SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Panama, 11/09/2004 (SPS) The President of the Panaman Parliament, Mr. Jerri Wilson, reaffirmed Wednesday its country's "unconditional support" to Saharawi people's legitimate struggle for the defence of its rights to self-determination and independence, indicated a communiqué of Saharawi Embassy in Panama SPS received.

Mr. Wilson had received a Saharawi delegation chaired by Mr. Mahfoudh Ali Beiba, President of Saharawi National Council (Parliament), in the seat of the Panaman Parliament (PP) with the presence of members from Panaman Parliament Committee for foreign affairs.

Saharawi delegation congratulated Panaman Parliament, people and Government for their constant position of support to the Saharawi people's struggle against Moroccan occupation.

It should be recalled that Panaman Government had reaffirmed last Monday, via its vice-president and minister for foreign affairs, Samuel Lewis Navarro, its support to "the Saharawi people's struggle for independence".

The newly elected President of Panama, Martin Torrijos, had emphasised on the determination of his Government to support Saharawi people's right to self-determination and independence. (SPS)

020/090/000/TRD 111155 Sept 04 SPS

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SPS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES/REPRESSION
Iniquitous trials in occupied territories

El Aaiun, 11/09/2004 (SPS) A young Saharawi, Mohamed Mahmoud Fakak, was tortured and interrogated for 16 days by agents of Moroccan criminal police (PJ) of El Aaiun, who forced him sign a document accusing him of using and dealing with drugs, reported a close source to the ministry of occupied territories and communities.

The victim was arrested in complete secret in the 21st August for having broken a picture of the King Mohamed VI, he found on a panel in Smara Street, emphasised the same source.
 
Mr. Fakak was to be driven six days latter before of the first hearing court of El Aaiun in absence of his lawyer and relatives. He was then sentenced to two years imprisonment that he is serving now in the famous Carcel Negra (Black Jail) of El Aaiun.

Human rights activists in Western Sahara had denounced this "new expeditious method" of repression Moroccan authorities of occupations are inaugurating in occupied territories. They considered that Human rights organisations must increase their vigilance to face this "new method of the Makhzen".
 
On another hand, the trial of Mahmoud Moustapha Haddad, which was expected for the past 9th September, was postponed to the coming 16th of the same month following a petition of his lawyers who needed time to fully study his case and prepare the defence before of the court of appeal in El Aaiun.

It should be recalled that Mr. Haddad was condemned to 8 months imprisonment and 5.000 dirhams for having arisen a Saharawi flag instead of a Moroccan from above a public building in El Aaiun. (SPS)

020/090/000 111120 SEP 04 SPS