-backed right to self-determination. The National Archive is yet another branch of their dipomatic forces.

"To try to prove that the Western Sahara is theirs, the Moroccans say that the Saharawis are the same as them," says Meheli. "The pictures and documents here at the Archive differentiate the Saharawi people from the Moroccan people."

The National Archive s employees, too, benefit from the work with which they are tasked.

"This work makes me very proud, because I can see how our people have fought against the colonizers for decades," adds Ayshetu.

At the end of the day, however, like every institution in the Saharawi refugee camps, the underlying mission of the National Archive is a political one.

"It s political work," admits Ayshetu. "Everything that Polisario and the Saharawis do, we try to preserve it."

"A nation that has no history is a nation that runs the risk of being marginalized forever," concludes Meheli, as he inspects a photo from 1974 of Il Wali, the founder of the Polisario Front.

Human Rights Watch insists UN expand MINURSO s mandate to include human rights monitoring

In a letter addressed to the President of the United Nations Security Council, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged that "[MINURSO s] mandate be revised to encompass on-the-ground human rights monitoring, or that another UN mechanism assume this function."

In this letter, dated April 16, HRW reiterated the calls it made in its December 2008 report entitled Human Rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf Refugee Camps, in which the NGO insisted that a human rights component be added to the responsibilities of the UN Mission for a Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO)

The letter was written as a response to the recently released report by the Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General, in which no expansion of MINURSO s mandate was detailed. The full text of the letter is included below:

April 16, 2009

Your Excellency,
Human Rights Watch is writing this letter to urge your support at the UN Security Council for establishing a program of human rights monitoring for Western Sahara and the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.
As the Security Council deliberates renewing the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which expires at the end of this month, we urge that the mandate be revised to encompass on-the-ground human rights monitoring, or that another UN mechanism assume this function.
The Security Council should establish such a mechanism because the United Nations has a special obligation to Western Sahara as a designated "non-self-governing territory" whose political future is contested, and where there is no other regular, independent on-the-ground monitoring of human rights.
As the Report of the Secretary General on the Situation Concerning Western Sahara, dated April 13, 2009 states, "The United Nations has no staff on the ground dedicated to monitoring respect for human rights in the Territory or in the refugee camps near Tindouf, since MINURSO does not have a specific human rights mandate and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has no presence in the Territory or in the refugee camps near Tindouf."
A UN monitoring presence would serve as a neutral source of human rights reporting, amidst the allegations that the adversaries in the conflict level against one another. In so doing, it can enhance the environment for negotiations by building trust and ensuring that rights are respected.
It is important to note that such monitoring is a standard component of peacekeeping operations elsewhere; MINURSO is nearly the only peacekeeping unit under UN auspices that has no human rights monitoring component. The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) for its part conducted a single research mission in 2006, but never formally published its report from that visit.
Human Rights Watch published in December 2008 a detailed report, Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps. We found a pattern of violations by Moroccan authorities of the right of Sahrawis to speak, associate and assemble peacefully in support of self-determination. The report describes how security forces arbitrarily arrest demonstrators and suspected Sahrawi activists, sometimes beating them and subjecting them to torture, and force them to sign incriminating police statements, all with virtual impunity; the courts then convict and imprison them after unfair trials.
Human Rights Watch devotes a substantial portion of its report to human rights in the Polisario-run refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria. While we did not find systematic violations of human rights at the present time, the concerns we noted, including the absence of open debate on fundamental political issues and the survival, in a limited number of cases, of practices related to slavery, heighten our concern that the rights of the Sahrawis living in these camps are vulnerable due to the camps extreme isolation, the lack of regular, on-the-ground human rights monitoring, and the lack of oversight by the host country of Algeria.
For this reason, we have emphasized that any program of UN human rights monitoring must cover both Moroccan-administered territories and the Polisario-run camps in Algeria. The Polisario Front s verbal acceptance of UN monitoring should be put to the test. Morocco should favor such monitoring as well, as a means of providing independent verification of its repeated assertions that the Polisario Front, with Algerian complicity, is holding the Tindouf camp population captive against its will and severely repressing its rights.
Human rights monitoring would essentially involve having UN human rights officers based permanently in the Western Sahara and the camps, either as part of MINURSO or as a stand-alone OHCHR mission mandated by either the Security Council or the Human Rights Council. There, they would be able to monitor and report on the situation, identify the key human rights concerns and their causes, and be able to raise these with the relevant authorities.
MINURSO is the obvious candidate to conduct human rights monitoring in the camps and in Western Sahara. Although its original and eponymous mandate-to organize a referendum-has been stymied since 2000, its sizable locally-based staff, resources and long experience may make it the entity best placed to perform this function. In addition to monitoring the cease-fire, MINURSO operates, together with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, a program of family visits and other confidence-building measures.
Even if the Security Council does not expand the mandate of MINURSO to include human rights, it should endorse another monitoring mechanism, such as a field presence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Regular rights monitoring is essential to having an accurate picture of the situation and to ensuring that Morocco on the one hand and, on the other, Algeria and the Polisario Front, respect the rights of persons under their respective control. By accepting such monitoring, the parties would show good faith and nurture the mutual confidence needed to advance the political negotiations over the territory s future.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,

Sarah Leah Whitson Steve Crawshaw
Executive Director United Nations Advocacy Director
Middle East & North Africa division

UN Secretary General refuses to expand MINURSO s mandate to include observation of human rights

In a recently released letter to the United Nations Security Council (S/2009/200), the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, offered an update on the conflict in the Western Sahara and requested an extension of the authorization of the UN Mission for a Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO), but failed to call for any expansion of the duties included within the mission s mandate.

While the Secretary General did ask the Security Council to expand the Western Saharan mission by a full calendar year, he did not add the monitoring of human rights in the Moroccan-occupied territories and the Saharawi refugee camps, which are controlled by the Polisario Front, the leaders of the Saharawi movement for independence.

“I would like to reiterate that the United Nations remains committed to upholding international human rights standards,” stated the Secretary General, “and to repeat my call to the parties to remain engaged in continuous and constructive dialogue with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.”

“The United Nations has no staff on the ground dedicated to monitoring respect for human rights in the Territory or in the refugee camps near Tindouf, since MINURSO does not have a specific human rights mandate,” he added.

This decision was made despite recent appeals from a variety of institutions – including the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the European Parliament s Ad-Hoc Delegation to the Western Sahara and Amnesty International – to require MINURSO officials to monitor human rights violations against the Saharawi people.

In its report published on December 19, 2008, entitled Human Rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf Refugee Camps, Human Rights Watch began its “Recommendations” section by asking the UN Security Council to “(e)xpand the mandate of MINURSO to include human rights monitoring and reporting in both Western Sahara and in the Polisario-administered camps in Algeria.”

This recommendation was made after an HRW fact-finding mission reported the occurrence of human rights violations – including unfair trials, beatings, torture and disrespect for the freedoms of assembly, association and speech – by Moroccan police forces against Saharawis living in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara.

The European Parliament s Ad-Hoc Delegation to the Western Sahara echoed these suggestions in its report published after a brief trip to the occupied areas of the North African country in January.
The Secretary General s report also included updates on developments in the conflict; activities of the new UN Special Envoy to the Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, military violations of the 1991 ceasefire committed in the past year by both sides (11 by the Royal Moroccan Army and 7 by the Polisario Front); violations of the freedom of movement of MINURSO (75 by the RMA and 2 by Polisario), a description of de-mining efforts by both sides, and praise for the confidence-building measures being carried out by MINURSO.

Same old song and dance
Besides its inability to fulfill its initial mission of organizing a free and fair referendum in the Western Sahara, one of the Saharawis main concerns regarding MINURSO has long been the lack of human rights monitoring within its mandate.

“Our hope is that, through the Security Council s diligent efforts, the United Nations will address responsibly the long-standing and systematic denial of the human rights of the Saharawi people,” stated Ahmed Bukhari, the Polisario representative to the UN, in a letter to the Security Council sent in February.

