SPS OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES/SOUTH MOROCCO/REPRESSION The Makhzen in hysteria against
Saharawi strikers in Assa
11.01.05
Assa
(south Morocco), 11/01/05 (SPS) Moroccan authorities in Assa
proceeded to the search of families' houses of many Saharawi graduates
forced to unemployment, who are undertaking a hunger strike since the
5th January. The authorities intimidated and attacked many fathers and
mothers of the strikers, reported SPS's correspondent on the ground.
"Moroccan authorities proceeded Saturday, following the orders of the
Governor of Assa, to the illegal search of the houses of the families
of many strikers, especially of Mr. Hammou Hmadnah. The agents of the
auxiliary forces thus savagely attacked Mrs. Hammou M'Barka, 40 years
old, the mother of the mentioned striker because she refused to let
them in unless they show her a search warrant", indicated the same
source.
The Governor had before tried "to intimidate the fathers of the
strikers, asking them to pressure their sons so as to force them break
out the hunger strike. The request was rejected by the parents who
expressed their support and solidarity with their sons". This position,
which the Governor could not stand, "pushed him to a have a fit of
rage, insulting us and warning us of the anger of the Makhzen", had
indicated one of the parents to the correspondent of SPS.
On another hand, and in a "serious development" of events, "the mothers
of the strikers decided on Monday to join the tents that the strikers
used during the first period of their sit-in", while the latters moved
their strike inside the departments and bureaux of the Pashlek of Assa
(the seat of the Pasha), added the same source.
The Saharawi graduates forced to unemployment had organised a sit-in in
front of the seat of the Pasha of Assa (Moroccan official in charge of
provincial services of the Makhzen) last November the 19th, followed by
a hunger strike by groups started in October the 10th 2004 and had
decided to launch an unlimited hunger strike since the 5th January
2005, it should be recalled
"The states of the strikers in Assa seriously worsen", had alerted our
correspondent last Sunday. (SPS)
SPS OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES/MURDER A murder committed by a Moroccan
policeman against a Saharawi a secondary school pupil in Boujdour
Boujdour (occupied territories),
11/01/2005 (SPS) A secondary school pupil, Khatri Laaroussi, was
assassinated in January the 3rd by a Moroccan policeman in Boujdour, a
Saharawi occupied city situated in the centre of the country, has
indicated a communiqué issued by the Association of the Saharawi
families of prisoners and disappeared (AFAPREDESA), of which SPS
received a copy.
"The family of the late brought an action against the criminal but no
judicial procedures was undertaken so far", deplored AFAPREDESA, adding
that the colonial authorities instead proceeded to the release of the
"criminal" pretending he was drunk during the crime.
On another hand, the organisation condemned the direction of the Carcel
Negra (black Jail) of El Aaiun, which "gave no reason to explain why it
maintained the Saharawi citizen and political prisoner, Haddi Cherif,
who was denied the right to freedom though he finished his two years
sentence".
In this respect, AFAPREDESA indicated that the prisoners of opinion in
the Carcel Negra had decided to constitute "a committee for the
protection of the Saharawi detained", denouncing "the serious human
rights abuses in occupied territories of Western Sahara". It further
exhorted Moroccan authorities of occupation to conform to
"international accords relating to political and civil, and to
economic, social and cultural rights", as well as to "the Geneva
Conventions relating to the protection of the civil population during
times of war", indicate the text.
The association had finally launched an urgent appeal to international
human rights organisations and associations to ask the Moroccan Kingdom
respect human rights in occupied territories of Western Sahara under
its control, and to "start investigation in the case of the
assassination of the young Jatri Laarusi, bringing the responsible
before an independent and partial court".
Far from this, the city of Goulmine (south Morocco) was the theatre to
violent confrontations last Thursday between Moroccan colonial forces
and Saharawi graduates forced to unemployment, who are undertaking a
sit-in in front of the seat of the Wilaya of Goulimine "to protest
against their marginalisation by Moroccan authorities and to demand
their right to work", it should be recalled. (SPS)
SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE