WORST OF THE WORST

Of the 42 countries designated as Not Free, eight have been given the survey’s lowest possible rating of 7 for both political rights and civil liberties. Among the eight worst-rated countries, one, North Korea, is a one-party Marxist-Leninist regime. Two, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, are Central Asian countries ruled by dictators with roots in the Soviet period. Libya is an Arab country under the sway of a secular dictatorship, while Sudan is under a leadership that has elements both of radical Islamism and of a typical military junta. The remaining worst-rated states are Burma, a tightly controlled military dictatorship; Equatorial Guinea, a highly repressive regime with one of the worst human rights records in Africa; and Somalia, a failed state.
There are two worst-rated territories: Tibet, under Chinese jurisdiction, and Chechnya, where a repressive pro-Kremlim regime continues to struggle with a guerrilla insurgency.
An additional 11 countries and territories received scores that were slightly above the worst-ranked countries, and received ratings of 6,7 or 7,6 for political rights and civil liberties: Belarus, Chad, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Zimbabwe, South Ossetia, and Western Sahara.

Freedom in the World 2009 Survey Release

Freedom in the World 2009: Freedom Retreats for Third Year

On January 12, Freedom House released the findings from the latest edition of Freedom in the World, the annual survey of global political rights and civil liberties. According to the survey’s findings, 2008 marked the third consecutive year in which global freedom suffered a decline. This setback was most pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa and the non-Baltic former Soviet Union, although it affected most other regions of the world. Furthermore, the decline in freedom coincided with the onset of a forceful reaction against democracy by a number of powerful authoritarian regimes, including Russia and China.

Freedom in the World 2009 reflects developments that took place in the calendar year 2008. The full survey, including the individual country reports, will be available in late spring 2009.


Press Release

Freedom retreated in much of the world in 2008, the third year of global decline as measured by Freedom House's annual survey of political rights and civil liberties which released today. Sub-Saharan Africa and the former Soviet Union saw the most reversals, while South Asia showed significant improvement.

"The advance of freedom in South Asia was a rare bright spot in a year that was otherwise marked by setbacks and stagnation," said Freedom House Director of Research Arch Puddington, who pegged the start of the global downturn to the period directly following the "color revolutions" in Europe. "Powerful regimes worldwide have reacted to the 'color revolutions' with calculated and forceful measures designed to suppress democratic reformers, international assistance to those reformers and ultimately the very idea of democracy itself."

Freedom in the World 2009 examines the state of freedom in all 193 countries and 16 strategic territories. The survey analyzes developments that occurred in 2008 and assigns each country a freedom status — either Free, Partly Free or Not Free based on a scoring of performance in key freedoms.

The overview includes an analysis of changes during the Bush Administration and suggests priorities for the incoming Obama Administration and the leaders of other established democracies. The survey firmly rejects the premise that engaging with authoritarian leaders means ignoring their policies of domestic repression.

"At a time when democracy's antagonists are increasingly assertive and its supporters are in disarray, the new administration must focus on the need to protect fundamental freedoms and support the frontline defenders and advocates," said Jennifer Windsor, Freedom House executive director.

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy will host an event on the survey's findings in Taipei, Taiwan January 13 at 9 a.m. at the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. Taiwan was chosen as the locale for the release because of its strategic position in Asia, not only geographically and economically, but also as one of its most vibrant democracies.

Although setbacks in 2008 did not represent substantial declines for most countries, setbacks were numerous and affected most regions. Overall, 34 countries registered declines in freedom and 14 registered improvements.

Three countries saw declines in scores that resulted in status changes: Afghanistan, which moved from Partly Free to Not Free; Mauritania, Partly Free to Not Free; and Senegal, Free to Partly Free. Three countries, all from South Asia, moved from Not Free to Partly Free: Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan. Two countries in Western Europe—Italy and Greece—experienced modest declines.

Key global findings include:

• Free: The number of countries judged by Freedom in the World as Free in 2008 stands at 89, representing 46 percent of the world's countries and 46 percent of the global population. The number of Free countries declined by one from 2007.

• Partly Free: The number of Partly Free countries is 62, or 32 percent of all countries assessed by the survey and 20 percent of the world's total population. The number of Partly Free countries increased by two.

• Not Free: The report designates 42 countries as Not Free, representing 22 percent of the total number of countries and 34 percent of the world population. Nearly 60 percent of this number lives in China. The number of Not Free countries declined by one.

• Electoral Democracies: The number of electoral democracies dropped by two and stands at 119. Developments in Mauritania, Georgia, Venezuela and Central African Republic disqualified them from the electoral democracy list, while Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bangladesh became electoral democracies.


Key regional findings include:

• Worst of the Worst: Of the 42 countries designated Not Free, eight received the survey's lowest possible ranking for both political rights and civil liberties: North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Libya, Sudan, Burma, Equatorial Guinea and Somalia. Two territories are in the same category: Tibet and Chechnya. Eleven other countries and territories received scores that were slightly better: Belarus, Chad, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Zimbabwe, South Ossetia and Western Sahara.

• Sub-Saharan Africa: Twelve countries and one territory—about one-fourth of the regional total—experienced setbacks in 2008. In addition to Senegal and Mauritania, declines were also registered in Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Somaliland. The region's downturn comes after several years of modest improvement. Positive developments include gains in Zambia, Comoros, Angola and Cote d'Ivoire.

• Asia: The most significant progress occurred in South Asia, where several countries saw improvements linked to elections. In addition to significant improvements in Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan, some progress was also seen in Nepal, Kashmir, Malaysia and Thailand. Declines were registered in Afghanistan, Burma, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Tibet. China increased repression instead of delivering human rights reforms pledged in connection to hosting the Summer Olympics.

• Former Soviet Union/Central and Eastern Europe: Non-Baltic countries of the former Soviet Union continued their decade-long decline, now ranking below Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East on several survey indicators. Russia and Georgia, which went to war over South Ossetia, were among the region's notable declines, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova. Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe remains strong, despite setbacks in Bulgaria and Macedonia.

• Middle East/North Africa: After several years of modest gains earlier in the decade, the Middle East/North Africa is now experiencing stagnation. Iraq is the only country to show improvement because of reductions in violence, political terror and government-sponsored Shia militias, although it retains its Not Free status. Jordan, Bahrain, Iran, the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli-Occupied Territories also declined.

• Americas: The region managed to maintain its democratic character despite economic concerns, an increase in violent crime in some countries and the rise of populist demagogues. Paraguay and Cuba saw improvements in 2008, although the Castro government continues to be one of the world's most repressive regimes. Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico and Venezuela were among the countries registering declines.

• Western Europe and North America: The region continues to earn the highest scores in Freedom in the World. The election of Barack Obama as U.S. president could lead to reforms of problematic counterterrorism policies. Two European countries experienced declines in 2008: Italy and Greece. The survey also voices concern about potential threats to freedom of expression in Canada and Great Britain.

Freedom House, an independent nongovernmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world, has been monitoring political rights and civil liberties worldwide since 1972.

Freedom matters.

liberdade, liberdade

A Freedom House , organização não governamental que estimula a expansão de liberdade no mundo, e que monitora direitos políticos e liberdades civis desde 1972, divulgou no dia 12 de Janeiro de 2009,o relatório Freedom in the World 2009. De acordo com o relatório, 2008 foi o terceiro ano consecutivo de declinio da liberdade global. Isso foi mais evidente na região do Sub-Sahara africano, algumas regiões da antiga União Soviética e também na China.

Foram pesquisados 193 paises e 16 territorios, classificados nas categorias “Livre”, “Parcialmente Livre”, e “Sem Liberdade”. O relatório inclui uma analise do governo Bush e sugere prioridades de ação para Barack Obama e os líderes de outras democracias estabelecidas. O documento rejeita com firmeza a premissa de engajamento oportunista com líderes autoritários, ignorando suas ações de repressão e cerceamento de liberdades civis.

