SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

El Aaiun (occupied territories), 02/08/2006 (SPS) The Saharawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders in the Western Sahara (CDSDHSO in French abbreviation), and the Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES in its Spanish abbreviation) denounced the denial of access to the Western Sahara the Moroccan security services imposed on the Saharawi human rights activist last Thursday at the borders of the territory, which is occupied by Morocco since 1975, the two NGOs wrote in press releases.

The two NGOs called on Morocco to "review this decision and to open a just and transparent inquiry on the facts", expressing their solidarity with the human rights activist and ex-political prisoner, Ali Salem Tamek.

It is a "new method of siege" by which the Moroccan authorities deprive this Saharawi human rights defender from his right to free movement conforming to the international Charters and conventions", UPES stressed.

The two Saharawi NGOs launched an appeal to the international organisations and bodies, to all active human rights defenders and all persons concerned about justice and peace to "exercise pressures on the Moroccan Government so as to grant the Saharawi human rights activist the right to free circulation".

They finally asked the UN to establish "mechanisms that will guarantee the respect of the human rights in the Western Sahara" and to oeuvre for the "unconditional release of all the Saharawi political detainees in Moroccan custody".

The Saharawi human rights activist, Ali Salem Tamek, was not allowed by the Moroccan forces of occupation to get into the Western Sahara and driven back at the borders "following orders from their superiors", Mr. Tamek indicated in an interview with the Saharawi Service of Communication in the Canaries Islands (SCSC), it should be recalled. (SPS)

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SPS

SADR/PANAMA/SOLIDARITY

Panama reiterates its support to the Saharawi cause (minister)

Panama, 02/08/2006 (SPS) Panama’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Lewis Navarro, reiterated, Monday, "the unconditional support" of his Government "to the cause of the Saharawi people", during a diner organised at the Centre Altapa in the Panama Capital, in memory of the General Omar Torrijo, indicated a press release publicised by the Saharawi Embassy in Panama.

Chaired by the President of Panama, Martín Torrijos Espino, the ceremony was attended by an important Saharawi delegation headed by the Saharawi Minister of Education, Bachir Moustapha Sayed, accompanied by the accredited diplomatic corps, political personalities and special guests such as the ex-President of Colombia, Alfonso López Michelsen, and the ex-President of the Spanish Government, Felipe González, the press release added.

The Saharawi Minister, who was accompanied by Mr. Souleimane Tayeb, Saharawi Ambassador to Panama, had had meetings before with many senior officials in Panama, including the President of the Parliament of Panama in addition to some Presidents of Committees in the legislative body as a first step towards the constitution of a parliamentarian group composed of members from the two countries, the press release stressed. (SPS)

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SPS

SADR/SPAIN/HUMAN RIGHTS/PRICE

Human rights defence in the Western Sahara, Inés Mirador awarded by the IBA

Madrid, 02/08/2006 (SPS) The Spanish lawyer, Ines Mirador Navarrais, was awarded with the Human Rights Price of the Institute of the International Lawyers Association (IBA) for its "wonderful work" in the defence of the Saharawis, who are victims to torture and police persecutions in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara, declared the Spanish General Council of the Lawyers of Spain (CGAE) in a press release.

The Spanish lawyer, Ines Mirador Navarrais, who is also the coordinator of the Jurists Mission of observation created in 2002 by the CGAE, presented many reports denouncing "the serious injustices" committed by the Moroccan justice against the Saharawi human rights activists and political prisoners, stressed the CGAE, which supported the candidature of the Spanish lawyer to the Price.

The Human Rights Price of the Institute of the International Lawyers Association (IBA), is dedicated to award the work of lawyers who got distinguished by their defence of the human rights around the world, and will be received by Mrs. Miranda this September within the framework of the Congress that will be hold at the Institute in Chicago. (SPS)

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