Letter from President of Republic to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Chahid El Hafed, May 29, 2015 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Frente Polisario Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz on Wednesday sent a letter to the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, concerning the violations of human rights committed by Morocco against the Saharawi people and the visit conducted on April 2015 by a UNHCHR’s technical mission to the occupied Saharawi cities of El Aaiun and Dajla.
President Mohamed Abdelaziz reminded Al Hussein that Western Sahara “remains a non-self-governing territory, therefore, any denial of this reality violates the UN resolutions that recognizes neither Morocco’s sovereignty nor its administration over the territory.”
“We are extremely surprised for not having been contacted before the start of the Technical Mission and reject the fallacious pretext presented by some parties that the purpose of the mission is to strengthen the representation of the Moroccan Council for Human Rights,” writes the President of the Republic, noting that granting this status to such bodies “violates Paris Principles, as it is about a Moroccan national association has no legitimacy to play a formal role in the non-autonomous territory of Western Sahara.
“We are also extremely astonished that the meetings held by members of the Mission with Saharawi human rights did not take place at the headquarters of MINURSO, whose officials have always said they never refused to host such meetings,” underlined the letter.
“We expect answers to these observations to avoid any confusion in the future and ask that a report be published on what the Mission has heard and seen on the ground of the human rights violations, particularly police abuses the Mission members could assess during their visit,” concluded the President of the Republic, in his letter to the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights. (SPS

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CAT declares admissible Naama Asfari’s complaint against Morocco

Paris, May 29, 2015 (SPS) - The Committee Against Torture (CAT) declared “admissible” the complaint filed by Naama Asfari, Saharawi human rights defender, against Morocco, urging Rabat to respond to the victim’s accusations, informed Thursday the Action by Christians Against Torture (ACAT) in a dispatch published on its website.
Arrested on 7 November 2011 in occupied Saharawi city of El Aaiun, Naama Asfari accused Moroccan authorities of having tortured and convicted him on the basis of forced confessions, extracted with impunity.
Asfari is part of a group accused of being behind the Saharawi protest camp, known as Gdeim Izik, erected in October 2010 in protest to the living conditions of the Sahrawi people in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
ACAT points out that Naama Asfari “was beaten until he lost consciousness during his arrest after being interrogated and tortured for five days, first at police station and then at gendarmerie station in El Aaiun, where he was arbitrarily detained without informing his family.”
“On 12 November 2011, he was brought by night before the court in El Aaiun to sign a register under duress, before being transferred along with other Saharawi prisoners into Salé prison in Rabat, to be tried by a military court, despite being civilian,” added ACAT.
“On 16 February 2013, after more than 27 months in custody, he was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment by the military court in Rabat alongside with 23 co-defendants also sentenced to long prison terms, following nine days of an unfair trial marked by the extraction of confessions obtained under torture. No medical examination or investigation was conducted with respect to the allegations of abuse made repeatedly by almost all of the defendants,” the same source highlighted. (SPS)

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Moroccan occupying authorities arrest Saharawi activist Ahmed Nasiri

El Aaiún (occupied territories), April 22, 2015 (SPS) - The Saharawi human rights activist Ahmed Nasiri and several members of his family were arrested Tuesday at a checkpoint in the city of Tantan (Morocco), in his way back to the city of Agadir where he underwent surgery on his nose.
On 17 April this year, the Saharawi activist was attacked by Moroccan policemen after his participating in a peaceful demonstration in the occupied city of Smara (Western Sahara) to call for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. (SPS)

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Intergroup on Western Sahara in European Parliament demands organisation of Sahrawi self-determination referendum

European Parliament, April 20, 2015 (SPS) - The Intergroup on Western Sahara in the European Parliament has asked Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon to urgently act to remove the burdens that prevent MINURSO from applying the international law which requires the consultation of the opinion of the Saharawi people about their future, in a letter today.

They requested adoption of the necessary measures in order to restore the confidence of the Saharawi population within the ability of UN to achieve a fair, long-lasting, and mutually acceptable solution.

They believed it is necessary to adopt mechanisms that enable MINURSO to monitor the respect of human rights in the area and push towards actions to prevent looting perpetrated by Morocco in this territory.

