lundi, décembre 08, 2008

The Murder of Two Sahrawi university students at the bus station in Agadir, Morocco


On December 01st, 2008, at 20:00, two Sahrawi university students were murdered at the major bus station in Agadir, Morocco by a Moroccan bus driver. The Sahrawi students are called Baba Khaya ( 22 years old, a student at the third year - Economics - at the Faculty of Judicial, Economic and Social Sciences, Ibnou Zohr university, Agadir) and Elhoucine Lektif (20 years old, student at the first year - Sociology - at the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, Ibnou Zohr University, Agadir).
Other Sahrawi students were seriously injured, Belqadi Mbarek (left hand broken), Abouh Elkharrachi ( 23 years old, seriously injured on the waist and fractures of the nibs; he is in coma in Hassan II Hospital in Agadir, Morocco).

According to the students who were at the sit-in in Agadir, a number of Sahrawi students organized a sit-in in front of the bus station, at 19:30 of December 1st, protesting against the bus company non-commitment of providing enough seats to the Sahrawi students going on the occasion of Eid Al Adha to their families in the Western Sahara and South of Morocco.
While the Moroccan police and Auxiliary Forces were violently dispersing the demonstrators, a bus holding the number 6687-: ب ـ أ approached the Sahrawi students very rapidly and, its driver being determined to fulfill the murder deliberately, hit the students and caused the death of the two Sahrawi demonstrators mentioned above.
The Morocan authorities has arrested three other Sahrawi students up to now, Braihma Elhadef, El Aasla Ahmed Salem and Mustapha Bentaleb.
The Executive Board of the CODESA, while denouncing this criminal act against the Sahrawi students, declares the following. It

1. expresses its solidarity with the two martyrs’ families and with the other victims of this criminal act.
2.charges the Moroccan state of the responsibility of their death and the other Sahrawi students’ injury.
3.calls the Moroccan state to start a fair and transparent investigation of this incident.
4. appeals to the international community to protect the Sahrawi citizens in the Western Sahara, South of Morocco and at the Moroccan universities.

The Executive Board of the CODESA,
El Aaiun, Western Sahara,
December 02 nd, 2008.

Un étudiant sahraoui arrêté à Boujdour

26 nov 2008 Lettre d'information ASVDH

L’étudiant sahraoui, Mr. Hassan MAARAS, frère du militant sahraoui Abderrahman Maaras, a été arrêté aujourd’hui, mercredi 26 novembre 2008 vers 15h:00 GMT à la Faculté des Droits à agadir. Mr. Hassan MAARAS participait à une manifestation des étudiants de la faculté des Droits d’Agadir. Après l’intervention de la police marocaine contre les manifestants, des agents de police en civil ont arrêté l’étudiant sahraoui, Mr. Hassan MAARAS, et l’ont conduit vers une destination non connue. Vers 22 :30 du même jour, Mr. MAARAS a été conduit vers le siège de la police à Agadir.La famille de cet étudiant sahraoui, qui s’inquiète sur le sort de son fils, est toujours devant le siège de la police pour pouvoir connaître le sort de leur fils et ce qu’il a enduré surtout qu’il a été détenu pendant plus de sept heures dans un lieu inconnu