Mafoud Ali Bayba, President of the Parliament of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), expressed the frustration shared by the Saharawi people over this recent report.

“The Secretary General of the United Nations has released another pointless report on MINURSO,” he said.

The full text of the Secretary General s report can be found on the UN Web site at
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N09/290/58/IMG/N0929058.pdf?OpenElement.

President of SADR meets with delegation of Basque youth after week-long exchange with Saharawis

Five young activists from the Basque region of Spain were received by President Muhamed Abdelaziz in the headquarters of the executive branch of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on Thursday.

The group, which included students and graduates who had been involved in the Western Sahara for over 10 years, had helped to organize a week-long youth encounter between Basque and Saharawi youth, which primarily took place in the refugee camp of Ausserd.

After inquiring about the health and well-being of the 74 Basque visitors, the soft-spoken President Abdelaziz began the meeting with a heartfelt thank you to the young activists, but his comments quickly took on a political tone.

"First of all, I want to thank you for all of the support you have given to the Saharawi youth," said the President. "Your solidarity means the world to them and to all of us.

"As you know, ours is a political conflict that is based around four objectives: first and foremost, the organization of a free and transparent referendum that includes the option of independence; second, the cessation of human rights violations in the occupied Western Sahara; third, the destruction of the Moroccan wall that divides the Western Sahara and its people; and fourth, the end of the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of our country by Morocco."

After detailing the intricacies of the current conflict under international law, the President did not hesitate to pass around the room, pouring glasses of water for his international and Saharawi guests, which included Muhamed Sidati, the SADR foreign minister to Europe, and Musa Selma, secretary general of the Saharawi Youth Union (UJSARIO).

Through fire and flames

Next the floor was taken by the young Basque organizers. The activists detailed the events and conclusions drawn from their five days of conferences, workshops and visits for the President, who listened attentively as they expressed their commitment to the Saharawi young people, the movement for independence and the Polisario Front – the leaders of the Saharawi movement.

"Tomorrow is the last day of our trip," said one of the young activists, "but it is not the end of this exchange – it is only the beginning. We will continue the fight with you. The important thing now is that we return to our own country and put into motion all the ideas that have been floating around all week."

Another one of the organizers, Alfred, has been involved with the Saharawi cause since the late 1990s. After detailing some of the protests, hunger strikes and meetings with the Spanish government that he and other young Basques had undertaken in the past decade, he talked about the reality he has seen in his many visits to the Saharawi camps.

"Every time I visit the camps," said the young Basque, "everybody asks me if I like it here. Of course I don’t like it here. This is a living hell that is not fit for any human being. But what I do like are the people here, especially your hope and happiness in the face of difficult odds."

The kids are alright

Before the meeting concluded, President Abdelaziz spoke on the role of the Saharawi youth within the movement for independence.

"The young Saharawis are of utmost importance for the success of our movement," insisted the President. "It is the youth who have staged the peaceful protests in the Occupied Territories; it is the youth who continue to resist the human rights violations by Morocco; and it is the youth who are responsible for the success of these temporary camps.

"We in the Polisario Front have been taking extra steps to make sure that both the youth and women are appropriately represented in all of our institutions. The Saharawi young people are the Saharawi movement."

Final days

The meeting with the President of the SADR was the last organized event of the six-day visit to the Saharawi refugee camps. While the five Basque organizers were meeting with the President, the other 69 Basques and their dozens of Saharawi counterparts were taking part in a trip to the dunes outside of the refugee camp of Ausserd.

On Friday, the leaders of the youth exchange will unite to publish a final declaration concerning their activities in Ausserd, their conclusions drawn from the workshops and their plans for continuing to work together in the future.

The Basque youth will be heading back to their own country on Friday night, after a final day of free time to be spent with newfound friends and families.

Saharawi and Basque youth conclude cultural exchange in Ausserd

On the final day of pre-arranged activities of a youth cultural exchange, 74 young people from the Basque region of Spain and dozens of Saharawi youth gathered in the administrative headquarters of the Saharawi refugee camp of Ausserd to discuss the results of their encounter and prepare for further programs.

After six days of meetings, workshops and conferences arranged by the Saharawi Youth Union (UJSARIO), during which the participants were split into groups focusing on eight different themes – Health, Gender, Sports, Culture, Environment, Communication, Work and Development – the young people came together to brainstorm and present their ideas to the other groups.

This final gathering was opened with remarks by Bechir Hilah, the director of the Social Commission of the National Parliament of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

"These exchanges are the best way for young Saharawis to have their voices heard – by directly interacting with the international community," insisted Bechir. "This is the first such exchange between Basque and Saharawi youth, but it must not be the last."

Where to begin?

Next, the eight different groups met individually to discuss plans for moving forward. Sitting in circles on the carpeted floor, the young people enthusiastically used the paper, posterboard and PowerPoint presentations at their disposal to come up with their proposals.

Saharawi moderators translated into Hassaniya for those who did not speak Spanish as the groups presented their findings and suggestions.

For example, the Saharawis and Basques that had spent the week in workshops on Health spoke about the image that women are expected to have in the Saharawi culture. Highlighting differences between the two cultures, women here are found more attractive if they have pale skin and rounder faces and bodies. The Basques learned that some of the women were using creams and weight-gain pills that contained potentially-harmful chemicals.

"We want to engage with the Saharawi youth in addressing these issues of image, as well as other small adjustments that can help improve their health here in the camps, such as posture, the effects of the sun, the value of stretching, etc," said one of the Basque presenters.

The presenters of the Gender topic addressed the need of young women to have a public space that will provide them with a respite from their household duties and a place to communicate their own ideas. Those from the Environment group talked about potential improvements in garbage collection, such as the placement of trash receptacles in public spaces.

Many ideas and proposals were offered, but the general mood of this final meeting of the cultural exchange was best expressed by Ilmommy, a member of the volunteer youth organization known as the Freedom and Peace Group.

"These cannot just be ideas that stay here in this meeting hall," Ilmommy insisted. "We have to make sure we actually put them into place."

Wrapping up

This final meeting had a double purpose – it served both to add closure to conferences and seminars in which the Basques and Saharawis participated throughout the week and to motivate the young people of both nations to commit to the realization of further exchanges and programs between the two.

After the full day of meetings, the participants piled into two open-topped trucks, in which they travelled to the nearby dunes to take advantage of a peerless Saharan sunset with cups of tea and music.

The Basque youth will leave the camp of Ausserd on Friday after a final day of free time with their new-found Saharawi friends and family.

"I can’t believe we have to leave already," said Bego, a student from the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. "It will be terrible to be torn apart from our friends here."

President of Saharawi National Parliament addresses Basque youth group

During part of their week-long visit to the Saharawi refugee camps outside of Tindouf, Algeria, a group of 74 Basque young people and their Saharawi guides were received by Mahfud Ali Bayba, the President of the National Parliament of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), in the Parliament itself.

Amid flashing cameras and stunned silence, Mahfud spoke with the young Basque visitors, who were participating in a youth exchange with Saharawis from the Saharawi Youth Union (UJSARIO) and two volunteer youth organizations – the Sumud Brigades and the Freedom and Peace Group. The event was also attended by five other members of the National Parliament.

"You can’t imagine the energy you give us when young people such as yourselves come visit us and show your solidarity with our cause," confessed Mahfud.

Tailoring his discourse specifically for the audience, the President of the Parliament did not hesitate to accuse Spain of playing dirty politics with Morocco and refusing to take on its responsibilities under international law.

"It is unbelievable that the Saharawi conflict, which takes place a few dozen kilometers from the [Spanish] Canary Islands, is barely known among the Spanish people," Mahfud declared. "Morocco has always played games with Spanish politics.

"No Spanish government has been able to take a clear, pronounced stance on the issue of the Western Sahara."

Like all events here in the Saharawi refugee camps, the youth exchange must be seen through the larger lens of the Saharawi movement for independence, the root cause of any other issues and concerns of the Saharawi people. Therefore, politics remained the topic of the day during the parliamentarian’s speech.

