Aminatou Haidar Support Group

Comment by Stefan Simanowitz on December 2, 2009 at 11:02

British Parliament Tables Motion in Support of Aminatou Haidar (1/12/09)

A cross-party group of British MP's today tabled a Motion in Parliament expressing “dismay” at the expulsion of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Amainatou Haidar from Western Sahara. The Motion signed by parliamentarians from all three main political parties states that “this House condemns the escalating wave of human rights violations against Saharawi human rights activists..[and] is dismayed over the expulsion of prominent Saharawi human rights activist and winner of the 2009 Civil Courage Award Aminatou Haidar from Western Sahara.”

Known has the "African Gandhi", Haidar had her passport confiscated by Moroccan authorities on her return from a trip abroad on 14th November. She was deported in unlawfully to the Canary Island of Lanzarote where she has been on hunger strike in the airport terminal for over two weeks.

Her deportation has been condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as well as her friends and supporters around the world including Nobel Laureates Jose Saramago and President Ramos-Horta, film director Pedro Almodovar and actor Javier Bardem. On 27th November the US State Department issued a statement: “The United States remains concerned about the health and well-being of Saharawi activist Aminatou Haidar, recipient of the 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and the Train Foundation’s 2009 Civil Courage Prize. We urge a speedy determination of her legal status and full respect for due process and human rights.”

Although bearly able to speak, Haidar has vowed to continue her hunger strike and stated that her action should not be seen as an isolated act of defiance of a single indiviudal but part of the struggle of the entire Saharawi people. “It is true that this hunger strike is about the individual right of one person to return to her home and her family” she said “But it also about the collective right denied to the Saharawi people to live freely in their native land.”

Today, campaigners announced their intention of sending a high level delegation to visit Ms Haidar in Lanzarote and in an open letter, celebrities including film director Ken Loach and former Monty Python, Terry Jones called on the Moroccan government “to return Aminatou Haidar’s passport immediately and allow her to travel home to her country and to her two young children before it is too late."

“Aminatou Haidar is an inspirational figure who has devoted over two decades of her life fighting for a peaceful end to Morocco’s 34 year unlawful occupation of Western Sahara” said Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, Jeremy Corbyn MP. “We hope she will live to continue her struggle for many years to come.”

Comment by Barbara Weingartner on December 11, 2009 at 9:04

http://www.youtube.com/rasd73

Hunger strike activist seeks return to Western Sahara

By Al Goodman, Madrid Bureau Chief
December 10, 2009 -- Updated 1745 GMT (0145 HKT)

Clinton presiona al Gobierno marroquí para buscar una salida al 'caso Haidar'
La secretaria de Estado de EE UU contacta con el ministro de Exteriores de Rabat - La presidencia de la UE pide a Marruecos que respete los derechos humanos M. GONZÁLEZ / I. CEMBRERO -
Bruselas / Madrid - 11/12/2009


http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Clinton/presiona/Gobierno/mar...






Click here: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/10/western.sahara.hunge...

Comment by Barbara Weingartner on December 17, 2009 at 20:46

Western Sahara hunger striker to fly home-Polisario
17 Dec 2009 19:52:29 GMT
Source: Reuters
ALGIERS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - An deal has been reached to allow hunger striking Western Sahara independence activist Aminatou Haidar to be flown home from Spain, Western Sahara's Polisario independence movement said on Thursday.

"Effectively everything has been resolved, according to our information," said Ibrahim Ghali, the Polisario ambassador to Algeria, where the movement has its headquaters.

"A plane is at Lanzarote airport awaiting instructions," he told Reuters.

The independence activist has been on hunger strike for more than a month in Spain's Canary Islands after Moroccan authorities refused her entry when she returned from a trip abroad. She was taken to hospital earlier on Thursday.

Spanish media reports said negotiations were underway in Washington between officials from Spain and Morocco to try to resolve the standoff. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Richard Williams)

Comment by Barbara Weingartner on December 28, 2009 at 22:08

SAHARA, JUST PEACE

"Justice is a right, not a gift nor a charity. “

"If injustice becomes rightfully, resistance becomes the obligation."

Joy of Life – Joie de vie – Alegría – Joy of Life – Joie de vie – Alegría –

click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wbKNgYmusA

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