International Association of Jurists for Western Sahara News
1 .- INFORMATION:
A. - Criminal Tribunal in Laayoune (Western Sahara)
ACQUITTED young Saharawi human rights defenders and CHIJI BRAHIM HMAIM YAHDIH ALI ABA, in the trial at the Criminal Court of the occupied city of Laayoune on Wednesday 18/03/2009.
Summary of the hearing:
The seat of the Tribunal and its environs were surrounded by police and groups of the Moroccan Auxiliary Forces, as well as allocations for the Urban Security Group (GUS), and a large number of policemen and members of the Moroccan security forces dressed in "comrade" without uniform.
The trial was scheduled for 09:00 pm and was delayed by the delay of the prosecution witnesses (Attorney), starting it at 11:55 h. The activists accused CHIJI BRAHIM HMAIM YAHDIH ABA and ALI, natural Saharawi occupied city of Smara, entered the room escorted by the police, slóganes and chanting for freedom, self-determination for the Saharawi people, live with the Polisario and making the victory sign with his hands.
The trial began with the identification of defendants and defenses, consisting of lawyers Sahrawis, D. Mohamed Lahbib Erguibi, D. Lili Fadel, D. Mohamed Boujal, and D. Bazaid Lahmar.
Imputation: Burning a police vehicle in Samarra, the police found inside.
In his statement said that both defendants were arrested early last February, in the city of Smara returning to spend a few days in the desert, and police were accused of burning a police car produced when they were absent from the city. Who were tortured for days at the police, and under torture and threats forced them to sign a self-incriminating statement that was drafted by the police and the content unaware and ignorant. They denied their involvement in the facts against him, and added that the interrogations were subjected to dealing with their political orientation and activities to denounce the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, and claiming Self. That were threatened by police who forced them to sign a paper without reading it, and then they said they recognized "their fault"
The prosecution witnesses, including three Moroccan police said they saw that not all the authors of the facts, and police were inside the vehicle, said they could not distinguish anyone and did not recognize the accused as participants in the events, and that the arrest took place several days after the fact, going to search for the suspects to their homes because they were known human rights activists, and reflected their "histories" in investigations and police reports Moroccan security forces.
The defense requested a self-acquittal of the accused and denounced for irregularities committed by police during arrest and interrogation of the accused, during the instruction, for the torture and abuse. Adding that the scope of what is happening in the Sahara has international dimensions, with the matter before the United Nations, and departed from the trial of the incriminating facts alleged crimes of punitive damages, it being proved that there had been a pursuit of these young human rights defenders by their claims, instead of acting in the interests of justice and truth by making a proper and thorough investigation of the facts being tried.
The attorney, simply ask the court for an exemplary sentence defendants, imposing the maximum sentence possible, thus serving the sentence pattern to the rest of the Sahrawi people to cease their activities.
The accused left the room singing loudly and slóganes for the release of the Sahara and Self-Determination.
The ruling was issued two hours later, the defendants guilty and ordered his release, without making any pronouncement on the alleged violations and irregularities.
International Jurists attended as observers:
Ms. DOLORES TRAVIESO (Lawyer) and Ms. INES MIRANDA (Lawyer).
B. - Criminal Tribunal in Laayoune (Western Sahara)
Wednesday 18/03/2009:
CRIMINAL TRIAL SUSPENDED. (18/03/2009)
The trial allowed for the day 18/03/2009 (Wednesday) at the Criminal Court in the occupied city of El Aaiun against Sahrawi human rights activist BAZID SIDI AHMED ERGUIBI accused of burning a police car in the occupied city of Smara last February, was suspended and brought new session for the conclusion of the day 15/04/2009 (Wednesday)
International Jurists attended as observers:
Ms. DOLORES TRAVIESO (Lawyer) and Ms. INES MIRANDA (Lawyer).
C. - Criminal Court of Agadir (Morocco):
CRIMINAL TRIAL SUSPENDED. (18/03/2009)
The trial allowed for the day 16/03/2009 (Wednesday) at the Criminal Court of Agadir against the driver of the Moroccan carrier "Supratours" which killed two students and KTEIF Sahraouis Houssein EL BABA Khaya, and very injured two others seriously Saharawi students, on 01/12/2008, was suspended for lack of documentation in the file, and brought new session for the celebration of the Day 25/03 / 2009 (Wednesday)
2 .- CALL FOR LAWSUITS:
A. - Criminal Court of Agadir (Morocco):
Wednesday 25/03/2009:
Lawsuit against the driver of the Moroccan carrier "Supratours" which killed two students and KTEIF Sahraouis Houssein EL BABA Khaya, and very serious injuries to two other students Saharan
B. - Criminal Court of Agadir (Morocco):
WEDNESDAY 01/04/2009: Appeal against the Trial of Sahrawi activists:
"YAHIA MOHAMED EL Hafed IAAZA, Mojtaba SALMI MOHAMED, HASSAN Lefkas, ELBOURKAOUI MAHMOUD, ALI ELMOUYAHID Bouya Mayara, BOUBAA Nayem MAHYUB and CHARAFI SALAMA"
C. - Criminal Tribunal in Laayoune (Western Sahara)
WEDNESDAY 15/04/2009: Trial against Sahrawi activist:
"BAZID SIDI AHMED ERGUIBI"