Le conflit du Sahara occidental empêche l’édification du Maghreb arabe (diplomate algérien)

Alger, Le ministre algérien chargé des Affaires maghrébines et africaines, Abdelkader Msahel a réaffirmé vendredi que "le conflit du Sahara occidental empêche l’édification du Maghreb arabe et son progrès", dans des déclarations citées par la chaine 3 algerienne.

Le diplomate algérien a relevé que "l’Algérie maintient depuis 1965 une position incontournable envers la question du Sahara occidental et qu’elle demeure attachée au principe de l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui, conformément à la position de la communauté internationale et de l’organisation des Nations unies".

"Nous avons toujours encouragés la recherche d’une solution basée sur l’exercice du peuple du Sahara occidental de son droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination", a-t-il ajouté, soulignant que "les négociations entre le Front Polisario et le Maroc n’ont pas progressées".

A cet égard, M. Msahel a appelé à la nomination d’un nouvel envoyé personnel du Secrétaire général de l’ONU au Sahara occidental "dans les plus brefs délais", a-t-on ajouté de même source.

"Il est temps que l’ONU exerce des pressions sur les parties pour faire avancer les négociations et parvenir à une solution garantissant l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui", a conclu le diplomate algérien cité par la même source.

Protestations contre le mur marocain au Sahara Occidental

Territoires sahraouis libérés, Environ 200 manifestants dont 100 étrangers solidaires avec la cause sahraouie ont protesté jeudi contre le mur marocain au Sahara Occidental, a-t-on indiqué.

Ont pris part à cette manifestation des sympathisants venus du Mexique, des représentants de la jeunesse espagnole d'Andalousie et de Catalogne ainsi que des citoyens sahraouis des camps des réfugiés.

Les manifestants ont lancé "un appel urgent à la communauté internationale, aux ONG et aux personnalités éprises de paix et de liberté pour adhérer à la caravane de dénonciation de ce mur qui s'étend sur 2720 km".

Par ailleurs, cette manifestation à laquelle ont appelé des organisations de soutien au peuple sahraoui à l'occasion du 60ème anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'Homme, a été organisée sous le thème "Assez d'assassinats et de répression contre le peuple sahraoui"

Les manifestants ont brandi le drapeau de la République arabe sahraouie démocratique (RASD) et des banderoles dénonçant la répression du peuple sahraoui par le gouvernement marocain dans les territoires occupés et scandé des slogans appelant à mettre un terme à l'occupation du Sahara Occidental par le Maroc.

La manifestation a été également marquée par l'arrivée du "Cheval de Troie", déposé par l'artiste mexicain "Carlos" prés du "mur de la honte". A l'intérieur de cette oeuvre artistique ont été déposées les différentes résolutions onusiennes relatives à la question sahraouie.

The meeting with Ferrero Waldner was "very important and interesting" (Saharawi President)

The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, who is undertaking a working visit to Brussels starting from Today, described his meeting with the European Commissioner for External Relations and ENP, Ms. Ferrero Waldner as "very important and interesting". "During the meeting, the first at this level between POLISARIO and the European Commission, we asked the European Union to pay more efforts to persuade Morocco to return to the negotiating table, and abandon its opposition to the appointment of the new special envoy of UN for Western Sahara", Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz said at a press conference held at International Press Centre (IPC) in Brussels. He also stressed that the meeting was "very important" because it occurred in a time of stalemate in the negotiations because of the Moroccan attitude, and because of the seriousness of the situation of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, and the recent decision by the European Union to granted an "advanced status" to Morocco. In this respect, the President of the Republic called on the European Union to put an end to the illegal exploitation of the Saharawi natural resources as long as the political issue is not resolved. "The territory of Western Sahara must have no relation with the advanced status Europe is planning to grant Morocco with", he said. The President of the Republic is accompanied by the Saharawi Minister delegated to Europe, Mohamed Sidati, the Saharawi Coordinator with the MINURSO, Mhamed Khadad and the Director of the Saharawi Centre for Strategic Studies, Baba Sayed.

Western Sahara present in Irish celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

