Algiers, 07/08/2006 (SPS) The Italian magistrate, member of the Association of "Antigone" for the defence of the rights of the detainees, affirmed to the Algerian newspaper, "Liberté", that "There is a Moroccan repression against the national consciousness of Saharawis", giving a striking testimony on the tragedy of the Saharawi people in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara.

This is the complete text of the interview, realised by the journalist, Samar Smati, and publicised Sunday in the Algerian newspaper:

"At a moment when the Moroccan repression against demonstrations in favour of the independence of the Western Sahara continues in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara, with the arrest last Thursday of 6 militants and the current incarceration of 29 Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, Mr. Nicolas Quatrano, Italian magistrate an member of the Association of "Antigone" for the defence of the rights of the detainees, who visited El Aaiun and Smara, gives a particular clarification about the situation in the occupied territories and the tragic conditions lived by the Saharawi detainees and the Saharawi population in the region.

Liberté: The Italian Association of Antigone decided the creation of a bureau of observation on the Saharawi prisoners. Why?

Nicolas Quatrano: the Association of "Antigone" for the defence of the rights of the detainees, which is working in Italy for more than 20 years in Italy, so far, on the world of prisons and the conditions of detention, decided to start a bureau for observation, specifically on the conditions of the Saharawi prisoners. This bureau is not yet created but is in its way to be. The follow up and the presence of international observers during the trials of the Saharawi prisoners is very important. We noted that the first trials against the Saharawi militants resulted in heavy sentenced. After that, with the presence of foreign observers, the sentences became shorter. Parting from this, it is important to have the presence of international observers.

Question: You went to the Saharawi territories. In what circumstances your travelling took place?

Nicolas Quatrano: I visited El Aaiun and Smara in company of a Frensh journalist to attend trials against Saharawi militants, which were planed to take place last April the 25th, including trials of Brahim Dahane and Brahim Sabbar (successively President and Secretary General of the Saharawi Association of the Victims of the Flagrant human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State- Ed). We arrived to El Aaiun in April the 24th. We found a very particular situation there, knowing that in April the 22nd, the King of Morocco had "pardoned" 42 Saharawi prisoners. The trials were cancelled and the prisoners released. We met with some of them in El Aaiun and Smara. The families of the detainees organised parties to celebrate the release of their sons, and these celebrations turned to be demonstrations advocating the liberation of the Western Sahara. The Moroccan police intervened, arresting wounding people and houses were ransacked. We saw women wounded and houses ransacked. We discussed with many Saharawi militants who testified on the Moroccan repression, torture in the Carcel Negra of El Aaiun (Black Jail- Ed), illegal detention and human rights violations. There was 42 prisoners released in favour of the pardon, after the demonstrations, the Moroccan police arrested 102 Saharawis.

Question: You are a magistrate, nevertheless you use a very strong word, that of torture...

Nicolas Quatrano: I am speaking of torture because I received testimonies on tortures against Saharawi women and men. I also saw signals of brutality against Saharawi militants. I even saw peaceful demonstrations in videos. Many Saharawi militants declared to me that they are opting for complete pacifism, a peaceful and democratic struggle. There is no violence, no terrorism, noting of all these. There is a Moroccan repression against the expression of thoughts, against the declared will of been independent, and against the Saharawi national consciousness. This is terrible, militants are arrested, wounded only because they demonstrated their will of been independent. They are not allowed even to raise placards. It is a repression against ideas. The human consciousness can not admit or accept that ideas be forbidden.

Question: The Saharawi militants denounce the conditions of detention in the Carcel Negra in El Aaiun. What can you say in this respect?

Nicolas Quatrano: The Carcel Negra was the prison of the Spanish domination and became that of the Moroccan. I never visited this prison. All what I can say come from the testimonies I was able to collect. What I heard is terrible. The conditions of detention are disastrous. It is hot their, there is no water; there is a close proximity between women and men, adults and children. Children of less than 18 years old, minors, found themselves in the Carcel Negra. There are no rights there. All rules generally granted in case of detention are absent. On the contrary, all what is forbidden in the rules of detention actually is committed. The resolute repression is accompanied with unacceptable conditions of detention at the level of the international law. But these are only testimonies, I never visited the prison.

Question: What do you mean by the Saharawi national consciousness?

Nicolas Quatrano: Saharawis have a real national consciousness. I spoke with many Saharawis during my sojourn. I understood that they have a national consciousness. The Saharawis have a history, the feelings and the consciousness of been one single people with a particular culture, which is not similar to the Moroccan culture. Their history can be read in the small details, in the particular anecdotes that form the national consciousness. It can be translated to the idea of been a people, of having the right to have and independent State. This Moroccan repression is unfortunately not known. The Saharawi cause is not known. Normally it should be presented because it is still absent in the medias. Now, there is a certain idea about the Saharawi reality in Europe and in Italy. The turn the Saharawi militant, Aminetou Haidar, had undertaken in Europe enabled the press and the Medias in Italy to be interested to the Saharawi cause. Later, we should contribute to the public opinion knows about the reality of the situation in the Western Sahara. Italian organisations decided to take an interest and to be concerned by the situation of the Western Sahara. There are also many initiatives undertaken by local administrations, Associations and NGOs. We should also continue the work of the international observers during trials of Saharawi militants. The presence of international observers is very important. This may lead to a better respect of the law and even to shorter condemnations. The international presence is important to control and demand the respect of the law, the holding of regular trials according to the Moroccan law, so as that the trials be just and not political trials. It is important to be present.

Question: You speak of political trials. Morocco does not recognise this status to the arrested Saharawis since the beginning of the demonstrations. What do you think about that parting from the international law?

Nicolas Quatrano: The Moroccan State does not accept the idea that there is a Saharawi problem. In the Moroccan press, whenever the Western Sahara is mentioned, it is to say that it is an artificial problem created by the Algerian State. That is to say that the Moroccan State does not accept the idea of the existence of a desire of independence within the Saharawi people. There is a repression against the demonstration of thoughts, in refusing the existence of a Saharawi problem. So, to the Moroccans, the Saharawi prisoners are not political prisoners and are only prisoners charged of threat against the public order or of detention of weapons. We question the accusation of detention of weapons these weapons which are in reality only stones and Molotov in few cases. To the Moroccans, the Saharawi militants are not charged for political crimes, but for normal crimes. The Saharawi people’s right to self-determination was recognised by numerous UN’s resolutions. The international community recognised the existence of the Saharawi problem and the right to self-determination. It is thus difficult to say that there should be judicial condition to recognise the Saharawi prisoner as far as the international law is concerned. Unless, of course, the prisoner is charged for normal crimes. We can may be recognise the conditions to be considered as political prisoners, but they are certainly prisoners of consciousness and certainly not criminals. They organise demonstrations for the independence, and this is not a crime...". (SPS)

010/090/666/TRD 081221 Aug 06 SPS