Arrestation de Mlle Khadija MOUTIK

Lettre d’information ASVDH

El-Ayoune – Sahara occidental
Mercredi 12 novembre 2008

Arrestation de Mlle Khadija MOUTIK

Les autorités marocaines ont arrêté Mlle khadija MOUTIK avant-hier lundi 10 novembre 2008 vers 10h GMT du matin au poste frontalier de GUERGARATE où elle a été retenue jusqu’à 15h30 GMT, avant d’être transférée dans un camion le commissariat central de Dakhla où elle est arrivée vers 20h30. Une fois au commissariat, elle a subi deux interrogatoires, le premier avec le wali de la sécurité qui l’a menacé de l’enterrer vivante, et un autre avec le commissaire divisionnaire Laarbi HEREZ.
Hier, mardi 11 novembre 2008 vers 13h GMT, Mlle MOUTIK a été transportée dans un autocar de la compagnie C.T.M, escortée par 3 policiers en civiles, en direction de Guelimime. Des témoins visuels ont pu l'apercevoir dans l'autocar au cours d'un bref arrêt à El-Ayoune vers 20h30 GMT.
Au cours de son interpellation les autorité marocaines lui ont confisqué des affaires personnelles dont
- un CD de soutien de l'Afrique du sud au peuple du Sahara Occidental
- un stylo et un porte-clé avec logo de la RASD
- des T-shirts sud africains
- 3000 dollars qu'elle avait déclaré à la douane.
- un téléphone mobile
Plus tard dans l’après midi d’hier, Mlle khadija MOUTIK a été libéré. Elle a déclaré d’avoir pas été maltraitée, mais dépouillée de beaucoup de choses.


Newsletter
El-Ayoune - Western Sahara
Wednesday November 12 2008

Arrest of Miss Khadija MOUTIK

The Moroccan authorities have arrested Miss khadija MOUTIK the day before yesterday, Monday 10 November 2008, around 10am GMT in the morning, at the border post of GUERGARATE where she detained until 15:30 GMT, before being transferred in a truck to the Central police station of Dakhla where she arrived around 20.30 GMT. Once at the police station, she underwent two interrogatories, one with the Wali of security who has threatened to bury her alive, and another with the Divisional Commissioner Laarbi HEREZ.
Yesterday, Tuesday 11 November 2008 around 13h GMT, Miss MOUTIK was transported in a bus of the company CTM, escorted by 3 policemen in plain clothes, towards Guelimime. Some visuals witnesses have seen her in the bus during a brief stop in El-Ayoune at 20:30 GMT.
During her arrest Moroccan authorities have confiscated some of her personal affairs
- CD of South Africa’s support to the people of Western Sahara
- A pen and a key holder with the logo of the SADR
- T-shirts of South Africa
- 3000 dollars she had declared to customs.
- A mobile phoneLater in yesterday’s afternoon, Miss Khadija MOUTIK was released. She said not to have been abused, but many of her personal things were stolen

Nouvelle condamnation contre Mr. TAHLIL


Lettre d’information ASVDH

El-Ayoune – Sahara occidental
Mardi 11 novembre 2008

Nouvelle condamnation contre Mr. TAHLIL

L’administration de la Prison Noire a informé aujourd’hui, mardi 11 novembre 2008, Mr. Mohamed TAHLIL , membre de l’ASVDH et président de la section de Boujdour, que la cour d’appel l’a condamné à trois moi avec sursis et une amende de deux milles dirhames.
Mr. TAHLIL avait été condamné par la cour de première instance, le 3 décembre 2007, à une amende de cent vingt dirhames pour indignation d’un fonctionnaire d’Etat en exercice de son devoir.
Nous rappelons que Mr. Mohamed TAHLIL que Mr. TAHLIL a été victime d’harcèlement et torture à plusieurs reprises.
Ainsi, il avait été détenu à la prison civile d’El-Ayoune (Prison Noire) du 16.08.05 au 22.04.06, libéré par grâce royale. Il a été arrêté par des agents des GUS le 13.08.05 à l’avenue Smara à El-Ayoune suite à sa participation à des manifestations pacifiques, interrogé dans les locaux de la Police Judiciaire, inculpé par le juge d'instruction auprès de la cour d'appel le 16.08.05. Présenté au juge d'instruction le 12.10.05. Début de procès le 22.11.05, 30.11.05, reporté au 06.12.05. Le 14.12.05, il a été condamné à 3 ans de prison ferme. Le 24/25.01.06, la peine a été confirmée en appel.
Le 30.04.06 il a été arrêté à Boujdour, torturé et abandonné dans le désert.
Le 11.08.06 les autorités locales à Boujdour ont refusé de lui octroyer son passeport.
Le 11.10.06 il a été retenu et interrogé durant 4 heures à la frontière mauritanienne lors de son retour de Nouadhibou, puis arrêté une deuxième fois à 40 km de Dakhla. Il a été retenu au commissariat de police de Dakhla durant 24 heures, insulté et battu. Ses affaires personnelles, inclue un téléphone portable et 2000 dirham, ont été confisqué.
Le 19.10.06 il a encore été arrêté et torturé.
Le 17.04.07 il a été arrêté une fois de plus et torture à l'entrée de la ville d'El-Ayoune alors qu'il voulait assister au procès de 3 prisonniers politiques. Il a été expulsé de la ville d'El-Ayoune dans la soirée.
Le 16.07.07 Mr. TAHLIL a été arrêté la frontière mauritanienne. Il a té incarcéré le 22.07.07 à la prison noire. Le 19.09.07 après plusieurs reports le tribunal de première instance l’a condamné à 3 ans de prison ferme pour incendie de biens publics, constitution de bande criminelle et agression d'un policier. La défense a relevé la falsification des accusations puisque le prévenu se trouvait en Mauritanie et avait été arrêté à la frontière. Le 03.12.07 il a été condamné par la cour de premier degré d'El-Ayoune à une amende de 120 MDH, dans un autre dossier pour indignation d’un fonctionnaire d’Etat en exercice de son devoir. Le 04.12.07 la cour d’appel a réduit sa peine de 3 ans à 2 ans de prison ferme.