POLISARIO Front’s representative in the UK and Ireland, Y. Lamine Baali, denounced to more than 500 activists the serious human rights situation in Western Sahara, Wednesday during the celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Right which was organized by the Irish NGO, “Ethical Development Action”, in Cork. In addition to interventions, the activity was also an opportunity to present to the participants food and drinks from different countries, including Saharawi green tea. Here is the complete text of the intervention of the POLISARIO Front’s representative: --------------------- 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Human Right EDA-University of Cork Ireland .2008 -12-10 Mr Chairman , distinguish, guests, ladies and Gentleman , dear friends , First of al allow me to thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you this significant and precious moment-the 60th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Right , under the title “Where’s Me Rights?”, it is a very important question which all of us in Western Sahara have been asking . As you have said that on 10th December 1948, the general Assembly of UN adopted the declaration of Universal Human Right Declaration. Following this act UN called upon the countries "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.” Thus every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance (…) Today we have to remember all of those whom lost their lives in defending the values of freedom and justice , democracy, and human right which we all share. Just early last week two Saharawi students had been killed in clod blood by Morocco in Agadir buss station similar to many others.. As long as the Morocco is adamant, in its illegal occupation, and the Saharawi are determined in their peaceful resistance against it . I am sure that these victims of the brutal savage of the Moroccan manner towards the Saharawi civilian, is not the first of it is kind will be the last. “Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction (…) Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.” (Universal Human Right Declaration) Dear friends , The essence of the Western Sahara tragedy lies in non-respect of the fundamental right of self- determination, and low mass media attention “The UN Declaration of Human Rights laid down what any person might reasonably expect, yet there are remarkably few people who enjoy these rights. With cameras in the hands of activists and meaningful distribution open fully want to change it." -- Peter Gabriel Some people feel that UN must be shamed, for the fact that after six decades of its existence to be unable to solve a simple decolonisation matter which has been in its agenda since sixties, equally the eagerness of not upsetting the new King of Morocco, made the public opinion believe that the international community is powerless to save peace and stability in the region of North-West of Africa. “Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral” Paulo Freire: Now is a pity and sad that UN could not yet deliver what the Saharawi people expected from it . As you may know that The disregard of the fundamental principle of UN has led to a vigorous armed conflict between the Kingdom of Morocco and the POLISARIO Front, which make the conflict to continue for more than a three decades and half. The question of Western Sahara is an issue of decolonization, of which solution is anchored in the free and democratic exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, as provided for in the UN Charter and other UN relevant resolutions. In an historical legal opinion, issued on 16 October 1975, the International Court of Justice concluded that “the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the Territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco”. The Court also recommended “the implementation of the General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)… and in particular of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory”. These conclusions were further confirmed, in January 2002, by M. Hans Corel, in his advisory opinion to the Security Council, by stating that the Spanish withdrawal from the territory in 1975 “did not affect the international status of Western Sahara as a Non-self-governing Territory”. The decolonizing process of Western Sahara was dramatically interrupted in 1975 due to the Moroccan military invasion and illegal occupation of the Territory. Consequently to Morocco invasion, hundreds of thousands of Saharawis, most of them women and children, were forced to exile in neighbouring countries; hundreds of Saharawis have been reported disappeared, while others remain imprisoned in Moroccan detention Centres for many years . “Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile” (Universal Human Right Declaration) In 1991 ,After 16 years of military confrontation between the two parties Morocco and POLISARIO Front, both of the them have accepted a UN settlement Plan whose objective is “to allow the people of Western Sahara to freely choose through a free and fair referendum, organized and supervised by the UN, and in cooperation with the OAU(AU), between independence and integration into Morocco”. However, Morocco’s obstructive attitude and lack of political will provoked several deadlocks and stalemates. By opting for complete disengagement from the Settlement Plan, which it had already accepted, Morocco clearly showed how contemptuous it was of the tremendous efforts and huge resources that the United Nations brought to bear on resolving the conflict for eighteen years. It was also Morocco who to date persists in its rejection of the Peace Plan For the Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara, which was the outcome? Of enormous mediation efforts deployed by the former US Secretary of State, Mr. James Baker III, in his capacity as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara since (1997-2004) The peace plan, which was strongly endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1495 (2003), has been repeatedly acclaimed by the UN Secretary-General as an optimum, mutually acceptable solution that would provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in consonance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. After it become crystal clear that Morocco disassociate it self from the peace plan process . In September 2004, the Republic of South Africa decided to recognize the Saharawi Republic in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. Since 2005 and out frustration and anger to Morocco’s obstruction position The Saharawi people from different walk of the life : Women ,children ,teen ages, adults, elderly have shown in united way their strong rejection to the Moroccan occupying force through many ,peaceful demonstrations in all Saharawi towns , such are Aaiun, Smara Dakhla, Bojdour, and in the south part of Morocco like Assa or Tan Tan ,Goulimin . Amhamid Al ghzlane , and in the Moroccan universities . Since then wherever there is a strong concentration of the Saharawi, demonstrators have gathered in squares in towns or in the universities campuses waving the Saharawi flag and chanting slogans in favor of the right of Self-determination . “This is always dangerous for the demonstrators who risk being hit by police batons or even torture .which sometimes leads to death as was the case of five young Saharawi ( HAMDI LEMABARKI, BACHAIKH LAKHLIFI, and SIDHA OULD LAHBIB ,” Aminatou Haidar (ex-prisoner and F.Robert Kennedy Human Right Lauriat 2008) and the recent example ELHOUSIEN ABDESSADEK LAKTEEF , BABA GHAYA ABDELAZIZ , who been killed at the buss Station in Agadir, first week of December . Not to mention the daily ransacking of homes and the constant intimidation and harassment campaign against Saharawi human right defenders and loss of jobs ,the prohibition of free movement . Contrary to Universal Human Right Declaration “Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person Article 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” The EU, of which Ireland is an active member, and the civic society, cannot be indifferent with regard to the question of Western Sahara. Besides its interest in preserving international peace and security, the EU must have a great interests in the resolution of the conflict of Western Sahara. It is widely acknowledged that Morocco would not have been able to persist in its attitude of intransigence and disregard for international legality with impunity without the backing, which has been receiving from EU Member State, which makes no secret of its support for Morocco’s theses. “All that is needed for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” -Edmund Burke “A right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take from you.” -- Ramsey Clark Organizations including Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch and the US State Dept and European Parliament all have strongly criticized the Moroccan government’s alarming human rights record in Western Sahara. The most of all the report of the High Commissioner for Human Right of UN in June 2006 which blocked from publication by some permanent member of security council UN . This leaked report reported in its paragraph “9. The question of the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara is paramount to the consideration of the overall human rights situation in the respective territories. It is a human right enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The respect of all human rights of the people of Western Sahara must be seen in tandem with this right and a Jack of its realization will inevitably impact on the enjoyment of all other rights guaranteed, inter alia, in the seven tore international human rights treaties in force.” On 13th October ,EU starts a process of grating an advance status to Morocco, it is worth to bring to your attention that , Barcelona declaration, associations partnership, neighbourhood policy, strongly emphases the full respect of human rights. “If you desire peace, cultivate justice, but at the same time cultivate the fields to produce more bread; otherwise there will be no peace” -- Norman Borlaug Dear friends, till when the Saharawi people will be enduring alone the burden of the destitution, deprivation from its political , economic, cultural, social right !? 35 years has elapsed and the Saharawi people waiting for the international community to honor its political, moral obligation . In the context of seeking way-out, the Saharawi side has contributed sufficiently and eloquently to the creation of a climate of détente and tolerance necessary for any sincere and honest negotiation, which might lead to the just and lasting solution to this long overdue conflict. On 11th April 2007 in this framework , POLISARIO Front handed over to Secretary-General of UN a proposal which takes into account the concerns of Morocco,. It is with deep disappointed that Morocco continues its intransigence and refused to accept any solution less than what so called “autonomy” . It is rather astonishing that the conflict of Western Sahara has been dealt with by five Secretary General of UN and many special envoys and more than 100 UN resolutions and MINURSO ( UN mission for the referendum in Western Sahara ) has been in the countries more that 17 years . Why The Western Sahara is the last decolonization issue in Africa , it is not also the time to ask the international community “Where’s Me Rights?” It is time for that the international community must came to use its influence on Morocco to say to her enough is enough time came for that Morocco must bide by the UN resolutions and start without further delay the implementation of the Peace Plan and respect the Human right and release all 50 Saharawi political prisoners and give an account on 500 Saharawi disappeared since 70s and release 150 Saharawi POWs , and open the occupied territories for MPs. MEPs, Press, NGOs, Diplomats, Observers . Dear friend the Saharawi people are appealing to you heart; mind for urgent and active solidarity We know that you can make a change you have made it in Latin America you have made it in East-Timor and in many African countries And you can make a change in Western Sahara too please don’t be late States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions. Noam Chomsky: Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower Silence never won rights. They are not handed down from above; they are forced by pressures from below. -- Roger Nash Baldwin Many thanks . Yahiaoui Lamine Baali POLISARIO’s Representative-UK and Ireland

