Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Polisario Protests to EU

Frente POLISARIO
---------
Representación para Europa






Brussels 7th of November, 2005


Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Commissioner for External Relations
& European Neighbourhood Policy






Dear Commissioner,


On 30 October 2005, the Saharawi citizen, LEMBAREK HAMDI SALEK MAHJOUB, died in El Aïoun (capital of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation) as a result of blows and injuries inflicted by the Moroccan police force known as GUS (the sinister Urban Security Corps). This young man, aged 32 years, was arrested on Saturday, 29 October, while he was taking part in a peaceful demonstration with other Sahrawis. He was tortured to death.

It is a case of political murder and a premeditated assassination that has driven the family of the victim and the entire Saharawi people into deep mourning.

It is the proof that the Moroccan authorities of occupation are determined to go to the extent of committing a crime in their attempt to stifle the voice of defenceless civil population unwavering in its demand of right and justice.

It also shows the gravity of the current situation in the occupied Western Sahara, which is marked by massive violations of human rights: abduction, persecution, torture and detention in despicable conditions coupled with intimidation of families and denial of entry to the territory by international observers…

This recent act of the occupying authorities is taking place only 3 days after the European Parliament demanded Morocco, in its resolution of 27 October 2005, to put an end to its politics of repression and oppression in Western Sahara. That is to say the contempt demonstrated by this country towards international decisions and resolutions.

In light of these highly serious developments, we demand you:

To publicly condemn the Moroccan State for the murder of LEMBAREK HAMDI SALEK MAHJOUB,

To demand Morocco to immediately cease its policies of violence and repression targeting the Saharawi civil population that is only demonstrating peacefully to demand its right to self-determination.

This crime committed by Morocco in broad daylight is in flagrant contradiction with the values of justice, liberty, democracy and respect for human rights that are the founding values of Europe. It is in this context that, for months, Morocco has been holding in detention more than 40 Saharawi prisoners of conscience including Aminattou Haidar and Ali Salem Tamek.

The situation now necessitates that the European Union engages in a firm and urgent action towards the Moroccan Government that must not be allowed to continue to act like this with impunity. For it is true that Morocco has so far been benefiting from the generosity of the EU, without being worried too much or feeling compelled to implement the clauses relating to the respect for human rights enshrined in the association agreement concluded with this country.

Hoping that you will duly heed the call of the Saharawi defenceless population, I renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

Mohamed SIDATI
Minister Delegate for Europe
Member of the National Executive Board
POLISARIO Front

POLISARIO DISMISS THE KING OF MOROCCO AUTONOMY

Polisario rejects autonomy planBBC NewsUnited Kingdom07 October 2005The independence movement for Western Sahara has dismissed a proposal to grant the territory some autonomy.A Polisario spokesman told the BBC the future of the Morocco-controlledregion could only be resolved by a referendum.Morocco's King Mohammed VI had said he wanted to consult politicalparties about some form of decentralisation.He was speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Green March, when morethan 300,000 Moroccans marched into Western Sahara to lay claim to theregion.The king said he supported giving the province powers to run itsregional affairs "within the sovereignty of the kingdom".Morocco's sovereignty over the mineral-rich region is contested byPolisario, an Algerian-backed separatist movement.The UN has sought to resolve the dispute but Morocco has dismissed itsplan for a referendum on independence.Last week, protesters took to the streets in the main regional town ofLaayoune calling for independence.Western Sahara was seized by Morocco and Mauritania in 1975 after thecolonial power, Spain, pulled out.Fighting erupted the following year, and Morocco took over most of theregion after Mauritania withdrew in 1978.-----Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4415284.stmPublished: 2005/11/07 17:10:35 GMT© BBC MMV

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