Spanish Justice minister, Frenando Lopez Aguilar, has been briefed about Polisario atrocities against Sahrawis in a letter from Dahi Aguai, the President of the "Association des Portés disparus du Polisario" (APDP). In the letter he was urged to "take in charge" the file of the Sahrawis that were victims of Polisario tortures and disappearances since 1974".
The Algeria-backed "Polisario" had lured in the camps in the mid-seventies thousands of Sahrawis to shore up its claim to separate the Moroccan southern provinces, known as the Sahara, retrieved from Spain under the Madrid accords in 1975.
In the letter, the association also informed the Spanish minister about the case of five Spanish soldiers, who had joined the “Polisario” before being imprisoned and disappeared, in addition to the crew of the Spanish boat “Tago-mago”, which had been assaulted by the Polisario while sailing off the Canary Islands.
The letter was accompanied by supporting evidence including a booklet of photos of some disappeared Sahrawis and some of their torturers, as well as descriptions of the torture practices perpetrated by the Polisario.
The Spanish government has decided to compensate the family of Francisco
Jimenez Santana, a Spaniard that was victim to a terrorist attack of the Polisario in 1976.
According to the Spanish minister, the family members of Francisco Jimenez will receive, through the Spanish ministry of the interior, compensation of more than Euro 96,000.
Moroccan Transport Minister, Karim Ghellab who has been under pressure from Islamic groups, has once again denied allegations that the Morocco's national flag-carrier Royal Air Maroc had issued a notice preventing employees from performing prayers at RAM headquarters.
During the House of Advisors' question time on Tuesday he took the opportunity to point out that the notion that RAM instructions to staff "harms the religious beliefs, or can be perceived as meddling in people's freedoms are not true." He insisted that RAM provides the required conditions for its employees to perform the Friday prayers, in allusion to earlier allegations that the flag-carrier was denying such a service.RAM has two prayer rooms where two Imams operate, he said, explaining that it is the line manager who, having taken stock of the impact of the absence of an employee, has the right to grant or deny such an absence.
On the veil, Ghellab refuted any claims the state-owned airline company tried to deliberately bother female employees wearing it, insisting, however, that the veil was “incompatible with the uniform.”
As to the fasting month of Ramadan, Ghellab pointed out that, in accordance with a Fatwa (religious ruling) that dates back to the 70s, pilots are called not to fast, bearing in mind the responsibility they should shoulder and the vigilance they need to show. The minister buttressed his argument with scientific studies, which concluded that fasting has negative impact on the aptitude of pilots.
Touching on alcohol consumption in the cabin during Ramadan, Ghellab underlined that RAM is required to respect the standards and principles governing the tourism sector, but it refrains from serving alcohol on board its airliners bound for an Arab or Islamic country.
In Rabat on Tuesday the Moroccan government and Maroc-Telecom signed an investment agreement of 665.4 million euros ($879mn) for the installation of fixed and mobile telephone services, Internet and data transmission.
In January 2003, both parties signed their first telephone investment agreement for 700 million euros ($925mn), a move expected to create 300 direct jobs.
Maroc-Telecom, of which the French group Vivendi holds 51 percent shares, employs more than 11,000 people.
Maroc-Telecom, Meditel and Maroc Connect are the three telephone companies currently operating in Morocco.
Morocco's road toll continues to climb as twelve people were killed and 884 others injured, including 46 seriously, in 720 road accidents that occurred between December 11th and the 17th.
Authorities generally blame road accidents on pedestrians, inadvertence, speed excess and non-respect of road regulations.
During the last ten years, road accidents increased at a yearly basis of 3%, causing enormous economic losses. They cost the State about USD 1.2 billion a year, that is 2.5% of the GDP.
In a new deal, some 700 artists will be covered by health insurance and it is envisaged that the scheme will expand to cover all professionals in the sector. Half of the beneficiaries are married and have children -- priority has been given to artists who make a living from their art and have no other insurance.
According to a report in Magharebia, the first beneficiaries started receiving insurance payouts last week. Health coverage will be available to artists in all spheres -- whether they belong to the Moroccan cultural coalition, other unions or associations, or have no affiliation. The cost of the operation is 4m dirhams, which has been funded by the culture ministry. Annual premiums will be paid by the artists.
The coverage will expand in the years ahead to allow non-insured artists to benefit from health coverage and life insurance. This requires all artists’ names and ages to be collected so that their enrollment form can be completed. Prime Minister Driss Jettou indicated that the government was working to make this scheme generally available as quickly as possible.
The implementation of the medical cover scheme for artists represents a recognition of the arts and creative activities and is intended to promote artistic production and cultural events and put a cultural industry in place.
On Monday, participants in a Rabat meeting entitled "All for the Reconciliation of the Public and the Fight Against Violence in Soccer Stadiums", voiced concern over what they described as "the alarming increase" of this phenomenon in recent years in Morocco.
Experts warned against the fact that violence is no longer limited to soccer fields, where players, referees and supporters are victims of vandalism, but affects even persons and properties outside stadiums.
Researcher in sports economy,Mohamed Kaach, pointed out that hooliganism also undermines the financial situation of clubs, with loss of sponsorship as supporters desert stadiums for fear of being victim of violence.
For Mohamed El Guertili, from the national soccer league (GNF) the reasons that stir up hooliganism lie in inappropriate judgments by a referee, or the unappreciated behavior of a coach, a player or a manager of a club, adding that only 5% of the public commits such "infamous acts."
The GNF representative said the league held the meeting, in presence of the different stakeholders, to elaborate a strategy to fight violence based on awareness raising, through the media and for the creation of awards to encourage fair-play.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
Morocco insists that Sahrawis are imprisoned in Tindouf to shore up Polisario's power, but no international organization says this is so.
Rather, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees said the refugee camps are well-run and most people there support self-determination. Do you have any Moroccan sources for Polisario "atrocities"?
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