They expressed their concern about the lack of advancement in the peace process carried out by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), due to the blockade realised by the Moroccan counterpart to the work of your representatives.

They also expressed concern on the repeated violation of human rights in the occupied territories which has resulted in assaults, arbitrary arrests, torture and even deaths of civilians. (SPS)

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Protection and safety of Saharawi civilians in occupied territories responsibility of United Nations (President of Republic)

Birlehlu (Liberated Zones), April 20, 2015 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz, has emphasized that the responsibility for the protection and safety of the defenseless Saharawi civilians in the occupied territories of Western Sahara is the responsibility of the United Nations, pending the decolonization of the territory through a fair and transparent referendum under the auspices of the United Nations.

 In a letter, the second of its kind in less than one week, the President of the Republic drew the attention of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to the savage repression by Moroccan forces in the occupied city of Smara after those of El Aaiun, Dakhla and Boujdour, despite the presence of a delegation from the UN High Commissioner for Human rights, sabotaging the credibility of the UN presence on the ground through its mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

 "On March 17, the Moroccan repressive forces attacked a demonstration in Nasir neighbourhood in the occupied city of Smara, solely for peacefully demanded to allow Sahrawis to exercise their right to self-determination and independence through a free, fair and impartial referendum, stop the Moroccan plundering of natural resources and release Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons," recalled President Mohamed Abdelaziz.

 "Serious injuries among the protesters reflect the indiscriminate repression of the Moroccan occupation forces, who did not hesitate to target sensitive areas of the body like the head, as the case of the former political prisoner and human rights activist Hamadi Nassiri and his son Hafed Nassiri who were transferred to a hospital outside the city because of their injuries," he added.

The President of the Republic called on the UN to take all necessary measures to stop the Moroccan oppression and torture perpetrated against innocent Sahrawi civilians, reiterating the need to rapidly expand the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to protect and monitor human rights, like all other UN missions in the world. (SPS)

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Brutal attack leaves several causalities in Smara occupied city

Smara (Occupied Territories), April 18, 2015 (SPS) – Several Sahrawi peaceful protestors were injured Friday following a “brutal” attack carried out by elements of the Moroccan police and standby forces in the streets of the occupied city of Smara, according to Sahrawi human rights sources.

The demonstrators waved Sahrawi national flags and chanted slogans demanding self-determination and independence of the Saharawi people and expressing solidarity with Saharawi political prisoners in various Moroccan prisons.

Among those severely injured was Hamadi Nasiri, human rights activist and former political prisoner, who was transferred to hospital in serious conditions as a result of the violent attack he was subjected to by the Moroccan forces during his participation, along with his family members, in the peaceful protest, added the same source. (SPS)

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Foreign Ministry refutes any secret contacts between Polisario Front and Morocco

Chahid Al hafed (refugee camps), Feb 5, 2015 (SPS) - Foreign Ministry Spokesperson has refuted the propaganda promoted in the recent days by Moroccan media of secret contacts between the Frente Polisario and Morocco in France.

In a statement to SPS, the source indicated that such rumors aim to divert the Moroccan public opinion in particular and the world as a whole from the defeats of Moroccan occupation, last of which AU Summit’s condemnation of Moroccan occupation of parts of the territory of the Saharawi Republic (SADR).

“The last African Summit has insisted on the need to conduct a referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people. It therefore called on the international community not to participate at the Crans Monata Forum,” stated Saharawi Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

By allowing the UN Personal Envoy Christopher Ross and Head of MINURSO Kim Bolduc to resume their mission, said the official, Morocco once again gives in to international pressure.

“Moroccan Government and its intelligence have always resorted to fallacy and forgery in order to impose a colonial policy, which is rejected by the international community,” underlined the source. (SPS)

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Algeria, Benin for Saharawi people’s self-determination

Algiers, Feb 4, 2015 (SPS) - Algeria and Benin have reaffirmed their support to the efforts of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy Christopher Ross, in finding a political solution guaranteeing the Sahrawi people’s self-determination, said a joint communiqué published Wednesday at the end of Beninese president Thomas Boni Yayi visit to Algeria.

