Associação Portugal-Sahara Ocidental quer afirmar direito à autodeterminação de Povo Saharaui

Cidadãos e intelectuais renovam solidariedade

Várias dezenas de cidadãos de diferentes profissões e muitos intelectuais, políticos e sindicalistas decidiram renovar e institucionalizar a solidariedade com o povo da antiga colónia espanhola do Sahara Ocidental, território que se mantêm sob ocupação marroquina e que as Nações Unidas têm a responsabilidade de fazer respeitar a livre vontade do Povo Saharui quanto ao seu futuro.



O acto constitutivo da Associação Portugal-Sahara Ocidental terá lugar no próximo dia 12 de Março, Quinta-Feira, pelas 18 horas, no ESPAÇO TIMOR, na Rua de São Bento, junto à Assembleia da República.



Segundo os fundadores da nova associação, a escolha do local não foi casual, dado que « a melhor maneira de mostrar a grave situação em que se encontra o Sahara Ocidental – um território bem próximo de Portugal – é compará-la com a que se viveu em Timor-Leste entre 1975 e 1999». Isto porque – segundo afirmam - em Portugal muito pouco se sabia sobre Timor-Leste até ao massacre no cemitério de Santa Cruz, ocorrido em Novembro de 1991, mas nada ou quase nada se sabe sobre o Sahara Ocidental e as violações dos direitos humanos ocorridas no território sob ocupação de Marrocos».



A Associação Portugal-Sahara Ocidental, segundo revela o seu enunciado de propósitos, pretende ser «uma plataforma descentralizada e aberta a todos aqueles cidadãos portugueses que querem ver respeitado o princípio do direito à autodeterminação do Povo Saharui, independentemente das opções políticas, confessionais ou clubísticas de cada um».



«Os momentos finais da ocupação em Timor Leste – afirmam – veio mostrar-nos que, em Portugal, há causas que podem unir todos os democratas, quando a cidadania e o direito à autodeterminação dos povos são usurpados e a violência pretende esmagar aqueles que querem expressar o seu direito á Liberdade e à Independência»



Outras vertentes de trabalho que a Associação Portugal-Sahara Ocidental pretende desenvolver são, entre outras, «o intercâmbio cultural entre os dois povos, a ajuda médica e humanitárias às populações que vivem nos campos de refugiados no sul da Argélia e nos territórios libertados, a organização em Portugal de famílias de acolhimento a crianças saharauis que passem férias no nosso País, a implementação de cursos de formação académica e profissional a jovens estudantes e trabalhadores do Sahara Ocidental».

A Saharawi girl victim of rape by Moroccan police tells her story

A Saharawi girl victim of rape by Moroccan police tells her story

Saharawi young girl, Hayat Rguiebi, (16 years old) lately gave her testimony about the rape she was victim to when a group of Moroccan police agent arrested her. The young girl said the criminals arrested her, took her outside the occupied city of El Aaiun, ill-treated her, raped her and took photos of her naked body, threatening her that they will publish these photos if she tells anyone about the crime. The Saharawi young girl was so brave to openly testify on the crime, especially that the Moroccan authorities put pressures on her family so as to keep silent. The Moroccan Medias, in particular the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), denied the crime, and pretended the Saharawi reports about the crime were fake. This is what the victim completely contradicts, since she affirmed that she was really raped and ill-treated. The victim says in her testimony that when she denied the accusations of the Moroccan policemen, they tore her clothes, started kissing her violently, and raped her putting their truncheon in her back.

Un parti politique espagnol appelle le Gouvernement à reconnaître officiellement la RASD

Madrid, Un parti politique espagnol, l’Union progrès et démocratie (UPD), de l’ancienne dirigeante socialiste, Rosa Diez, a appelé de nouveau le Gouvernement espagnol à "reconnaître officiellement" la République arabe sahraouie démocratique (RASD), à l’occasion de la célébration dernièrement du 33e anniversaire de sa création.

"L’UPD, en accord avec les différentes résolutions du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, reconnaît le Front Polisario comme seul et légitime représentant du peuple sahraoui et, au regard de l’absence de volonté de la part du Maroc à organiser le référendum d’autodétermination du territoire, demande une fois de plus au gouvernement espagnol de reconnaître officiellement la RASD", souligne ce parti dans un communiqué.

Tout en rappelant la "dette historique" de l’Espagne à l’égard du peuple sahraoui, l’UPD demande au Gouvernement de José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero de "mettre fin à l’ambiguïté rhétorique" dans sa politique concernant la question du Sahara occidental.

Dans ce sens, il l’a appelé à "passer des bonnes intentions aux faits concrets, à ne soutenir aucune solution du conflit qui ne tienne pas compte du droit du peuple sahraoui à son indépendance, à dénoncer les violations des droits de l’homme dans les territoires sahraouis occupés, à ne pas utiliser la cause sahraouie comme monnaie d’échange dans ses relations avec le Maroc et enfin, à exiger la tenue d’un référendum d’autodétermination" dans cette ancienne colonie espagnole.

Cette formation politique a exigé également du Maroc "la mise en œuvre du Plan de paix de 1991 qu’il avait accepté avec le Front Polisario sous l’égide de l’ONU et le respect des résolutions onusiennes appelant à l’organisation d’un référendum d’autodétermination libre et régulier du peuple sahraoui".

L’UPD, qui a adressé par ailleurs ses "plus chaleureuses félicitations" au peuple sahraoui qui vient de célébrer le 33e anniversaire de la création de la RASD, a exprimé son espoir que "tôt ou tard l’ensemble de la communauté internationale reconnaisse l’indépendance du Sahara occidental à l’instar des Nations libres", conclut le communiqué.

