SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

Smara (refugees’ camps), 18/09/2004 (SPS) Venezuelan Minister for Energy and Mines, Rafael Ramirez, reaffirms Saturday in the Wilaya of Smara, that his country will continue "support Saharawi people's independence in all the battles it will deliver until it get its independence".

"Saharawi people's will to get back its independence no matter what it costs is constructive", declared the minister during a popular meeting organised on his honour in Smara.

"Though Venezuela is geographically far from you, it is so close to your hearts, since we are unified for the same cause against colonialism", he said.

The Minister, who is undertaking a two days work visit to SADR, inaugurated a school which will thereafter take the name of the legendary Latino American Leader, Simon Bolivar. He also received a Camel from the Wali of Smara, Bouchraya Beyoun, as a symbol of "Saharawi people's gratitude to the Venezuelan President, Government and people", underlined Mr. Beyoun.

The Wali has put forward Venezuelan indefectible "support" to the Saharawi cause, estimating that it is "a great encouragement for us".

It should be recalled that the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frias, has announced in the beginning of September, during a meeting with President Abdelaziz in Caracas, that his country "will rise its voice to back the Saharawi claims", calling Moroccan Government to comply with international legality.

"Morocco, he added, must accomplish its compromise with the United Nations to search a solution that pass through the organisation of a referendum so as the people of Western Sahara can decide over their future". (SPS)

010/090/000/TRD 181209 SEPT 04 SPS

SPS
OCUPPIED TERRITORIES/REPRESSION
Moroccan authorities heavily sentences Saharawi political prisoners

El Aaiun, 18/09/2004 (SPS) El Aaiun's Appeal Court condemned Thursday two Saharawi political prisoners, Mahmoud Moustafa Haddad and Mohamed Mahmoud Fakak, respectively to 2 years imprisonment and 5000 Dirhams fine to the first and 4 years imprisonment to the second.

In a joint communiqué publicised last Thursday, the Association of Saharawi prisoners and disappeared's Families (AFAPREDESA) and Saharawi Jurists Union (UJS) had denounced the violation of individuals right to fair judgement, condemning the torture and ill-treatment to which these two Saharawi citizens were subjected.

Expressing their solidarity with the Saharawi political prisoners and their families, the two associations considered the detainees, Mahmud Mustafa Haddad and Mohamed Mahmud Fakak, as political prisoners.

The associations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the two detainees, added the same source.

AFAPREDESA and UJS called human rights' NGOs to intervene near Moroccan authorities to put an end to the serious violations perpetrated in occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Arrested by agents of Moroccan criminal police (PJ) last August the 21st in El Aaiun, Mohamed Mahmoud Fakak, was tortured and interrogated for 16 days by the same authority, who forced him sign a document accusing him of using and dealing with drugs, while actually he had broken a picture of the King Mohamed VI that he found on a panel in Smara (occupied Saharawi city).

On his part Mr. Haddad, a 22 years old native of El Aaiun, was arrested last August the 19th and condemned to 8 months imprisonment and 5.000 Dirhams fine for having arisen a Saharawi flag instead of a Moroccan from above a public building in El Aaiun. (SPS)

020/090/000 181222 SEPT 04 SPS

SPS
SRAD/SPAIN/PARLIAMENT
Saharawi Parliament satisfied with Spanish Senate's adoption of a motion supporting the Baker Plan

Chahid El Hafed, 18/09/2004 (SPS) The President of the National Council (Parliament), Mahfoudh Ali Beiba, declared his satisfaction with the recent adoption by the two chambers of the Spanish Parliament of a motion supported Saharawi people's right to self-determination and called Spanish Government to "clarify" its position regarding the conflict over Western Sahara.

In a statement publicised last Thursday, Ali Beiba indicated that through this decision "the legitimate representatives of Spanish society has provided an invaluable support for the search of a fair and lasting solution in Western Sahara", conforming not only with "the democratic values inherent of a confirmed parliamentary regime, but also in accordance with the principles of United Nations' Charter".

This motion, which was voted with "an overwhelming majority" by the Spanish Senate and Congress of deputies (second Chamber), "supports Saharawi people's right to self-determination and independence", a right "violated since Madrid's Tripartite Accords", he added..

Mr. Ali Beiba hoped that the "Spanish Government official position, will always reflects", not only "UN's doctrine in the achievement of the decolonisation in Western Sahara, but also the spirit and the content of the motions adopted by the two chambers of the Spanish Parliament", he concluded.

Proposed by all Parliamentary groups , this motion, which calls Spanish Government to remain "actively engaged" for an "urgent, fair and final" settlement to the Western Sahara conflict, within the framework of the United Nations, was voted by an overwhelming majority in the Congress the in the Senate.

The text put forward the responsibility of the Spanish State in the "decolonisation process" of Western Sahara, warning about the negative consequences that can result from any lack of commitment, in the resolution of the conflict, from Spain.

Further, the motion underlined that any action by the Government should necessarily comes "within the framework of international legality and the Saharawi people right to self-determination. (SPS)

020/090/000/TRD 181446 SEPT 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/VENEZUELA/VISITE
The President of the Republic receives the Venezuelan Envoy

Chahid El Hafed, 18/09/2004 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, received Saturday in Chahid Tamek the Venezuelan Minister for Energy and Mines, Mr. Rafael Ramirez, conveyed by the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The two men discussed "questions of common interest and ways of strengthening the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries", indicated a Saharawi official source.

The President of the Republic offered then a luncheon on the honour of his guest, to which many members of the National Secretariat, Parliament and Government took part besides high officers of the Saharawi liberation Army.

Before that, Mr. Ramirez was received in a military school; by the Minister for Defence, Mohamed Lemine Bouhali, and his staff, where the guest was saluted by a military detachment. Then the envoy visited the military museum.

The Venezuelan Minister, who is visiting SADR since Friday, will give a press conference before leaving the country, it was indicated. (SPS)

010/090/000/TRD 181625 SEPT 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/VENEZUELA/VISIT
The President of the Republic hails the victory of the Venezuelan people under Mr. Chavez leadership

Chahid El Hafed, 18/09/2004 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, saluted Venezuelan people's victory under the leadership of its President "largely and democratically confirmed" by his people recently, with "the certification of all international observers, who were present on the ground".

" Braving all obstacles, the popular leader, Hugo Chavez, continues in accepting the challenge of building prosperous Latino American nation", indicated the Head of the State during a luncheon he offered on the honour of the Venezuelan Minister for Energy and Mines, Rafael Ramirez, who is undertaking a two days visit to SADR

"On behalf of the Saharawi people and their Government, we would like express him (Chavez) our indefectible support in the incomparable battle he is leading for the prosperity and well being of his people", he added.

The President of the Republic also expressed his sincere thanks for the Venezuelan clear position of support to Saharawi people's struggle for their freedom and independence, estimating that this support "is of great usefulness for our cause".

Saluting the Envoy of President Chavez, and his delegation, the Head of the State estimated that Mr. Ramirez's visit "will be a new step in the path of the strengthening of the brotherly relations between SADR and Venezuela and between the two peoples", considering that it will set "a bridge that will also strengthen the brotherly ties between the Maghreb Arab and South America". (SPS)

010/090/000/TRD 181937 SEPT 04 SPS