SNEAK PREVIEW: the Saharamarathon T-shirts

For all of you going out into the camps on Friday and can't wait any longer. And for all of you who aren't and are eager to feel a pinch of envy.

These are the wonderful marathon t-shirts that the Saharamarathon runners are going to receive. To run in them, to sweat in them, to celebrate their Saharawi hosts in them. 

Simple in the front, graphic design in the back. A big thank you to Emily Fraser, the web designer of the soon-to-be-launched website.

And as always, let us know what you think. We take it both: the good and the bad.

ACTION: February is all about action...

Independent human rights monitoring is a key tool in the fight against human rights abuses.

MINURSO, the UN mission in Western Sahara, is the only contemporary peacekeeping mission without a mandate to monitor human rights.

Human rights organisations, including Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch, and the POLISARIO have repeatedly called for human rights monitoring in the region. This has been blocked by the Moroccan authorities.

The renewal of MINURSO’s mandate in April provides a key opportunity to implement this.

Take Action!

1. Write to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon:

• Thanking him for his action in the case of Aminatou Haidar and welcoming his comments on the need for a settlement on the issue.

• Emphasising the human rights abuses against those who peacefully oppose the Moroccan occupation - in particular the case of the 7 prisoners of conscience currently awaiting trial, who may face the death penalty.

• Stating that MINURSO is the only contemporary peacekeeping Mission without a mandate to monitor human rights.

• Calling on him to establish an independent mechanism for human rights monitoring

• Insisting that a referendum which includes the option of independence is implemented without delay.

2. Make sure your country supports human rights monitoring.

Contact your MP, ask them to write to your Foreign Office Minister:

• Explaining the human rights abuses against those who peacefully oppose the Moroccan occupation.

• Stating that MINURSO is the only contemporary peacekeeping Mission without a mandate to monitor human rights and;

• If your country is a member of the UN Security Council: calling on your country to insist on human rights monitoring whether through the extension of MINURSO’s mandate or through another independent monitoring mechanism.

• If your country is not a member of the Security Council: asking that your country makes a public statement calling for human rights monitoring.

Finally...

If you are a UK citizen or resident please sign the Downing Street petition.

Details

The UN Security Council

Permanent members of the UN Security Council are: China, France, Russian Federation, UK and US.

Non-permanent members: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon Mexico Nigeria, Turkey and Uganda.

Address for Ban Ki Moon

The Honourable Ban Ki-Moon

Secretary General

760 United Nations Plaza

United Nations

New York, NY 10017

If possible please send any copies of letters and responses to coordinator@wsahara.org.uk

Other Actions

Amnesty International currently has 2 urgent actions on Western Sahara:

• http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE29/005/2010/en
• http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE29/004/2010/en

PRESS RELEASE: Britain's Got a "Western Sahara Moment" [UPDATED]

For immediate release

Britain’s Got a “Western Sahara Moment”:
Charity Sandblast urges UK action on Moroccan human rights abuses

London, February 1, 2010 - The increase of reports of violence and human rights abuses against Saharawis in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara has alarmed human rights organisations and activists all over the world. Gordon Brown’s “Western Sahara moment” during Prime Minister’s Questions session (January 13^th) highlighted the general lack of awareness in Britain about the grave human rights problems afflicting the former Spanish colony. In protest, the UK charity Sandblast has launched an e-petition to 10 Downing Street seeking to mobilize British voices to call on Gordon Brown and his government to put more pressure on Morocco to respect universal human rights principles and stop its abuses against the Saharawi people.

In August 2009, a group of six young Saharawis were prevented by Moroccan authorities from boarding the plane in Agadir to attend to Talk Together at Oxford University, a programme  to generate dialogue between young members of communities in conflict. The "Oxford Six” subsequently experienced severe harassment, beatings and abductions.  Then in October, seven well known Saharawi human rights activists were abducted and arrested at Casablanca airport, upon their return from visiting relatives in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. They are on trial for treason in a military court and face possible life sentences or even execution. Amnesty International reports that the authorities have been using repressive legislation to force statements, are abusing prisoners and deny adequate legal representation. In November, leading human rights activist Aminatou Haidar was expelled to Lanzarote from her homeland for rejecting to identify herself as a Moroccan national. Only after serious international pressure was she eventually allowed to return home 32 days later and has reportedly been under virtual house arrest ever since. 

The recently published 2009 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report states “Morocco’s backtracking on rights became apparent to all during 2009. Developments in 2010 will reveal whether authorities intend to reinforce this negative trend or put the country back on a path of progress on rights.”

Sandblast's e-petition calls on Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the UK government  to take action and pressure Morocco to respect universal human rights principles and stop its abuses against the Saharawi people. As a leading EU member, the charity urges Britain to ensure that negotiations, due to take place this coming April on the "advanced status" for Morocco in  the EU, are suspended until it meets vital human rights criteria. Founding director Danielle Smith believes Britain has a crucial role to play and that the voices of British civil society need to be heard loud and clear to ensure human rights and freedom for the Saharawis.

Sandblast hopes to collect thousands of signatures by February 27 on the occasion of the anniversary of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which was proclaimed 34 years ago and is recognized by over 70 countries worldwide. Sign the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sahrawirights/.

About Sandblast:
Sandblast is an arts and human rights charity that aims to empower the displaced Saharawi refugees through the arts. Close to 200,000 Saharawis have been living as refugees since the 1975 Moroccan invasion of their country, Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony in NW Africa. Despite the extreme hardships of their exile, the Saharawi refugee community has managed to build a vibrant, democratically run nation-in-exile, where women play a prominent role in all sectors of life, defying many Western preconceptions about Arab-Muslim societies. The Saharawis seek their independence in Western Sahara and have been waiting for the UN to implement the long promised referendum for their self-determination, originally scheduled for early 1992.
To find out more please visit the Sandblast website: www.sandblast-arts.org. 

Contact:
Danielle Smith
Director of Sandblast
61 Minster Road
London NW2 3SH
e: danielle@sandblast-arts.org
t: 0783 8463310

UPDATE: 
Download press release from http://sandblast-arts.org/images/Press release_petition_Feb2010.pdf

URGENT ACTION: Victim of torture facing trial (Amnesty International)

Amnesty International released an Urgent Action appeal on Friday, January 15th, after having learned that Mr Haddi was due to face trial in Rabat.

Haddi was "disappeared" in late October of 2009 and is believed to be a victim of torture since then. He is now facing trial for a number of offences, including treason and drug-trafficking. Haddi has not have a lawyer or any legal representation and the trial is thought to be unjust, his treatment until then brutal and inhumane. Read more about his story and the charges held against him at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE29/013/2009/en and/or take action now.

"PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Arabic, French or your own language:

Expressing concern that Ahmed Mahmoud Haddi was subjected to an enforced disappearance from 28 October to 15 November, during which time he is believed to have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and urging the Moroccan authorities to ensure  that he is protected from further torture or other ill-treatment, is granted any medical care he may require, and has regular access to his family and legal representation;
Urging the Moroccan authorities to investigate immediately allegations that Ahmed Mahmoud Haddi was tortured or otherwise ill-treated by members of the security forces, and to bring those responsible to justice in compliance to Morocco’s obligations under international law;
Urging them to ensure he receives a fair trial and that statements made under duress are not used as a basis to convict him.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 FEBRUARY 2010 TO:
Minister of Justice        
His Excellency Mohamed Naciri
Ministry of Justice
Place Mamounia, Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 537 72 37 10
+212 537 73 07 72
+212 537 73 47 25
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Interior       
His Excellency Taib Cherkaoui
Ministry of Interior
Quartier Administratif, Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 537762056
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
President of the Advisory Board of Human Rights        
Ahmed Herzenni, Place Ach-chouhada,
B.P. 1341, 10000 Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 537 726856
Email: ccdh@ccdh.org.ma
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 314/09.

Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE29/013/2009."

Amnesty International says "Morocco must adequately tackle legacy of human rights abuses"

"Moroccan authorities have failed to deliver on their promises to tackle the legacy of gross human rights violations committed in Morocco and Western Sahara between 1956 and 1999, Amnesty International said ahead of a report to be published on the issue.

The organization said Moroccan authorities have failed to provide justice to the many victims of the “years of lead”, decades in which hundreds of people were victims of enforced disappearances and thousands of others were arbitrarily detained or tortured.

An official commission established by King Mohammed VI six years ago to investigate human rights violations committed by the Moroccan security services between 1956 and 1999 has failed to fully deal with the legacy of the violations."

Read more here: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/morocco-must-adequately-tackle-legacy-human-rights-abuses-20100113