Western Sahara awareness week at Mount Holyoke College

Saharawi student, Senia receiving awards from her College in US last February The Western Sahara Project, a student initiative at Mount Holyoke College (US), will organize an awareness week on Western Sahara from March the 9th to 11th. The organisers will host two speakers, Carlos Gonzalez, L.A.-based film director, and Stephen Zunes, professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of San Francisco, and Chair of the program in Middle Eastern Studies, who will present, on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th respectively, lectures about the conflict. On the other hand, three acapella groups from Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Amherst College, will perform, in the final show on Wednesday (11th), a concert as part of a fundraising effort for a library that will be created in the Saharawi refugee camps. The Library building project is engineered by Mt Holyoke students Senia Bachir-Abderahman and Nina Nedrebo. Senia Bachir-Abderahman was awarded, last February, three prizes at the Mount Holyoke Student Awards Ceremony for her work in promoting the Saharawi cause. The awards included the Kelly Sotille Award for Community Service, the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives Global Engagement Award and the Weissman Center for Leadership Award for Excellence. Senia hopes, above all, the Saharawi cause will become known to people that can do something to prevent oppression and limitation of the rights of the Saharawis in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Carlos Gonzalez will present a talk and film screening of his own documentary called “Children of the Clouds,” about the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, on March 9, 2009, 7-8.30 pm, Cleveland L-3, Mount Holyoke College. In the past few years, many Saharawis especially youth and students have been subject to systematic human rights violations committed by the Moroccan authorities simply because they demanded a basic human right; self-determination. Unfortunately, very few people have been able to cover the actual situation as reporters and González is one of the few. While in El Aaiun, the capital city of Western Sahara, Conzález was detained and interrogated for eight hours by the Moroccan police once they found cameras in his possession. (see www.childrenoftheclouds.com) On his side, Stephen Zunes is a professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of San Francisco where he chairs the program in Middle Eastern Studies. He will present a lecture about Western Sahara’s occupation under Morocco, and the thirty-five year conflict that has called International Law, its legitimacy, and its global value into serious question. Principal editor of Nonviolent Social Movements Blackwell Publishers, 1999), the author of the highly-acclaimed Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism (Common Courage Press, 2003), he has a forthcoming book on the topic, Western Sahara: Nationalism, Conflict, and International Accountability (co-author with Jacob Mundy). A recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship on Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at Dartmouth College and a Human Rights Fellowship at the Center for Law and Global Justice at the University of San Francisco, Dr. Zunes has made frequent visits to the Middle East and other conflict regions, where he has met with top government officials, academics, journalists and opposition leaders. (For more information, see www.stephenzunes.org). As part of the awareness of Western Sahara week in March special project, Amherst’s Route 9, Smith’s Vibes, and Mount Holyoke’s V8s will perform an a capella. The event will be priced at 2 dollars, to fundraise for a library building project in a largely neglected refugee camp in South-West Algeria, where there are hundreds of thousands of refugees waiting for the country of Western Sahara to be granted its independence. Events are sponsored by the Weissman Center for Leadership, the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, the MHC History Department, the UMass History Department, V8s, Youth Action International, Amnesty International, the Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies, and the Five College Program in African Studies.

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Polisario could resume war in Western Sahara

TANZANIA CITEZEN

The ambassador of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) or Western Sahara to Tanzania and Mauritius, HE Brahim S. Buseif granted an exclusive interview to Staff Writer Mboneko Munyaga about the struggle for freedom in his country, a former Spanish colony now occupied by Morocco. Question: Can you tell us how serious human rights violation is in the occupied part of Western Sahara? Answer: Since the Moroccan invasion in 1975, the Saharawis were imprisoned by the thousands for their resistance and rejection of the occupation. Hundreds died in Moroccan jails due to torture and the horrible prison conditions. As of now, there are more than 500 civilians still missing and 151 prisoners of war. They disappeared after they were taken by the Moroccans and nothing is known about their fate. Morocco imposes a news blackout in the occupied territory. Journalists and international observers are not allowed in, therefore all those atrocities and violations are unknown to the outside world. However, despite the policy of terror and repression, the resistance is growing. Most heartening is that it is carried out by young people, born under Moroccan occupation. The young generation simply refuses to be Moroccans and that is the biggest ammo of our struggle and signature to our legitimate demands. The Spanish colonial authorities failed in their attempts to frighten and intimidate our people’s will to achieve freedom and independence. The Moroccans will never succeed either. Q. Do you see fighting against Morocco resuming if the international community fails to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the Western Sahara problem? A. We hope that the new envoy of the United Nations Secretary General to Western Sahara, Mr Christopher Ross will implement what has been decided by the Security Council in order to settle the conflict between the Moroccan government and the Saharawi people, that is to say: the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and accomplish the decolonisation process. In 1991, we accepted the ceasefire with Morocco in the hope and understanding that the international community would help us achieve a negotiated settlement. But, we will not stay arms folded and let the Moroccans oppress our people and plunder our country’s wealth. Q. So you would resume fighting? A. Of course. It is not our preferred path but if it is forced on us, we have no other choice. Q. A spokesman of the Moroccan government has been quoted as saying the new UN Secretary General’s envoy to Western Sahara, Mr Christopher Ross, should start where his predecessor, Peter van Walsum left off. What exactly does that mean? A. The Moroccans are afraid of the referendum. They fear anything democratic. The Moroccan government is merely attempting to create confusion. Mr Walsum once expressed a very personal opinion alluding to something like International Law "supports the claim by the Polisario Front. But, since the (UN) Security Council is not willing to put pressure on Morocco to leave the territory, then the Saharawis should accept what the Moroccans are offering." That statement contradicts a cardinal UN principle, the right to self-determination. It also appeared to condone the illegal occupation of our country by Morocco, which is again against the UN Charter. The UN Secretary General rejected the careless proposal and Mr Walsum was actually dismissed in August last year because of that statement. Q. Morocco proposes autonomy for Western Sahara. Would the Polisario Front accept that? A. But that is a fallacy! Western Sahara has never been a part of Morocco or any other country in that part of Africa. What is meant by the so-called autonomy, analogically speaking, is similar to a robber who also occupies your home and when taken before a judge, he arrogantly says: "I am only ready to rent him a room at a reasonable price!!" And, that is the man who raped your daughters, killed your sons and humiliated both you and your wife?! No. Autonomy is simply an attempt to hide the crimes that have been committed against our people. Only a free and fair referendum will end the conflict. Any other attempt to ignore the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination is doomed to fail. Q. As journalists, we are interested in the fate of a fellow journalist, Mustapha Abd Daiem, who is held in Moroccan jails. What is the latest on efforts to have him released? A. There is a campaign that has been launched by the US Branch of Amnesty International and other efforts by the Danish Support Committee for the Saharawi people to free him. Unfortunately, he is not the only one in jail. At present more than 50 human rights activists are in Moroccan prisons. Q. Morocco clearly ignores all UN resolutions for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. What do you think gives it that audacity? A: Unfortunately, the lack of pressure from the Security Council gives audacity to and encourages the Government of Morocco to continuously defy and ignore international law and opinion. That was the true spirit of Mr Peter Van Walsum’s argument although his conclusion was clearly wrong and repulsive to civilised conduct of international politics. Q. What would you like Africa to do more to help the people of Western Sahara? A. We are very proud of Africa. From the very beginning, African countries and our brothers and sisters on the continent, rejected the aggression of Morocco. The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a member of the African Union. Q: The whole world is excited about the new American leadership. What are your expectations from the Obama administration? A: We expect those who’s dream has come true to help us also fulfill ours. And, don’t get me wrong here. I don’t mean just for the African-Americans. I mean for all the American people because Dr Martin Luther King was a great American. All we are asking is the opportunity and freedom for our people to express their will. America can help make it happen because that is the American Dream. We hope the new government will contribute to the strengthening of the United Nations capacity to resolve the problem. Q: Any other comment? Morocco’s expansionist policy jeopardises peace in Africa, something that the continent should be wary about. At one time, Morocco also had had territorial claims against Mauritania, Algeria and Mali besides Western Sahara. It did that knowing it was a founding member of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which declared to hold as sacred borders inherited from colonial powers. The founding fathers were very wise people. Otherwise, our beautiful continent would have been a boiling pot of troubles because the colonialists drew state boundaries arbitrarily. We believe Africa is one but for the time being, specific peoples have their specific corners, which should be respected. North Africa needs peace and stability for the region to develop. Unfortunately, that will not happen until the Saharawi people are allowed to exercise their legitimate rights. The Security Council of the United Nations should compel Morocco to abide by international law. One last thing is that the liberation of Africa has not been completed. Unfortunately, one African country now occupies another, long after the liberation of South Africa in 1984, which ended internal minority rule. Morocco therefore, cannot be given kid’s gloves treatment as it continues to occupy our country.