"Our fight is a political one," Mahfud assured. "The support of the Spanish government is essential for the success of that fight. If we can fix the political problem, all the other problems about natural resources, human rights, etc., will be resolved in turn."

Highlighting the 30-year democratic experience that the Saharawis have been able to perfect, the President of the Parliament spoke on the merits of the government of the SADR.

"We are an Arab, Muslim, African and Third World people. No one expects a democracy to be born here," claimed the parliamentarian, "but theory is very different from practice, and we have been able to do something incredible here."

A government with no country

Responding to questions from the audience, the President of the Parliament gave a brief history lesson on the SADR, which is recognized as a sovereign nation by over 80 countries and the African Union (AU).

"The Saharawi Parliament was born before the country itself," asserted Mafoot.

The parliament was called together several months before the SADR was declared, and on February 27th, 1975, one day after the Spanish government illegally relinquished its control of the Western Sahara, the Saharawi Parliament gave birth to the fledgling nation.

"We had to fill the legal, political and administrative gap left by Spain’s departure," explained the President of the Parliament.

"Since the beginning, the Saharawis have been Polisario, and Polisario has been the Saharawis. The Saharawis are the government, and the government is the Saharawis," boasted Mahfud. "Every Saharawi is at once the majority and the opposition. It is an amazing experiment here in the Saharan Desert."

Trading cultures

The visit to the National Parliament by the group of 100-and-some youth was part of a week-long series of conferences, workshops and exchanges between young people from the Basque region of Spain and from the Saharawi refugee camps, primarily the camp of Ausserd.

The exchange, which is the first of its kind between Basques and Saharawis, is meant to be the first step towards a strong partnership of collaboration between the young people of the two nations.

"We have come here to show our solidarity with the Saharawi people," said one of the Basque organizers. "We will be the ambassadors for the Saharawi youth and all the people here in our own country."

Saharawi-Basque youth exchange builds bridges across the Mediterranean

A group of 74 young people from the Basque region of Spain visited the Saharawi refugee camps outside of Tindouf, Algeria, to engage in a cultural exchange with young Saharawis as the first stage of a partnership between the youth of the two nations.

The exchange, which is the first of its kind between Basques and Saharawis, took place in the refugee camp of Ausserd, where the group of young Basques attended six days of conferences, meetings and workshops hosted by the Saharawi Youth Union (UJSARIO). Two Saharawi volunteer youth organizations – the Sumud Brigade and the Freedom and Peace Group – helped to organize and monitor the activities, as well.

Once in Ausserd, the young Basques split into groups that focused on one of eight topics: Health, Gender, Sports, Culture, Environment, Communication, Work and Development. Throughout the week, the Saharawis and Basques discussed their different views, concerns and needs regarding each topic.

"It is an exchange between our two cultures," said Arrate, a student at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. "We’ve come to listen to the needs of the Saharawi youth here and to see how we can help them meet those needs."

"For example, in the ‘Gender’ group, we are focusing on the needs of the young Saharawi women to have a space where they can communicate and express themselves," explained Bego, another student from Bilbao.

The exchange is meant to be the first step towards a strong partnership of collaboration between the young people of the two nations. The young Basques have come with open minds to learn about the realities faced by Saharawi youth in the camps and to find ways to contribute to the Saharawi movement for independence through projects that show their solidarity with the young people here in the camps.

"We’re hoping to look at the needs that are here and continue to develop projects that we can help out with," said Ainize, also a student from the University of Deusto.

"One thing we’re really focusing on is general development and education," added Agata, from Bilbao. "The youth have to be ready to function normally when they return to their own country in a free Western Sahara."

Since this is the first exchange of its kind, there are still some uncertainties about its outcome. Overall, however, both Basque and Saharawi participants gave a very positive response concerning their experiences.

"To be honest, we’re still not sure exactly what will come out of this," admits Musa Selma, Secretary General of UJSARIO. "We’ll have to see. But I think it has been very productive so far."

While Saharawis from several different camps took part in the week’s activities, the program is aimed specifically at youth from Ausserd, where social services and opportunities for young people are in short supply.

"Smara has a few programs, February 27th has several, El Aaiun has its own, and even Dahkla has a few," said Musa, referring to the other Saharawi camps surrounding Tindouf, Algeria," but here in Ausserd, there is nothing for the youth. So this encounter is very important for both parties involved."

No small task

Arranging the week-long exchange has been no easy task. Preparations began in October of 2008, when a pair of visitors from the Basque group Euskari Youth visited the camps to find ways that the two populations could work together more closely.

"Eight months ago we had two visitors from the Basque region," tells Musa. "We started coming up with ideas, and then five months ago, we really started planning things.

"They [the Basques] had to come up with the money for the plane tickets, food and lodging, and UJSARIO had to arrange all the meetings and activities. It took a lot of planning by both sides. We’re very tired, but it has been worth it," he added.

While both the youth and women’s unions are supported by the Polisario Front – the leaders of the Saharawi movement for independence – the majority of activities and funding in the camps are dedicated towards meeting basic needs of the people and sustaining the peaceful campaign for the freedom of the Western Sahara. As a result, exchanges such as this have to be arranged by the Saharawi youth themselves.

"It is difficult," admits Musa. "If we want to do something like this, we have to go to other countries to be able to do it. It isn’t easy, but it is something we have to do."

Taking a "break"

On Wednesday, the hundred-and-some young people took a break from their meetings and workshops and piled into gigantic, open-topped trucks to visit some of the institutions of the Saharawi camps.

The group toured the Ministry of Information in the administrative camp of Rabouni, the National Archives, the Military Museum, the National Parliament and the headquarters of the Association for the Relatives of Saharawi Political Prisoners and Disappeared Persons (AFAPRADESA).

"It has been extremely interesting," said Ainize. "It was nice to take a break from the meetings and get a chance to actually see the camps themselves."

After a final day of free time with new-found families and friends, the Basques will return to Spain on Friday evening to begin working on their projects.

"This is not the end," admits Alfred, one of the trip’s organizers, "it is only the beginning."

AWSA calls for the protection of human rights in the occupied Western Sahara

The Australian Western Sahara Association (AWSA) called today on the UN Security Council’s President, Amb. Claude Heller, to guarantee the protection of human rights in the occupied zones of Western Sahara.

The letter, also addressed to the Australian Minister of FA, Hon. Stephen Smith, and the Moroccan Ambassador in Australia, expressed concerns about the treatment of the Moroccan authorities to Saharawi prisoners of conscience, especially three prisoners who has recently suspended a 56 days hunger strike.

Here is the complete text of the letter AWSA sent to the President of the UN Security Council:
---------------------------

Dear Ambassador

I am writing on behalf of the Australia Western Sahara Association concerning the situation of three Saharawi political prisoners - Brahim Baryaz, Alisalem Ablagh and Khallihanna Aboulhassan being held by the Moroccan authorities.

The prisoners have suspended a lengthy hunger strike following negotiations between their families and representatives of the General Delegation of the Prisons Administration in Morocco on Wednesday 8 April 2009 and the local prison administration in Marrakesh.

We understand that this suspension is of a temporary nature while the authorities fulfill their undertakings that some of the miserable conditions of the prison will be improved and that the prisoners’ appeal to be treated as prisoners of conscience is considered.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented consistent abuses of Saharawi human rights in the occupied territory, often in respect of protests to support the proposed UN referendum for self determination, a proposal which is within international law. Accordingly these three, Brahim Baryaz, Alisalem Ablagh and Khallihanna Aboulhassan, are political prisoners and their conditions of imprisonment should reflect this.

AWSA asks the United Nations Security Council to urge the Moroccan Authorities that these and other political prisoners to be afforded humane treatment, and that the human rights of all those in the occupied territories be protected.

We look forward to hearing from you on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Lesley Osborne
AWSA Vice President

L’Ouganda réitère son soutien au droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination et à l'indépendance

Kampala, Le ministre des Affaires étrangères de l'Ouganda, Henry Okello Oryem, a réitéré mercredi, la position de soutien de son pays au droit peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination et à l'indépendance à l’issue d’une réunion avec le membre du Secrétariat national coordonnateur avec la MINURSO, Mhamed Khaddad à Kampala.