Embora os retrocessos em 2008 não tenham representado decadencia substancial de liberdades para a maioria dos paises, foram mais numerosos e afetaram mais regiões. No total, 34 paises apresentaram declínio e 14 mostraram ganhos de liberdades.

Três paises mudaram de status em função de retrocessos: Afeganistão e Mauritania, passaram de “Parcialmente Livre” para “Sem Liberdade”, e o Senegal, de “Livre” para “Parcialmente Livre”. Outros três paises, todos do sul da Asia, passaram de “Sem Liberdade” para “Parcialmente Livre”: Paquistão, Maldivas e Butão. Na Europa, Itália e Grecia apresentaram discreto declinio.

O número de paises considerados livres em 2008 pela Freedom in the World são 89, representando 46% dos paises do mundo e 46% da população global.
Enquanto isso, 62 paises foram considerados parcialmente livres. Eles representam 32% dos paises pesquisados e 20% da população mundial.

O relatório apontou 42 paises sem liberdade, representando 22% do número total de paises analisados e 34% da população do mundo. Cerca de 60% dessas pessoas vivem na China.

Na classificação de “democracias eleitorais” encontram-se 119 paises. A Mauritania, Venezuela e Republica Centro Africana foram desqualificadas dessa lista, enquanto a Bosnia-Herzegovina e Bangladesh ganharam destaque como exemplos de democracias eleitorais recentes.

De uma maneira geral as Americas tiveram boa pontuação nesse quesito, apesar do aumento da criminalidade em alguns paises e a manutenção de lideranças populistas. Paraguai e Cuba mereceram menção por melhorias no processo político, apesar do regime cubano continuar sendo um dos mais repressivos do mundo. Colombia, Nicaragua e Mexico, além da já citada Venezuela estão entre os paises que registraram declinio nos direitos politicos e liberdades civis.

Na categoria “Piores dos Piores” estão 42 paises classificados como sem liberdade. Desses, oito receberam a pior pontuação da pesquisa: Coreia do Norte, Turquemistão, Ubzequistão, Libia, Sudão, Burma, Guiné Equatorial e Somalia. Dois territórios estão na mesma situação: Tibete e Chechenia. Onze outros paises e territorios receberam notas apenas um pouco melhores: Belarus, Chade, China, Cuba, Eritreia, Laos, Arabia Saudita, Siria, Zimbaube, Ossetia do Sul e Sahara Ocidental.

Para ler o relatório integral da pesquisa realizada pela Freedom House com mapas, graficos, tabelas e descrição da metodologia clique aqui http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=445

The Faroes support the right over natural resources

The government of the Faroe Islands supports the Western Sahara people's right to self-determination over its natural resources.

In January, a Norwegian news service discovered that a company from the Faroe Islands was involved in the exploration of natural resources in occupied Western Sahara.

The Faroese company Thor Offshore is using one of their vessels as a supply vessel for the Norwegian company Fugro-Geoteam in the search for oil exploration. Such Moroccan oil exploration is in violation of international law as long as the people of Western Sahara is against it. Morocco has occupied the major part of Western Sahara since 1975.

After the issue of Thor Offshore has been covered on Faroese TV and national newspapers for several days, on the 2nd of February, the Faroese Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the statement below on its homepages, which supports the interpretation of the UN.

"In light of the ongoing international debate about the legal status of Western Sahara, the Government of the Faroes has issued the following statement:

The foreign policy of the government of the Faroes is based on the fundamental view that all nations should strive for cooperation and harmony in their relations with each other.

The primary aim of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security and the Government of the Faroes recognises that all nations have an equal right to exercise their right to self-determination.

The United Nations recognises that the people of Western Sahara have the right to self-determination and the Government of the Faroes supports their desire to exercise this right in practice.

The Government of the Faroes supports United Nations resolutions stating that the natural resources of Western Sahara should only be exploited and utilised when this is in accordance with the common will of the people of Western Sahara."

Here is the Faroese version.
"Fráboð um støðuna í Vestursahara

Uttanríkispolitikkur Føroya byggir á hugsjónina um, at samljóð og samstarv skal vera millum heimsins tjóðir. Tær eru javnar í metum og skulu sýna virðing og hóvsemi sínámillum.

Fremsta endamál Sameindu Tjóða er at tryggja heiminum frið og tryggleika. Føroya landsstýri viðurkennir týdningin av áhaldandi royndunum at tryggja heimsins tjóðum javnbjóðis rætt at útinna sjálvsavgerðarrætt sín.

Sameindu Tjóðir viðurkenna, at fólkið í Vestursahara hevur rætt at skipa seg sjálvt, og landsstýrið stuðlar ynskjum teirra at fremja henda rætt í verki.

Landsstýrið stuðlar samtyktunum um, at náttúrutilfeingi bert skal útvinnast, um hetta er í tráð við fólksins vilja í Vestursahara."


The Faroes is an autonomous province of Denmark.

War profiteers

Irishmen Bryan Benitz and and Paul Griffiths are leading a company that is planning to profit from an occupation.

The Irish oil company Island Oil and Gas is working for Moroccan authorities in occupied Western Sahara, despite that UN has said it is illegal. The Sahrawis are protesting it, it is after all their country. No state recognise Morocco's claims to Western Sahara.

But the Irish company keeps planning operations in the occupied country.

On 28 January 2009, their 2008 annual report was launched. The report contains presentations of the 2 illegal licences.

It shows that Island as operator of the Tarfaya Licence, has currently completed a review of prospectivity and will now embark upon a seismic reprocessing programme to high-grade prospects for new infill seismic acquisition in order to define potential drilling locations.

It is also hinted in the report that the reconnaissance licence for the Zag basin might have been converted to an exploration licence in December 2008. Fugro Robertson have been finalising analysis of the Zag basin in occupied Western Sahara in 2008. The Fugro NV subsidiary Fugro Robertson was also engaged in Western Sahara in the period around 2004.

None of the letters that WSRW has sent Island Oil and Gas have ever been responded. Despite their insistence on violating international law and fundamental ethics, they claim in the annual report to be "responsible". The UN stated oil exploration in Western Sahara would be illegal if the local people was against it.

This is cut from the annual report:
Onshore Morocco, Tarfaya Permit
The Tarfaya Exploration Licence is located in Southern Morocco and covers an area of 13,434 square kilometres. It is located onshore and borders the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. The Exploration Licence was awarded by ONHYM in November 2007 and is effective from 14 January 2008 for an eight year term divided into three work phases. ONHYM has the right to exercise a back-in option of up to 25%, reducing Island’s net interest to 30% if ONHYM were to exercise its back-in option to the maximum extent. State participation is carried only through the exploration phase with no
reimbursement for exploration costs.

The Phase 1 work programme for the licence is of 30 months duration and requires the acquisition, processing and interpretation of 500 kilometres of 2D seismic data and to conduct geochemical modelling. A drill or drop decision will be made at the end of the initial period.

Based on the existing seismic and well database in the Licence area, 15 exploration leads have been identified and mapped. There are two primary play types related to Mesozoic age reservoirs: Jurassic marine carbonate platform sediments and Triassic continental fluvio-deltaic red bed clastics. These occur at between 2,500 and 4,000 metres and 4,000 to 5,200 metres respectively. Fault- and dip-closed structures and anticlinal folds with four-way dip closure have been identified to date.

On-trend discoveries include the offshore Cap Juby Field and fields in the Essaouira Basin. Cap Juby is the nearest oil field on trend with Tarfaya and lies only 40 kilometres offshore from the Tarfaya Licence. The field was discovered in 1969 by Esso with the drilling of the MO-2 well. The well flowed 10 to 12 degrees API oil at a rate of 2,377 bpd from an Upper Jurassic fractured limestone at a depth of 2,076 metres subsea. A subsequent appraisal well on the flank of the structure encountered a small amount of light 38 degrees API oil from an older Jurassic limestone reservoir, thus proving the light oil potential of the area. Oil migrated and was trapped in the Cap Juby structure during the Middle to Late Cretaceous, however the structure was deeply eroded at the beginning of the Tertiary at which time the oil was biodegraded.