Dozens of people denounce the repression of Saharawis before the Embassy of Morocco in Madrid

Dozens of people demonstrated Wednesday evening in front of the Embassy of Morocco in Madrid to denounce Moroccan repression against the Saharawi people in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and to pay tribute to the two Saharawi students recently murdered by the Moroccan authorities in Agadir (Morocco) during a peaceful sit-in. The event was organised by the Coordination of Spanish associations of solidarity with the Saharawi people (CEAS), on the occasion of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, held under the theme "stop the killing and repression against the Saharawi people." The demonstrators, lifting the SADR flags and banners that read, "Stop killings and torture", "Freedom to political prisoners" and “Western Sahara free and independent ", chanted slogans calling for the end of the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and denouncing the repression against Saharawis. The pictures of the two martyrs as well as dozens of Saharawi victims of Moroccan repression. In this respect, the President of the CEAS, Mr. Pepe Taboada, declared that this event is a "symbolic act of solidarity with the Saharawi people, and an act to pay tribute to all the martyrs, especially Baba Khaya and Kteif Houssein, the two young Saharawi students who were murdered by the Moroccan regime." "These are the methods used by Morocco to suppress Saharawis. As the Moroccan colonial authority didn’t dare send policemen to do the dirty work, it sent a bus to assassinate the two martyrs," he continued, adding that this is a "brutal attempt to intimidate the Saharawi population, but in any case, Spanish civil society will continue standing by their side." "Through this event, we also want to denounce the impunity of Morocco that systematically violates human rights in Western Sahara for more than 30 years," he added. In addition, Mr. Taboada described as "shameful" the statement made Wednesday by the king of Morocco that the Saharawi refugees are "kidnapped Moroccans”, specifying in this regard that the UN recognises POLISARIO Front as the legitimate representative of the Saharawi people in exile and in the occupied territories, because the decolonization of their land was not completed at the time, "and also recognizes to that people" their right to self-determination in all its resolutions." It should be stressed that similar events were held in several other Spanish cities including the Canary Islands and Barcelona to denounce "the campaign of repression and extermination conducted by Morocco against the Saharawi civilians", according to the CEAS.

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The chairman of the FA of the Irish Labour Party expresses concerns about the situation in Western Sahara

The chairman of the FA of the Irish Labour Party, Mr Michael D.Higgins expressed concerns about the situation in Western Sahara, Wednesday, during his reception of the Representative of POLISARIO Front in the UK and Ireland, Y.Lamine Baali, at the seat of the Irish Parliament. Mr Michael D.Higgins expressed support to the Saharawi people’s struggle to exercise a fundamental right that is recognised in all international covenant, mainly the right to self-determination and independence. On his side, Lamine Baali the Polisario Representative for UK an Ireland was received to day in the Irish Parliament by Mr Michael D.Higgins TD chairman of the Irish Labour Party the meeting focuses on the last development of the Western Sahara conflict and Particular the alarming situation human right situation on the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Mr Lamine informed his interlocutor about POLISARIO Front’s concerns about the Moroccan intransigence and rejection of all peaceful solutions to the conflict, in addition to the Moroccan hindrance of the negotiations. He considered that “it is about time for the European Union to assume its moral and political responsibility vis-à-vis this conflict .The people of Western Saharawi must not be punished because it trusted the international community arbitrage”. IN the end of the meeting, Mr Michael D.Higgins presented to his Saharawi guest a copy of his book which was published in 2006 "Causes of concern" in which he talked about the Western Sahara in a whole Chapter entitled: "WesternSahara- War in the Desert: Living with the Saharaoui" It should be recalled that the Irish politician is the ex-Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in the Two Coalition governments between 1992 and 1997. The Saharawi representative is undertaking a work visit to Ireland which will allow him to contact many politicians, parliamentarians and actors of the civil society, it was indicated.

European Commission for a “just solution” to the conflict in Western Sahara

The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said that the EU is supporting the UN’s efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara. The European official gave this statement during her reception of the President of the Saharawi State, Mohamed Abdelaziz, Thursday. The Head of the Saharawi State officially visits the European Commission for the first time, to demand from the EU to clearly exclude the Western Sahara territory from any kind of agreements with Morocco. Morocco doesn’t have any kind of sovereignty over Western Sahara, and thus the European Union must not sign agreement with Rabat unless it is clearly indicated that the last colony in Africa is excluded. Last week, the UN former Under Secretary General for legal affairs, Hanz Corell, stated again that the European Union is illegally fishing in the territory, and said he is embarrassed of being European because of this European shameful attitude. The Saharawi President is undertaking a visit to Brussels to meet European officials, including the European Parliament President, Hans-Gert Poettering.

