SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

SPS
SADR/ALGERIA/CONGRATULATIONS
President Bouteflika congratulates his Saharawi counterpart on the occasion of Polisario Front’s 32nd anniversary

Algiers, 20/05/2005 (SPS) Algerian President, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, reiterated his country’s indefectible support to Saharawi people’s right to self-determination, conforming to UN’s Charter, and in faithfulness to the inalienable principles inherited of the glorious Algerian revolution.

Here is the letter of congratulations addressed by Mr. Bouteflika to Saharawi President, Mohamed Abdelaziz, on the occasion of Polisario Front’s 32 anniversary celebrated Saturday in liberated territory, (Tifariti), publicised by Algerian Press Service, APS.

"Excellency and dear brother,

On behalf of Algerian people, and on my personal name, I would like to congratulate you, and through you the whole brother Saharawi people, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the creation of Polisario Front. This Front, which assumed the defence of the resistant Saharawi people's right to determine their future, exercise their sovereignty on their territory and live in freedom, dignity and peace besides all the people of the great Maghreb Arab, in very critical circumstances.

The next meeting of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA, in French), will constitute an event which importance will be equal to the event of its creation in 1987. Algeria is determined to work for the edification of a strong Union to serve the interests of all the peoples of the region without deserting its principles, especially regarding the support to your movement of liberation, which is known in the international bodies, including the UN and the UN’s Security Council.

Engaged as we always have been, we will go to Libya fully faithful to our promises.

Being faithful to the inalienable principles inherited of the glorious Algerian revolution of November the 1st and of the heavy sacrifices it offers, Algeria supports this cause and all others conforming to the UN’s Charter aimed at helping Saharawi people as well as all people recover their freedom and independence.

As sacred as the revolution was for Algerians, our support was always firm in favour of people living under colonialism and foreign occupation until they can freely decide with sovereignty on their definitive choice.

Algeria, which is not directly implicated in this affair, will only trust its consciousness and international legality.

I reiterate you, in this important occasion in the life of your patient and resistant people, my sincere congratulations asking God Almighty to guide us and to enlighten our visions so as to realise the best to the brother Saharawi people and to all the peoples of the region we belong to

Finally, accept Excellency and dear brother my most distinguished feelings." (SPS)

060/090/700 211158 MAI 05 SPS

SPS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES/MOROCCO/RESISTANCE
A NGO calls UN to constitute an international court to investigate on Moroccan abuses of Saharawi people’s human rights

El Aaiun (Saharawi occupied capital), 21/05/2005 (SPS) The Secretary General of the Saharawi Association of the Victims of Human Rights Violations (ASVVDH), M. Brahim Sabbar, called the UN to constitute an international court to investigate on the violations perpetrated by the Moroccan State against Saharawi people.

In an interview publicised last Tuesday in Moroccan magazine, "El Baydaoui", M. Sabbar considered the "UN, in her status as the responsible authority of Western Sahara" (…) "must constitute an international court of crime against humanity in Western Sahara, as it did in Yugoslavia or Rwanda to investigate on the flagrant violations" perpetrated by the Moroccan State, which invaded the territory in 1975 violating all UN’s resolutions and decisions to complete the decolonisation of Western Sahara.

Saharawi activists underlined the Secretary General, "consider the impunity offered to Moroccan responsible persons for these crimes the main cause for the persistence of the violations". And this can justify the stress of the Saharawi civil society on the judgment of all the Moroccan implicated names in human rights violations in occupied territories of Western Sahara and south Morocco.

Asked about the point of view of his association regarding Moroccan attempts to "resolve" human rights dossiers in Western Sahara through Moroccan governmental body, to name "Equity and Reconciliation", M. Sabbar declared that "Morocco has got the right to review its constitution, democratise the Moroccan political life or even live a national reconciliation and resolve this kind of dossiers in Morocco. Regarding Western Sahara, resolving the serious human rights abuses in the territory is linked to a political problem, of which the UN assumes the responsibility."

IN this respect he recalled that "Western Sahara is on the UN’s agenda of non-self-governing territories from the 60ies". "Morocco has neither sovereignty nor even administrative rights on Western Sahara conforming to the Madrid Accords", which had prepared the ground for the Moroccan military invasion of the former Spanish colony.

That is to say that Morocco must "allow Saharawi people their right to self-determination, hold a referendum, raise the state of siege on all freedoms conforming to international Conventions, at that moment a real international committee can come to reveal the truth on the flagrant human right violations and after that put an end to this situation under the aegis of the UN," he underlined.

Saharawi Association of the Victims of Human Rights Violations was constituted last May the 7th, in the occupied capital of Western Sahara, "El Aaiun", with the participation of more than a hundred Saharawi activists.

Moroccan authorities had, tried "to abort this initiative by refusing to give the preparing committee the authorisation to hold the constitutional congress", but they failed in their attempts to intimidate the Saharawi activists, it was indicated.

Held last May the 7th, the general Assembly of the association elected a Coordinating Committee composed of 51 members, who elected on their turn an Executive Bureau composed of 15 members chaired by former political prisoner, Mr. Brahim Dahan.

The Executive Bureau is composed with former political prisoners: Mrs. Dgemi El Ghalia, vice President, Mr. Brahim Sabbar, Secretary General, Mr. Brahim El Garhi, Vice Secretary General, Mr. Med Fadel Msaiid, treasurer, and his, assistant Mr. Mohamed Mayara, besides Counsellors: Mrs. Aghla Manhum, Mrs. Dagja Lachgar, Mr. Sadik Bulahi, Mr. Mohamed Fadel ElHayrach, Mr. Salek Bazeid, Mr. Daha Rahmouni, Mr. Med Salem Mujtar Malainin, Mr. Bachir Lekhfaouni and Mr. Mousamih El Aarbi.

The meeting also adopted a constitution, a programme of action, recommendations and a final press release, indicated SPS correspondent on the ground. (SPS)

060/090/000 211817 MAI 05 SPS

SPS
POLISARIO FRONT/ANNIVERSARY
The President of the Saharawi Republic receives the letters of credits of the first South African Ambassador to SADR

Tifariti (liberated territory), 21/05/2005 (SPS) The President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, received Sunday in Tifariti the first South African Ambassador to SADR, Mr. Ratubatsi Super Moloi, who presented his letters of credits as an extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador.

This ceremony took place, for the first time, in liberated territories of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in the margin of the festivities marking the celebration of Polisario Front’s 32nd anniversary (20 May 1973).

This event is of a high symbolic gesture and of a very strong political aim, observers said.

After his meeting with the Head of the State, Mr. Moloi indicated to international Medias that his country "rejects all forms of colonisation", putting forward "the excellent relations" that link the two countries and the domains of future cooperation between the two States.

South Africa has got diplomatic relations with SADR at Ambassadors level since the recognition by Pretoria of the Saharawi Republic in September 15, 2004.

An initiative that "will bring a highly valued contribution to the return of peace and stability in the northern part of our continent through a fair and balanced approach towards all peoples of the region", had underlined a joint press release announcing this recognition in Cape Town, it should be recalled. (SPS)

010/TIF/000/TRD 211916 MAI 05 SPS

SPS
ITALY/WESTERN SAHARA/HUMAN RIGHTS
Saharawi human rights’ activists Ali Salem Tamek received for audience in Italian Parliament

Roma, 21/05/2005 (SPS) Saharawi human rights’ activists and ex-political prisoner, Ali Salem Tamek, was received for audience, last Wednesday in the Italian Parliament in Roma, by the Chambers of Deputies' Permanent Committee for Human Rights, indicated a press release publicised by the International Bureau for the respect of Human Rights in Western Sahara (BIRDHSO - section of Italy).

Accompanied with Mrs. Jacqueline Philippe, Member to the BIRDHSO, Mr. Tamek gave an account to the member of the Italian Parliament (MP) about his own experience as a human right activist. A story that represents an example of sufferings Saharawi population is living in occupied territories of Western Sahara, human right activists in particular.

"Tamek testimony was moving and provoked a clear interest within the MPs", for the serious situation of human rights in the territory. An attitude embodied through their expression of solidarity and support to their guest.

Tamek has, nonetheless, underlined that putting an end to Moroccan human rights violations in Western Sahara "is only possible through the holding of a referendum on self-determination, under the auspices of the UN, that would allow Saharawi people to determine the definitive political status" of the non-self-governing territory, underlined the press release, of which SPS received a copy.

The audience was marked by the presence of the President of the Committee, Mr. Gennaro Maglieri, and the MPs: Mr. Giovanni Bellini (DS), Mrs. Carmen Motte (DS), Mrs. Laura Cima (VERT), Mr. Carlo Leone (DS), as well as the President of the Italian group in the European Council, Mr. Claudio Azzolini (Forza Italia), among others, the same source indicated. (SPS)

060/090/000 212344 Mai 05 SPS