The Cap Juby field has not been monetised to date due to the heavy nature of the oil and the complex reservoir distribution. However, this proven oil play extends onshore into the Tarfaya Licence where the influence of Tertiary erosion is much less and the potential for the preservation of light oil in the
Jurassic is very high.

A total of seven discoveries in the Triassic and Jurassic intervals were made in the onshore Essaouira Basin, north of the licence area, including one oil field and two gas and gas-condensate fields.

The principle structural leads in the Tarfaya Licence are the Daora Structure, covering a probable area of 23 square kilometres and prospective for multiple targets in the Jurassic and Triassic; and the J North Structure, covering a probable area of 105 square kilometres with a primary reservoir target in
the Trias.

Netherland, Sewell and Associates have produced a Competent Persons’ Report for San Leon Energy Ltd, one of Island’s partners in the Tarfaya Licence, as part of that Company’s AIM Listing requirements, which gives, as of 1 May 2008, gross unrisked ‘Probable Prospective’ oil in place for the Tarfaya exploration leads of 2,511.5 mmb and gross ‘Probable Prospective Oil Resources’ of 711.3 mmb. It quotes gross unrisked ‘Possible Prospective Oil Resources’ of 3,878.6 mmb. For the J North Triassic Structure Netherland, Sewell and Associates prepared unrisked economics for the unrisked ‘Probable’ (‘Best Estimate’) development case of 156 mmb of gross oil resources. Using an oil price of US$80/barrel, this gave a gross unrisked value of approximately US$708 million discounted at 10% NPV. Netherland, Sewell and Associates have risked the chances of success for the J North Structure as 0.09%.

Island, the operator of the Tarfaya Licence, has currently completed a review of prospectivity and will now embark upon a seismic reprocessing programme to high-grade prospects for new infill seismic acquisition in order to define potential drilling locations.

Island will continue to prudently manage its exposure to the potential cost of the Phase 1 work commitment through farm-outs or the sale of equity interest in the Licence in order to accelerate drilling activity in this very prospective Mesozoic basin. As part of this process, and in order to secure an interest in this potentially valuable licence, in January 2008, during which time Island’s business growth strategy was constrained by the terms and conditions of Island’s outstanding debt facility with RMB, Island agreed with its partner in the Tarfaya Licence, Longreach Oil & Gas Ventures Limited (‘Longreach’), that Longreach would carry Island’s share of the Bank Guarantee (US$400,000), required to be put in place at the time of execution of the Tarfaya Licence, based on certain agreed terms and conditions as follows:

# Carry Longreach’s share of all costs incurred in relation to the Tarfaya Licence up to an amount equivalent to US$420,000 plus interest at 2% above Federal Reserve Rate;
# Grant Longreach an overriding royalty of 0.2% of gross monthly production, attributable to the Island interest, in any FSU licence it acquires jointly with its Moldovan partner Valiexchimp. In the event that none of these projects in the FSU were executed within one year of putting in place the Tarfaya Bank Guarantee, then Island would grant Longreach an overriding royalty, attributable to the net Island interest, of 0.4% of gross monthly production in the Tarfaya Licence and of 0.2% of gross monthly production in the Zag Reconnaissance Permit.


Onshore Morocco, Zag Basin
The Zag Exploration Reconnaissance Licence is located in Southern Morocco and covers approximately 21,807 square kilometres. The Licence was awarded on 12 December 2006 for an initial 12 month period. ONHYM subsequently granted a 12 month extension valid until December 2008 at which time a decision will be made to convert the Reconnaissance Licence to an Exploration Licence.

The current work programme includes reviewing existing studies; conducting geological field studies and a geochemical study; acquisition, processing and interpretation of aeromagnetic data; and the interpretation of satellite image data. The integration of these data will aid in high-grading areas for acquisition of a future 2D seismic survey to delineate leads and prospects.

The Zag Exploration Reconnaissance Licence lies within the Zag-Tindouf Basin of Southern Morocco and Western Algeria and is the westernmost of the prolific hydrocarbon-producing Palaeozoic Basins of North Africa. The Palaeozoic and Triassic reservoirs contain some 43% of known oil and 84% of the known gas resources of the entire North African region, with more than 460 billion barrels of oil equivalent of recoverable hydrocarbons discovered in 350 separate accumulations. The Zag-Tindouf Basin is predominantly a gas-prone hydrocarbon system. As a result of this the basin is poorly explored because historically it was considered remote and lacking production and transportation facilities. Large gas discoveries in Algeria and Libya, planned export gas pipelines to the European market together with the potential to transport gas to Morocco’s Atlantic Margin for conversion to LNG and export to the United States market, the lack of a strategic gas reserve and gas storage facilities in Morocco, the renewed political focus on security of supply issues, have revitalised industry interest in the Zag-Tindouf Basin, as demonstrated by the fact that Petro-Canada holds acreage immediately to the north of and adjoining Island’s licence interest.

The Zag-Tindouf Basin contains in excess of 8,000 metres of sediments and therefore the central parts of the basin have the potential to contain mature hydrocarbon source rocks. Despite this only eight exploration wells have been drilled in the Zag Basin, between 1961 and 1965. There is no indication that seismic data were ever acquired in this basin. Two wells encountered gas shows in the Palaeozoic. The Morcba-1 well, drilled in 1965, was classified as a gas discovery after testing 0.3 million cubic feet of gas per day (‘mm cfgpd’) from Silurian reservoirs at 650 metres.

The Zag-Tindouf Basin extends into Western Algeria and shares a common tectonic and sedimentary history with the Reggane Basin of South-Central Algeria. The Reggane Basin has been more extensively explored between 1957 and 2005. Gas has been tested from Ordovician, Lower Devonian and Carboniferous reservoirs, at depths between 1,500 and 4,500 metres subsea, at rates varying from 1.17 to 33 mm cfgpd. B.P. made two gas discoveries in 1980 and Sonatrach drilled ten exploration wells from 1995 to 2005 in the Reggane Basin. Estimates of discovered gas-in-place up until 2003 are 1.4 tcf (Petroconsultants). Repsol is reported to have drilled 13 exploration wells since 2003 in the Reggane Basin and to have made 5 gas discoveries with proved and probable resources in the order of several tcf.

From the available well data and surface rock outcrops, the Zag-Tindouf Basin is interpreted to contain the same prolific Silurian source rocks that are present in the Algerian and Libyan hydrocarbon-producing basins and to have sourced the gas discovered to date in the Morcba-1 well drilled in 1965.

The Zag Basin is in the earliest stages of exploration with drilling prospects yet to be identified. Initial geological studies by the Operator, San Leon Energy Ltd, have been completed and have demonstrated the presence of an active petroleum system. A 19,750 line-kilometre aeromagnetic survey will be acquired, processed and interpreted during the latter part of 2008. The objective will be to delineate deep basin structures over which 2D seismic will be acquired, subject to converting the Reconnaissance Licence into an Exploration Licence, to further assess the potential for the presence of fault block and folded anticlinal traps similar to those containing the hydrocarbons in the Palaeozoic oil and gas fields of Algeria and Libya. The Zag Basin in Southern Morocco has the potential to be a significant source of gas in North-West Africa, close to the European Market, in future years. Post year end, (October 2008) Fugro Robertson has completed for the Zag licensees a scoping economic analysis and feasibility study for a potential gas development in the Zag Basin. The results are positive and support the potential for the Zag Basin to make a significant contribution to the development of indigenous gas resources in Morocco in the event that future exploration drilling proves successful.

