SPS SADR/MOROCCO/LEMRABET The President of the Republic
condemns "the repressive practices" against Ali Lemrabet
21.03.05
Bir Lehlu (liberated territories), 21/04/2005 (SPS) The
President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, condemned "the repressive
practices" against Moroccan journalist Ali Lemrabet, who was banned
from exercising his job in Morocco for the 10 coming years, following a
verdict of Rabat first hearing Court issued in the 12 of April.
"We hail in you the courage, the abnegation in defending your
[positions and your attachment to the truth," underlined the Head of
the Saharawi State in a message he addressed to Mr. Lemrabet. He also
expressed his solidarity with the journalist's struggle for freedom in
front of this "terrible campaign against your person, in which the
Moroccan Government used all means (...) and started a chauvinist
campaign at a full scale through empty slogans spread by the Moroccan
political parties, associations and Medias".
Mr. Lemrabet affirmed, in an interview to the Moroccan magazine "EL
Moustaquil" published last January, that "Saharawi refugees have no
desire to enter Morocco", opposing the Moroccan official propaganda
that describes them as the "prisoners" of Polisario Front.
"This behaviour that contradicts the slogans of democracy and of the
respect of human rights risen by Rabat has no other goal but to quiet
the voice of truth (...) and repress the freedom of expression",
stressed the message. It affirmed that the world nowadays "does not
tolerate such medieval practices".
The President of the Republic further affirmed that no person has got
the right to file a complaint on behalf of Saharawi refugees. They "are
far from been prisoners, and did charge nobody to represent them before
the courts of the country that occupies their territory illegally,
repressing, kidnapping and bombarding with napalm and phosphor their
compatriots, in addition to the military building full of mines that
divide their country and keep them from exercising their right to
freely decide over their future".
He wondered if the Moroccan Government backed by the sounding decision
that condemned Ali Lemrabet for having affirmed that Saharawi refugees
are not prisoners, would not go further to try to "drive before justice
all Saharawi refugees who affirm loudly that they are in exile
following their full will".
According to the result obtained out of the trial to Mr. Lemrabet,
"Morocco may imagine to attempt a legal procedure against the UN's
Secretary General, the UN General Assembly, Security Council, UNHCR, or
tens of international organisations, European Parliament Members and
hundreds of journalists, writers, film makers and international
political figures from all continents who does not adopt the Moroccan
thesis", wondered Mr. President.
The Head of the State finally hoped to see the aspiration of Mr.
Lemrabet in "really positive changes in your country, Morocco, realised
so as to overcome this stage of police repression and terror". A stage
that would participate in informing the Moroccan public opinion on the
colonial nature of the Moroccan presence in Western Sahara and
contribute to find a fair solution to the conflict "on the basis of the
international legality and most particularly
t on the respect of Saharawi people right to self-determination". (SPS)
SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE