February 2014
Polisario Front representative in Paris speaks at French National Assembly
Paris (France), February 21, 2014 (SPS) - Representative of Polisario Front in Paris Omar Mansour spoke Wednesday for the first time at the French National Assembly (Lower House of Parliament) to “exchange updated information” on the western Saharan conflict, said a Sahrawi official.
The meeting, behind closed doors, was held at the initiative of studies group “Sahara occidental,” created last year in the French National Assembly.
Western Sahara: "Sons of the Clouds" documentary screened in France
Paris (France), February 21, 2014 (SPS) - Awarded at the film festivals of Berlin (Germany), Toronto (Canada), San Sebastian (Spain) in 2012, and received the Goya Prize of the best documentary in 2013, the Spanish film "Sons of the Clouds," directed by Alvaro Longoria and produced by Javier Bardem, was shown for the first time in France, to domestic and foreign journalists, on Tuesday.
Finland for Saharawi people’s right to self-determination, says FM
Algiers, Feb 18, 2014 (SPS) - The Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Erkki Tuomioja expressed Tuesday in Algiers his country’s support to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
Preparatory conferences for Saharawi Parliament’s elections kicked off
Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), Feb 17, 2014 (SPS) - The preparatory political conferences for the elections of members of the Saharawi National Council (SNC) kicked off today, Tuesday, in all wilaya and institutions of the Saharawi Republic (SADR).
162 candidates are vying for 52 seats within Saharawi Parliament in 16 electoral districts, including the Sahrawi People’s Liberation Army, mass organizations, as well as national and regional institutions.
Coordinator of international campaign against Moroccan wall on working visit to Austria
Vienna, Feb 18, 2014 (SPS) - Coordinator of the International Campaign against Moroccan Wall in Western Sahara and Advisor to Saharawi Foreign Ministry Dr. Sidi Mohamed Omar has begun yesterday, Monday, a working visit to Austria, part of an awarness tour for the campaign within Austria.
Dr. Sidi Mohamed Omar, in this regard, met with Ms. Erika Pluhar, vice-president of Austrian Association of solidarity with the Saharawi people.
Not-so-free expression online in Western Sahara, says HRW
El Aaiun (occupied territories), Feb 18, 2014 (SPS) - Human Rights Watch has confirmed that the Moroccan regime exerts tight pressure on the Saharawi human rights activists to deter them from reporting online about human rights abuses in Western Sahara.
Assessment of mass organizations diplomatic, media work
Shaheed El Hafed, February 17, 2014 (SPS) - The Secretariat of Political Branches of the Polisario Front held Sunday a meeting to evaluate the diplomatic and media work of the mass organizations (Youth, Women and Workers) over the past year 2013.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Bashir Mustapha Sayed, in charge of the Political Branches of the Polisario Front, in the presence of the secretaries-general and foreign affairs, information and cooperation officers of the mass organizations.
Polisario Front Representative in Paris accuses France of " blocking" settlement of Western Sahara issue
Paris, February 17, 2014 (SPS) - The support for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence is at the heart of the 9th edition of the anticolonial week, where the Polisario Front Representative in Paris, Omar Mansour, inaugurated Saturday this event, accused France of " blocking" the settlement of the question of Western Sahara.
Polisario Front draws UN attention to casualties high toll in occupied Western Sahara
Moroccan forces intervene "brutally" leaving dozens injured in El Aaiun occupied city (initial toll)
El Aaiun (Occupied Territories), February 16, 2014 (SPS) - The Moroccan forces intervened brutally Saturday in the occupied city of El Aaiun leaving 70 Sahrawis injured, according to a preliminary list received by Sahara Press Service (SPS).
The intervention came after Sahrawis took to the streets chanting slogans calling for freedom, self-determination and extention of MINURSO prerogatives to include human rights monitoring in Western Sahara.
The demonstrators were also severely beaten and some homes were raided.
Spanish judge to extend prosecution against senior Moroccan military officials
Madrid (Spain), February 16, 2014 (SPS) - Judge Pablo Rafael Ruz Guitierrez of the Spanish supreme court intends to extend prosecution against senior Moroccan military officials involved in the death of Saharawi citizens in 1976.
The action was brought by Domingo Jose Collado Molinero representing a Spanish human rights group.
The judge has included in the case the findings of an investigation about the responsibility of Moroccans in the execution of eight Saharawi people, discovered last year in common graves in Western Sahara.
Human rights protection in Western Sahara: UN urged to assume its responsibilities
Bir Lehlou (Liberated Territories), February 16, 2014 (SPS) - Sahrawi President Mohamed Abdelaziz said Wednesday that scenes of violence against defenceless Sahrawi citizens "show the stubbornness of Moroccan occupation authorities in continuing their human rights violation in Western Sahara," calling on the United Nations to intervene for the release of all prisoners and the preservation of the natural resources of this territory.
Demonstrations in Spain to demand inclusion of human rights monitoring within MINURSO mandate
Madrid, February 16, 2014 (SPS) – The Spanish organizations of Solidarity with the Saharawi people organised Saturday demonstrations in the framework of the international campaign for the inclusion of human rights monitoring in the prerogatives of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), according to media source in Spain.
Foreign Minister of Uruguay stresses need to assign MINURSO to monitor human rights
Montevideo (Uruguay) February 15, 2014 (SPS) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Mr. Luis Almagro , emphasized the need to assign the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to monitor human rights, during a meeting Thursday in Montevideo with the Saharawi Ambassador, Mr. Abbas Sheibani .
During the meeting held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, Mr. Almagro expressed concern about the fact that the mission is the only one in the world that does not carry out the tasks of monitoring and reporting on human rights.
President of Republic invited to attend 10th anniversary of Pan-African Parliament establishement
British parliamentary delegation holds meeting with human rights organization in Western Sahara
El Aaiun (Occupied Territories), February 15, 2014 (SPS) - A delegation from the British Parliament representing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Western Sahara (APPG) visiting the occupied territories of Western Sahara held Friday in the occupied city of El Aaiun a meeting with the Committee for the Defense of the Right to Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara.
British Parliament to host conference on Western Sahara
London, Feb 14, 2014 (SPS) - House of the British Parliament in Westminister will host a conference on Western Sahara and human rights next February 25th, informed the Polisario Front’s Representation in the the UK.
Speakers during this conference include the the MP Mark Williams, from the Liberal-Democrat, and John Hillary, who arrived yesterday in Western Sahara, will present a report about their visit to the occupied Saharawi territories.
Saharawi cause present at anti-colonialism week in Paris
Paris, Feb 14, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi cause, along with that of Palestine, will be discussed at the international anti-colonialism and anti-racism week, to be held from 14th to 22nd February 2014 in Paris.
According to the organizers, the event brings together many participants representing international liberation movements, organizations and bodies.
British parliamentary delegation visits occupied Western Sahara
El Aaiun (occupied territories), Feb 14, 2014 (SPS) - A delegation from the British Parliament, representing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Western Sahara (APPG), has begun as from yesterday, Thursday, a visit to occupied territories of Western Sahara, with the purpose to witness in situ the gross violations committed by Moroccan colonial authorities against Saharawi people, said a statement issued today by Polisario Front’s office in the UK.