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Unethical Norwegian Fish Freight Caught Red-Handed

Norwegian Council for Africa: When The Norwegian Council for Africa visited occupied Western Sahara between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we photographed a freighter that later turned out to be Norwegian. The shipping company Atlantic RTI confirmed the fish transport and said they dislike that their ship has been utilised in the occupied area.

By Magnus Bjørnsen
Norwegian Council for Africa
03 March 2009

Trade with occupied Western Sahara is in conflict with the advice of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is also in conflict with the wishes of the occupied Sahrawi population and in violation of international law. The fishing industry in Western Sahara employs Moroccan settlers and contributes to the income of the Moroccan national treasury. The area has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975.

A ship owned by the Norwegian shipping company Atlantic RTI AS has nevertheless been utilised to transport frozen fish from the occupied country.

The ship Remora 1, to the left in the photograph, is owned by a Norwegian shipping company that so far is not known among the controversial commercial activities in Western Sahara. The photo was taken by Magnus Bjørnsen, Executive Director of The Norwegian Council for Africa, on Christmas Eve of 2008 in the harbour of Dakhla, in the occupied area of Western Sahara. Bjørnsen went to Western Sahara during Christmas to learn more about the conflict.

Chairman of Atlantic RTI, Johann Lønnmark Werner, has confirmed to The Norwegian Council for Africa that their vessel visited Dakhla harbour in December. He dislikes that the ship has been utilised for this purpose. He explained that it is a Dutch bank that now is responsible for operating the ship.

“How do you feel about a ship you own being involved in trade that the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others, advices strongly against?

“I do not like it and would never have been involved in it myself. But in this context we have not played a part that enabled us to participate in the decision. If we had had the right of disposal over the ship and found out about this, then we would not have approved it,” Werner told The Norwegian Council for Africa.

“For a while we rented out the ship to a Greek charterer, but they stopped paying us this autumn – with the result that the Dutch bank HBU took over the operation. Since December 2008 the vessel has been operated by HBU,” Werner said.

Unethical
“It is good to know that the shipping company acknowledges the ethical dilemmas of this and say that they would not have approved the operation if they had had the possibility,” Ronny Hansen, chairman of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, said.

The Support Committee is one of the member organisations of The Norwegian Council for Africa.

“It is also noteworthy that other Norwegian shipping companies in such situations have contacted the charterer and asked them to stop the unethical operations,” Hansen told the Council.

He says that the Support Committee will send a letter to Atlantic RTI, demanding that the shipping company clearly requests their charterers to stay away from the occupied country.

“The Sahrawis are unambiguously against this form of international support for the occupation. Hardly any Sahrawis are employed in the fishing industry, and it is totally controlled by Moroccan authorities and commercial interests. It contributes only to strengthen a brutal and unlawful occupation. The Norwegian shipping companies have a moral obligation to prevent their ships from being utilised to finance the occupation and to support Morocco’s claim for Western Sahara,” Hansen said.

Norwegian Fishing in Occupied Country
One hypothesis is that Remora 1 transported fish that has been fished by the Norwegian fishing company Sjøvik.

The Sjøvik group has been established in the occupied areas for several years, and their fishing for the Moroccans has been covered by the Norwegian media on several occasions. Sjøvik’s involvement has been criticised by a series of Norwegian politicians and organisations and the president of the Western Sahara republic. To the right of Remora 1 on the photograph lies Sjøvik’s fishing boat Midøy Dakhla, which sails under the Moroccan flag in the occupied area.

Sjøvik says that Western Sahara is a part of Morocco. In strong contrast to Atlantic RTI, Sjøvik denies the ethical dilemmas of the activity. The Norwegian Council for Africa tried on several occasions to contact the Sjøvik group in order to visit their fish processing plant in Dakhla, without the request being answered.

It is not known where Remora 1 sailed with its cargo. Most of the fishing export from Dakhla has so far gone to the Middle East or Eastern or Western Europe. The ship carries a Panama flag, IMO number (registration number) 8028321, and has a so-called deadweight tonne of 3987. That means it can carry a cargo of perhaps about 3500 tonnes. It is a refrigerated cargo ship and thus has the capacity to transport frozen fish.

BASF's Global Compact adherence questioned

BASF is member of UN's corporate social responsibility initiative Global Compact. But to Inner City Press, the company still refuses to disclose their "expert opinion" as to why they believe their imports of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara is legal. See video from the UN.


At UN, BASF Dodges W. Sahara Phosphorus Fall-Out, Global Compact's PetroChina Denial

Inner City Press
2 March 2009
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
See more about the question to BASF on the pages of Inner City Press.

UNITED NATIONS, March 2 -- When the UN Global Compact held a meeting on "current anti-corruption efforts by its corporate participants" last week, there were more than a few ironies. Chosen by the Compact as its corporate participant and thus poster-child was the chemical firm BASF. But when Inner City Press asked BASF's chief compliance officer Eckart Suenner about alleged irregularities in his firm's export of phosphate from the contested territory of Western Sahara, and the firm's refusal to make public an expert opinion it claims legitimates the transfer, Suenner dodged the question.