Newsletter
El-Ayoune - Western Sahara
Tuesday, 11 November 2008

New sentence against Mr. TAHLIL

The administration of the Black Prison informed today, Tuesday 11 November 2008, Mr. Mohamed TAHLIL, member of the ASVDH and chairman of the section of Boujdour, that the appellate court has sentenced him to three months suspended and a fine of two thousands dirhams.
Mr. TAHLIL was sentenced by the trial court on 3 December 2007, to a fine of one hundred and twenty dirhams for outrage to a state official exercising his duty.
We recall that Mr. Mohamed TAHLIL was a victim of harassment and torture on several occasions.
Thus, he had been detained in civil prison of El-Ayoune (Black Jail) from 16.08.05 to 22.04.06, released by royal pardon. He was arrested by agents of the GUS on 13.08.05 at Avenue Smara in El-Ayoune following his participation in peaceful demonstrations, interrogated on the premises of the judicial police, charged by the judge near the court of Appeal on 16.08.05. He was presented in front of judge of instruction on 12.10.05. Beginning of the trial 22.11.05, 30.11.05, deferred to 06.12.05. On 14.12.05 he was sentenced to 3 years in prison. On 24/25.01.06, the sentence was upheld on appeal.
On 30.04.06 he was arrested in Boujdour, tortured and abandoned in the desert.
11.08.06 the local authorities in Boujdour refused to grant him his passport.
On 11.10.06 he was detained and questioned for 4 hours at the Mauritanian border when returning from Nouadhibou, then arrested a second time at 40 km far from Dakhla. He was detained at the police station in Dakhla for 24 hours, insulted and beaten. His belongings, including a mobile phone and 2000 dirhams, were confiscated.
On 19.10.06 he has been arrested and tortured.
On 17.04.07 he was arrested once more and torture at the entrance to the city of El-Ayoune while he wanted to attend the trial of 3 political prisoners. He was expelled from the city of El-Ayoune in the evening.
16.07.07 Mr. TAHLIL has been arrested at the Mauritanian border. He was imprisoned on 22.07.07 at the prison black. On 19.09.07 after several postponements the Court of First Instance sentenced him to 3 years in prison for burning of public property, constitution of criminal gang and assault of a police officer. The defence noted forgery charges because the defendant was in Mauritania and was arrested at the border. On 03.12.07 he was sentenced by the court of first instance of El-Ayoune to a fine of 120 MDH in another case for indignation of a state official exercising his duty. On 04.12.07 the Court of Appeal reduced his sentence from 3 years to 2 years in prison.

