Category Archives: Political issues

UN statement of concern about use of military court to try and convict 25 Saharan civilians

Statement, United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 19 February 2013

Link to UN statement >>

“We are concerned by the use of a military court to try and convict 25 Saharan civilians charged in relation to violence during and after the dismantling of the Gdim Izik protest camp near Laayoune, Western Sahara, in November 2010, when 11 members of the Moroccan security forces and two Saharans were killed.

The 25 civilians were sentenced to between two years and life in prison by the Permanent Military Tribunal of the Royal Armed Forces in Rabat during the night of 16 to 17 February 2013.  (cont.)

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9 Saharawi political prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and convicted 16 others to 360 years combined

Al-aaiun/Western Sahara: February 17th, 2013

After 9 days of Gdaim izik trial, the military court has sentenced 9 Saharawi political prisoners to life imprisonment and convicted 16 others to 360 years combined.

The trial of 25 Saharawi political prisoners & human rights defenders took place between February 8th and February 16th 2013 in the military court in Rabat/Morocco. Included was also the Saharawi human rights activist Hasanna Aalia, who was condemned in absentia.

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YouTube: Public service announcement from Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights

RFKcenter Comm, January 31, 2013

A public service announcement has been made by Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights. Oscar winner Javier Bardem, Kerry Kennedy, and the makers of the film “Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony” join in a campaign to end human rights violations against the people of Western Sahara.

Watch Kerry Kennedy’s  announcement on YouTube >>

Sign petition   Kerry Kennedy and Javier Bardem’s petition calls on President Obama and the UN to ensure there is a  human rights mandate included in the UN Peacekeeping mission in western Sahara.

Amnesty International: Morocco military trial of Sahrawi civilians flawed from the outset

169098_moroccan_forces_dismantle_a_camp_housing2.jpg1 February 2013

“The trial of civilians before a military court does not meet internationally recognized standards for a fair trial. The 24 accused must be brought before a civilian court with all the human rights guarantees that go along with it, and in no event must anyone be sentenced to death.”  (…cont.)
Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa , Fri, 01/02/2013

Read Amnesty report >>

AWSA Press Release 1 February 2013: Time to set them free

Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA)

Press Release 1 February 2013: Time to set them free
For immediate release

In an open letter to the Moroccan Minister for Justice, the Australia Western Sahara Association called for the release of 25 Saharawi prisoners who have been held illegally for over 2 years without trial.

Today, 1 February 2013, their trial is due to be held in Rabat (local time).  However, this trial has twice been scheduled and postponed.
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Western Sahara: who benefits from exporting fish and phosphates? – video

The Guardian, 28 January 2013

By Celeste Hicks who recently travelled to Western Sahara with the International Women’s Media Foundation

“Western Sahara is rich in phosphates and fish, but Saharawi activists say those resources are not being harnessed to improve the lot of the indigenous population…… They argue that exploitation of the territory’s resources should stop until a solution to the conflict is found….(cont.)

Watch video and read article >>

In remote Western Sahara, prized phosphate drives controversial investments

By Kristen Chick, Correspondent
The Christian Science Monitor, January 24, 2013

“Laayoune and Boucraa, Western Sahara : Morocco’s mining of the lucrative fertilizer ingredient in occupied Western Sahara has sparked charges it is violating international law – and that global customers are looking the other way….(cont.)

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From Dining in Refugee Camps to dOCUMENTA 13: The Art of Seeking Sahrawi Independence

Huffpost Arts & Culture, 01/22/2013

By G. Roger Denson, Cultural critic, essayist, novelist and screenwriter published with Parkett and Art in America

“There are few recurring global exhibitions of contemporary art more renown, prestigious and selective than dOCUMENTA, held every five years in Kassal Germany. Which is what makes it so very remarkable that one of the highlights of last year’s dOCUMENTA 13 was the inclusion of a refugee encampment made by what are arguably among the least known people on the face of the earth–the Sahrawi of North Africa…..(cont.)

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MARIEM HASSAN: MUSIC IS MY WEAPON

ABC Radio National, Summer Features, 11.05am Wed 23 January 2013

“On the 9th of November, 2011, one year after the violent dismantling of a peaceful Saharawi protest which Noam Chomsky calls the beginning of the Arab Spring, Hassan performed for her people in exile. Her intense voice marked the moment in history.

During her visit to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria, Hassan also launched a weapon – a music school. ….(cont.)
Listen to music and read transcript >>