Le Chef de la diplomatie ougandaise, lequel son pays est membre non permanent du Conseil de sécurité jusqu’à 2010, a réaffirme que "l'Ouganda défendra cette conviction devant toutes les instances régionales et internationales".

Pour sa part, le diplomate sahraoui a informé son interlocuteur de la question du Sahara Occidental. Les deux parties ont discuté des relations bilatérales, des questions d’intérêts communs et et le prochain débat au conseil de sécurité sur le Sahara occidental..

Les deux parties se sont félicitées des relations fraternelles de solidarité existant entre la RASD et la République d’Ouganda. Des relations qui ont été rehaussées par l’ouverture, depuis plus d’une année, d’une ambassade sahraouie à Kampala.

M. Khaddad est accompagnée dans cette visite par l’ambassadeur sahraoui auprès de l’Ouganda, Hamdi Boiha, rappelle-t-on.

Le Maroc empêche la tenue d’un nouveau round des pourparlers (ambassadeur)

Alger, L'ambassadeur de la République arabe sahraouie démocratique en Algérie, Brahim Ghali, a déclaré que le Maroc est en train de saper les négociations entre les deux parties au conflit du Sahara occidental, le Front Polisario et le Maroc, devant aboutir à une solution qui garantit le droit du peuple sahraoui à l’autodétermination, a rapporté mercredi, l'Agence d’information (Prensa Latina).

"Le Maroc continue de défier la communauté internationale et renier à ses engagements en présentant son plan d'autonomie comme le seul moyen de sortir du conflit. Une proposition rejetée par les Sahraouis, dans sa forme et son contenu ", a ajouté la même source.

Le diplomate sahraoui a indiqué que la date n’a pas été encore fixée pour la cinquième série de pourparlers et de réunions préparatoires non officielles citées par le Secrétaire général des Nations unies Ban Ki-Moon.

M. Ghali a réaffirmé la disponibilité du Front Polisario à reprendre les négociations et à coopérer avec l'ONU pour trouver une solution devant garantir la stabilité dans la région, insistant que "l'autodétermination est incontournable pour résoudre le conflit".

Saharawi Ambassador presents letters of credentials to Timor Leste

Ambassador, Fadel Kamal, presented his letter of credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, to His Excellency Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, in a ceremony organised on 14 April 2009 in Dili, the Capital of Timor Leste.

During the presentation of the letters of credentials ceremony which was attended by several Timorese officials and the national media, President Ramos Horta, reiterated his country’s strong and unwavering support to the Saharawi Republic in its quest to recover its full sovereignty.

He underlined that the Saharawi state and people will continue to benefit from the full support and solidarity of Timor Leste as a friend and ally until they recover all of their legitimate rights.

The Saharawi Ambassador Fadel Kamal made the following remarks during the ceremony:

“Your Excellency,

I have the great honour to present the letter of credence which his Excellency Mohamed Abdelaziz, has addressed to his Excellency Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, accrediting me as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Saharawi Arab democratic republic to the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste.

I am very pleased to have been entrusted by my president with the assignment of representing my country in Timor Leste and it is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to be the first Saharawi Ambassador to Timor Leste.

Your Excellency,

I have the further honour of conveying to you, and through you, to the government and people of Timor Leste the warmest personal regards and best wishes from President Mohamed Abdelaziz and the Saharawi people for your personal good health, and for the continued prosperity of Timor Leste and her friendly people.

It is also my privilege to convey the heartfelt gratitude of president Mohamed Abdelaziz as well as of the Saharawi people to you, Mr. president, and to the people of Timor Leste for the support and solidarity that you personally and the people of Timor Leste have extended to the cause of the Saharawi people and their struggle for freedom and independence.

President Abdelaziz has also instructed me to transmit to you our firm desire and political will for further strengthening and expanding the already existing relations between our two countries which are based on strong historical ties of friendship and solidarity and shared values.

Your Excellency,

The Saharawi republic and the republic of Timor Leste are closely linked by historical and long-standing bonds of friendship, solidarity and cooperation. Our countries and peoples have been friends and allies throughout the period of our struggle for independence. These bonds of friendship have been strengthened since the independence of Timor Leste and the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two nations in 2002.

Your Excellency,

The Saharawi people are profoundly grateful for your friendship and steadfastness to our struggle for full independence.

I am confident that our two countries will pursue and deepen the already existing relations of friendship and solidarity. .

I shall spare no effort to further enhance and deepen the strong ties that link our two countries and peoples. Allow me to express the hope that I will continue to benefit from your kind support as well as that of your government.”

Following the ceremony of the presentation of credentials the Saharawi Ambassador had the opportunity to have a meeting with the President which was followed by a talk to the media by the President Ramos Horta who provided to media present a historical background on the Saharawi cause and its similarities with the struggle for independence in Timor Leste. Then the Saharawi Ambassador briefed the media on the current situation and took the opportunity to express thanks and gratitude of the Saharawi people to the Government and people of Timor Leste for their support.

During his stay in Dili, the Saharawi Ambassador had also the opportunity to meet with Mr. Mario Carrascalao Vice Prime Minister of Timor Leste. He also held other meeting with the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as with the President and members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Commission of the National Parliament of Timor Leste.

The ceremony of the presentation of credentials was well covered by the Timorese media including the national television, radio and newspapers.

Polisario Front asks UN Security Council to take on greater responsibility

In a letter addressed to the President of the United Nations Security Council, Ahmed Boukhari, the representative of the Polisario Front to the UN, refuted Moroccan claims of a Saharawi violation of the 1991 ceasefire and called for the international organization to expand the mandate of the UN Mission for a Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO) and ensure that Morocco comes to the negotiating table with an open mind.

Boukhari s letter was written on behalf of the Polisario Front in response to a statement released by the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of the interior of the Kingdom of Morocco on Friday following a peaceful protest march in the desert.

The ministries of the Moroccan Kingdom released a statement falsely accusing the protestors of possessing weapons and firing shots into the air. The statement accused the Polisario Front of breaking the 1991 ceasefire – which was signed between the Moroccan monarchy and Polisario under the authority of the UN and the African Union (AU) – and requested that the UN take action against the Saharawis.

The protest, known as the International March against the Wall of Shame, was arranged by the National Union of Saharawi Women (UNMS), the Saharawi Youth Union (UJSARIO) and a group of Spanish students known as Consciencia Saharaui, or Saharawi Conscience. Over 2,000 international activists took part in the demonstration.

During the protest, a group of Saharawi youth approached the Moroccan-built wall that separates the Western Sahara in two. The young Saharawis tore up barbed wire fencing and hurled rocks towards the wall. Their approach ended in tragedy, however, when one of the demonstrators stepped on an anti-personnel landmine, losing his foot and injuring several others.

In Boukhari s letter (included below), the Polisario representative expresses his solidarity with the victims families, calls on the UN to protect human rights in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara and encourages the Security Council to pressure Morocco to de-mine and withdraw its troops from the Western Saharan territory.

New York
13 April 2009

Mr President,

Following official instructions, I have the honour to bring the following to your attention:

On 10 April, a peaceful demonstration took place before the military wall erected by Morocco in the very heart of our country, a symbol of what the General Assembly resolution 34/37 described as a “military occupation”, which gathered hundreds of human rights defenders, artists and intellectuals and representatives of both Sahrawi and international civil society groups. Several young Sahrawis were wounded as a result of the explosion of an antipersonnel mines planted by Morocco in the Territory and one of them has lost his foot.

The POLISARIO Front, which has expressed its sympathy and solidarity with the wounded and their families, considers that this tragic incident highlights the urgent need for Morocco to put at the disposal of the United Nations and European NGOs, such as Landmine Action, all the information available to detect, map and deactivate the mines in order to ensure that the lives of Sahrawi civil population and others as well as the huge flow of cattle that often roam the area are effectively protected from the risk created by the absence of sufficient demarcation of the fields that are believed to be infested with about 5 million antipersonnel landmines.