Not only at the press conference on February 26, when he said while he hadn't heard about, BASF has policies on "dual use and stuff," but in the three days since Inner City Press sent him evidence of the refusal of Anne Forst of BASF's "Sustainability Center" to provide the expert opinion, no response from BASF has been received. The inquiry focused on a shipment of 25,000 tons of phosphates from the Bu Craa mines in Western Sahara, carried by the ship Novigrad to the harbor of Ghent.

While the Global Compact claims to be moving toward increased transparency and credibility, its board recently dismissed a detailed complaint against PetroChina and subsidiaries for their activities in Sudan. Faced with widespread protest of the dismissal, the Compact's Sir Mark Moody-Stuart has written that the issue will be re-visited at an upcoming meeting of the Compact's board.

Inner City Press on February 26 asked when this will take place, and for the views on the matter of another participant, Jermyn Brooks, head of Global Private Sector Programs of Transparency International. Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell argued that PetroChina is not a member of the Compact, only its subsidiary CNPC is. Video here, from Minute 17:20.

In fact, the opposite appears to be true. In any event, should Compact participants be hiding behind a shell game of subsidiaries, in which all members of a conglomerate can cite an affiliate's membership in the UN Global Compact, but the most controversial parts of the company can say it was not them who joined?

TI's Jermyn Brooks, who gave a detailed answer to Inner City Press' question about gray money being used to bolster the reeling banking sector, at least admitted he was "ducking" the PetroChina question, saying he doesn't have enough information. When he does, and when the Compact board revisits the question -- Kell would not give a date -- we will have more on these matters.

Heavy criticism in Norway against Fugro-Geoteam

Former chairman of the Nobel Committee, and yesterday’s laureate of Student Peace Prize 2009 criticise the Norwegian-Dutch involvement in oil search in occupied Western Sahara.

The Sahrawi student Rabab Amidane received in Norway the Student Peace Prize 2009. Amidane was selected among 291 nominees from around the world, to receive the prestigious award.

The prize was given to her at a ceremony at the Olavshallen Concert Hall in Trondheim last night. 1200 people attended the two hour ceremony. The ceremony was opened by Trondheim symphony orchestra, which was followed by leading Norwegian artists.

Amidane was awarded for her work to document and spread information about human rights violations in occupied Western Sahara, particularly against Sahrawi students.

Fugro-Geoteam can “completely destroy our hopes for a free homeland in he future”, she said at the acceptance speech. From Rabab Amidane's acceptance speech:
“Western Sahara is a country rich in natural resources. We have a lot of phosphates, fish and possibly oil. The United Nations has stated that no natural resource activity can take place in Western Sahara if the Sahrawis are against it.

In spite of this, international companies work in Western Sahara together with the Moroccan authorities. The industries give income for the Moroccan regime, it provides jobs for Moroccan settlers, and it gives a sign of political legitimacy of the illegal occupation. None of these riches benefit the Sahrawi people. Only Morocco benefits from this. Sadly, companies from Norway have played an important role in this plundering.

The most serious Norwegian involvement is now in the oil industry. If Morocco finds oil in our land, I think that my people’s right to self-determination will be very difficult for us to achieve. But still, a company from Norway, called Fugro-Geoteam, is right now, at this very moment, looking for oil offshore our land. This can completely destroy our hopes for a free homeland in the future.

The Norwegian company Yara, which is sponsor of this festival, last year paid the Moroccan state 40 million kroners for phosphates that are stolen from us. Yara insists their imports have been legal, despite the fact that the UN say it is not. Yara have still not apologised for the trade and not compensated the Sahrawis.

It would of course be impossible to see Fugro-Geoteam or Yara cooperate with Israel on occupied Palestinian land. So one can wonder why they keep doing it in Western Sahara.”


The Northern Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Betty Williams was a key speaker at the ceremony, talking about peace work, and pointing to the human rights violations in Western Sahara. Rabab also met with Nobel laureates Desmond Tutu and Shirin Ebadi.

One of the members of the board that selected Amidane for the prize is Mr. Ole Danbolt Mjøs, who from 2003 until 1 January 2009 was the chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize committee. In an op-ed in leading Norwegian daily newspaper Dagbladet, Mr. Danbolt, together with Student Peace Prize president, Mr. Thor Richard Isaksen, the same day strongly critisised Fugro-Geoteam.

“Norwegian authorities have, together with most other Western countries, remained silent”, the former Nobel chairman wrote about the occupation of Western Sahara.

“This makes it possible for Norwegian businesses to drain occupied Western Sahara of resources through agreements with Moroccan authorities. One example is the seismic company Fugro-Geoteam, which, according to Norwatch, as late as January this year was involved in oil exploration off the coast of Western Sahara, on assignment from Moroccan authorities. Despite the fact that this is in conflict with advice from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reactions against such activity are all too weak.”.

European youth umbrella demands fish agreement renegotiation

The Nordic Committee of Co-operating Social Democratic Youth Organisations (FNSU), consisting of organisations from all the Nordic and Baltic countries, demands renegotiation of EU-Morocco fisheries agreement to exclude occupied Western Sahara.


FNSU consists of member organizations from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. www.fnsu.org

Adopted by the FNSU board meeting 13 February 2009


End the occupation of Western Sahara

Western Sahara, Africa’s last colony, is located south of Morocco. It has been on the UN decolonization list since 1966, when it was a Spanish colony. Since 1975 Morocco has been an illegal occupying power in Western Sahara, in violation of over 100 UN resolutions, which call for the Saharawi's people’s right to self-determination and independence.

A big part of the Saharawi population has been living as refugees in the Algerian desert for over thirty years. Since 1991, when the cease-fire between Morocco and Polisario was signed, the Saharawi struggle for self-determination has been a peaceful one. A referendum, where the Sahrawis would decide on the future status of their country, was scheduled to take place in 1992 but has not yet been held due to the Moroccan intransigence. Despite the Sahrawi question being on the international agenda for over forty years little progress has been shown towards the realization of the Saharawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence.

The situation for the Sahrawis still living in the occupied territories or in Morocco is terrifying. Their human rights are being violated on a daily basis; they are being discriminated against at work or in school, arbitrarily imprisoned, tortured and killed. Over 500 Sahrawis have until this day “disappeared” and are still missing. To deny that Western Sahara belongs to Morocco is considered an attack on the kingdom’s “territorial integrity”. Peaceful Saharawi demonstrations for independence are therefore violently attacked by Moroccan authorities. In a recent report called “Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps “ Human Rights Watch recommends that MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) in its mandate get included human rights monitoring and reporting in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Not only is Morocco oppressing the Sahrawi people it is also stealing their natural resources despite UN resolutions against prospecting and export of natural resources in occupied areas. The European Union is currently contributing to the plundering of natural resources by having a fishery agreement with Morocco where the occupied territories of Western Sahara is not excluded.
The European Union will provide Morocco with an “advanced status” which will further improve the economic situation for Morocco and integrate it even more with the EU. This decision has been made despite the fact that Morocco is occupying Western Sahara and systematically violating human rights. The territory of Western Sahara must be excluded from all agreements between the European Union and Morocco.

On the basis of the facts presented above FNSU requests:

that all Governments recognize the Saharawi peoples right to self-determination and in the long term SADR (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic) as a independent state in accordance with international law.
that the mandate of MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) will include human rights monitoring and reporting in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
that the present fishery agreement between the EU and Morocco, be suspended and renegotiated in order to exclude the waters off Western Sahara.
that the EU excludes Western Sahara from the current EU-Moroccan advanced status arrangement and that the EU puts pressure on Morocco to guarantee human rights in general and the human rights in Western Sahara in particular.
that the Nordic and Baltic governments put pressure on national and international corporations not to invest in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Un navire norvégien transporte illégalement le poisson congelé du Sahara occidental

Chahid Al Hafed, Un nouveau scandale de pillage illicite du poisson congelé du Sahara occidental occupée par le Maroc a été détecté par le Conseil norvégien pour l'Afrique durant sa visite au Sahara occidental occupé entre décembre 2008 et janvier 2009, a indiqué un éditorial publié sur son site internet www.africa.no

La délégation du conseil a photographié un cargo qui plus tard s'est avéré être norvégien. La compagnie maritime Atlantique a confirmé le transport de poissons, déclarant "qu'elle n'aime pas que son navire soit utilisé dans les eaux territoriales du Sahara occidental".

Toute activité commerciale au Sahara occidental occupé est illégale, selon le conseil du ministère norvégien des Affaires étrangères, estimant que cela est en contradiction avec la volonté de la population sahraouie et une violation du droit international.

L'industrie maritime au Sahara occidental emploie uniquement les colons marocains et contribue à renforcer l’occupation brutale et illégale des territoires sahraouis par le Maroc.

"Il est à noter que la compagnie maritime reconnaît les dilemmes éthiques de la question sahraouie a précisé Ronny Hansen, président du Comité norvégien de soutien au Sahara occidental, ajoutant qu’elle n'aurait pas approuvé l'action si elle avait été consulté".

M. Hansen a affirmé" avoir envoyé une lettre à la compagnie Atlantique, exigeant clairement de suspendre ses activités illégales au Sahara occidental», soulignant que d'autres compagnies maritimes norvégiennes avaient contacté l'affréteur et lui ont demandé d'arrêter les opérations contraires à l'éthique " dans ces territoires sous occupation étrangère.

Western Sahara student lauded and awarded

Norwegian Support Committee

The Sahrawi student Rabab Amidane received the Students’ Peace Prize 2009 on 27th February 2009. “A brave and worthy winner”, said Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister. Nobel peace prize laureates praised her work. Rabab Amidane was selected among 291 nominees from around the world, to receive the Students’ Peace Prize 2009. The prize was given to her at a ceremony at the Olavshallen Concert Hall in Trondheim last night. 1200 people attended the two hour ceremony. The ceremony was opened by Trondheim symphony orchestra, which was followed by leading Norwegian artists. Amidane was awarded for her work to document and spread information about human rights violations in occupied Western Sahara, particularly against Sahrawi students. The Northern Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Betty Williams was a key speaker at the ceremony, talking about peace work, and pointing to the human rights violations in Western Sahara. Busy week The prize is awarded every second year, and handed out at the closing of the biannual week-long International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT). “Amidane is an exceptional candidate for the Students’ Peace Prize. She and her family have been tortured and harassed for their non-violent struggle for independence and human rights. At the same time, Amidane has succeeded in building an international network, so that the world has been able to see what is going on in Western Sahara”, said the chairwoman of the Student Peace Prize Committee, Ms Sigrun Espe. Another member of the Prize Committee board, senior journalist Mr. Bjørn Hansen, agrees. “Amidane represents a group of young, brave people who puts their life at stake for what they struggle for. She is doing a solid contribution to the fight for solidarity and to stop an authoritarian regime”, said Hansen, who has been working for many years as foreign correspondent for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Also the Norwegian government saluted Amidane, in a comment in the newspaper Adresseavisen today. “Amidane is a worthy winner through her brave, non-violent struggle to improve the Sahrawi peoples rights”, said the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Raymond Johansen. “The prize is important, leading to increased awareness for the Western Sahara conflict”, the Deputy Minister stated. In spite of the government’s praising of Amidane, the people behind the Peace Prize, however, feel the Norwegian government is not doing enough regarding the issue. “By means of youth parties and student organisations, the future leaders of Norway have expressed their support of Amidane, but where is the support of today’s political leaders? Why isn’t the Norwegian government actively involved?”, asked Thor Richard Isaksen, Leader of the Students’ Peace Prize 2009, and Ole Danbolt Mjøs, Member of the Peace Prize Committee, in an op-ed in Norwegian leading daily newspaper Dagbladet yesterday. The latter was chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee from 2003 until 1 January 2009. The authors particularly criticized the government for not doing enough to stop the Norwegian participation in oil search in the occupied country. Humble winner Amidane participated in a number of meetings and workshops during the festival, and gave numerous speeches. She met with both Nobel laureates Shirin Ebadi (above), Desmond Tutu and Betty Williams. Desmond Tutu at the opening speech of ISFiT festival made the audience cheer twice for Amidane. “I am always interested in following the activities of young persons working for human rights. This means we can have hope for the future, said Nobel peace laureate, Shirin Ebadi. Amidane also had meetings with the Mayor of the city of Trondheim, Mrs. Rita Ottervik. During the acceptance speech she stated that there are many Sahrawis who might as well have deserved the prize. “I am extremely humble when I stand in front of you today. When I receive this prize, I dedicate it to the Sahrawi students and people”, Amidane said at the acceptance speech, saying that she is only one of many people enduring the same battles at home. She also announced that she is looking for a way to donate her prize money to other struggling Sahrawi pupils or students. Peace March Several hundred people last night also took part in a torch march through the streets of Trondheim. They had gathered in the heavy snow fall to listen to speeches at Trondheim Square, by the chairman of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, Mr. Ronny Hansen, by visiting Sahrawi teacher in Norway, Mr. Basiri Mulay and the leader of the Students’ Peace Prize, Mr. Thor Richard Isaksen. Representatives of the small Sahrawi community in Norway, as well as from several organizations joined the march. See photos of the march in the snow here. Apart from the mentioned Mr. Mjøs, Mr. Hansen and Ms Espe, the Peace Prize Committee consists of the following members: Mr. Stein Tønnesson, director of International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Mrs. Gro Brækken, secretary-general of Save the Children Norway, Ms Marte Senstad and Mr. Erik Evans of the National Union of Students’ in Norway, as well as Ms. Ina Tanberg and Mr. Øistein Svelle of the Norwegian Association of Students. Former winners of the prize have come from Burma, East Timor, Colombia and Zimbabwe. As a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the award, all the former winners were this year gathered at the festival. ISFiT had in total 450 participants from over 100 countries. Over 4500 students had applied to attend the festival for this year. In the coming two weeks, Amidane will give a series of public speeches in the Norwegian cities of Tromsø, Bergen, Stavanger and Oslo.