Nuevas detenciones, torturas y bloqueo policial en el Sáhara Occidental ocupado

LA OPINIÓN | SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nuevas detenciones, torturas y bloqueo policial marroquí en la zona próxima al barrio de Maatala, en la capital del Sáhara, El Aaiún, desde el pasado viernes, cuando se produjo una importante concentración popular para recibir al activista de Derechos Humanos y vicepresidente del Comité de Defensa del Derecho a la Autodeterminación del Pueblo del Sáhara Occidental (Codapso), H´mad Hammad, declaró el propio Comité al Servicio de Comunicación Saharaui en Canarias (SCSC). El activista regresaba un año y medio después de abandonar el territorio y tras recuperarse de una operación en la columna vertebral para curar las secuelas de la tortura sufrida a lo largo de su actividad.
Hammad, que llegó al aeropuerto de El Aaiún algo más tarde de las 10:00 de la mañana del viernes, se trasladó desde el aeródromo a casa de sus padres, cerca de Maatala. "Durante el trayecto fuimos seguidos por vehículos policiales camuflados y cuando llegamos al barrio encontramos todas las calles tomadas por policías marroquíes, tanto de uniforme como de paisano", relató el activista. Acompañaban al vicepresidente de Codapso varios observadores españoles, entre los que estaba el presidente del Observatorio de los Derechos Humanos del Colegio de Abogados de Badajoz, José Manuel de la Fuente.
Una vez llegados a casa de los padres de H´mad, numerosos ciudadanos saharauis se congregaban "ondeando banderas de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática y coreando eslóganes favorables a la independencia" del territorio. Cientos de ellos más "eran bloqueados por los controles policiales marroquíes, muchos detenidos, maltratados y algunos permanecen en paradero desconocido", indican los testigos. Además, "todo el que entra o sale de casa de la familia del activista es detenido e interrogado", denuncian.
Por otro lado, los dos representantes del Comité Contra la Tortura de Dajla que tenían previsto reunirse en la tarde de mañana con la delegación del Parlamento Europeo de visita los territorios ocupados por Marruecos en el Sáhara Occidental, Rachid Sghyar y Hamia Ahmed Musa, "fueron liberados tras sufrir duros interrogatorios y brutalidad" por parte de la policía marroquí.

Fuente:http://www.laopinion.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2009020200_7_197371__Internacional-Nuevas-detenciones-torturas-bloqueo-policial-Sahara-Occidental-ocupado

Norwegian Student’s Peace Prize 2009 goes to Rabab Amidane

The Student Peace Prize 2009 is awarded the human rights activist Elkouria “Rabab” Amidane from Western Sahara. Amidane is awarded the Prize for her work for human rights, students’ rights and peace in Western Sahara. Amidane is contributing to inform the world about the discrimination and the violence that the Saharawis are exposed to by the Moroccan government. Even though Amidane uses peaceful means in her fight for human rights, she has been exposed to torture and arrested by the Moroccan police several times. Documenting violation of human rights An important part of Amidane’s work is to document the situation in Western Sahara by taking photos and writing reports for the Saharawi human rights organization CODESA. Amidane publishes a lot of the material on the Internet, such as videos of students being attacked by the police. Publishing the videos have led to anonymous threats towards the Peace Prize laureate. Travelling abroad Amidane travels abroad to tell the rest of the world about the conditions of the Saharawis in Western Sahara. When she visited Norway in 2007, Amidane met the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and she asked the Norwegian state to support Western Sahara’s demands for independence. By meeting political leaders and people with a lot of resources, Amidane could make the world recognize the conflict in Western Sahara. In cooperation with Norwegian youth’s political parties and the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, Amidane has been able to make the present conflict in Western Sahara relevant in Norway. A Contribution to Peace “By giving the Student Peace Prize to Rabab Amidane the conflict is becoming more visible, which is an important contribution to peace in Western Sahara,” claims the member of the Student Peace Prize Committee and former leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjøs. The conflict in Western Sahara has been going on for more than thirty years, but only a few people know about the violation of human rights committed by the Moroccan government. A referendum about Western Sahara’s right of autonomy should have been carried through a long time ago, but nothing has happened yet. “The Student Peace Prize can contribute to carry through the referendum, and to a just peace in Western Sahara,” continues Mjøs. The fight for students’ rights and human rights in general is an important part of the fight for peace. That is why it is important to give the Student Peace Prize to a human rights activist like Rabab Amidane. “There will be no just peace without respect for the human rights”, claims Mjøs. Students are important resources in the fight for a better society and a just world. “With her peaceful methods Rabab is doing a wonderful job for Western Sahara. The Student Peace Prize is going to be an encouragement for Rabab and her future work with human rights and the struggle for a peaceful solution in Western Sahara,” finishes Mjøs. Image: The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara Siri Mette Fridén sirimef@isfit.org http://www.studentpeaceprize.org/news/article/show/7 Articls on the subject on Norwegian websites : http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.6463851 http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/02/04/nyheter/innenriks/vest-sahara/4687169/

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SJJA concerned about the health of Mustapha Abd Diem and supports the campaign for his release

Sahara Japan Journalists’ Association (SJJA) expressed concerns about the health of Mustapha Abd Daiem, Saharawi journalist, human rights activists and prisoner of conscience, and asked for his immediate release. UPES received a letter from the Japanese Association on the subject. Here is the complete text of the letter: --------------------------- 04 February 2009 Mr. Malainin Lakhal Secretary General of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union (UPES) Saharawi refugee camps SJJA concerned about the health of Mustapha Abd Diem and supports the campaign for his release Dear Mr. Malainin Lakhal It is with deep concern that Sahara Japan Journalist Association (SJJA) address you this letter to express its anxiousness about the health of Mr. Mustapha Abd Daiem, Saharawi short-stories writer, human rights activist and member of UPES, imprisoned in the Moroccan prison of Ait Melloul. SJJA also assure you of its support to the campaign UPES is undertaking for the release of the imprisoned writer. Mustapha Abd Diaem was arrested last October 2008, in the city of Assa, because he openly supported his compatriots after many Saharawis were oppressed by police in a demonstration, and many houses ransacked and demonstrators beaten and dispersed. He appeared in November the 4th before the Moroccan court in the city of Gulmim, and we understand that he completely and clearly rejected the police report on the basis of which he was incriminated, asserting that it was falsified and changed by police. Incomprehensively, the Moroccan court didn’t take note of his petition and he was sentenced on the basis of these false "evidences", to 3 years imprisonment, about 6200 US dollars and 10 years ban from public employment. SJJA, joins Amnesty International in questioning the fairness of his trial. On their side, the Saharawi journalist and his family undertook a 14 days hunger strike to protest against the injustice Mustapha was victim to. Members of the family, especially his sister Khadija, his nephew and his father lost consciousness many times and all their supporters feared for their lives. UPES, and many Saharawi organisations called on the family to stop the hunger strike so as to enable UPES to campaign for the release of the prisoner without pressures. SJJA highly appreciate the family’s positive response to this call, and would like to assure all the members of Abd Daiem’s family, UPES and Saharawis, its commitment to continue the fight to raise awareness about the issue of all Saharawi prisoners of conscience, about the plight of the Saharawi people and their inalienable rights to self-determination and independence. SJJA, would like to recall that Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, is on the UN’s list of Non-Self-Governing Territories and that the Saharawi people must be given a chance to freely decide on the future of their territory in accordance with the UN doctrine on decolonization. It is unacceptable to tolerate Morocco’s violations of human rights, widely condemned by international organisations such as AI and Human Rights Watch, and it is time to work together for the implementation of the international law in this part of the world. Yours, Faithfully ITSUKO Hirata SJJA (Sahara-Japan Journalist’s Association

M. Ross entamera prochainement une tournée dans la région, a déclaré Brahim Ghali

Chahid El Hafed, L’ambassadeur de la RASD auprès de l’Algérie, Brahim Ghali a indiqué lundi que le nouvel envoyé personnel du SG de l’ONU au Sahara Occidental, l’ambassadeur américain, Christopher Ross entamera une tournée dans la région la fin de cette semaine, dans une déclaration au quotidien algérien, Sawt al Ahrar, publié sur son site internet.

Le diplomate sahraoui a estimé que "la date et le lieu pour la tenue d’un cinquième round des pourparlers entre le Front Polisario et le Maroc seront définis après les résultats de la tournée de M. Ross".