Contrary to the official and public allegations of Morocco, it was not a military activity or action. It was a huge peaceful demonstration carried out by Sahrawi civilians and foreigners who were neither armed nor equipped with any mine detectors and did not fire a single shot. International media were present there.

Morocco violates systematically human rights in Western Sahara and exploits illegally the natural resources of the Territory in which it does whatever she pleases under the protection of an illegal occupation that persists in blatant defiance of the resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Morocco is certainly in no good position to request the United Nations to shoulder any responsibility after it has sabotaged all efforts deployed by the Organisation throughout three decades, and particularly in relation to an incident that it has deliberately distorted to present it as a breach of the ceasefire.

The terms of the military agreements signed by the two parties with MINURSO are crystal clear, and it has been indicated in several reports of the Secretary-General that Morocco did not respect them, the same as it did not respect the terms of the main mandate that the Security Council gave, in its resolutions 650 (1990) and 680 (1991), to MINURSO to hold the self-determination referendum in Western Sahara, which is an inseparable element of the ceasefire currently in force.

Morocco should give better proofs to the international community that it is motivated by a sincere political will to cooperate with the United Nations in the just and lasting solution of the conflict created by its prolonged occupation of our country, instead of engaging in diversionary activities aimed at diverting the attention from what is essential.

Firstly, and given the urgency prompted by facts documented and evidenced by different international organisations, the decisive proof that cannot be postponed is to allow MINURSO to include in its mandate the issue of human rights in the Territory. If the two parties claim that they do not have anything to hide from the international community, this inclusion should not pose major difficulties and the Security Council would certainly give it its approval.

Secondly, to accept the political and military confidence-building measures that were proposed to the two parties during the negotiations held in Manhasset to help reduce the growing tension and to protect the innocent lives of civilian residents, illegal immigrants and visitors to the region from the mine-infested fields.

Lastly, to go to a possible resumption of the direct negotiations with an open spirit, in good faith and without pre-conditions that could affect the framework or the substance and objectives of the process of peaceful solution that was initiated within the ambit of resolution 1754 (2007).

I shall be grateful to you, Excellency, if you would bring the content of the present letter to the attention of the Members of the Security Council.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

Ahmed Boukhari
Representative of the POLISARIO Front

Le peuple sahraoui souhaite le soutien du Mexique pour la décolonisation du Sahara occidental

Mexico, Le ministre délégué auprès du MAE chargé de l’Amérique latine, El Haj Ahmed Barikalla a déclaré, mardi que le peuple sahraoui souhaite un soutien du Mexique, qui assure la présidence actuelle du Conseil de Sécurité de l’ONU, afin d’exiger au Maroc le respect du plan de paix qu’il a signé avec le Polisario sous les auspices de l’ONU depuis 18 ans pour l’organisation d’un référendum d’autodétermination du peuple du Sahara Occidental.

"Nous espérons que le Mexique au cours de sa présidence du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU, agisse en faveur de la défense du droit international, conformément à sa position traditionnelle de lutte pour la souveraineté, l'autodétermination et l'indépendance des peuples, afin d'intervenir en faveur des droits de l'homme des Sahraouis ", a précisé le diplomate sahraoui.

Il a en outre salué la position de principe de soutien du Mexique à la lutte que mène le peuple sahraoui depuis plus de 35 ans pour son autodétermination et son indépendance.

Le ministre délégué auprès du MAE chargé de l’Amérique latine, El Haj Ahmed Barikalla se trouve depuis quelques jours en visite officielle au Mexique, afin d’informer les autorités mexicaines des derniers développements de la question du Sahara Occidental, rappelle-t-on.

Un parti politique espagnol demande à l’ONU d’assumer la protection des droits de l'homme des Sahraouis

Madrid, Le parti politique espagnol, l’Union Progrès et Démocratie (UPD), a demandé à l’ONU "d’inclure en urgence" dans le mandat de la MINURSO la "protection active des droits de l’homme de la population civile sahraouie soumise à l’occupation illégale marocaine" du Sahara occidental.

Dans une lettre adressée au président en exercice du Conseil de sécurité, l’UPD demande que "dans l’attente de la tenue d’un référendum d’autodétermination juste et contraignant au Sahara occidental (…), le conseil doit adopter en urgence la décision d’élargir le mandat de la MINURSO à la protection active de la population civile sahraouie, vivant actuellement sous le contrôle de facto des forces d’occupation marocaines, pour faire face à toute violation de ses droits".

"La MINURSO doit avoir également l’obligation d’évaluer régulièrement la situation des droits de l’homme au Sahara occidental", ajoute l’UPD dans un communiqué rendu publique mardi .

Le parti de Rosa Diez, une ancienne dirigeante du Parti socialiste ouvrier espagnol (PSOE, au pouvoir), a exprimé, par ailleurs, sa "profonde solidarité" avec les jeunes sahraouis blessés récemment par l’explosion d’une mine antipersonnel, lors d’une manifestation internationale dénonçant le "mur de la honte" séparant le Sahara occidental.

Dans ce contexte, l’UPD considère que si la "responsabilité de cette tragédie incombe exclusivement au Maroc qui, depuis le début de son occupation illégale du Sahara occidental en 1975, a semé le territoire avec cinq millions de mines antipersonnel, il n’en demeure pas moins que l’ONU doit fournir, elle aussi, des explications sur ce qui est arrivé, en raison de la passivité de la MINURSO (…)", conclut le communiqué.

Le Polisario et le Maroc d'accord pour une réunion préparatoire à un 5e round des négociations directes (Ban)

New York (Nations unies), Les deux parties au conflit, le Front Polisario et le Maroc, ont consenti à tenir une réunion préparatoire à un 5e round de négociations directes, indique mardi le secrétaire général des Nations unies, M. Ban Ki-moon, dans son rapport au Conseil de sécurité sur le Sahara occidental.

M. Ban Ki-moon précise que son envoyé personnel pour le Sahara occidental, M. Christopher Ross, "a proposé aux parties qu'au moins une petite réunion préparatoire informelle soit organisée, ce à quoi elles ont consenti".
"Comme il semblerait, au vu des consultations tenues jusqu'ici, que la situation ait peu évolué depuis le dernier cycle de négociations, il faudrait, pour qu'un cinquième cycle de pourparlers aboutisse, procéder à des préparatifs minutieux", écrit-il.

M. Ross, qui a effectué une première visite dans la région en février dernier, a estimé que "les positions des parties demeuraient très éloignées sur les moyens de parvenir à un règlement politique juste, durable et mutuellement acceptable prévoyant l'autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental", selon M. Ban Ki-moon.

C'est que le Maroc veut imposer sa proposition d'une "large autonomie" du Sahara occidental, sous sa souveraineté, et refuse de discuter de toute autre option, se plaçant à contrario des résolutions des Nations unies qui insistent sur "une solution politique" garantissant le droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination, avait estimé le Front Polisario.

Le Front Polisario, qui rejette la proposition marocaine, parce qu'elle consacre "le fait accompli" au Sahara Occidental occupé depuis plus de 33 ans par le Maroc, demande l'organisation d'un référendum d'autodétermination, sous l'égide de l'ONU, qui laisserait aux électeurs sahraouis le choix entre trois options : rattachement au Maroc, indépendance ou autonomie sous souveraineté marocaine.

Dans ce rapport, M. Ban Ki-moon préconise au Conseil de sécurité de demander "à nouveau aux parties de négocier sans conditions préalables et de bonne foi et de faire preuve de volonté politique pour engager un débat de fond et assurer le succès des négociations", comme cela avait été souligné dans les résolutions invitant le Maroc et le Front Polisario à ouvrir des négociations en avril et octobre 2007.

Les deux parties ont tenu 5 séries de négociations à Manhasset près de New York, qui n'ont rien donné de concret, du fait de l'intransigeance du Maroc, qui enfreint délibérément les résolutions onusiennes en cherchant à ne négocier que sur la base de sa seule proposition, qui devient ainsi, un préalable, à prendre ou à laisser, selon le Polisario.

