Day of protest against the plundering of Western Sahara natural resources
Popular demonstrations in favour of independence and against the plundering of Western Sahara natural resources were held on Saturday, March 15, in all occupied cities of Western Sahara. More than 500 Saharawi have responded to the call of the Coordination of the Associations and Human Rights´ Committees in Western Sahara.
Occupied El Aaiun
A few hours before the demonstration, the occupation authorities closed the streets and alleyways to Smara Avenue, planned location by the organizers. Despite this, more than 100 Saharawi were able to pass, and shouted their slogans. One could hear: "No alternative to self-determination - Where are human rights - Release our political prisoners and uncover the truth about the missing people - Where are our resources?”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvVO18zMRk0
The Saharawi demonstrators could only shout a few minutes. Morocco´s repressive forces in plainclothes and uniformed intervened violently with batons to disperse the demonstration and confiscate the banners. More than 80 Saharawi protesters were injured. The police chased the demonstrators in Ma’atalah neighbourhood and ransacked the house of Brahim Zoghman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tlt94gG6Ok
Two hours later, Saharawi demonstrators regrouped again in protest at the center of this neighbourhood. Morocco´s police, auxiliary forces and military engaged with the security body in plainclothes intervened brutally and stoned the houses of the Sahrawi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPq3E5a4clk
Ettaqui Machdoufi, a former political prisoner with Akdeim Izik group witnessed the chases of Saharawi demonstrators by the occupying security forces in the neighbourhoods of Ma’atalah and L’ina’ach and testified.
Other protests were organized spontaneously in L’ina’ach neighbourhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8USeWQzQeIE
More than a dozen injured Saharawi were admitted at the hospital Hassan Ben Mehdi for medical care to the head, back and knees, and observation time following Morocco´s police brutal violence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RsZGlnBQKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HfA2iRLIf8
Mr. Dalil Lahsen, member of the Saharawi Committee for the Protection of Natural Resources and the UN Peace Plan declared that this demonstration is the 3rd in the context of a national and international campaign for the extension of MINURSO´s mandate to monitor human rights and the protests took place despite the obstacles of the police, obstruction of freedom of expression by the Moroccan colonial regime.
The Saharawi Committee for the Defence of the Right to Self-Determination stated that, ever since Saturday morning, frequent cuts of mobile and internet networks indicate that Moroccan authorities are trying to disrupt communications and consequently trying to prevent the organization of the demonstrations.
One of Media Team´s journalists, Miss Mariem Bourhimi, was once again attacked by Moroccan police in El Aaiún, while filming the events.
Occupied city of Bojador
In the occupied city of Bojador, more than 100 Sahrawi gathered in the Qbaibat neighbourhood to peacefully demonstrate against the plundering of natural resources and in particular against the activities of the American oil company Kosmos Energy.
Slogans, banners and placards also claimed the independence of Western Sahara, the release of all Saharawi political prisoners, information about the missing people and denounced the European Union-Morocco fisheries agreement.
Seven Saharawi activists were injured during the Moroccan police and auxiliary forces repressive intervention, among them, Sultana Khaya, President of the Saharawi Observatory for the protection of Natural Resources in Bojador. Mrs Khaya was transported to the hospital for severe pain in the eye and back.
Occupied city of Dakhla
More than 100 Sahrawi citizens protested peacefully in Ksikisat and Oum Tounsi neighbourhoods to denounce the plundering of natural resources, to claim independence for Western Sahara and the extension of MINURSO´s mandate to monitor human rights in Western Sahara. They waved the SADR´s flags in support of their slogans denouncing the marginalization of young Saharawi and benefits given to Moroccan settlers. The demonstration was dispersed brutally and prematurely by Moroccan repressive apparatus and five people were injured.
Occupied city of Smara
A meeting organized throughout the day by the Forum for the Future of Saharawi Women, the FAFESA, brought together more than 150 Saharawi participants. The objectives of the interventions were discussing the situation of Sahrawi women and freedom of association, constantly hampered by the Moroccan occupying authorities.
After the meeting, around 5p.m., over 50 Saharawi gathered in the main street of the city to express their discontent on the general occupation situation. The Moroccan occupying repressive forces quickly intervened to disperse the group and prevent freedom of expression.