Morocco doubles military budget

According to reports by the Moroccan press, the 2009 defence budget will be the double of this year’s budget in real terms, rising to 16 percent of all state expenditures. This comes at the same time as Morocco becomes the major recipient of EU funds. These rare details about Morocco’s 2009 military budget increase were published recently by the Arabic language weekly Nichane, a sister publication of Morocco’s renown French-language Tel Quel magazine. According to Nichane, "a huge budget has been assessed to the Army through the finance budget of 2009, thus doubling the budget of the previous year." The weekly adds that "all this happened in the Parliament under silence," asking why this significant budget rise has not been debated publicly. The Rabat parliament had approved a budget for 2009 that supplies National Defence with a total of Dirham 34.526 billion (euro 3.11 billion). According to Nichane, this represents a record 16% of Morocco’s national budget, and in real terms, the defence budget approved by parliament is twice the budget of last year. "Four years before the defence budget did not exceed Dirham 12 billion," the weekly adds. According to Nichane, the doubled defence budget was "making it possible to enter deals to buy sophisticated weapons in order to create equilibrium in the region with Algeria." Neighbouring Algeria is seen as an arch-rival in Morocco, and blamed for the Moroccan failure to have its occupation of Western Sahara recognised internationally. The independent weekly expressed its dismay over the lack of openness about the huge increase in military spending, while expressing that it understood the need to spend more on defence as Algeria had a military upper hand. It noted that during the reign of late King Hassan II, defence budgets were approved in silence by parliament, without public debate, but that under his son and successor Mohamed VI, also defence budgets had been revealed and discussed in the press. Nichane deplored this setback, in particular at a time when the increase in military spending was doubling. The huge increase in Morocco’s military spending comes at a time when the Western Sahara conflict is deadlocked and the King insists he will only accept autonomy for the former Spanish colony, while the Saharawi liberation movement POLISARIO demands former peace agreements be respected, which include a referendum over independence. POLISARIO has threatened to break the 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire, which is overseen by a UN peacekeeping mission, MINURSO. The doubling of the Moroccan military budget also comes at the same time that the Kingdom’s economy is expected to expand rapidly because of a new treaty giving it an "advanced status" in the EU. The advanced status opens up EU markets for Moroccan products, but also will give the Kingdom cash transfers from Brussels in order to further its economic development. According to recent reports by the state-controlled news agency MAP, Morocco will now become the principal recipient of European funds earmarked for the countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The Kingdom next year will get an annual financial assistance of more than euro 190 million. This financial assistance from the EU has allowed the Rabat government to expand budget spending in all sectors in 2009.

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Morocco becomes major recipient of EU funds

Moroccan government’s owned pres agency, MAP, indicated that Morocco has become the major recipient of the European funds earmarked for the countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), with an annual financial assistance of more than 190 million euros, Morocco. This EU aid to Morocco doesn’t take into consideration the catastrophic records of the Moroccan regime in terms of the human rights violations, not only against Moroccan citizens, but also against the citizens of the occupied territories of Western Sahara. The EU has recently granted Morocco the advanced status within the Union, which exceeds partnership but below EU membership. MAP, reported the head of the European Commission in Rabat, Bruno Dethomas saying that the union is set to beef up its financial assistance to Morocco, pledging that the northern African country is due to receive a sum of 654 million euros between 2007 and 2010. Morocco, on the other hand, has doubled his defence budget, AFROL news reported, quoting the Moroccan magazine, NICHAN. This fact, makes specialist wonder how can the EU provide such a country with all this aid, while it is listed as one of the worse dictatorships in the world, and is so far refusing to implement more than 100 UN’s resolutions on Western Sahara.

France must grant favourable conditions to Saharawis’ self-determination

The Secretary General of the Saharawi Women Union, Mrs. Fatma Mahdi, estimated that France must work to provide favourable conditions for the Saharawi people to freely exercise their right to self-determination, in a statement she gave Tuesday in Paris. France can play this role by respect of the principles of international justice, human rights and peace consolidation," Fatma Mahdi told the press. It should be recalled that the French government has always backed the Moroccan colonial adventure in Western Sahara, in complete opposition to the international law. IN the early 70ies, the French army even backed Moroccan army to invade Western Sahara. French Jaguars attacked POLISARIO Front’s freedom fighters in 76 causing many deaths. The French government also supports Morocco in the UN, and usually opposes any kind of mentioning of Rabat’s human rights violation in Western Sahara. In 2006, France refused to allow the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to publish a report elaborated by a mission to the region, because it clearly states that Morocco’s violation of the right to self-determination is the reason for all human rights violations in Western Sahara.

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CODESA Press Release on International Day for Human Rights

El Aaiun, Western Sahara,

December 10th, 2008.



Press Release

The Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders, CODESA, celebrates The International Day for Human Rights, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under the theme: "Freedom and Hope for the Prisoner and the Disappeared".

The aim is to express the CODESA's commitment to speak out against the human rights violations and to work for the release of the Sahrawi political prisoners. Yahya Mohamed Elhafed, the CODESA and the AMDH Tantan-section member, is the human rights defender sentenced to the longest detention period, 15 years imprisonment.

While commemorating the international day for human rights, the CODESA expresses its great concerns about the human rights situation in the Western Sahara, south of Morocco and at the Moroccan universities where the Sahrawi students continue their high studies. During the few years, but especially the year 2008, the Moroccan authorities intensified its repressive campaigns against the Sahrawis wherever they are. As a way of illustration, we will site a few examples here:

-Yahya Mohamed Elhafed, a human rights defender, already sacked out of work for his political position concerning the Western Sahara issue, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Four other Sahrawi youth from Tantan, south of Morocco, were sentenced to four years' imprisonment in Inzegane Prison, Morocco. Two of these youth (Najem Baouba and Mahmoud Elbarkawi) had been raped by glass bottles while in custody in Tantan police station before they were sent to court.

-Elmoustapha Abdedayem, a human rights defender and a "surveillant general" in a high school in Assa, south of Morocco, was arrested and sentenced in the first instance for three years' imprisonment, 50000 dhs fine (about 5000 US dollars) and ten years ban from work at any sector. Abdedayem had been arrested for removing the Moroccan flag from the high school he was working in as a protest against the fierce Moroccan oppression against Sahrawi demonstrations in Assa, calling for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination in October 2008.