M. Ghali a affirmé que la direction du Front Polisario n’a pas été informé de la date de la visite du nouvel envoyé personnel du SG de l’ONU au Sahara Occidental dans la région, ajoutant que cette visite "aura lieu en fin de cette semaine ou le début de la semaine prochaine".

Le secrétaire général des Nations unies, M. Ban Ki-Moon avait annoncé, lundi au XIIème sommet de l’Union africaine à Addis-Abeba, que de nouvelles négociations seront relancées "bientôt" entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario.

La nomination de l’ambassadeur américain à ce poste intervient à la suite de l’échec de la tentative marocaine de faire avaliser sa proposition d’autonomie par les Nations unies et du départ de M. Peter Van Walsum dont l’approche a été rejetée par le Secrétaire général de l’ONU et par le Conseil de sécurité, rappelle-t-on.

Le président de la République s’entretient avec la plupart de ses homologues africains en marge du 12ème sommet de l’UA

Addis Abeba(Ethiopie), Le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz a eu lundi, des entretiens avec la plupart des Chefs d’Etats et de gouvernements africains en marge du 12ème sommet de l’Union africaine (UA) qui s’est ouvert dimanche à Addis Abeba en Ethiopie.

Le président sahraoui a eu des entretiens avec ses homologues d’Algérie, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, représenté en la personne de Abdelaziz Belkhadem, d’Afrique du Sud, Khalema Mothlante, de Namibie, Hifikepunye Pohamba, de la Tanzanie, Jakaya Mrisho Kiswete et de la Zambie, Robert Mugabe.

Les entretiens ont porté sur les relations bilatérales existants entre ces pays et la République arabe sahraouie démocratique (RASD) et les questions d’intérêt communs.

M. Abdelaziz a eu également des entretiens avec les chefs des gouvernements, dont celui du royaume du Lushoto, Bakalita Musisili, qui les a informé des derniers développements de la question sahraouie.

Le Président de la République est arrivé samedi dernier à Addis Abeba pour prendre part aux travaux du XIIème sommet ordinaire des Chefs d’Etats et des Gouvernements de l’Union africaine (UA) qui se tient dans la capitale éthiopienne du 1er au 3 février.

Il est accompagné d’une délégation comprenant, le MAE, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, du ministre délégué chargé de l’Union africiane, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, des Conseillers à la Présidence de la République, Bachir Sghayer et Abdati Breika, l’ambassadeur sahraoui auprès de l’UA, Breika Lehbib, du premier secrétaire à l’ambassade, Habbaaa et du conseiller juridique de l’ambassade, Salama Khalil, rappelle-t-on.

La visite de la délégation du PE au Sahara Occidental "est un pas positif", estime Julian Harston

Chahid El Hafed, L’envoyé spécial de l’ONU au Sahara Occidental, Julian Harston a qualifié la visite d’une délégation du Parlement européen (PE) dans les territoires occupés du Sahara Occidental, "de pas positif", dans une déclaration au journal espagnol, ABC, publié dans son édition de lundi.

Le responsable onusien a indiqué que la délégation européenne a pu s’entretenir avec toutes les parties, a-t-on ajouté.

S’agissant du nouvel envoyé personnel du SG de l’ONU au Sahara Occidental, Christopher Ross, M. Harston a précisé que M. Ross a une bonne connaissance du dossier, partant de ses fonctions dans certains pays arabes, ajoutant que "son progrès dépend de la disposition des parties à négocier ".

A propos de l’appel de l’organisation américaine, Human rigts watch (WRW) pour la mise en place d’un mécanisme pour la protection des droits de l’Homme au Sahara Occidental, le chef de la mission des Nations unies pour l’organisation d’un référendum au Sahara Occidental, M. Harston a souligné que "la décision revient au Conseil de sécurité pour prendre les mesures nécessaires et les recommandations relatives à ce sujet".

Jean Ping : ''Le dossier demeure dans l’impasse''

Chahid El Hafed,Le dossier du Sahara occidental "demeure dans l'impasse", a indiqué le président de la Commission de l'Union africaine, M. Jean Ping, hier à Addis-Abeba, à l'ouverture du 12e sommet ordinaire des chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement de l'UA.

"Au Sahara occidental, le dossier demeure dans l'impasse, malgré la récente nomination du nouveau représentant du secrétaire général des Nations unies", a déclaré M. Ping dans son allocution d'ouverture, sans s'étaler sur le sujet.

Le commissaire à la paix et la sécurité de l'UA, M. Ramtane Lamamra, avait déjà relevé que le conflit du Sahara occidental n'a pas connu une évolution "significative" en 2008, faisant remarquer cependant que le nouvel envoyé personnel du secrétaire général des Nations unies, l'ambassadeur Christopher Ross, a entamé son mandat avec "beaucoup de sérieux et une méthodologie qui semble ouverte et prometteuse".

"Nous souhaitons que l'année 2009 sera une année d'évolution positive pour le processus de paix au Sahara occidental", avait-il dit.

Les négociations entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario seront ''bientôt'' relancées (Ban Ki-Moon)

Addis-Abeba, Le secrétaire général des Nations unies, M. Ban Ki-moon a annoncé, lundi à Addis-Abeba, que de nouvelles négociations seront relancées "bientôt" entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario.

"Je vais lancer bientôt de nouvelles négociations" entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario, a indiqué M. Ban Ki-Moon, lors d’une conférence de presse animée en marge du 12e sommet de l’UA à Addis-Abeba, exprimant son souhait de voir ce dossier enregistrer des progrès.

Faisant part de son "vœu sincère" quant aux progrès attendus dans les prochaines négociations, M. Ban Ki-Moon a souligné "l’expérience diversifiée et large" de M. Christopher Ross, récemment nommé nouvel Envoyé personnel dans la région.

Il a fait savoir que M. Ross est actuellement en tournée dans les pays de la région, avant de se rendre dans la capitale éthiopienne où il rencontrera le président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, M. Jean Ping.

M. Ban Ki-moon, avait nommé, le 8 janvier dernier, M. Christopher Ross au poste d'envoyé personnel pour le Sahara occidental. "Il travaillera avec les parties et les pays voisins en s'appuyant sur la résolution 1813 du Conseil de sécurité et les précédentes résolutions et sur les progrès réalisés jusqu'à ce jour, avec pour objectif une solution politique juste, durable et mutuellement acceptable qui accordera l'autodétermination à la population du Sahara occidental", avait-il souligné.

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 un 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.

La RASD appelle l'ONU à assumer "ses responsabilités à l’égard du peuple sahraoui"

Abuja,La RASD a appelé l'Organisation des Nations Unies à assumer "ses responsabilités légales et historiques à l’égard du peuple sahraoui et son droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance à travers l’organisation d’un référendum en toute transparence pour que les Sahraouis puissent décider, une fois pour toute, le statut définitive du territoire", a-t-on appris auprès de l’ambassade sahraouie à Abuja.

Lors d’une rencontre avec la Commission des Affaires Etrangères du Sénat Fédéral nigérien à Abuja, l’ambassadeur sahraoui au Nigéria Oubi Bouchraya Bachir a déploré que l'ONU, malgré les différents rapports internationaux, "n’ait pas, jusqu’à présent, mis en place les mécanismes nécessaires pour assurer la protection des droits humains des civils à l’intérieur d’un territoire non autonome".

"Il est particulièrement étrange de voir l’ONU fermer les yeux sur des crimes commis contre des civils innocents qui ne demandent rien d'autre que le respect de leurs droits à la liberté et la dignité", a-t-il regretté devant le Président de la commission, le Sénateur, Jubril Aminu en compagnie d’autres membres du Sénat Fédéral Nigérien.

Le Sénateur Aminu , a souligné "l'engagement du peuple nigérien à côté du combat du peuple sahraoui et son soutien à sa lutte jusqu'à l’indépendance", rappelant la reconnaissance de la RASD par le Nigéria en 1984 comme étant "l’événement clé qui marque la position constante d’Abuja en faveur de l’indépendance du Sahara occidental".

L’exposé de l’ambassadeur Oubi Bouchraya à suscité un débat marqué par un soutien profond de la part des intervenants affirmant que "les élus africains doivent jouer un rôle particulier pour résoudre ce conflit de nature coloniale qui continue encore de souiller l’Afrique", a conclu la même source.

Une ONG française se réjouit de la visite de la délégation ad hoc du PE au Sahara Occidental

Chahid El Hafed, L’Association Française d’Amitié et de Solidarité avec les Peuples d’Afrique (AFASPA) s’est réjouit que la délégation ad hoc du Parlement européen ait pu enfin se rendre au Sahara Occidental pour s’informer de la question des Droits de l’homme, selon une lettre adressée au président de la commission, Ioannis Kasoulides

" Cependant, au vu des événements de la journée du 27 janvier dernier, on constate que les autorités marocaines ont tenté, et en partie réussi, à ce que vous ne puissiez rencontrer les organisations de la société civile sahraouie qui ne partagent pas le point de vue officiel à propos de ce territoire non autonome, pour lequel un processus de décolonisation est en cours depuis les années 60", a regretté l’AFASPA dans sa lettre parvenue à SPS.

Nous avons été informés par diverses sources que la police a organisé un véritable bouclage du quartier de l’hôtel Parador où vous receviez les organisations. Ce filtrage auquel vous avez été confronté pour permettre aux délégués de l’AMDH de vous rencontrer, a empêché de venir à vous les syndicalistes de la Confédération Syndical de Commision Obreras Sahara Occidental (CC.OO.SO), a ajouté le texte.

Les policiers ont d’autre part tabassé deux militants du Comité contre la torture de Dakhla : Mahjoub Ould Cheikh (dont le frère est disparu depuis mars 1980), et Ahmed Moussa (dont le père est disparu depuis novembre 1980). Ce dernier ainsi que Rachid Sghaer ont été enlevés dans une voiture banalisée de la police. Rachid Sghaer a été relâché à 19h30 dans une avenue de la ville d’El Aaiun , mais Ahmed Moussa a été emmené à 20 km au sud de la même ville où il a été jeté hors du véhicule puis sauvagement tabassé. "Ses tortionnaires l’ont menacé de représailles s’il se confiait aux organisations de défense des droits de l’Homme", a indiqué l’association.

"La volonté d’entraver votre travail d’enquête est manifeste puisqu’il s’est permis, hors de toute procédure légale, de confisquer deux téléphones portables, une clé USB et un cartable contenant une documentation à votre attention. La mise en œuvre de ces exactions inadmissibles est le fait du chef Aziz Anouche, qui a procédé à l’enlèvement des deux jeunes gens", a estimé l’AFASPA, rappelant de nombreux témoignages de victimes de tortures à El Aaiun rapportés par l’organisation américaine de défense des droits de l’Homme Human Rights Watch dans son rapport publié en décembre 2008.

"Mais le commanditaire ne se trouve pas à El Aaiun. Cette attitude est délibérément organisée par les autorités marocaines. Elle ne doit pas rester sans réaction de la part du Parlement européen qui vient d’accorder le statut avancé au Maroc en parti dû aux efforts fournis en matière de droits humains. On en voit ici toutes les limites. Nous espérons que vous ne serez pas sans réagir à cet affront fait à votre délégation, qui bafoue la sincérité des relations de partenariat entre le Maroc et l’Union Européenne mais également le respect du droit d’expression au Sahara Occidental", a conclu la lettre.

New vessel to New Orleans

Arrived 12th of January 2009 with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

A bulk vessel called Fortezza on 12th of January 2009 arrived the harbour of New Orleans, USA, with phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara.

The trade is taking place in violation of international law, and in the disregard of the wishes and interests of the people of Western Sahara.

The Western Sahara Resource Watch section in Louisiana sent 1st of October 2008 a letter to PCS urging the highly unethical trade to stop. See the letter here. WSRW is still waiting for reply from the company.

Fortezza has IMO number 9057575, and is owned and operated by Harvey Development Corp. It has 69.634 deadweight tonnes.

Morocco explores minerals deep south

Uranium, diamonds, gold, niobium. ONHYM's mining programme in southern parts of occupied Western Sahara is speeding up.

In November 2008, the Moroccan state oil and mine company ONHYM wrote prospects for 3 different geological structures in southern Western Sahara.

Glibat Lafhouda
The geological finding, which was done in 2006, is located some 70 kilometers to the south west of Awserd.
The finding contains iron oxides associated with dolomitic carbonatites. An exploration programme was carried out in 2007 and 2008. It consisted of:
-14 bore holes
-850 samples done at an area of 5 sq.km.
-A topographic survey covering 4 sq.km.
-A geophysical survey (gravimetric and magnetometric) on a surface of about 10 sq.km.
See the prospect from 13 November 2008 in English or French.

Twihinate
The structure, located some 260 kilometers south of Dakhla, is claimed to be "susceptible to be a world class deposit for REE, Niobium and iron"
Download prospect here from 13 November 2008 in English - or in French.

Lafwila
The gold deposit in Lafwila is located 300 kilometers south of Dakhla.
A program of drill holes is under realisation.
See prospect from 13 November 2008 in English or French.

Tichla, Awserd
The fourth corner-stone of ONHYM's exploration of southern parts of Western Sahara, is the Tichla area, containing several interesting metals, as well as diamonds. It is explored through a joint-venture between ONHYM and Canadian firm Metalex. WSRW will write more about that partnership later.

In addition, there are two more stuctures in the region that ONHYM is exploring, the Madnat As Sadra and Ouday Cfa.

mining_projects_autumn2008_350.jpgThe map to the right shows the six projects in the southern part of Western Sahara. The map can be downloaded from this ONHYM report from October 2008. More details can be found in the prospects above.

It should be noted that the area in which the exploration is taking place, is under occupation, and that Morocco has no right to explore or exploit the minerals in the territory, as long as it is in the disregard of the wishes and interests of the Sahrawis.

After the International Court of Justice in October 1975 rejected Morocco’s and Mauritania’s claims to Western Sahara, the two neighbouring countries still decided to invade the territory.

The southern part, where the 6 exploration programmes are located, was first occupied by Mauritania. When Mauritania withdrew from the area in 1979, Morocco occupied it instead. The UN General Assembly reacted to the Moroccan 1979 occupation in Resolution 34/37 of 1979 (‘Question of Western Sahara’) paragraph 5, with the following statement: “Deeply deplores the aggravation of the situation resulting from the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and the extension of that occupation to the territory recently evacuated by Mauritania””, while paragraph 6 “Urges Morocco to join in the peace process and to terminate the occupation of the territory of Western Sahara”.
Download that resolution here.

Since then, the UN has stated that exploration or exploitation of the mineral resources in the area is in violation of international law if the local people is not consulted, something which is evident that they are not.

The majority of the Sahrawi people has lived in refugee camps since Morocco illegally invaded the territory. The Sahrawis remaining under occupation, and who speak out for the independence, are subject to severe human rights violations. Morocco fails to respect the more than 100 UN resolutions that call for the right to self-determination to be respected.

Libyan rumours resurface

Rumours of Libyan state oil company Tamoil having entered occupied Western Sahara were in 2007 emphanitcally denied by the company. Now, the rumours resurface in Spanish media.

According to the Spanish news service Capital News, the Libyan state owned oil company Tamoil has been carrying out oil exploration in Western Sahara "for months".

"En tierras saharauis espera ya, explorando desde hace meses la estatal libia Tamoil. Invertirá de 100 a 150 millones de dólares en el Sáhara Occidental y doblará la cifra si descubre petróleo."
Capital News, 27 January 2009Tamoil is according to Capital News investing between 100 and 150 million rollars in Western Sahara, an amount that would doubled once petroleum is found. The exact same information was first covered by Moroccan media in 2007 .

Tamoil denied the news that then had appeared in Moroccan media back in 2007.