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Les élus français s’engagent à ''clamer haut et fort'' l’injustice imposée au peuple sahraoui

Chahid El Hafed, Les élus français ont promis, "d’ores et déjà, de clamer haut et fort l’injustice dont fait l’objet le peuple sahraoui et de faire pression sur le Maroc afin qu’il revienne sur son entêtement contre la justice et les droits de l’Homme au Sahara Occidental", a rapporté le quotidien algérien, Le Jeune indépendant dans son édition du mardi.

Les élus français sont venus pour entendre, comprendre et mieux connaître le "conflit oublié", a précisé Nadia Hamoudi, adjointe au maire de Tours, estimant que le sujet du Sahara Occidental est méconnu en France. Il a été occulté par le conflit israélo-palestinien. Cette rencontre participe effectivement, de la méconnaissance totale de la réalité sahraouie et de sa marginalisation dans le débat français fermé au cas sahraoui, a ajouté la même source.

Pour sa part, Salah Merabti, président de la communauté islamique d’Indre-et-Loire a assuré que "loin de toutes considérations géopolitiques, je fais une visite d’information pour combler les lacunes sur la question sahraouie, de mes propres yeux". Le "boulot" effectué par les élus leur permettra "de faire le travail de sensibilisation autour des associations à caractère humanitaire et social".

Cette visite, pour la plus jeune élue, Ager Ouslati du Val-de-Marne (22 ans), aide à "prendre conscience de ce qui se passe dans la région". Elle espère que l’opinion internationale se réveille pour faire "barrage à l’injustice qui sévit à quelques centaines de km de la France".

"Je ne connais pas particulièrement ce dossier. J’ai été sollicité en tant qu’élu pour aller voir dans quelles conditions vivent les réfugiés sahraouis dans les camps de Tindouf et j’ai répondu présent. J’ai accepté pour me faire une opinion précise sur la question et voir dans quelle mesure je pourrais apporter ma contribution", a expliqué Emile Mouheb, maire-adjoint de Cerney, une commune française, située dans la région d’Alsace (est de la France) et membre de la délégation.

De leurs côtés, l’’Association d’intervention sociale de la France et du Mouvement paix sans frontières, qui sont arrivés également de Metz pour voir de près la réalité dramatique. "Aujourd’hui nous venons de découvrir la face cachée du drame aux portes de Paris".

Le militantisme en faveur des Sahraouis sera renforcé à partir de la France, ont promis les deux associations, a-t-on indiqué.


La visite des élus français pendant trois jours dans les camps de réfugiés, leur a permis d’entendre, comprendre et mieux connaître la situation du peuple sahraoui méconnue en France depuis plus de 33 ans. Ils se sont entretenus avec la population, les membres du Front Polisario et du Gouvernement de la RASD et enfin avec le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz, rappelle-t-on.

Flags raised in Australia to commemorate the Saharawi National Day

On 27 February 2009 the flag of the Saharawi Republic (SADR) has been raised on the Town Halls of Leichhardt (Sydney), Newcastle and in various cities and towns of Australia such as Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Geelong and Darwin. The flags are raised to mark the 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi republic. The Saharawi flag is officially raised in Australia for the first time as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the Saharawi people. During the Ceremony held at Leichhardt Town Hall, Councillor Jamie Parker, the Mayor said “Leichhardt Council passed a unanimous motion to raise the flag of Saharawi Republic on their special day as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the people of Western Sahara. He added “This commemorates 33 years since the people of Western Sahara declared a republic in Western Sahara to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal of Spain the then colonial power.” And further added that “This is also significant because it will be the first time the flag of the Saharawi Republic has been flown officially in Australia” The Saharawi representative to Australia, Kamal Fadel, expressed the gratitude and sincere thanks of the Saharawi people and emphasised that raising the Saharawi flag is a significant way of expressing solidarity and support to the Saharawis’ just cause. He added that through the gesture of raising the Saharawi flag, Australians are so raising their voices against the dreadful injustice caused to the innocent Saharawi people. On the other hand, members of the Australia Western Sahara Association and friends of Western Sahara in the different cities attended the flag raising ceremonies held all over Australia.

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Flags raised in Australia to commemorate the Saharawi National Day

On 27 February 2009 the flag of the Saharawi Republic (SADR) has been raised on the Town Halls of Leichhardt (Sydney), Newcastle and in various cities and towns of Australia such as Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Geelong and Darwin. The flags are raised to mark the 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi republic. The Saharawi flag is officially raised in Australia for the first time as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the Saharawi people. During the Ceremony held at Leichhardt Town Hall, Councillor Jamie Parker, the Mayor said “Leichhardt Council passed a unanimous motion to raise the flag of Saharawi Republic on their special day as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the people of Western Sahara. He added “This commemorates 33 years since the people of Western Sahara declared a republic in Western Sahara to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal of Spain the then colonial power.” And further added that “This is also significant because it will be the first time the flag of the Saharawi Republic has been flown officially in Australia” The Saharawi representative to Australia, Kamal Fadel, expressed the gratitude and sincere thanks of the Saharawi people and emphasised that raising the Saharawi flag is a significant way of expressing solidarity and support to the Saharawis’ just cause. He added that through the gesture of raising the Saharawi flag, Australians are so raising their voices against the dreadful injustice caused to the innocent Saharawi people. On the other hand, members of the Australia Western Sahara Association and friends of Western Sahara in the different cities attended the flag raising ceremonies held all over Australia.

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Don humanitaire espagnol au profit des réfugiés sahraouis

Oran (Alger), Un navire en provenance d'Espagne, le "Neptune Dynamis", a accosté lundi le port d'Oran en livrant une cargaison de 134 véhicules utilitaires au profit des réfugiés sahraouis, apprend-on auprès de source portuaire algérienne.

Cette opération de solidarité est organisée par l'Association espagnole des "Amis du Peuple Sahraoui", indique-t-on de même source. Les véhicules seront acheminés prochainement vers les camps de réfugiés Sahraouis de Tindouf, signale-t-on.