During this visit, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his Beninese counterpart have “reaffirmed their support to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy Christopher Ross, in finding a political and mutually acceptable solution, which provides for the self-determination of Western Sahara people, in line with the Resolutions of UN Security Council and General Assembly,” the same source said.

Registered since 1963 on the list of Non-Self Governing territories and therefore eligible for the application of Resolution 1514 of the UN General Assembly containing a declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa which is occupied by Morocco since 1975 with the support of France. (SPS)

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AU calls for boycott of next edition of Crans Montana Forum scheduled in occupied city of Dakhla (Declaration)

Addis Ababa, February 1, 2015 (SPS) - The African Union has launched Saturday in Addis Ababa, a call to member countries and organizations not to participate in the Crans Montana Forum, scheduled in the occupied city of Dakhla, Western Sahara, in March, considering it a violation of international law.
 
 Below is the full text of the declaration of the 24th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held from 30 to 31 January 2015 in Addis Ababa:
 
“ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION
Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Session
30 - 31 January 2015
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
DECLARATION
ON THE ORGANIZATION OF CRANS MONTANA FORUM IN THE OCCUPIED CITY OF DAKHLA, WESTERN SAHARA
We, the Heads of States and Governments of the African Union, having met at our Twenty Fourth Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 30 to 31 January 2015;
Taking Note of the recommendation of the Executive Council to issue a declaration on the organization of Crans Montana Forum in the occupied city of Dakhla (Western Sahara) on 12-14 March 2015 ;
Recalling all decisions and resolutions adopted by the OAU/AU and UN on the Situation in Western Sahara;
Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken by the UN and AU to achieve a just and lasting solution of the question of Western Sahara in accordance with the UN Charter and Resolution 1514 adopted in 1960 related to the decolonisation;
Hereby:
1.            REAFIRM the decision EX.CL/Dec.758(XXII) endorsed by the Assembly of the Union which inter alia “ Requests the Commission to take all the necessary measures for the organization of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in compliance with the relevant OAU/AU Decisions and UN Resolutions” and the Assembly decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.536(XXIII)), adopted by the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in Malabo on June 2014 ;
2.            EXPRESS support to the efforts made by the Chairperson of the AUC and the AU Special Envoy, the former President of Mozambique, H.E Joaquim Chissano, in coordination and complementarity with the efforts made by the UNSG Personal Envoy on Western Sahara, H.E. Ambassador Christopher Ross;
3.            CONSIDER that the organisation of any international conference in the current circumstances in Western Sahara is in contradiction with the efforts made by the International Community to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara, and can only create an atmosphere of confrontation in the territory;
4.            URGE the Swiss International Organization “Crans Montana” and all other organizers to cancel the meeting planned in the occupied city of Dakhla (Western Sahara), as it is a grave violation of the International Law;
5.            CALL UPON the AU Member States, African Civil Society and all Organisations not to participate in this Forum, scheduled from 12th to the 14th  March 2015 in the occupied city of Dakhla (Western Sahara);
6.            REQUEST the Commission to take all necessary measures to ensure the follow up of this declaration.” (SPS)

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Africa’s failure to decolonise Western Sahara would be a negation to African ideals and principles (Robert Mugabe)

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), February 1, 2015 (SPS) - The in-coming Chairperson of the African Union, President of Zimbabwe, H.E. Robert Mugabe, stressed in his acceptance speech in front of the 24th Assembly of Heads of States and Governments held at the organisation’s headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, that “Africa’s failure to decolonise Western Sahara would be a negation to African ideals and principles”.
 
He called on the UN to “implement all relevant resolutions requiring the holding of a referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people”, estimating that “Our failure to complete the decolonisation process in Western Sahara would be a serious negation of the ideals that our founding fathers fought for and bequeathed to us.”
 
He emphasised that “the continent is not completely free, for as long as our brothers and sisters in Western Sahara remain under Moroccan occupation.”
 
