SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Strasbourg, 12/03/2004 (SPS) The intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people", pointed out to be alarmed in front of the precarious humanitarian situation in Western Sahara, calling for an urgent intervention in favour of Saharawi refugees, taking note of many acts of human rights violations in occupied territories, according to a press release of the intergroup.

Mrs. Margot Kessler, President of the intergroup, informed the members of her recent visit to the Western Sahara territory and to the Saharawi refugees' camps, putting forward ''the serious lacks in humanitarian aid assistance and particularly in medical and health material that the Saharawi refugee population undergoes currently''

The members of the intergroup, meeting on Friday in Strasbourg, deplored "the alarming situation of the Saharawi human rights defenders under Moroccan military control", especially that "the Moroccan military authorities, represented by the well-recognised torturer Hreizi El Arbi, director of the general intelligence service (service de renseignement général) and his deputy Rabii Abdelhak are creating a climate of intimidation, impunity and daily terror, against the rights of the Saharawi population that is taking part in the family visits exchange", HCR recently organised, underlined Margot Kessler.

On his part, the Spanish European Parliament member, Miquel Mayol i Raynal, expressed his "inalienable support to the right of self-determination for the Saharawi people", criticising Moroccan machinations in the European parliament aimed "to set confusion", and condemning "the precarious spaces of freedom of expression in the Western Sahara due to the Moroccan occupation".

On another hand, Mrs. Francisca Sauquillo, a Spanish European Parliament member, stressed on the necessity "to increase the activities of the intergroup" in view of the new UN's legislative term, concluded the communiqué. (SPS)

060/090/121350 Mar 04 SPS