L'association espagnole s'est illustrée à plusieurs reprises en initiant des caravanes humanitaires pour le Peuple sahraoui, en collaboration avec le Croissant-rouge algérien (CRA).

Arrivée d'une délégation italienne composée de 100 personnes aux camps de réfugiés sahraouis

Chahid El Hafed , Une délégation italienne de 100 personnes est arrivée samedi soir à la wilaya d’Aousserd, à l'occasion de la célébration du 33ème l'anniversaire de la proclamation de la République arabe sahraouie démocratique afin d’ exprimer la solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui, a-t-on appris de source proche de la représentation du Front Polisario en Italie.

La délégation est composée de représentant de la Région de Toscane, de ses provinces et des municipalités. Cette visite s'inscrit dans le cadre du renforcement des pactes de jumelage et d'amitié qui lient la Wilaya d’ Aousserd avec la Région de Toscane en Italie.

Durant son séjour dans les camps de réfugiés sahraouis, la délégation italienne visitera des institutions de la République sahraouie et aura des entretiens avec les dirigeants sahraouis.

La délégation organisera un sit-in en face du mur de la honte pour condamner et protester contre cette œuvre qui divise le Sahara occidental et son peuple en deux parties depuis plus de 33 ans. A souligné la même source.

L'Espagne est appelée à la préservation de l'espagnol au Sahara occidental (conférence de Tifariti)

Tifariti (territoires libérés), Des étudiants universitaires espagnols et latino-américains ont demandé récemment à l'Institut Cervantes d’aider à la préservation et la promotion de l'espagnol au Sahara occidental, comme deuxième langue des Sahraouis, dont la quasi-totalité d'entre eux parlent l'espagnol, a rapporté, dimanche l’Agence Espagnole de l’Information (EFE).

La préservation, la promotion et l'usage de l'espagnol dans l’ancienne colonie espagnole, le Sahara occidental, ont été parmi les principaux thèmes de la conférence internationale organisée dans la localité de Tifariti (territoires sahraouis libérés), du 25 au 26 février dernier.

"Nous avons eu des contacts avec l’institut Cervantes, dont le statut est d'une extrême importance, lequel nous avons demandé sa collaboration à préserver l'espagnol au sein de la population sahraouie", a déclaré Juan Carlos Gimeno, professeur à l'Université Autonome de Madrid, l'un des organisateurs de la conférence.

Le professeur espagnol a également indiqué que les étudiants et les universitaires peuvent "faire de grandes choses" partant de leurs compétences et leurs ressources humaines, afin de promouvoir l'espagnol chez les Sahraouis.

"Nous pouvons faire valoir notre position en tant qu'institution à travers l'ouverture d'un dialogue avec le Gouvernement espagnol au sujet de la préservation de l'usage de notre langue", a-t-il ajouté.

Au cours de l'inauguration de la conférence, le membre du Secrétariat national du Front Polisario, chargé de la direction politique, Bachir Mustafa Sayed avait exprimé ses remerciements pour le soutien des universités espagnoles et les projets de promotion de l'espagnol, regrettant "le manque de soutien des Gouvernements espagnols à cette question".

Les participants de cette conférence internationale, représentant 18 universités en Espagne, au Brésil, Mexique, Cuba, Grande-Bretagne et l'Algérie ont regretté qu'en raison de l'absence d’une reconnaissance officielle par l'Espagne de la RASD, l'Institut Cervantes et d'autres organisations culturelles ne sont pas plus impliqués dans le développement de l'espagnol dans les camps de réfugiés où vivent de nombreux Sahraouis.

Des milliers d'enfants sahraouis ont été en mesure au cours des dernières années pour se rafraîchir et d'améliorer leur espagnol, grâce aux programmes des vacances en paix en Espagne et leur prise en charge par des organisations humanitaires, a relevé la même source.

L'Université Autonome de Madrid et d'autres établissements d'enseignement de l’espagnol travaillent depuis plusieurs mois sur des projets visant à rapprocher les camps des réfugiés des cours et d'études de la langue espagnole, rappelle-t-on.

Le président de la République appelle la France à jouer un rôle ''constructif'' dans la question du Sahara Occidental

Chahid El Hafed, Le président de la République, Mohamed Abdelaziz a appelé dimanche la France à jouer un rôle "constructif" dans le règlement du conflit du Sahara occidental, devant contribuer à "l’avènement de la paix, de stabilité et de coopération" dans la région.

"Nous appelons la France à jouer un rôle positif dans le règlement juste et définitif du problème du Sahara Occidental à travers le respect du droit à l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui", a indiqué M. Abdelaziz au cours d’un déjeuner offert à la délégation des élus français venus s’enquérir sur place de la situation humanitaire du peuple sahraoui.

"Je m’adresse également aux élus français pour amener leur pays à contribuer dans la recherche d’une solution juste et durable mettre fin aux endurances et souffrances des deux peuples frères, sahraoui et marocain depuis plus de 33 ans".

"On ne peut en effet comprendre, qu’un pays membre permanent du conseil de sécurité, garant de la légalité internationale et de la paix dans le monde, puisse apporter son soutien à une manœuvre qui consacre l’occupation étrangère et le déni de justice fait au peuple sahraoui, faisant prévaloir ainsi le droit de la force au détriment de la force du droit".

Nous sommes conscients du rôle de la France dans le règlement des conflits qui déchirent de nombreuses régions du monde, mais, "nous ne pouvons comprendre que cette France défend le droit à l’autodétermination dans d’autre parties du monde et le dénie quant il s’agit du sahraoui", a déploré le président de la République.

D’autre part, M. Abdelaziz, s’est dit convaincu le peuple sahraoui qui est déterminé à poursuivre sa résistance pour le recouvrement de ses droits légitimes à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance, "finira par arracher sa victoire".

Le président de la République a chargé les élus français de transmettre à la société civile française "la volonté du peuple sahraoui à tisser des liens d’amitié, de solidarité et de fraternité entre les deux peuples, français et sahraouis".

Il a enfin tenu les élus français témoins du soutien indéfectible de l’Algérie au peuple sahraoui depuis plus de 33 ans, conformément à ses principes dans la défense des droits des peuples à disposer d’eux-mêmes.

Le président de la République souligne l'attachement du peuple sahraoui à son droit à l'autodétermination

Dakhla (Camps des réfugiés sahraouis), Le président de la République, M. Mohamed Abdelaziz, a souligné que le peuple sahraoui est " plus que jamais" attaché à son droit légitime à l'autodétermination, à la liberté et à l'indépendance.