"The company denies emphatically some media reports about an oil investment deal in Western Sahara. It did not sign any agreement on oil exploration permits in Western Sahara and it has no plan to invest in any oil operations there", they stated to Reuters on December 26th 2007.

WSRW has not yet seen any comment from the company on this new development.

DESCUBIERTAS FOSAS COMUNES EN EL AAIUN SAHARA OCUPADO

Extracto de una de las páginas del periodico marroqui Assabah que ha difundido la información la semana pasada.El Aaiun 11 Enero 2009.

El periódico marroquí Assabah en su edición del pasado mes de diciembre publicó que los trabajadores de la empresa Fosbucra situada a 90 kilómetros de la ciudad saharaui ocupada de El Aaiun, algunos operarios se han encontrado con una fosa común con ocho tumbas de personas que se han enterrado separadas en ocho grupos de personas.La fosa según la gendarmería marroquí es de los años de la guerra entre el ejército marroquí y el saharaui época en la que desaparecieron más de 500 civiles saharauis y se calcula que podría ser desde hace 15 a 20 años de haber sido practicada con pocos cuidados como prevé los ritos religiosos.El periódico marroquí habla de que los agentes de la gendarmería no disponen de adecuados medios para realizar la investigación que podría determinar el reconocimiento y las condiciones en las que estas personas perdieron la vida, así como el estudio de su ADN para identificar la identidad de cada cadáver. Este descubrimiento ha movilizado las familias saharauis de los desaparecidos y las que hayan perdido sus hijos en la guerra sin saber donde habían sido enterrados, que es el caso de muchas familias de soldados marroquíes.

Le CORESLSO relance sa campagne d’information sur les 15 jeunes sahraouis enlevés par la marine marocaine

Paris, Le Comité pour le respect des libertés et des droits de l’Homme au Sahara occidental (CORELSO), basé à Paris, vient de relancer une campagne d’information sur l’enlèvement de 15 jeunes sahraouis par la marine marocaine, le 25 décembre 2005 et le combat que mènent leurs familles pour faire éclater la vérité et connaître le sort réservé à leurs enfants.

Le 25 décembre 2005, les 15 jeunes ont tenté de quitter clandestinement par mer la localité d’Azioualt, dans la préfecture de Boujdour, pour rejoindre les Iles Canaries.

Les familles des victimes organisées en "Comité des mères des 15 enlevés sahraouis" sont convaincues que leurs fils ont été kidnappés et détenus par la marine et la gendarmerie marocaine.

Dans le cadre de cette campagne, le CORELSO saisit toutes les opportunités pour distribuer un recueil de documents, acheminés, il y a deux ans, des territoires sahraouis occupés, relatifs à cette affaire. Les familles des enlevés sont catégoriques. Leurs enfants ont bel et bien été enlevés.

Cette conviction, expliquent-elles, est renforcée par les informations qui leur ont été transmises par des associations espagnoles s’occupant des questions de migrations qui leur ont assuré que l’embarcation à bord de laquelle se trouvaient les jeunes sahraouis, n’a pas été interceptée par les gardes-côtes espagnols sur les côtes des Iles Canaries.

Dans le rapport global figurant dans le recueil, " le Comité des mères des 15 enlevés sahraouis" précise que parmi "les victimes figurent des activistes politiques et des militants des droits de l’homme ayant des opinions claires sur la cause du Sahara Occidental et ont participé à plusieurs manifestations pacifiques".

"Ces militants ont décidé de quitter la région pour éviter les poursuites et les éventuelles arrestations, emportant avec eux des CD, des drapeaux et des documents sur les violations de droits de l’homme pour les remettre aux comités de soutien étrangers à la cause sahraouie et aux correspondants étrangers interdits d’accès aux territoires occupés", ajoute le Comité.

Les mères des jeunes enlevés n’ont pas cessé au lendemain de leur disparition d’entreprendre des initiatives pour s’assurer du sort réservé à leurs enfants. Des plaintes individuelles et collectives ont été déposées auprès des autorités judiciaires marocaines.

Des rencontres ont eu lieu avec des responsables locaux, dont le Wali de la région occupée d’El Aaiun-Boujdour, avec des responsables de la sécurité et le procureur général de cette même région. Toutes ces démarches se sont avérées infructueuses.

Les membres du comité ainsi que leurs proches ont organisé des manifestations, trop souvent sévèrement réprimées, comme la manifestation du 25 avril 2006 qui a fait plusieurs blessés.

Les contacts menées auprès des organisations marocaines et internationales de défense des droits de l’homme ont contraint les autorités marocaines à se montrer "plus coopératives" en recevant à maint reprises ces familles et à promettre l’ouverture d’enquêtes et des informations sur ces disparus.

Lors d’une rencontre, le 2 mars 2007, les mères, reçues par le wali d’El Aaiun , ont menacé de s’immoler par le feu, en présence d’ONG et de journalistes, si leur quête de vérité n’aboutissait pas et pour dénoncer l’obstination des autorités marocaines à taire la vérité.

Le recueil élaboré par le CORELSO comprend des compte-rendu des différentes rencontres et audiences accordées par les responsables locaux marocains, des photos montrant les exactions et les blessures causées aux membres du comité des mères, des fiches de renseignements sur les 15 enlevés et leurs itinéraires politique et militant, des copies de plaintes déposées auprès du tribunal d’El Aaiun, des certificats médicaux constatant les blessures causés aux manifestants lors des différentes manifestations ainsi que des articles de presse relatant les faits et le combat de ces mères qui ont choisi comme slogan de leur lutte "Le sahraoui enlevé reviendra".

L’UE appelée à jouer un "rôle central" dans l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui

Madrid,Plusieurs organisations sahraouies de défense des droits de l’homme ont exhorté l’Union européenne (UE) à jouer un "rôle central" en faveur d’une solution au conflit du Sahara occidental, basée sur le droit du peuple sahraoui à l’autodétermination, à travers l’organisation d’un référendum "libre et démocratique".

Dans une lettre adressée à la mission du Parlement européen en visite au Maroc et dans les territoires sahraouis occupés, ces organisations ont exprimé leur "vive préoccupation" face à la "persistance des violations" des droits de l’homme dans ces territoires, accompagnées de "sévices très graves" contre les populations civiles sahraouies de manière générale et les défenseurs sahraouis des droits de l’homme de manière particulière.

"Cette situation est, bien entendu, la résultante d’un conflit politico-militaire qui perdure depuis plus de trois décennies tout au long desquelles il a contribué au climat de grande frustration qui s’est installé et accentué les souffrances d’une population, victime de toutes les discriminations, de toutes les humiliations, et privée de son droit au respect et à la dignité humaine", lit-on dans cette lettre.

Aussi, "nous exhortons le Parlement européen et, à travers lui l’Union européenne, à jouer un rôle central en faveur d’une solution du conflit du Sahara Occidental, conforme à la légalité internationale et aux multiples résolutions des Nations unies qui appellent au respect du droit imprescriptible du peuple sahraoui à l’autodétermination, à travers la tenue d’un référendum libre et démocratique permettant à ce peuple de choisir librement son devenir", soulignent-elles.

Les défenseurs sahraouis des droits de l’homme se disent "convaincus" qu’une solution définitive du conflit du Sahara Occidental, basée sur le droit international ne manquera pas d’ouvrir la voie devant l’édification d’un "Maghreb uni, réconcilié et prospère".

Dans ce sens, ils ont appelé l’UE à "faire pression" sur le Maroc et l’amener à se conformer à la légalité internationale en acceptant l’organisation d’un référendum pour appliquer le droit à l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui "dans les plus brefs délais".

Les associations sahraouies ont invité également l’UE à œuvrer pour l’application de la recommandation de l’organisation américaine, Human Rights Watch, appelant à l’instauration d’un mécanisme onusien pour le contrôle et le respect des droits de l’homme dans les territoires sahraouis occupés.

Elles ont demandé aussi à l’UE à revendiquer la publication du rapport élaboré en 2006 par la commission du Haut commissariat des droits de l’homme de l’ONU.