-In late November/early December 2008, the Moroccan authorities intensified its repression against the Sahrawi university students and the whole Sahrawi population, which ended in the killing of two Sahrawi students in Agadir, Morocco at a peaceful sit-in. On December 01st, the Sahrawi students were protesting against the travel agency SUPRATOUR for not keeping their promise to bring enough buses for the Sahrawi students in order to take them to their home cities. The police agents, surrounding the sit-in and controlling the situation, intervened after the coach ran over many of the demonstrators and murdered two students on the spot ( Elhoucine Abdessadeq Lekief, 20 years old, and Baba Khaya, 22 years old). A third student was sent to hospital in coma, and many others were seriously injured. Instead of arresting the bus driver, the police only intervened to beat and arrest the other Sahrawi students at the bus station.

-The human rights defenders in general and the CODESA members in particular, have increasingly been banned, from continuing their higher studies at the Moroccan universities while there is no single university in the whole Western Sahara for political reasons. Ali Salem Tamek and Alamine Sahel, both members of the CODESA, have not been allowed to study this year at university in Mohamedia and Agadir, Morocco for their advocacy for self-determination of the Western Sahara.

-The Moroccan states is still doing its best to keep the European Parliament commission from meeting the Sahrawi victims in the Western Sahara by deciding a prearranged schedule for them that excludes the Sahrawi human rights organisations.

- It is also still working hard together with other countries not to publish the report made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights after their visit to Morocco and the Western Sahara between May 16th and 19th, 2006.The report insists that the main reason behind all the abuses in the Western Sahara is the violation of the right to self-determination.

-The Sahrawi human rights defender, El Haiba Emah, has been a target for the Moroccan police in Tantan, south of Morocco, represented by the police head officer in the city, Mustapha Kammour, known for his aggressiveness against the Sahrawis and responsible for the miscarriage of a Sahrawi woman, Ghlaina Barhah, in El Aaiun, Western Sahara by deliberately kicking her on the belly after urinating on her in the police station. Recently, El Haiba Elmah, a member of the CODESA and AMDH –Tantan section, was aggressively attacked by Mustapha Kammour, on December 2008 at the funeral of the Sahrawi student Elhoucine Abdesadeq Lektief, murdered at the university students sit-in in Agadir, Morocco.

-The Moroccan authorities are still continuing to ban the Sahrawi population fro peaceful protest (Sahrawi students at middle and high schools) Sahrawi workers at the Phosphate company controlled by the Moroccan state, university graduates and high diplomas holders as well as the other Sahrawi groups calling for their rights for work and organisation.

-The Sahrawi victims of landmines are still being neglected by the Moroccan authorities and the landmines still continue to kill the Sahrawi nomads on a daily basis.

-The CODESA and the other Sahrawi human rights organisations are still denied the right to organise their constitutive assembly and get their legal documents in order to work publicly.

In this context, the Collective of the Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders based in El Aaiun, Western Sahara

1. expresses its unconditioned solidarity with the victims of human rights abuses worldwide in general and in the Western Sahara in particular.

2.calls the Moroccan state to start a fair and transparent investigation in the murder of the two Sahrawi students, Elhoucine Lektief and Baba Khaya on December 01st, 2008 in Agadir, Morocco.

3. expresses its great concern about the intensifying of the human rights abuses by the Moroccan state against the Sahrawis (Sultana Khaya lost her eye while being tortured in a police van in Marrakesh, Morocco, Elouali Qadimi is still completely paralysed after being thrown from the fourth floor by the Moroccan police at a violent intervention against the Sahrawi students in Marrakech university campus).

4. charges the Moroccan state for the death of the Sahrawi students Baba Khaya and Elhoucine Lektief December 2008, and the other Sahrawis, Dadda Ali Hamma Ennafaa in July 2008 in Ait Mellou Prison, Sidha Abdelaziz in September 2007, Hamdi Lembarki in El Aaiun, on October30th, 2005, Abba Chaikh Lekhlifi in Tantan on December 03rd, 2005, Laamar Sidi Brahim, Mohamed Sidi Brahim and Taleb Sidi Menna murdered by a military lorry on the way to Dakhla, Western Sahara and the three Sahrawi common law prisoners Mohamed Boussetta, Ramdan Ellaithi and Hassan Haddi in 2004 and Slaiman Chwihi in 2004.

-calls all the international human rights organisations and associations to exert pressure on Morocco to respect the Sahrawis right to free expression, assembly peaceful protest and access to their passports and to disclose the fate of the Sahrawi disappeared.



The Executive Board of the CODESA,

El Aaiun, Western Sahara,

December 10th, 2008.

L’Envoyé spécial du président de la République reçu par la secrétaire des relations extérieures de la Surinam

Paramaribo (Surinam), Le ministre délégué auprès du MAE chargé de l’Afrique, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat a été reçu mardi par la secrétaire des relations extérieures de la République du Surinam, Jin Irland Manho, qui lui a remis une lettre du président Mohamed Abdelaziz à son homologue, Rollando Ronald.

L’entretien a porté sur les relations bilatérales et les questions d’intérêts communs. Il a été également l’occasion pour la secrétaire des relations extérieures de la République du Surinam, Jin Irland Manho de réitérer la position de solidarité et de soutien de son pays en faveur de la lutte du peuple sahraoui.

La République de Surinam avait reconnu la République sahraouie en 1979 et depuis cette date les deux pays maintiennent d’excellentes relations, rappelle-t-on.

Le statu quo au Sahara occidental ne sert personne (diplomate sahraoui)

Bruxelles, Le statu quo au Sahara occidental ne sert personne et peut même menacer la paix actuelle, en raison de la frustration que ressent le peuple sahraoui, a souligné le représentant du Front Polisario à Bruxelles, M. Jamal Zakari.

"Cela fait plus que 17 ans que nous attendons que la communauté internationale parvienne à imposer au Maroc la tenue du référendum sur l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui, qui a été reporté 29 fois", a rappelé M . Zakari, lors d’une conférence, organisée mardi soir, par les amis du "Monde diplomatique" de Belgique, sous l’intitulé "Le conflit oublié du Sahara Occidental".

