SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Barcelona, 29/02/2004 (SPS) The Catalan Association of Democratic Jurists (ACJD), Progressive Union of Attorneys (UPF in Spanish), and the Association of Judges for Democracy (JPD in Spanish) denounced the Makhzen's (Moroccan authorities) repression against Saharawi citizens in occupied territories, calling UN to intervene to protect the Saharawi civil population in Western Sahara.

''We express our deep preoccupation in front of the permanent intimidation to which Saharawi Collective of human rights' defenders are subjected by Moroccan authorities in occupied territories of Western Sahara», they indicated in a press release, SPS received.

The associations also denounced ''Moroccan press campaigns of intimidation, defamation and aggression against Saharawi human rights activist, Ali Salem Tamek after his release last July the 7th, and against all Saharawi population''.

Moreover, they expressed their solidarity with Mr.Tamek, ''against possible reprisal from Moroccan authorities'', and their solidarity and support to Moroccan democrats who are ''showing solidarity and who are campaigning for freedom of expression to Mr.Tamek''.

The associations finally rejected ''all kinds of violence Moroccan security forces and armed forces are practicing against Saharawi population in Western Sahara'', calling Un's Secretary General to ''use all legal mechanisms for the protection of Saharawi populations in general and Ali Salem Tamek who has just been released in particular''. (SPS)

010/090/666/TRD 291757 Feb 04 SPS