April 2014

Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 3, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi Mine Actions Coordination Office (SMACO) organized today morning, Thursday, a seminar about the risks and dangers of landmines, on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness, observed on April 4th each year.


The seminar was organized in collaboration with the Saharawi Campaign to Ban Landmines (SCBL), Saharawi Association of Landmine Victims (ASAVIM) and Action on Armed Violence (AOAV).

Algiers, April 3, 2014 (SPS) - Algeria’s Foreign Minister Mr. Ramtane Lamamra has voiced his country’s full support to the efforts underatken by the Personal Envoy of the UN’s Secretary General for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross aimed at resolving Western Sahara conflict.


In his speech during the 2nd session of the Algerian-US strategic dialogue, Mr. Lamamra recalled to Algeria’s attitudes towards several regional and international issues, including that of Western Sahara, Palestine, Syria and the Arab Maghreb Union.

Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 3, 2014 (SPS) - The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Western Sahara Mr. Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber received Thursday, as part of a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps, by Mr. Said Filali, chair of the Saharawi National Commission for Human Rights.


Mr. Weisbrod-Weber, also head of the MINURSO, expected to be received this afternoon, Thursday, by Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, minister of foreign affairs.

London, April 3, 2014 (SPS) - A group of British MPs have called upon the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission to Western Sahara, known as the MINURSO, so that it can monitor and protect human rights, according to Polisario Front’s office in the UK.


The call comes in the report of the first ever British parliamentary delegation to the occupied territory of Western Sahara, released two weeks before the UN Security Council’s scheduled debate on the issue.

Rome, April 3, 2014 (SPS) - The Italian Senate has unanimously urged government to work for the extension of MINURSO mandates to include the monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara, as to increase humanitarian assistance provided for the Saharawi refugees.


In a motion submitted by the Italian parliamentary inter-group of friendship with the Sahrawi people, Italy’s Senate called for opening Western Sahara territory to international observers and journalists.

Geneva, April 3, 2014 (SPS) - A Saharawi delegation, composed of the Coordinator of the Saharawi Mine Action Coordination Office Mr. Samu Ammu Dih, participated at the 17th International Meeting of Mine Action National Programme Directors and UN Advisors, took place from 31st March to 2nd April in Geneva.


Such participation reflects an expression of gratitude and appreciation by the international community to the efforts being undertaken by the Polisario Front and Saharawi government in the field of mine action.

Santiago, April 3, 2014 (SPS) - Chile’s House of Deputies has called on the President of the Republic Mrs. Michelle Bachelet to recognize the Saharawi Republic (SADR), infromed Wednesday the Argentinian association “Western Sahara voice”.


In a petition signed by the majority of House, Chilean MPs urged President Bachelet to recognize SADR and establish diplomatic relations with it.

London, April 2, 2014 (SPS) - The British NGO “Adala UK” has called on all non-governmental organizations and governments for an international campaign in order to encourage the UN to vote for a human rights monitoring mandate to be incorporated into the MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), when to be discussed within the Security Council in April 2014.


Following is the full text of the statement released by Adala UK, a copy of it reached SPS:

Brussels, April 2, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi MP Sueilma Beiruk, also vice-president of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), participated Monday and Tuesday in the Africa-EU parliamentary summit ahead of the 4th EU-Africa summit, to take place in Brussels from 2nd to 3rd April, 2014.


The summit addressed various topics of crucial interest to the peoples of the two continents, such as security, stability, good governance, unemployment, economic crisis and human rights.

Paris, April 2, 2014 (SPS) - The Slovenian Member of the European Parliament Mr. Ivo Vajgl has noted that “only delegations and individuals who represent the Moroccan official positions have the right to get into the occupied territories of Western Sahara,” in a statement released Monday by Radio France International (RFI).


“It is clear that Moroccan authorities systematically prevent observers to visit the territory to find out the human rights violations, not only inside Morocco but also in the Western Sahara,” said Mr. Vajgl.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), April 2, 2014 (SPS) - At least ten Saharawis were injured on Tuesday in a Moroccan occupying forces’ intervention against a peaceful demonstration calling for self-determination and independence for the Saharawi people.


Raising Polisario Front flags and chanting political slogans, dozens of Saharawi citizens gathered at the crossroad between Sharif Radi and Mulay Ali Sharif’s street.

June 9th School (refugee camps), April 2, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi National Council (parliament) approved Tuesday the governemnt’s programme for the year 2014, in the presence of Prmie Minister Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar and members of the government.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), April 1, 2014 (SPS) - The Moroccan Court of First Instance in the occupied city of El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara, has postponed to next April 7th the trial of three Saharawi political prisoners.


Al-Mujahid Ali Buya Mayara, Hajub Jattar and Larabas Sleima were brought to court after 27 hours of their arrest.


The group was arrested on baseless charges, including the possession of drugs and hallucinogenic grain, fabricated against them by the Moroccan authorities. (SPS)

Salé (Morocco), April 1, 31, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi political prisoners of Group Gdeim Izik have condemned all forms of oppression and intimidation carried out against them in Moroccan prisons, urging the international organizations of human rights to exert pressure on the Moroccan state to save their lives and guarantee their legitimate rights.

Washington, April 1, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi activist of human rights Mrs. Aminatou Haidar continues her visit to the United States of America, where she was received by various committees of the U.S. Congress.


Aminatou Haidar, also President of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA ), was received in this regard by the U.S. congress external relations’ committee.

Algiers, April 1, 2014 (SPS) - A solidarity caravan for Sahrawi people organized by the association Al Irshad Wal Islah arrived Monday in the Sahrawi refugee camps carrying food aid and school stationery for more than 200 Saharawi families.
 

In a statement to APS, Mohamed Bitat, in charge of social affairs at the association, underlined that the solidarity caravan is also carrying blankets and clothes.