Statement CODESA




STATEMENT
Since 2002, the desire of the the Sahrawi human rights defenders has been increasing to create adequate conditions for the establishment of a Sahrawi association for human rights under the name “The Collective of the Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders”, intended to work for defending human rights in the Western Sahara, south of Morocco and the Moroccan universities (places where the Sahrawi citizens live) and based in El Aaiun, the capital of Western Sahara.
Yet, the concern about the great amount of human rights violations, perpetrated unjustly on a daily basis by the Moroccan authorities, imposed the inauguration of a type of work that focuses mainly on observing and disclosing the violations - a concern that was being monitored by the CODESA secretariat through releases, reports and significant participations in international meetings among various international organizations.
To represent this continuous will to spread human rights culture which is founded upon the international charters and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the commitment to human rights values,
The CODESA secretariat, while reminding of the Moroccan authorities’ ban of the CODESA constitutive conference in El Aaiun, Western Sahara on October 07th, 2007 with no legal reason, has elected an Executive Body and an Administrative Committee as the CODESA’s leading bodies.

The Executive Body of the CODESA has met on November 07th, 2008 and elected the Sahrawi human rights defender, Aminatou Haidar, president of The Collective of the Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders, CODESA.

The Executive Body of The Collective of
The Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders,
CODESA
El Aaiun, Western Sahara.
November 07th, 2008.

Report de la visite de la Commission ad.hoc du Parlement européen

L'asvdh vient d'apprendre, hier jeudi 6 novembre 2008, que la Commission Ad Hoc du parlement Européenne au Sahara Occidental, a été reporté sans désignation d'aucun délai ni justifications.La visite de cette Commission avait été prévue pour le 21, 22, 23, 24 et 25 du moi courant. Aussi, cette mission avaitété suspendu auparavant sous prétexte que sa composition n'était pas équilibrées. Aujourd'hui aucun prétexte n'a encore été présenté.L'asvdh, qui attendait avec grand intérêt la visite de cette commission pour partger avec ses membres ses préoccupations concernant la situation des droits de l'homme au Sahara Occidental, exprime sa surprise et sa déception de ce report incompréhensible. De même, l'asvdh maintient sa espoir de voir cette commission arrivée à El-Ayoune.Association Sahraouie des Victimes des Violations Graves des Droits Humains Commises par l'Etat Marocain(A.S.V.D.H)

Moroccan colonial authorities kidnap a Saharawi journalist and writer

28/10/2008

The Moroccan colonial authorities kidnapped the member of the Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES), Mr. Mustapha AbdDaiem, Monday night, in the city of Assa (south of Morocco), and transferred him to an unknown place.

The Saharawi journalist and Writer is a General supervisor of a secondary school in Assa. He was arrested yesterday because he clearly expressed support to the Saharawi demonstrators in the city who were confronting Moroccan forces after the latter attacked their peaceful sit-in.

Mr. Mustapha AbdDaiem is an active human rights activist, and member of UPES, who usually unveils and condemns the Moroccan human rights violations in the occupied zones of Western Sahara, in the South of Morocco and in Moroccan universities against Saharawi students.

He was victim to many Moroccan aggression and attempts against his life, and he was brought before court many times because of his political opinions in favour of the independence of Western Sahara.

The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES) would like to inform all international human rights organisations, associations, and the UN relevant bodies that it is deeply concerned about the fate and safety of Mr. AbdDaiem, and calls on them to adopt the necessary demarche to help release him as soon as possible.

It also informs the public opinion that it will remain seized of the question, and will closely follow all developments with a view to adopt the necessary actions in favour of his release.

It should also be noted here, that the city of Assa is right now put under a tight military and security siege by the Moroccan forces. Yesterday (27 October) the Moroccan forces attacked peaceful demonstrators who were asking for the right to work. The population of the city raised up to support the demonstrators and a general confrontation took place from the early morning to the late night.

First reports say that more Moroccan forces are coming from the neighbouring cities to seal the city. Internet cyber-café were closed and the population has no means of communication with the world except with cell phones. It is possible that the Moroccan authorities will soon cut the phone coverage, according to sources from the city.

Mr. Malainin Lakhal
General Secretary
UPES
Saharawi Refugee camps

Email: mellakhal@gmail.com
URL Arabic: www.upes.org
URL English: www.upes.org/default_eng.asp