The President of Zimbabwe, H.E. Robert Mugabe has been appointed the new Chairman of the African Union, succeeding Mauritania’s President, H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, at the opening session of the 24th Assembly of Heads of States and Governments, it should be recalled. (SPS)

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Western Sahara conflict: UN decolonization doctrine must be upheld, says Lamamra

New York (United Nations), September 28, 2014 (SPS) - Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra on Saturday in New York called the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to uphold UN doctrine regarding the decolonization of Western Sahara.
 
The assessment report Ban Ki-Moon will present in 2015 about Western Sahara conflict between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front "should uphold UN doctrine on decolonization and evaluate the effectiveness of the resolutions of the Security Council and the General assembly," Algerian Foreign Minister stressed during the general debate of the 69th ordinary session of the UN General Assembly.
 
"Algeria, whose undeniable support to Western Sahara people's self-determination is well established, encourages the UN secretary general and his personal envoy, Christopher Ross, to intensify their efforts to restore peace" in the region, Lamamra said.
 
"In its capacity as a coordinator of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)'s work team on the revitalization of the General Assembly, Algeria will continue its efforts for the UN body, which is the most representative of the international system, to recover its prerogatives." (SPS)
 

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Namibia calls for full implementation of UN resolutions on Western Sahara

New York (United Nations), September 27, 2014 (SPS) - H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba, president of the republic of Namibia, called has for the full implementation of United Nations resolutions on Western Sahara.
 
He underlined that the international community must fulfill its obligations and assist the people of Western Sahara realize their inalienable rights to self-determination.
 
 In his speech Friday, on the occasion of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said “we call for the full implementation of all relevant UN resolutions on Western Sahara and Palestine. The international community must fulfill its obligations and assist the people of Western Sahara and Palestine realize their inalienable rights to self-determination”. (SPS)

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Tanzania urges UNSC to resolve Western Sahara question once and for all

New York, Sept 26, 2014 (SPS) - President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, on Thursday reiterated his appeal to the Security Council of the United Nations Organization to resolve the question of Western Sahara.

In his address at the general debate of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Kikwete reiterated the appeal his country (Tanzania) made last year at the UNGA to the United Nations Security Council “to do everything within its powers to resolve this problem once and for all.”

He lamented for the fact that the issue of Western Sahara, which happened about the same time with that of East Timor nearly 40 years ago, remain “unresolved” up to this day.

Wondering what are the insurmountable challenges impeding the UN to end the impasse in the territory of Western Sahara, Mr. Kikwete asked the world to do the needful and put to rest the Saharawi question. (SPS)

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Mugabe to UNGA: Africa remains seized with Western Sahara issue

New York, Sept 25, 2014 (SPS) - President of the Republic of Zimbabwe H.E. Mr. Robert Mugabe on Thursday said before the UN General Assembly that Africa remains “seized” with the issue of Western Sahara, the last colonial vestige in the continent.

In his speech before the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, underway in New York, Zimbabwe President underlined that Africa remains “seized with the issue of Western Sahara, the last colonial vestige in Africa.”

Mr. Mugabe also called upon the United Nations not to shake off its responsibility to ensure the achievement of self-determination by the people of Western Sahara.

He, on other hand, stated that his country believes that the UN should promote dialogue to achieve peace, rule of law and common understanding among states, asking the international community to remain “intensively engaged and support” Africa in the maintenance of peace and stability.

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South Africa continues to support struggle for freedom in Western Sahara

New York, Sept 25, 2014 (SPS) - President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Jacob Zuma, on Wednesday indicated that her country continues to support the struggle for freedom and self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Addressing the 69th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, convened from 24th to 30th September 2014, Mr. Zuma said that his country (South Africa) will continue “to support the struggles for freedom and self- determination, including the struggles of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara who continue to experience occupation and colonialism of different forms.” (SPS)

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Western Sahara: MINURSO cannot become occupation supporter body, says Ould Salek

Algiers, September 21, 2014 (SPS) - Saharawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek said Sunday, in Algiers, that it is "inconceivable that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) becomes a body backing occupation instead of a peace mission."
 
"The credibility of the United Nations is put to the test with this issue, as the very essence of UN existence is at stake, namely people's right to self-determination," the Saharawi official told a news conference.
 
Ould Salek said his country "strongly condemns Security Council's acting in complicity with Moroccan occupation, and especially the group of the five friends of the secretary general (four of the five permanent member countries, except china, plus Spain, a non-permanent member).
 