Enfin, les associations sahraouies de défense des droits de l’homme considèrent que l’accord de pêche, signé entre l’UE et le Maroc, incluant les eaux territoriales sahraouies, est "contraire au droit international", en ce qu’il "ne respecte aucunement le statut juridique reconnu au Sahara Occidental", précisent-elles.

Arrivée du Président de la République à Addis abeba pour prendre part au sommet de l’union africaine

Addis Abeba,Le Président de la République, Mohamed Abdeklaziz, est arrivé, ce samedi à Addis abeba pour prendre part aux travaux du XIIème sommet ordinaire des Chefs d’Etats et des Gouvernements de l’Union africaine (UA) qui se tiendra dans la capitale éthiopienne du 1er au 3 février.

Le Chef de l’Etat a été accueilli à la passerelle de son avion, a l’aéroport de Addis Abeba, par le ministre éthiopien de la culture, actuel commissaire de l’UA aux affaires économiques, ainsi que plusieurs hautes personnalités politiques éthiopiennes et africaines.

M. Abdeaziz et la délégation qui l’accompagne devaient écouter l’hymne national africain avant de passer en revue une unité de l’armée éthiopienne venue lui rendre les honneurs.

Le Président de la République est accompagné d’une délégation comprenant, le MAE, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, du ministre délégué chargé de l’Union africiane, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, des Conseillers à la Présidence de la République, Bachir Sghayer et Abdati Breika, l’ambassadeur sahraoui auprès de l’UA, Breika Lehbib, du premier secrétaire à l’ambassade, Habbaaa et du conseiller juridique de l’ambassade, Salama Khalil.


L’Union africaine (UA) a formulé, vendredi au cours de la session du Conseil exécutif de l’Union à Addis-Abeba (Ethiopie) son souhait de voir les négociations engagées entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario reprendre "immédiatement", après avoir constaté qu’"aucun progrès" n’a été enregistré dans la résolution de ce conflit.

Dans le rapport établi par le président de la Commission de l’UA,
M. Jean Ping, soumis à l’adoption du Conseil exécutif et à la conférence des chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement dans la capitale éthiopienne, il est mentionné que "l’UA souhaite ardemment que les négociations entre les deux parties puissent reprendre immédiatement", considérant que durant les six derniers mois, "aucun progrès n’a été enregistré dans la résolution du conflit du Sahara occidental", rappelle-t-on.

Sahara occidental : L’UA souhaite la reprise immédiate des négociations entre le Maroc et le Polisario

Addis-Abeba, L’Union africaine (UA) a formulé, vendredi à Addis-Abeba (Ethiopie) son souhait de voir les négociations engagées entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario reprendre "immédiatement", après avoir constaté qu’"aucun progrès" n’a été enregistré dans la résolution de ce conflit.

Dans le rapport établi par le président de la Commission de l’UA,
M. Jean Ping, soumis à l’adoption du Conseil exécutif et à la conférence des chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement dans la capitale éthiopienne, il est mentionné que "l’UA souhaite ardemment que les négociations entre les deux parties puissent reprendre immédiatement", considérant que durant les six derniers mois, "aucun progrès n’a été enregistré dans la résolution du conflit du Sahara occidental".

"Il ne faut pas que les négociations représentent encore une fois un
autre exemple d’opportunité gâchée, mais qu’elles montrent plutôt une détermination à relever le défi de parvenir à un résultat qui soit totalement compatible avec les normes juridiques internationales", est-il mentionné dans le document.

Au cours des deux dernières années, trois "importantes" résolutions
ont été adoptées par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies, à savoir les résolutions 1754 (avril, 2007), 1783 (octobre (2007) et 1813 (avril 2008), sur la base desquelles des négociations directes ont été entamées entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario.

Le but de ces négociations, précise le rapport, est de parvenir à une
"solution politique juste et mutuellement acceptable, dont l’objectif serait de prévoir l’autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental dans le cadre d’arrangements compatibles avec les principes et les objectifs de la Charte des Nations unies".

Dans son rapport, le président du Conseil de l’UA attribue le retard
accusé par la convocation du 5e round des négociations au fait que le poste de l’Envoyé personnel était vacant, suite à la démission de l’ambassadeur Van Walsum en sa qualité de médiateur.

Lors de la séance du mois d’avril 2008, au cours de laquelle le rapport du secrétaire général de l’ONU pour le Sahara occidental a été examiné, l’Envoyé personnel de l’époque avait soumis une note aux membres du Conseil dont la teneur consistait en "son évaluation du processus de paix et ses conclusions y relatives".

"Les propositions faites par l’Envoyé personnel en guise de solution au conflit, n’étaient pas compatibles avec les principes établis des Nations unies concernant les territoires non autonomes", selon le rapport de l’UA, soulignant que cette "controverse a entraîné une perte de confiance dans l’intégrité de l’Envoyé personnel de la part d’une des parties en conflit (laquelle) avait déclaré qu’elle
ne participerait à aucune négociation entamée par l’Envoyé personnel".

M. Ping a ainsi estimé que la nomination d’un nouvel Envoyé personnel
pour le Sahara occidental, M. Christopher Ross, a été "retardée" du fait qu’une des deux parties "souhaitait être informée au préalable sur la voie à suivre".

Aggressive onshore plans

Morocco has apparently launched a big onshore exploration programme in Western Sahara. While a lot of attention has recently been given to the controversial US oil exploration offshore the occupied Western Sahara, Morocco is also carrying out what seems to be an aggressive programme for oil exploration onshore the territory. Irish oil companies are taking the lead, in what is constituting a violation of international law, and a highly unethical support of the brutal occupation. The most known onshore block is the socalled ‘Zag block’ in the north-eastern part of the territory. The reconnaissance contract was given to Irish company Island Oil and Gas, together with San Leon and Longreach (former GB Oil) in 2006. The block is covering the town of Smara, and parts of the territory that remains under the current control of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. What is less known, is that the same group of companies also has 4 blocks in the El Aaiun area. El Aaiun is the capital of the occupied country. The acreage is marked with numbers 154, 155, 156 and 157 on the map to the right. The map was issued by the Moroccan state oil company ONHYM on 17 December 2008. The adjacent blocks 153, 152 and 151, also operated by the same firms, are located in Morocco. Click on the map for bigger version. You can also download the map here. The actual location of the blocks 154 to 157 - inside Western Sahara - comes as a surprise. Island Oil & Gas already on 11 April 2008 (see the press release below) announced that they had an agreement in what they said was "Tarfaya", together with their other two partners. Tarfaya is a costal town in Morocco proper. Island’s partner San Leon also gave the same impression that the agreement was in Morocco, not in Western Sahara. They state on their homepages that the block lies " south of Agadir ". It was therefore thought that the Tarfaya block was uncontroversial, located far into what is internationally recognised as Morocco. But the recent ONHYM map, however, shows that the Tarfaya Petroleum Agreement reaches into the most densely populated part of the territory of Western Sahara. In 2008, Island Oil and Gas had planned to carry out seismic acquisition in Tarfaya area in 2009. A third large area, until now unknown, has apparently been alotted to ONHYM itself. The blocks are numbered from 117 to 129, and comprises of a part of the coastal Western Sahara between the cities of El Aaiun and Dakhla. The section must have been awarded to ONHYM some time between January 2007 and April 2007. This time period appears since blocks are generally given out numerically. Since block number 116 (the ‘Ouest Souss’ onshore reconnaissance contract in the Agadir area) was awarded to GBP on 25th of January 2007, while block number 130 (the ‘Asilah 1’ onshore petroleum agreement in nothern Morocco) was awarded to Direct and Anshutz on April 11th 2007, it must logically follow that the ONHYM blocks in Western Sahara must have been awarded at a point in time between those two. Block 117-129 has so far not been mentioned in any media reports in Morocco, as far as WSRW can see. Morocco has no right to carry out oil exploration in Western Sahara, according to the UN. See the UN legal opinion from 2002 on the oil exploration in Western Sahara here.