Au sujet de la violation des droits de l'homme, le SG des Nations unies a rappelé dans son rapport que l'ONU "reste toujours engagée à élever le niveau des droits de l'homme", en réitérant son appel aux (deux) parties pour qu'elles continuent à s'investir dans un dialogue suivi et constructif" avec le Haut commissariat des droits de l'homme.

Par ailleurs, il estime que "les incursions" de civils dans la zone tampon ou démilitarisée du Sahara occidental, qui sépare les deux adversaires, "ne sont pas interdites" par les accords de 1991 conclus sous les auspices de l'ONU.
Enfin, il demande au Conseil de Sécurité de renouveler le mandat de la MINURSO pour "une période d'une année", une période fixée antérieurement à six mois seulement.

Le Sahara occidental est la dernière colonie en Afrique. Il est considéré comme territoire non-autonome par l'Onu depuis 1966.

Le Maroc et le Front Polisario ont engagé en juin 2007 des négociations directes, sous l'égide de l'Onu, dont quatre rounds ont eu lieu depuis à Manhasset, près de New York, sans aboutir à une avancée réelle.

Le but de ces négociations, défini par le Conseil de sécurité, est de parvenir à une solution politique au conflit au Sahara occidental, qui respecte le droit à l'autodétermination du peuple sahraoui.

Un cinquième round de pourparlers doit avoir lieu à une date qui reste à déterminer.

Un prisonnier politique sahraoui en grève de la faim illimité depuis 10 jours

Ait Meloul (Maroc), Le prisonnier politique sahraoui, Yahya Mohamed El Haafed poursuit une grève de la faim illimité dans la prison locale marocaine Ait Meloul depuis dix jours en protestation contre une agression brutale au côté deux autres de ses compatriotes de la part de l’administration pénitentiaire, a indiqué une source judicaire sahraouie.

"Le prisonnier sahraoui, Yahya Mohamed El Haafed se trouve dans un état de santé "critique" après avoir été transféré dans une cellule "cachot", a regretté sa famille, évoquant que le directeur de la prison a décidé de le priver de la visite.

Les deux prisonniers politiques sahraouis ont subit une agression brutale par des agents de la prison marocaine d’Inzegan au moment où la administration pénitentiaire de cette prison a décidé de les transférer à celle d’Ait Meloul, rappelle-t-on.

Par ailleurs le prisonnier politique sahraoui, Hassan Abdallah qui se trouve encore à la prison marocaine de Ben Slimane, mène également une autre grève de la faim depuis trois jours en raison des mauvais traitements et des dures conditions à l’intérieur de cette prison.

Le Polisario appelle le Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU au démantèlement du mur de la honte

Bir Lahlou (territoires libérés), Le représentant permanent du Front Polisario auprès de l’ONU, Boukhari Ahmed a appelé le Président du Conseil de sécurité, Claude Heller, à agir auprès de Rabat pour le démantèlement du mur de la honte : crime contre l’humanité, érigé par le Maroc au Sahara occidental depuis des décennies.

Le diplomate sahraoui a rejeté les allégations officielles et publiques du Maroc, selon les quelles, ""quelque mille quatre cents personnes, dont des étrangers, … munis d’armes individuelles et de détecteurs de mines ont procédé au tir de plusieurs coups de feu …" , précisant qu’il s'agissait "d'une grande manifestation pacifique, massive effectuée par des civils et des ressortissants étrangers qui n'étaient pas armés, ni équipés de détecteurs de mines anti-personnel, et n’ont pas tiré de coup de feu, du tout en présence des médias internationaux".

Le Maroc viole systématiquement les droits de l'homme au Sahara Occidental, exploite illégalement les richesses naturelles du territoire, et y pratique ce qu’il veut à l'abri d'une occupation illégale qui se poursuit au mépris des résolutions de l'Assemblée générale, du Conseil de sécurité, de l'Union africaine et du Mouvement des pays non alignés, a ajouté M. Boukhari dans sa lettre.

Voici à présent le texte intégral de la lettre dont une copie est parvenue à SPS.

"B/e/sc/3/4/09
SE M. Claude Heller
Président du Conseil de sécurité
Nations unies
New York, 13 avril 2009


Monsieur le Président


Selon des instructions officielles, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer de ce qui suit:
Le 10 avril dernier une manifestation pacifique a été organisée face au mur construit par le Maroc au cœur de notre pays, un symbole de ce que la résolution de l'Assemblée générale 34/37 catalogue comme une "occupation militaire", qui a réuni des centaines de défenseurs des droits de l'homme, des personnalités du monde de la culture, des médias et de la société civile sahraouie et étrangère. Plusieurs Sahraouis ont été blessés après l'explosion de mines posées par le Maroc sur le territoire, provoquant la perte du pied de l'un d'eux.

Le Front Polisario, qui a exprimé sa sympathie et sa solidarité avec les blessés et leurs familles, estime que ce tragique incident souligne le besoin urgent pour que le Maroc mette à la disposition de l'ONU et des ONG européennes, comme Land mine Action, toutes les informations disponibles pour détecter, identifier et neutraliser les mines, de sorte que les populations civiles et autres Sahraouis, ainsi que le flux de bétail répandu dans la région, ne constituent pas un péril pour leur vie en l'absence d'une délimitation suffisante des champs de mines lorsque Il y a près de 5 millions de mines anti-personnel plantées par les forces d'occupation marocaines.

Contrairement aux allégations officielles et publiques du Maroc, ce n'est pas une activité ni une action militaire. Il s'agissait d'une grande manifestation pacifique, massive effectuée par des civils et des ressortissants étrangers qui n'étaient pas armés, ni équipés de détecteurs de mines anti-personnel, et n’ont pas tiré de coup de feu, du tout. Les médias internationaux étaient présents.

Le Maroc viole systématiquement les droits de l'homme au Sahara Occidental, exploite illégalement les richesses naturelles du territoire, et y pratique ce qu’il veut à l'abri d'une occupation illégale qui se poursuit au mépris des résolutions de l'Assemblée générale, du Conseil de sécurité, de l'Union africaine et le Mouvement des pays non alignés.

Il n'est certainement pas bien placé pour demander à l'ONU d'assumer toute responsabilité pour avoir saboté tous les efforts entrepris par l'Organisation plus de trois décennies, et est donc mal placé pour tenter aujourd'hui de déformer délibérément un acte et le cataloguer comme étant une violation du cessez-le-feu.

Les termes de l'accord militaire signé par les deux parties avec la MINURSO sont clairs et plusieurs rapports du Secrétaire général des Nations unies indiquent que le Maroc ne les a jamais respectés et n’a pas respecté également les termes du mandat que le Conseil de sécurité a octroyé, dans ses résolutions 650 (1990) et 680 (1991), à la Minurso pour l’organisation d’un référendum d'autodétermination au Sahara Occidental, élément indissociable du cessez-le-feu actuellement en place.

Le Maroc devrait fournir de meilleures preuves pour la communauté internationale qu'il est animé d’une volonté politique sincère pour coopérer avec l'ONU dans le règlement juste et durable du conflit créé par la longue occupation de notre pays, plutôt que de verser dans le divertissement pour détourner l'attention de ce qui est essentiel.

Tout d'abord, compte tenu de l'urgence créée par des faits documentés et prouvés par les différents organismes internationaux, la meilleure preuve de cette volonté sera de permettre à la MINURSO d'inclure dans son mandat, la question des droits de l'homme dans le territoire. Si les deux parties déclarent n’avoir rien à cacher à la communauté internationale, cette inclusion ne devrait pas présenter de difficultés majeures, et elle aura un bon écho au sein du Conseil de sécurité.

Deuxièmement, accepter les mesures de confiance politiques et militaires proposées à leur moment aux deux parties dans le cadre des négociations à Manhasset pour aider à réduire la tension et à préserver la vie des civils résidents, des visiteurs et des immigrants illégaux dans la région de la menace de mines.