Il a, d’autre part, insisté sur la situation de détresse dans laquelle vivent actuellement les populations sahraouies "oubliées", situation qui a, d’ailleurs, été présentée aux participants à la conférence dans un documentaire réalisé par l’ONG internationale Oxfam, dans les camps de réfugiés sahraouis et dans les territoires libérés.

Pour le diplomate Sahraoui, "parler d’un conflit presque oublié", peut aider et faire avancer les choses". "Nous sommes oubliés dans le désert depuis le 6 septembre 1991, date de la signature du cessez le feu entre le Front Polisario et le Maroc, mais il ne faut pas oublier que le conflit date lui depuis plus de 33 ans, et que les souffrances de ce peuple ont commencé à ce moment là", a-t-il encore rappelé.

"Le processus de paix est au point mort, et nous demandons à tous ceux qui sont disposés à nous aider d’essayer de faire réveiller la communauté internationale avant que ça ne soit trop tard, et avant que le feu ne reprenne", avertit t-il, avant d’ajouter que "la guerre c’est la plus mauvaise chose à envisager, et le pire qui puisse arriver c’est de la reprendre".

Il a aussi regretté les tergiversations des autorités marocaines qui ne font que retarder la reprise des négociations entre les deux parties, pour empêcher l´organisation du référendum d´autodétermination du peuple sahraoui.

Le Maroc bloque également la nomination du représentant personnel au Sahara occidental, après la fin de mandat, non renouvelé, de Peter Van Walsum, a-t-il encore regretté.

Pour mieux éclairer l’auditoire sur la situation actuelle, M. Zakari a énuméré toutes les concessions déjà faites par le Front Polisario pour aller dans le sens d’une solution consensuelle.

Il a indiqué que le Front Polisario a présenté à l’ONU une proposition de solution basée sur le référendum d’autodétermination incluant en plus de l´option indépendance les deux autres options marocaines d´autonomie et d’intégration.

"Les autorités Sahraouis ont également donné des preuves de leur bonne volonté et des assurances à leur voisin le Maroc qu’elles sont prêtes à discuter et même en chiffre sur la question des richesses sahraouies", qui sont, selon lui, les raisons réelles au centre de ce conflit.

A ceux qui s’inquiétaient au sujet de l’inaction de l’Union européenne, il affirmera que l’UE a les moyens de faire pression sur la Maroc, mais qu’elle ne les utilisent pas.

"Nous estimons que l’UE a les moyens de faire pression sur le Maroc, mais qu’elle ne les utilisent pas. Nous estimons aussi qu’elle devrait lui faire comprendre que la guerre et que le statu quo ne peuvent avoir que des conséquences négatives pour les deux parties".

"Ce que nous exigeons, du moins, c’est que le Sahara occidental ne soit pas intégré dans les nouveaux accords bilatéraux, dont celui du "statut avancé" accordé récemment par l’UE au Maroc", a-t-il conclu.

Le Prix International des droits de l'homme de Pola de Siero (Asturies) remis à un militant sahraoui des droits de l'homme

Madrid, Le militant sahraoui des droits de l'homme, Hmad Ali Hammad, a reçu le Prix international des droits de l'homme 2008 décerné par la municipalité de la ville de Pola de Siero (Asturies, Nord-Ouest de l'Espagne) au Comité Sahraoui de soutien à l'autodétermination du peuple sahraoui, dont il est le vice-président.

La remise de ce prix, qui coïncide avec la célébration du 60 ème anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme, s'est déroulée en présence de plusieurs responsables locaux de la ville de Pola de Siero, de militants de droits de l'homme et de représentants d’associations de soutien au peuple sahraoui.

A cette occasion, Hammad qui a subi lui-même la torture et l'emprisonnement à plusieurs reprises dans les geôles marocaines, a remercié de nombreuses organisations pour leur soutien à la cause sahraouie, à travers le Prix international des droits de l'homme "qui signifie beaucoup de choses pour nous et qui montre que notre voix a été écoutée", a-t-il déclaré.

Il a dénoncé, en outre, le Maroc qui "viole les droits de l'homme depuis plus de 30 ans" dans les territoires sahraouis occupés, rappelant à cet égard que plus de 500 sahraouis sont portés disparus, que des familles entières ont été enterrées vivantes, soulignant l'usage de bombardements au napalm et au phosphore contre les populations civiles sahraouies", ainsi que l'assassinat récent de deux étudiants sahraouis à Agadir (Maroc).

Pour le militant sahraoui, le "Maroc poursuit sa politique d'extermination" dans les territoires sahraouis occupés, et l'Espagne "collabore avec lui en lui fournissant des armes et décore ses soldats qui ont participé au génocide du peuple sahraoui".

Le peuple sahraoui "vit depuis 30 ans des souffrances, l'extermination et les tortures devant la passivité du gouvernement espagnol qui l'a trahi pour un accord tripartite signé avec le Maroc et la Mauritanie", a-t-il conclu.

Le président Mohamed Abdelaziz attendu jeudi à Bruxelles

Bruxelles, Le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz, est attendu jeudi à Bruxelles ou il doit s’entretenir avec des responsables européens de la situation au Sahara occidental.

Lors de cette visite, M. Abdelaziz aura une réunion avec la Commissaire aux Relations extérieures et à la PEV, Mme Benita Ferrero-Waldner, a-t-on appris auprès des sources diplomatiques sahraouies à Bruxelles.

Le Président sahraoui devrait également être reçu par le Président du Parlement européen Hans-Gert Pöttering. Dans son programme, il est prévu également une rencontre avec la presse durant laquelle il évoquera son voyage à New York où il a rencontré le Secrétaire général des Nations unies, Ban Ki-Moon.

Les principales questions qui seront traitées à la conférence de presse porteront sur la situation actuelle de la délégation ad hoc Sahara occidental que le Parlement européen a approuvé le 27 Octobre 2005, et qui n'a pas été en mesure encore de s'acquitter de son mandat, parce que les autorités marocaines lui ont refusé l'accès aux territoires occupés.

