SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

Bir Lehlu (liberated territories), 25/10/2005 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, seized the UN’s Security Council on the subject of illegal migrants Morocco recently abandoned to thirst and hunger in the desert of the Western Sahara and to the danger of stepping on millions mines that defend the Moroccan military wall, which divides the Saharawi territory in two from the north to the south. The migrants were forced to cross this wall under the threat of Moroccan soldiers and weapons.

In a letter he addressed to the President of the Security Council, the Roman, Mihnea Ioan Motoc, the Head of the State deplored that "no rigorous measures have been taken to put an end to these inhuman practices carried out by the Moroccan Government", though the Saharawi Government had drew the attention of the world to the inhumane plans and similar crimes of Morocco since Rabat abandoned a first group of Asian immigrants in August 2004

Mr. Abdelaziz asked the UN to "contribute to taking charge of those immigrants and to ensure their immediate repatriation to their countries under conditions that ensure their safety and the respect for their rights and dignity".

On another hand, instead of recognising its guilt and "acting in line with international conventions on the protection of refugees and immigrants", Morocco, in an attempt to hide its horrendous actions, "started laying blame on the Frente POLISARIO, and threading to wage war and implicate other parties in the conflict, while putting pressure on the United Nations not to cooperate with the Frente POLISARIO in such a noble and humanitarian" efforts to rescue the immigrants, Abdelaziz stressed.

"Whilst we stress that illegal immigration is a phenomenon of which solution entails a collective responsibility, we also underline the need for those solutions to respect the principles of human rights and human life and dignity", he added.

Further, Mr. Abdelaziz called "for the commencement of an international enquiry regarding this dreadful crime and for bringing its authors to justice", recalling the situation of 117 immigrants Polisario Front rescued from the desert after they were abandoned by Moroccan authorities to their fate.

He also informed the Security Council on that the Saharawi authorities "mobilized all our military units stationed along the wall to rescue those immigrants and save them from unavoidable death". He underlined that the rescued are now "lodged at shelters administered by the Saharawi Red Crescent throughout the Saharawi liberated territories, especially in Bir Lehlou, Tifariti, Amheiriz, and they are receiving the necessary services, in the presence of MINURSO and a dozen of international humanitarian organisations and media". (SPS)

SPS
SADR/SPAIN/BASQUE

COUNTRY/VISIT "We defend the Saharawi cause before all international bodies", affirms the Basque President

Vitoria (Basque Country), 25/10/2005 (SPS) The President of the autonomous region of Basque, Juan José Ibarretxe, affirmed that his Government and himself will continue defending the Saharawi cause before the Spanish Central Government and within the European bodies, so as the Saharawi people "does not become the forgotten people of the 21st century" and its "right as a people to chose its future" be present in all international forums.

The "Lehendakari" (President in Basque language), gave this statement during the reception he offered on Monday in his presidential Palace "Ajuria Enea" in Vitoria, on the honour of the President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, who is undertaking q three days official visit to Euskadi on invitation of the Basque Government.

"The defence of the identity of a people such as the Saharawi, who like the Basque people, is a secular nation, is an act that deserves our respect and help so as to enable him to freely decide over its future", the Lehendakari said in his intervention, calling the international community not to "forget in its agenda the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and the situation of its people".

Mr. Ibarretxe took "a solemn engagement" as President of the Basque’s Government to "work side by side with you, support you and cooperate with you for he amelioration of the conditions of your women and men in the refugee camps", estimating that it is inconceivable that the international organisation stop their humanitarian aid to the Saharawis in exile.

Chairing an important Saharawi delegation, the President of the Republic arrived to the Basque country coming from the Balearic Islands where he had had meetings with the officials of the Balearic Government and different authorities and representatives of the civil society, it should be recalled. (SPS)

010/090/666 251240/TRD oct 05 SPS

SPS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES/REPRESSION/CHILDHOOD

Fierce Moroccan repression in the secondary schools of El Aaiun

El Aaiun (occupied capital of SADR), 25/10/2005 (SPS) Moroccan authorities proceeded, in the occupied El Aaiun since last Friday, to a wide campaign of repression, torture and abduction against secondary schools’ students, who organised a set of demonstrations this week calling for the decolonisation of heir country and expressing their solidarity with the Saharawi prisoners, indicated concordant sources.

The students of "Lemssala" lycée, refused to sing the Moroccan national hymn or to lift the Moroccan flag despite the pressures and intimidation of the administration.

"They chanted the Saharawi national hymn instead and lifted Saharawi flag, expressing their rejection of the Moroccan colonial symbols and chanting slogans calling for the decolonisation of the Saharawi territory and for the independence of their country", it was added.

The young students were soon attacked by "10 cars of the Group of Urban Security (GUS), 2 others of the Forces of Intervention and a truck of the Auxiliary Forces, . Dozens children were injured and others arrested, mainly Amaidan Said, Dah Hassan, Bah Yeslem , Afrit Walid, Zahra Rais, Karroum Mohamed, Kreita Brahim, Wakzan Mouloud, Ranna Abdesslam, Balla Khlil, Iaaza Mohamed, Tanji Daha, Khadija Doueh, Loudiki ElGhalia, and Khatari Aycha", it was indicated.

"On Monday morning, Saharawi students in another Lycée, like all other schools an colleges of the city, organised a demonstration in solidarity with the students who were abducted last Friday by the Moroccan police. On their turn, they were victim to a brutal intervention that causes dozens injured and another dozen arrested, such as Yaya Abidin, Brahim Noumria (nefew of Saharawi H.R activist with the same name), Filali Hamza, Breika Aala ahl Hamad", the same sources affirmed.

Other students were injured, mainly Touballi Aychatu, ElMoussawi Warda, Soufi Naaima, Boulrah Khadija, Zeghman Nidou, Litim Imama, Ayach Yahdiha, Daoudi Minatu and Chakout Boubakhe.

The Saharawi students of the Lycée "El Aaiun 3", more famous as "Lehchaicha" Lycée, organised another demonstrating of solidarity with their comrades of the "Lemssalla", chanting slogans calling for the independence of Western Sahara and lifted the Saharawi national flag in the place of the Moroccan on their establishment, eye witness indicated.

Saharawi cities under Moroccan occupation, re the theatre, since last May, of hundreds demonstrations, sit-ins and confrontations between Moroccan colonial authorities and peaceful Saharawi demonstrators calling for the liberation of their country from the Moroccan colonial yoke an the stopping of the violation of Saharawi people’s most fundamental rights by the Moroccan Government. (SPS)

060/090/000 251110 Oct 05 SPS