Enfin, aller vers une éventuelle reprise des négociations directes avec un esprit ouvert, de bonne foi, sans pré-conditions qui affectent la substance, le cadre et les objectifs du processus de règlement pacifique engagée dans le cadre de la résolution 1754 (2007).

Je vous remercie beaucoup, Excellence, de porter le contenu de cette lettre à la connaissance des membres du Conseil de sécurité.
Je saisis cette occasion pour vous exprimer ma très haute considération.
Boukhari Ahmed

Représentant F. Polisario".

THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND THE QUESTION OF THE WESTERN SAHARA

The Volkenrechtskring, the Amsterdam Student Association of International Law,

cordially invites you to our next event:


THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND THE QUESTION OF THE WESTERN SAHARA

Monday, 20 April 2009, 19h00 - 22h00, Room D109 Oudemanhuispoort

The former Deputy Chairman of the UN Peacekeeping Mission for Western Sahara, Frank Ruddy, depicts the issue of the Western Sahara as “Morocco’s brazen land grab of Western Sahara, a land grab that stole from the people of Western Sahara any say in their own future”. The Moroccan government on the other hand, says that Western Sahara is an integral part of the Kingdom of Morocco. This discrepancy is exemplary for the gap that exists between international law and thepresent situation in the Western Sahara. It is this gap that will be at the focal point of a debate on the 20th of April 2009, organized by the Amsterdam Student Association of International Law.

Speakers

Prof. Christine Chinkin, professor of International Law at the renowned London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Prof. Abdelhamid El Houali, professor of Law at the University of Casablanca.
Dr. Pedro Pinto Leite, secretary of the International Platform of Jurists for East Timor (IPJET)

Moderator

Dr. Catherine Brollmann, associate professor of international law at the University of Amsterdam

Location

Room D109, Oudemanhuispoort
Oudemanhuispoort 4-6
1012 CN Amsterdam

Be sure not to miss it! The event is free of charge. Please forward this message and the attached press release to whomever may be interested.

For more information about our activities, please consult our website www.jur.uva.nl/volkenrechtskring

.
For questions or remarks please do not respond to this message but mail us at
vrkring-fdr@uva.nl.

Le ministre délégué du MAE pour l’Amérique latine effectue une visite officielle au Mexique

Mexico, Le ministre délégué auprès du MAE chargé de l’Amérique latine, El Haj Ahmed Barikalla se trouve en visite officielle au Mexique, afin d’informer les autorités mexicaines des derniers développements de la question du Sahara Occidental, a indique une source de l’ambassade de la RASD au Mexique.

Le ministre sahraoui s'est entretenu avec le vice ministre des affaires étrangères du Mexique, Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo, ainsi que le vice président du Sénat,Yeidckol Polevnsky, dont leur pays assume la présidence actuelle du Conseil de sécurité.

Au cours de cet entretien, le diplomate sahraoui, a expliqué la vision de son pays vis-à-vis du processus de paix au Sahara occidental, à la suite de la nomination de l'envoyé personnel des Nations Unies, Christopher Ross, et sa récente tournée dans la région.

Il a également présenté des informations détaillées sur la situation des droits humains dans les territoires occupés sahraouis, et a exprimé la préoccupation de la RASD face à cette "catastrophe humanitaire qui se déroule dans un silence de l a communauté internationale".

Le Premier ministre condamne les crimes du Maroc contre le peuple sahraoui

Ecole 27 février (camps de réfugiés), Le Premier ministre, Abdelkader Taleb Oumar a condamné samedi, les crimes perpétrés par le Maroc contre le peuple sahraoui, au cours de la clôture de la manifestation internationale pour le démantèlement du mur de la honte marocain.

"Vous avez vu de vos propres yeux, les dangers du mur de la honte, érigé par l’armée marocaine au Sahara Occidental et comment les mines implantées autour de ce mur peuvent facilement perdre la vie des êtres humains", a précisé M. Abdelkader dans son allocution devant les participants à cette manifestation.

"La République sahraouie et le Front Polisario s’engagent à user les méthodes pacifiques pour recouvrer l'indépendance du Sahara Occidental, mais comme vous pouvez le voir, nous sommes sous une pression énorme, en particulier de la jeunesse, qui nous demande de faire un pas décisif pour un retour à la guerre.", a-t-il ajouté.

Le premier ministre a estimé que "cet incident tragique qui a amputé le pied droit d’un jeune sahraoui et blessé un autre, amènera l'ONU à modifier son approche du conflit du Sahara Occidental".

"Le peuple sahraoui s’est toujours exprimé en faveur d’une solution pacifique, mais si le Maroc continue à tourner le dos à nos efforts pacifiques, nous serons obligés de nous défendre par tous les moyens légitimes, y compris la reprise des armes", a-t-il martelé.

M. Abdelkader a enfin remercié les délégations venues d’Europe, d’Amérique latine et d’Afrique pour prendre part à la manifestation internationale des femmes, réclamant le démantèlement du mur de la honte marocain et exprimer leur solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui.

L’Autriche s’exprime pour un règlement juste au conflit du Sahara occidental

Vienne (Autriche), Des responsables au ministère autrichien des affaires étrangères, ont réaffirmé que "leur pays ne ménagera aucun effort en vue d'un règlement juste du conflit au Sahara occidental", à l’issue d'une réunion de travail avec le membre du Secrétariat national du Front Polisario, coordonnateur avec la MINURSO, Mhamed Khaddad, au siège du MAE à Vienne.

Les responsables, dont le Directeur général des organisations internationales, responsable de la gestion de projets humanitaires, le chargé des relations économiques et de la coopération auprès du MAE, ont exprimé leur désir "de trouver une solution juste et durable à la question du Sahara Occidental, conformément aux résolutions de l'ONU et du Conseil de sécurité".

Les entretiens ont eu trait sur le prochain débat du Conseil de sécurité concernant les derniers développements de la question du Sahara et l'aide humanitaire destinés aux de réfugiés sahraouis.

Le diplomate sahraoui a salué la position de l’Autriche dans la défense de la légitimité internationale et le droit des peuples à l'autodétermination, soulignant que "sa présence (l’Autriche) en tant que membre non permanent du Conseil de sécurité, contribuera au respect des droits de l'homme dans les territoires sahraouis sous occupation du Maroc et l'avènement d'une paix juste à ce long conflit".

Il a enfin rappelé que le peuple du Sahara occidental a souffert de l'occupation pendant des décennies, afin de lui permettre de décider démocratiquement de son destin, regrettant que "le Maroc, qui tente vainement d'imposer son fait accompli, risque d’engendrer une situation d’instabilité dans la région".

Le président de la République appelle le SG de l’ONU à démolir le mur de la honte marocain au Sahara Occidental

Bir Lehlou (territoires libérés), Le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz a demandé dimanche, dans une lettre adressée au SG de l’ONU, Ban Ki-Moon d’"user de son influence pour obtenir la démolition du mur de la honte marocain qui divise le Sahara Occidental depuis des décennies.

"Nous vous demandons instamment d’user de votre influence pour obtenir sa démolition; une démolition qui est, désormais, une mesure urgente susceptible de contribuer à créer, à la veille de leurs pourparlers prochains, des conditions de confiance réciproques entre les deux parties prenantes au conflit, le Royaume du Maroc et le Front Polisario", a écrit le président de la République dans unelettre à M. Ban Ki-Moon, secrétaire général de l'ONU.

Voici le texte intégral de la lettre:


"" Bir Lahlou, le 12 avril 2009
M. Ban Ki-Moon
Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies.

M. le Secrétaire Général,

Comme vous le savez, le Royaume du Maroc a procédé, à la fin des années quatre vingt, à la construction d’un vaste mur de défense, truffés de fils de barbelés et d’une variété de mines, y compris les mines anti-personnelles dont l’usage est prohibé par la communauté internationale.

