SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Paris, 25/02/2004 (SPS) The Association of the Friends of SADR (AARASD- in French), called the Moroccan Government to submit to the last Baker's plan for the self-determination of Saharawi people, considering that the Saharawi Republic holds a lot of hopes for the people of the Maghreb.

In a communiqué published on Wednesday, the association considers that Baker's plan is a framework to which Morocco must submit ''for the good of his people and for the people of the Maghreb'', and that there is ''urgency'' to resolve the conflict, considering that its resolution must be ''assumed by the International Community that must, henceforth, find all the means to enforce its own legality''.

For the AARASD, the Saharawi Republic was ''the crucible of a new page of Saharawi people's history, unfortunately written in sufferings, exile and partition of the families''.

In addition, the constitution of the Republic was a determining step in ''the emergence of radical processes of development that durably marked the Saharawi society and made of it a model, in the camps as well as in occupied Western Sahara'', adds the communiqué.

The association, chaired by Mrs. Régine Villemont, seized the commemoration, this February the 27th, of the 28th anniversary of the SADR to express the ''deep commitment of the AARASD to SADR and to the Saharawi people, who are undertaking the struggle for their independence during more than 30 years, with courage and greatness'', concluded the communiqué. (SPS)

030/090/666/TRD 251952 Feb 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/SWEDEN/SOLIDARITY
Swedish Left Party reiterates its solidarity with Saharawi cause

Stockholm, 25/02/2004 (SPS) The Swedish Party of the left (Vänster partiet) asserted its solidarity with the Saharawi cause through a declaration of its leader, Lars Ohly, reiterating his party's support to Saharawi people in their struggle '' for the self-determination and against the Moroccan occupation'', during his closing speech of the 35th Congress of the party, held from the 19th to the 22nd February in Stockholm.

A delegation of the Polisario Front took part to this congress, composed of Mr. Mohamed Sidati, Minister delegated to Europe and member of the National Secretariat, and MR. Lamine Baali, representative to the Scandinavian Countries.

Giving a speech in front of the delegates, Mr. Sidati condemned ''the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, generating an increase of oppression and repression of the Saharawi population''.

''The hysterical persecution to which Ali Salem Tamek and his companions are objects, illustrates this established fact'', he added.

The Saharawi diplomat called the international Community, especially Un and the European union to ''urgently, intervene, in order to recover Saharawi people's legitimate right to self-determination, or risk to lose their credibility, seriously questioned, because of the colonial policy adapted by Morocco in Western Sahara with the complicity of France''.

During a debate on globalization and its reflections on the right to self-determination, MR. Sidati recalled that the case of Western Sahara is a model.

''This is an example in front of which UN has not been able to accomplish the decolonisation process, to this day. What allows Morocco to continue occupying Western Sahara, in impunity, oppressing its people and organising the pillage of its resources, to finally wind up the right to self-determination'', he stressed.

The minister met, in margin of the congress, with the representatives of delegations from Africa, South America, Asia and Europe, it was indicated. (SPS)

030/090/430/TRD 251514 Feb 04 SPS

SPS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES /MOROCCO/HUMAN RIGHTS
Saharawi NGOs call international authorities to help in the respect of human rights in occupied territories

Chahid El Hafed, 25/02/2004 (SPS) The Association of the Families of the Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeared (AFAPREDESA) and the Union of Saharawi Lawyers (UJS) called the International Community, especially the United Nations and the European union, to vigorously act to put an end to the ''serious violations'' perpetrated against the Saharawi population in occupied territories of Western Sahara.

In a joint communiqué published on Wednesday, the two NGOs consider that Morocco must allow international organisations, the ICRC among others, to undertake their humanitarian actions in accordance with the Geneva Conventions relevant to the protection of civilians in international conflicts.

''It is unacceptable that the occupied territories of Western Sahara be the only region in the world where the presence of the ICRC is not allowed'', they wrote.

The communiqué calls also to draw light on the fate of '' 526 Saharawi disappeared, the unconditional release of the living ones and the restitution of the bodies of those who had deceased, to their families to bury them according to the religious rites''.

'' We Call the UN to firmly act near Morocco towards the final closure of the file of the still reported disappeared Saharawis, and to dispatch the special reporter on the forced and involuntary disappearances to Morocco, so as to investigate on forced disappearance in occupied territories of Western Sahara, besides allowing free movement to international human rights organisations, medias and international observers'', added the communiqué.

Moreover, the two NGOs hailed '' the praiseworthy initiative of Qatar'', having resulted in the release of 100 Moroccan prisoners of war, calling it to keep with its good offices near Morocco for '' the complete release of all Saharawi prisoners of war and political prisoners, held in Moroccan prisons, as well as the resolution of the fate of hundreds of Saharawi disappeared, kidnapped by Moroccan occupation's forces».

In addition, they congratulated Polisario Front for the release of these POWs, repatriated last Tuesday by the ICRC, hailing ''this important humanitarian initiative'' and calling for a quick solution to Western Sahara's conflict, through ''the organisation of a fair and regular referendum, allowing Saharawi people to freely express themselves on their future, in accordance with the relevant international Law''.  (SPS)

030/090/110/TRD 251217 Feb 04 SPS