Dans un discours prononcé samedi à l'occasion du 33ème anniversaire de la proclamation de la République arabe sahraouie démocratique, le président Abdelaziz a indiqué que le peuple sahraoui "poursuit aujourd'hui sa résistance pour l'indépendance par le renforcement de l'intifada dans les territoires occupés et au Maroc, le repeuplement des territoires libérés et la préparation de l'Armée sahraouie à toute éventualité".

Il a également affirmé que les Sahraouis sont prêts à reprendre les armes, "si le Gouvernement marocain venait à rejeter définitivement la solution pacifique négociée et l'application des résolutions de l'ONU".
Le président sahraoui a précisé, dans le même contexte, que "la politique d'annexion par la force adoptée par le régime marocain à l'encontre du peuple sahraoui a échoué".

La poursuite du conflit avec le Maroc dépend de la volonté de ce pays ''de cesser de mépriser notre peuple et de reconnaître son droit à l'autodétermination et à l'indépendance", a-t-il souligné.

"Beaucoup de Marocains que nous considérons comme des alliés croient en le droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination" a-t-il ajouté, indiquant qu'il y a également "beaucoup de Marocains qui sont neutres dans ce conflit qui nous oppose aux tenants du déni du droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination".
"La neutralité dans ce cas précis, ne peut être une position respectable, mais nous les respectons car ils sont des citoyens marocains".

Dans le même sens, M. Abdelaziz a salué les voix qui défendent le droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination tels le parti marocain "Ennahdj Edimocrati" qui, a-t-il souligné, "ne cesse de défendre le droit des Sahraouis dans les rues, à l'université, à travers la presse ou dans les prisons, en dénonçant les pratiques répressives des autorités marocaines à l'encontre des citoyens sahraouis dans les territoires occupés et dans les universités marocaines".

Par ailleurs, le président Abdelaziz a salué le rôle de l'Algérie dans la défense du droit du peuple sahraoui à l'autodétermination.

Des élus français constatent ''les conditions difficiles'' des réfugiés sahraouis

El Aaiun(camps de réfugiés sahraouis), Une délégation de 125 élus Français, en visite samedi à la wilaya d "El Aaiun", a relevé "les souffrances" de cette population "privée de sa terre natale depuis plus de trois décennies".

Selon une représentante du parti socialiste français, Mme Farida Boudaoud, cette visite de plusieurs jours permettra de s’enquérir dans les camps des réfugiés "de la réalité et des souffrances du peuple sahraoui" confronté à des "conditions difficiles".

En dépit de la longue absence de leur patrie, les réfugiés Sahraouis "restent attachés à leur identité et à leurs traditions", a-t-elle relevé, exprimant son admiration pour la place qu’occupe la femme sahraouie au sein de la société.

Mme Boudaoud a aussi mis en relief le rôle militant que joue la femme sahraouie pour la cause de son peuple, qui, du fait d'une lutte permanente pour la décolonisation du Sahara Occidental, "porte des tenues militaires à défaut de vivre dans la paix et l'indépendance comme toutes les femmes au monde".

De son côté, M. Slimane Abdoune, élu de la ville de "Vitry", conseiller municipal et représentant de la société civile, a également souligné que cette visite permettra de mieux "s’informer de la situation humanitaire des Sahraouis à l’intérieur des camps et la transmettre à la société civile française" afin de "faire pression sur le Gouvernement français".

Pour sa part, le vice-président de la commune de Givors, M. Semmari Ali, a déploré "la situation difficile dans les camps de réfugiés sahraouis", avant d'indiquer qu’il œuvre avec des associations françaises et des organisations non gouvernementales pour organiser des expositions dans les villes françaises afin de leur faire connaître la dure réalité du peuple sahraoui.

"Le monde doit être informé de cette situation et la France doit prendre conscience de l’importance de l’indépendance pour ce peuple qui lutte depuis plus de trois décennies", a-t-il ajouté.

La délégation des élus français a visité des établissements scolaires, des infrastructures de base et une exposition de produits fabriqués par les sahraouis à l’intérieur des camps.

Le vice-Premier ministre de Timor Leste : la visite de Ross dans les camps sahraouis, une reprise en main de l’ONU du conflit

El Aaiun (Camp de réfugies sahraouis), Le vice-Premier ministre de la République de Timor Leste (Timor orientale), M. Jose Louis Gutierès, a estimé, samedi dans la wilaya d'El Aaiun, que la visite l’envoyé spécial du secrétaire général de l’ONU des camps des réfugiés sahraouis, augure d’une reprise en main par l’Organisation des Nations unies du dossier du Sahara occidental.
"Avec la nomination de M. Christopher Ross, comme envoyé personnell du SG de l’ONU au Sahara occidental, et sa visite dans les camps des réfugiés sahraouis, nous avons relevé un regain d’intérêt de l’ONU, voire une reprise en main des Nations unies du conflit sahraoui", a indiqué M. Gutierès , en marge de la cérémonie de clôture des festivités du 33ème anniversaire de la proclamation de la République arabe sahraouie démocratique (RASD).
Tout en relevant que M. Ross est une personnalité politique américaine "connue", il a émis le vœu de le voir "observer une position de neutralité pour mettre en œuvre une solution qui prend en charge le droit légitime du peuple sahraoui à l’autodétermination".
Il a rappelé, à ce sujet, le passage de l’ancien envoyé personnel de l’ONU qui, a-t-il dit, a fait preuve de "partialité notoire" du côté de l’occupant marocain. "M. Van Walsum a été négatif et il a raté à la communauté internationale une autre chance de voir la paix s’instaurer dans la région (du Maghreb), ainsi qu'au dernier conflit de décolonisation connaître son épilogue", a-t-il soutenu.
Par ailleurs, le vice-Premier ministre de Timor Leste a rappelé avoir eu, en 2006, son premier contact avec les responsables du Front Polisario, précisant que sa visite dans la région rentrait à l'époque dans le cadre d’une mission afin de solliciter le soutien de l’Algérie au peuple de Timor Leste pour le recouvrement de son indépendance.
"Aujourd’hui, je suis dans les camps des réfugiés sahraouis et j’ai eu à constater la même détermination des Sahraouis à continuer leur combat jusqu’à l’indépendance", a-t-il encore relevé.
Il a affirmé, en outre, que "beaucoup de gens avaient douté auparavant de l’indépendance de Timor Leste. C’était l’avant-dernier pays à décoloniser. Aujourd’hui, il est indépendant et je suis certain que cette issue est inéluctable dans le cas du Sahara occidental", a-t-il conclu.