Ce mur, long de milliers de kilomètres et qui divise le Sahara occidental et son peuple en deux parties isolées l’une par rapport à l’autre, a été érigé dans la criminelle intention de conférer à l’occupation illégale de notre pays par le Royaume du Maroc un caractère irréversible, et partant, d’enlever aux milliers des familles sahraouies, chassées de leurs foyers et forcées à l’exil hors de leur pays, l’espoir de retrouver un jour, dans la paix et la liberté, les leurs après des décennies de séparation.

Vivement préoccupée par les graves et lourdes conséquences de l’existence de ce mur de la honte pour le peuple sahraoui, sa dignité et l’intégrité de son pays, de nombreuses organisations humanitaires et de droits de l’homme, et des personnalités politiques représentant différents pays, ont décide d’organiser, en collaboration avec des secteurs de la société civile sahraouie, une grande manifestation pacifique devant la portion du même mur dans la région de Mahbes.

Les participants ont pu dénoncer les violations des droits de l’homme perpètres par les forces d’occupation marocaines au Sahara Occidental, demander a la communauté internationale de tout faire pour démolir le mur, et hâter l’organisation du referendum d’autodétermination, tant espéré et régulièrement reporté, devant permettre au peuple sahraoui de disposer de son avenir.

Malheureusement, cette manifestation que les organisateurs ont voulu pacifique et pacifiste, a donné lieu à quelques regrettables incidents dus à l’existence dissimulée de nombreux champs de mines implantés par les autorités coloniales marocaines autour et à proximité du mur. Entrés, sans s’en rendre compte dans un de ces champs de la mort, plusieurs manifestants ont été gravement blessés par l’explosion et les éclats d’une mine.

M. le Secrétaire Général,
Pour provoquer le maximum de pertes humaines et causer le plus de dégâts possibles parmi la population civile sahraouie qui vit dans les environs immédiats du mur, les autorités marocaines ont refusé catégoriquement, jusqu’ici, et ce, malgré les appels répétés des organisations humanitaires et de droits de l’homme, de bien délimiter, de manière visible, les champs de mines qu’elles ne cessent de multiplier autour du mur de la honte.

Un mur qui, faut-il y insister, répond, par ailleurs, a toutes les caractéristiques qui font qu’il ne peut qu’être considéré comme un crime caractérisé contre l’humanité.

Eu égard aux multiples dangers que représente ce mur de la honte, qui est après tout, un intolérable défi pour une communauté internationale qui a toujours estimé que le Sahara Occidental est un territoire à décoloniser, nous vous demandons instamment d’user de votre influence pour obtenir sa démolition; une démolition qui est, désormais, une mesure urgente susceptible de contribuer à créer, a la veille de leurs pourparlers prochains, des conditions de confiance réciproques entre les deux parties prenantes au conflit, le Royaume du Maroc et le Front Polisario.

Je vous prie de croire, M. le Secrétaire Général, en l’expression de ma très haute et profonde considération.


Mohamed Abdelaziz
Secrétaire Général du Front Polisario
Président de la République Arabe Sahraouie Démocratique".

Le pésident du Parlement de Gipuzkoa dénonce le ''mur de la honte'' au Sahara occidental

San Sebastian (Pays basques), Le président du Parlement de la région de Guipúzcoa, Rafaela Romero, a dénoncé et rejeté l’implantation de mines et d'engins explosifs dans le "Mur de la Honte", qui divise le Sahara occidental et son peuple depuis des décennies, a rapporté l’agence espagnole, Europa Press.

L'explosion d'une mine anti personnelle a engendré l'amputation de la jambe droite d’un jeune participant sahraoui à la deuxième édition de la colonne de 1.000, au coté d’un grand nombre d'Européens, réclamant le démantèlement de ce mur, qualifié de "crime contre l’humanité".

Le président du Parlement de Guipúzcoa, Rafaela Romero, a exprimé la solidarité de son institution avec la juste cause du peuple sahraoui, selon un communiqué cité par la même source.

" À ce jour, des centaines de victimes de ce mur de chaque côté. Des centaines de civils sahraouis ont été tués en tentant de traverser ce mur vers les camps de réfugiés", a-t-il déploré.

"Chaque distance de ce mur est un véritable barrage contre l’avènement de la paix et l'avenir" de ce territoire, a-t-il dit, exigeant de la communauté internationale de "ne pas rester indifférent e à cette horreur et à intervenir d'urgence, pour la solution du conflit du Sahara ".

Il a enfin appelé là exiger du Maroc le respect et la protection des droits de l’homme au Sahara Occidental.

Le mur de la honte marocain est le plus long du monde," s’étend sur une longueur de plus de 2.500 kilomètres réparti en six portions, contrôlé par 160.000 soldats, 250 batteries d'artillerie, 20.000 km de fil de fer barbelé et des milliers de mines antipersonnel ", a-t-il rappelé.

UMNS, UJSARIO and Saharawi Conscience pronounce Final Declaration by the International March against the Wall of Shame

In the meeting hall of the National Union of Saharawi Women (UNMS) in the February 27th refugee camp, UNMS, the Saharawi Youth Union (UJSARIO) and Saharawi Conscience – the name taken by a group of Spanish students who helped organize the march – read aloud a declaration written to conclude their activities in the Western Sahara.

Final Declaration by the International March against the Wall of Shame
April 6-12, 2009

We, the women and men who have participated in the international encounter in the Saharawi refugee camps and who have participated in the International March against the Wall of Shame, as well as the thousands of people who could not be present, but who have shown their support for these activities, STATE:

1) That for over three decades, the Saharawi people have been denied their basic and legitimate right to self-determination and independence, a situation exacerbated by the Kingdom of Morocco, which has driven the Saharawis out of their territory, forcing a large part of the population to live in exile, separated from their families and surviving only off of humanitarian aid, which is becoming less and less sufficient.

2) That, if the abundant natural resources found in the territory were controlled by a Saharawi government, the Western Sahara could become one of the wealthiest countries in the region, which would help to assure stability in the Maghreb region. This natural wealth is at the roots of the political conflict into which the Saharawi people have been driven by Morocco, which continues to exploit the resources of the Western Sahara with the support of other States and the complicity of the international community

3) That the flagrant human rights violations committed against the Saharawi population is well-known by MINURSO (the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in the Western Sahara), the European Parliament and other international institutions, but none of the above take any concrete actions to but an end to the offenses. These violations are especially severe in the Occupied Territories, where the Moroccan army, in a constant and systematic strategy of terror, prohibits the right of peaceful demonstration, partakes in kidnappings, torture and the rape of both men and women, and imprisons the Saharawis in inhumane conditions, which has driven three Saharawi political prisoners to undertake a two-month long hunger strike.

4) That the Wall constructed by Morocco is the longest in the world – stretching around 2,500 heavily-mined km that are guarded by a military force possessing a plethora of modern weapons – and divides and separates the Saharawi people. For over three decades, the Wall has prevented the refugee from accessing their territory, violating the principle of territorial integrity by territories awaiting decolonization as pronounced by the International Court of Justice and the UN. In other words, the Wall’s existence constitutes a crime against humanity.

For all of these reasons, we DECLARE:

1) That in concordance with international law, the Saharawi people have the right to self-determination and to the creation of a free and independent State.

2) That the cessation of all human rights violations in the Western Sahara and the illegal exploitation of its resources are imperative and urgent.


3) That we show our solidarity with the Saharawi political prisoners.

4) That the destruction of the Wall and all of the mines that preclude free access to the Occupied Territories is pressing and necessary.

In pursuit of the above, we PLEDGE:

1) To demand that our governments consistently support the right of self-determination of the Saharawi people and pressure Morocco to abandon the Western Sahara and cease its massive violations of human rights against the Saharawis, so that our governments will no longer be accomplices in this crime against humanity.

2) To publicly denounce, in our own countries, the situation of the conflict, with the goal of building greater social awareness and increased support for the Saharawis’ just cause.

3) And finally, to set in motion a Proposal to Eliminate the Wall of Shame, a symbol of this crime against humanity that divides the Western Sahara in two.