Le Président Abdelaziz évoquera également les conséquences du nouveau "statut avancé" accordé au Maroc par l’Union européenne dans le cadre de la Politique européenne de voisinage.

Il communiquera également les efforts continus des Nations unies sur la définition du conflit du Sahara occidental comme un problème de décolonisation, et présentera la situation humanitaire actuelle des réfugiés sahraouis qui dépendent totalement de l'aide humanitaire internationale.

Trois militantes sahraouies témoignent à Paris des exactions marocaines

Paris,Fatma Mahdi, Nadjat Khnibila et Khadidja Mouthik, trois femmes sahraouies, ont apporté à Paris des témoignages poignants sur la situation dans les territoires occupés et sur la répression que subissent leurs frères de la part du régime marocain.

Les trois femmes ont eu des itinéraires différents mais ont vécu les mêmes souffrances et aspirent à un même objectif, la mise en œuvre de leur droit à leur autodétermination et leur droit à un Etat indépendant.

Elles ont crié haut et fort leur aspiration à la liberté, à la libération de leurs territoires occupés et leur droit à s’exprimer sur le devenir de leur pays, dans le cadre d’un référendum prôné par l’ONU, "mais qui tarde à venir", ont-elles estimé mardi au cours d’une conférence de presse à Paris.

Mme Fatma Mahdi est aujourd’hui la secrétaire générale de l’Union des femmes sahraouie (UNFS). Cette native de la ville de Smara s’est trouvée contrainte de fuir Guelta Zemmour, où elle vivait avec sa famille, après l’invasion marocaine en décembre 1975 et le bombardement de cette localité sahraouie.

Elle n’avait que sept ans à l’époque. Elle se retrouve dans un camp de réfugiés où elle a appris à vivre, à combattre et à se former politiquement. "J’ai décidé de m’investir dans les activités politiques et sociales en intégrant l’Union des femmes sahraouies pour contribuer à la défense de notre cause", a-t-elle expliqué, rappelant qu’elle a été chargée de l’administration au sein de cette organisation, tout en poursuivant ses études.

Elle a obtenu son diplôme en coopération et relations internationales en Espagne. Elue au Poste de SG de l’Union des femmes sahraouies en 2003 puis en 2007, Fatma Mahdi se consacre pleinement au développement de la vie sociale et à la mise en place de l’organisation de la vie quotidienne dans les camps de réfugiés.

Mme Nadjat Khnibila, 53 ans, native d’El Aaiun, vivait en France depuis 1977 avec son époux. Le couple n’a jamais caché son militantisme pour la cause nationale. Elle participait régulièrement aux manifestations du 1er mai à Paris, et à la journée dédiée aux disparus sahraouis.

Durant l’été 1982, alors qu’ils se trouvaient en vacances familiales à Goulimim et à Tan Tan, Nadjat Khnibila et son époux sont enlevés par la police marocaine, au lendemain d’une manifestation en faveur de la cause sahraouie. Ils subiront les pires tortures à Agadir, avant d’être transférés au tristement célèbre bagne de Kalaât M’gouma, où ils vont croupir jusqu’en 1991. Nadjat a décrit les conditions difficiles d’internement, les maladies, le manque d’hygiène, l’isolement, les brimades et les tortures.

Le couple a été libéré en 1991, sous les pressions internationales, mais faute de papiers, il n’a pu rejoindre la France, où il vivait. Nadjat a repris depuis son combat pour se consacrer à la cause des siens. Elle est membre du Comité sahraoui pour le soutien à l’autodétermination au Sahara occidental.

Mme Khadidja Mouthik réside à Goulimim, au sud du Maroc. Elle est issue d’une
famille qui a subi les exactions des forces répressives chérifiennes. Son père,
enrôlé de force dans l’armée marocaine, meurt en 1973 dans des conditions suspectes.
Sa mère a été enlevée et portée disparue durant 7 mois en 1980. Ses trois frères
et son cousin ont été arrêtés pour avoir revendiqué l’indépendance de leur pays
avant d’être condamnés à plusieurs années de prison.

Mme Khadidja a également parlé de la situation actuelle, marquée "par le pillage des richesses de son pays, la division en deux du territoire national par de longs murs, la poursuite des exactions contre les populations sahraouies et l’interdiction aux organisations internationales de rendre visite aux populations vivant dans les territoires occupés".

Elle a également, témoigné du rôle de la femme sahraouie dans une lutte sur tous les fronts afin de préparer les conditions idoines du futur Etat sahraoui indépendant. "Les femmes représentent 11% des membres du gouvernement et 34% du parlement national", a-t-elle ajouté.

Mme Khadidja est une syndicaliste. Pour avoir défendu les droits de ses collègues et son militantisme pour la cause sahraouie n’a pas cessé de subir les exactions et les brimades de la part de l’administration marocaine. Arrestations, tortures, licenciements abusifs, blocages de salaires, jugements iniques se sont succédé au point où en 1999, l’administration a tenté de l’interner pour maladie mentale.

Elle a observé une grève de la faim durant 45 jours. Toutes ces exactions n’ont pas émoussé sa détermination à s’opposer aux forces d’occupation marocaines et à défendre la cause des siens.

.En novembre dernier, de retour de Mauritanie, elle est arrêtée au poste frontière marocain d’El Gargarat, au Sahara occidental. Elle a été transférée à la ville occupée de Dakhla pour subir deux interrogatoires avant d’être relâchée le lendemain, dépouillée de tous ses effets personnels. "Nous vivons l’enfer au Maroc", a-t-elle déclaré.

.Les trois femmes viennent d’être reçues à Bruxelles au Parlement européen par la Commission des droits de la femme et des groupes politiques. Durant leur séjour en France, elles ont également rencontré des associations féminines et de droits de l’homme, des partis politiques, des élus et des syndicats.