Such complicity has led Morocco to "flout international legality and to adopt a policy of intransigence, suppression and intimidation with the full knowledge of the international community and world public opinion," he stressed.
 
The Saharawi official broached the "hindrances" to the efforts made by UN secretary general's personal envoy, Christopher Ross, "prevented currently from visiting the region." (SPS)

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Mennucci deplores Sahrawi people’s “difficult” conditions in refugee camps

Algiers, September 21, 2014 (SPS) - Head of the French delegation of Algeria-France parliamentary friendship group Patrick Mennucci deplored Sunday in Algiers the “difficult” humanitarian conditions of the Sahrawi people in the refugee camps in Tindouf.
 
In a joint press conference with his Algerian counterpart Belkacen Belabes, Mennucci underlined that the “unacceptable” situation and the “difficult” humanitarian conditions in which the Sahrawi people live in the camps.
 
Mennucci underlined the Sahrawi people’s willingness to find a political situation to their situation.
 
In this regard, he called for a “political exit” to the conflict in Western Sahara given the “complex” situation in the region particularly in Mali and Libya.
 
The French Member of Parliament said he held talks with the Sahrawi President and Sahrawi senior officials on the “Sahrawi people’s willingness to find a political solution to their situation.” (SPS)

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AI launches urgent appeal to protect Sahrawi prisoners in occupied El Aaiun Local Prison

London, September 20, 2014 (SPS) -  Amnesty International (AI) initiated Thursday an appeal to protect seven Sahrawi prisoners on hunger strike against torture at the Local Prison in the occupied city of El Aaiun, on its official site.   
 
The organization indicated that the seven Sahrawi prisoners were “severely” beaten on 17 September in El Aaiun Local Prison and they have gone on hunger strike in protest.
 
The seven Sahrawi prisoners were “Mohamed Baber, Abdessalam Loumadi, Abdelmoutaleb Sarir, Mahmoud El Haissan, Aaliayne El Moussaoui, Abdelkrim Bouchalga and Abdelfattah Dallal,” who were “subjected to torture and other ill-treatment” by staff at El Aaiun Local Prison where they are detained.
 
The seven prisoners were “handcuffed, severely beaten in the prison courtyard in front of other detainees, and verbally abused.” And that eyewitnesses reportedly indicated that “all have sustained significant bruising and injuries.” (SPS)
 

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France should play role in supporting peace, democracy and human rights in Western Sahara (President of Republic)

Shaheed Hafed, September 20, 2014 (SPS) - President of the Republic Secretary-General of the Polisario Front Mohamed Abdelaziz called France to play a role in supporting peace, stability and human rights in Western Sahara, in a statement following a meeting with a French delegation of Algeria-France parliamentary friendship group.
 
The President of the Republic underlined that France could play an important role in the era of President Francois Hollande, similar to that of Algeria under the leadership of  President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to support peace, security and stability in the region on the basis of respect for peoples’ rights, sovereignty and dignity.
 
President Mohamed Abdelaziz also called for advanced relations between France and Maghreb countries in general.
 
For his part, the Socialist deputy of the city of Marseille and the head of the delegation Mr. Patrick Minucci pledged to transfer the reality of situation of the Saharawi people and the difficult conditions experienced by the Sahrawi refugees to the French government and Parliament. (SPS)

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Polisario front condemns expulsion campaign of international observers in occupied Western Sahara

Birlehlou, August 19, 2014 (SPS) - The Polisario Front has expressed its deepest concern over the campaign launched by the Moroccan authorities against international observers continuously expelled from Western Sahara.
 
The President of the Republic and Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz, in a letter sent Monday to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, drew the attention of the international organization to the intense campaign of harassment, accusations, degrading treatment, and forced expulsions against human rights activists, lawyers, parliamentarians, journalists, and asked the UN for an urgent action to end these unfair practices exercised by Morocco.
 
The President of the Republic noted that the expulsion of international observers from a territory under UN responsibilities does not only represent a flagrant violation of international law but also an insult to the international community and undermines the credibility of the international organization. (SPS)
 

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