Enough of words!
Associação de Amizade Portugal – Sahara Ocidental
13-03-2010
Defend human rights in occupied Western Sahara and prevent the occupying Moroccan Power from exerting such a brutal violence against defenceless Saharawi populations!
A strong wave of repression has overwhelmed in the past few days – particularly in El Ayun, the occupied capital, and in the fishing town of Dajla, former Villa Cisneros – the Saharawi populations who wanted to welcome the return of a delegation of 11 Human Rights Saharawi militants, led by the ex-political prisoner and “disappeared” Brahim Sabbar. The delegation visited the refugees’ camps in the South of Algeria, where they could become aware in loco of the rough conditions in which their families and compatriots are living on the other side of the wall dividing the territory of what has been Maghreb’s last colony.
Beforehand, the Human Rights activist Aminetou Haidar has been expelled, on the past 12th November, but her brave hunger strike compelled the Moroccan authorities to call off her expulsion and to allow her to return to her birthplace, with repression of every demonstration of joy that followed her return.
One month before, seven Human Rights Saharawi activists were arrested, in the beginning of past October, by the Moroccan police in Casablanca, when they were also coming back from a visit to the Saharawi refugees’ camps in Tindouf (Algeria). Their detention has been ordered under the accusation of “high treason against motherland and offense against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco, at the service of another country”, which implies that this is the first time within the past 20 years that Saharawi activists face a trial before a Military Court which can condemn them to the capital punishment.
The most recent news in this list of cruelties: yesterday the discovery of one more common ditch was disclosed, this being situated in the area of Bucraa’s phosphate mines, after the existence of some other has also been revealed – namely near the prison of El Ayun and in Smara — without the Moroccan authorities having taken any procedure with a view to clarify their existence, which makes it very clear that they are the result of genocide acts by Moroccan forces after the invasion.
There are many occurrences of barbarian acts and of violation of Human Rights suffered every day by a small population subjugated by an impressive occupying military and police device and also by a surge of many thousands of settlers proceeding from Morocco who have nothing to do with the territory, with the Saharawi habits and practices and who do not even speak the same language.
In view of the continued violations of Human Rights and the systematic violence exerted by the occupying Moroccan forces against the civilian and defenceless Saharawi populations, the Associação de Amizade Portugal – Sahara Ocidental (the Portugal – Western Sahara Friendship Association ), being conscious of interpreting the humanity and solidarity spirit of the Portuguese People as concerns all those who suffer injustice and indignity, calls upon the United Nations, the European Union and Spain — as the country currently presiding the EU — and the Portuguese Government to interfere with a view to put an end to this situation which lasts for more than 34 years and is an outrage to Humankind.
We urge the MINURSO force — United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, present in the territory since 1991 with the purpose of watching over the ceasefire between Morocco and Frente POLISARIO, to finally take action, from now on, in order to care for the life and the rights of a population who is deprived of freedom of speech, of freedom of assembly and of free demonstration right by the military and police forces of a neighbour country that invaded their territory, practiced genocide acts, divided families and is exploiting, without any right whatsoever, their natural resources with the acquiescence or even the clear and obvious complicity of the European Union authorities.