Elles ont apporté des témoignages vivant sur la situation prévalant au Sahara Occidental.
"Nous apportons un message de paix et d’espoir", ont-elles rappelé à maintes
reprises.

Ex UN Legal Counsel declares EU-Morocco fisheries agreement illegal

The former UN Legal Counsel, Ambassador Hans Corell, calls the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) illegal. Western Sahara Resource Watch demands immediate halt of European plundering of occupied Western Sahara. PRESS RELEASE from WSRW.



PRESS RELEASE from Western Sahara Resource Watch

Melbourne, Madrid, Brussels,

9th of December 2008

EU vessels have since 2006 trawled the waters offshore occupied Western Sahara under a Moroccan-EU fisheries agreement, in disregard of the wishes of the people of Western Sahara. These waters are known to contain some of the richest fish resources in the world.

The EU has previously claimed that the unethical agreement is legal, referring to an opinion that the erstwhile UN Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Hans Corell, wrote in 2002. But the former UN legal expert himself, having left office, clearly criticizes what he sees as an EU mis-interpretation of his text.

Corell, who is considered the world's foremost authority on the matter after writing the opinion to the Security Council, said it is "obvious that an agreement…that does not make a distinction between the waters adjacent to Western Sahara and the waters adjacent to the territory of Morocco would violate international law". Corell added: "As a European I feel embarrassed".

The clear statement from Corell was given at a law conference hosted jointly by the South African Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of Pretoria on 4 and 5 December.

Read Corell’s full speech at http://www.havc.se/res/SelectedMaterial/20081205pretoriawesternsahara1.pdf

Western Sahara Resource Watch, which in 2006 tried to have Western Sahara specifically excluded from the agreement, receives Corell's statements with approval.

"It proves that our interpretation of the international law in this matter has been correct all along. The fundamental breach of law and ethics which the EU is engaged in, must now be rectified immediately", said Cate Lewis, International Coordinator of Western Sahara Resource Watch. "This can only be done by amending the agreement to exclude Western Saharan waters from the Agreement, and by immediately revoking any European fishing licences authorizing trawlers to enter Western Saharan waters."

Following Corell's landmark statement, WSRW urges all European fishing companies to immediately cease fishing activities in Western Saharan waters to minimize legal exposure through possible litigation in EU courts.

"Given that this illegal practice has been ongoing for years, WSRW demands that all prior financial transfers made by the EU to Morocco to secure access to Western Saharan fisheries resources be returned immediately. In order to ensure consistency with international law, this money must be allocated directly for the benefit of the Sahrawi population, including those living in forced exile", Cate Lewis said.

For further information or comments:
Sara Eyckmans, Brussels, WSRW EU Coordinator, mob (+32) 475 958 645
Cate Lewis, Melbourne, WSRW International Coordinator, mob (+61) 407 288 358
Javier García Lachica, Madrid, WSRW Spain, (+34) 615-917-339
For background, contact Dean Bialek, USA, on +1 212 594 8295.
www.wsrw.org

Background
Moroccan forces have illegally occupied Western Sahara since 1975. In contravention of more than 100 UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions over three decades, Morocco continues to block efforts by indigenous Western Saharans – the Saharawis – to hold a referendum on whether they wish to become an independent state.

The International Court of Justice in 1975 stated that there are no territorial or sovereign ties between Morocco and Western Sahara. The EU Commission in April this year actually admitted that fishing is today taking place within Western Sahara.

WSRW is a global network with member organisations in more than 30 countries worldwide, working to protect the Sahrawi people's natural resources against Moroccan and foreign business interests in occupied Western Sahara.

CONCENTRACIÓN DE PROTESTA - MADRID

Basta de asesinatos y represión contra el Pueblo Saharaui

Ante los graves acontecimientos que tienen por escenario los territorios ocupados del Sáhara Occidental, con la muerte de dos jóvenes saharauis y varios más gravemente heridos, y ante la brutal e indiscriminada represión contra la población civil indefensa, en particular hacia los jóvenes estudiantes saharauis en las Universidades marroquíes, que solo reivindican en manifestaciones pacíficas el respeto de sus derechos y la libertad de expresión y manifestación, así como el rechazo de más de 33 años de ocupación militar marroquí, de violación de los derechos humanos y del robo de sus riquezas naturales.

Fecha: Miércoles 10 de diciembre de 2008

Hora de comienzo: 18,00 h.

Hora de finalización: 19,30 h.



Lugar de la concentración: Frente a la Embajada de Marruecos, C/ Serrano, 179 (Madrid)



NO PERMITAMOS MÁS ASESINATOS, CASTIGO A LOS CULPABLES

LIBERTAD Y JUSTICIA ¡¡¡YA!!! PARA EL PUEBLO SAHARAUI



(Adjuntamos nota de prensa Servicio de Comunicación Saharaui en Canarias)

Coordinadora Estatal de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Sáhara (CEAS-Sáhara)
C/ Pez, 27 - 1º Derecha - 28004 MADRID
Teléfono/Fax: (00 34) 91 531 76 04
E-mail: ceas-sahara@ceas-sahara.es
www.saharaindependiente.org

Manifestation à Paris pour dénoncer l’assassinat des deux étudiant sahraouis à Agadir (Maroc)

Paris, La communauté sahraouie en France a organisé récemment une manifestation pour dénoncer l’assassinat des étudiants sahraouis baba Khaya et El Houssein Lekteif, assassiné par un chauffeur de bus marocain devant une gare routière à Agadir (Maroc).

Les manifestant ont également condamné ce crime "odieux" et les violations des droits de l’Homme par les autorités marocaines au Sahara occidental, au sud du Maroc et dans les universités marocaines, a précisé une source de la représentation du Front Polisario en France.

Ont pris part à cette manifestation organisée par la communauté sahraouie en France différents groupes et personnalités solidaires avec la cause du peuple sahraoui en France, des centaines de ctoyens français, ainsi qu’une délégation de l’Union nationale des femmes sahraouies (UNFS) au côté des activistes sahraouies des droits humains, Khadija Mouthik et Djimi El Ghalia, qui se trouvent depuis quelques en France.