Smara/Western Sahara

Monday January 19,2009





Statement







In a line with the humanitarian situation in the Western Sahara and
in the towns of southern Morocco The recent outbreaks of serious
violations of human rights as a result of the political ferment of
peaceful demonstrations

In return, those are subject to constant suppression by the excessive
use of force, which calls the human rights organizations in the
territories and committees to condemn and denunciate, it



In the same context we know we the human rights organizations in the
Western Sahara that the Moroccan authorities released the three
Sahrawi political prisoners: "Bhaha Mohammed Salem, Mohamed Mouloud
Lhajaj Daida Abdessalam After that have served their sentences.

It should be noted that those have been subjected to arbitrary arrest
on: 18/07/2006 in Smara/Western Sahara as a result of their declared
political positions over the conflict thing that led to their arrest
by the Moroccan security services & were sentenced between 10 months
till 15 years imprisonment and fines amounting to 50 thousand dirhams.

After they were released Sunday morning in El Aaiun / Western Sahara
at seven o'clock the in the morning they went to the city of Smara,
where the activists organize a reception in honor of them in the
presence of intense public representatives of human rights
organizations human rights activists and former political prisoners.
in the Frairina outskirts city of Smara .

At around 22.30 gmt and during the return of the participants in the
celebration along with the freed prisoners to the city the royal
Gendarmerie cars stopped them and began stalking, where many of them
were arrested beatings and abuse including:

Essa'adi Mohamed

Hamza Mohamed Fadli

Zaina Ment Haddi

Ahmaiada Lahbib

To surprise the rest of the audience expected to return at 23.30 by a
security forces groups moving to them consists from

· 2 Royal Gendarmerie pickup trucks.

· 10 vehicles belonging to local authorities carrying
assistance troops.(Mkhaznia)

The campaign began by pursuit and arbitrary arrests through this
forces armed with sticks and batons with their cars, trucks and dogs
using floodlights witch lead to the arrest of Mr Brahim Sabbar the
secretary general of the ASVDH wich he was detained for three hours,
subjected to practices degrading of human dignity and beatings, which
led to injuries on different levels in his body.

They also attacked the human rights activist Ms Ngaya Chaikhi where
she injuries at the level of her back and legs.

The arrest of human rights activist and former political detainee
Othman Thnakha witch injured in different parts of his body

They also attacked

· the Saharan citizen Basair Raghya witch was faint several
times.

· Souadou Mohamed Yaslem Bahaha The sister of political
prisoner released she injured at level of her legs.

This in addition to the destruction of the tents that were pitched
for the reception through burning one of them and confiscated the
rest. and all vessels that were prepared for this event.

Faced with this flagrant breach of human rights, we the human rights
organizations in the Western Sahara Announce to the international
public opinion the following:

· our Congratulations to the released political detainees

· our strong condemnation to what happened to the Saharan
citizens in Samara/Western Sahara from the confiscation of the most
basic rights of freedom of expression and the freedom to demonstrate
peacefully.

· Our condemnation to the ill treatment against the militants
including the doyen of the human rights activists in the Western
Sahara Mr Brahim Sabbar Ms Chaikhi Ngaya Othman Thnakha and Mohamed
Saadi

· Our solidarity with the victims of this brutal intervention
against the unarmed civilians in Smara

· Our deep concern over the tragic situation of human rights in
Western Sahara caused by the • Moroccan security services .



*.Saharan Association of Victims of grave Violations committed by
Moroccan State ASVDH

*. of defending Right of self-determination CODAPSO

* The Saharan Committee for defending of human rights in
Smara /Wester Sahara CSDDHSO

* The Committee to defend public freedoms and human rights in Western
Sahara

* Preparatory Committee of the Organization of Saharan human rights
defenders second-generation

* Committee for the Protection of natural resources

* The League for the Protection of the Saharawi prisoners in Western
Sahara