The Independence Intifada[1] or the Second Sahrawi Intifada (intifada is Arabic for "uprising") and also May Intifada[3] is a Sahrawi activist term for a series of disturbances, demonstrations and riots that broke out in May 2005[citation needed] in the Moroccan-controlled parts of Western Sahara and south of Morocco. This event has also been called The El-Aaiun Intifada by the same sources.[citation needed]
Western Sahara, formerly Spanish Sahara, was annexed by Morocco in 1975, as Spain pulled out. A war with the Polisario Front, which according to the UN represent the indigenousSahrawi population, and was backed by neighboring Algeria, ensued. In 1991 a cease-fire was agreed upon, on the condition of a referendum on self-determination (including the options of independence or integration into Morocco). Since 1991 the terms of a referendum have been subject to years of dispute between the parties, although the cease-fire continues to hold despite remaining tensions. Morocco controls the majority of the territory, with Polisario forces controlling a rump. A UN mission MINURSO mission patrols the demarcation line.
Sahrawi political activity in the Moroccan-controlled parts of Western Sahara remains severely restricted, and police crackdowns and forced disappearances were a frequent response to civil protest.[2] The political climate gradually relaxed in the 1990s, after the cease-fire, and following considerable liberalization in Morocco proper. Since political liberalisation, intermittent protests have broken out and pro-Polisario groups have declaring minor "intifadas" in 1999 and 2000, often resulting in dozens of demonstrators being arrested.[3][4]
Demonstrations and arrestsEdit
Demonstrations began on 21 May 2005 in El Aaiún, after relatives protesting the transfer of a Sahrawi prisoner accused of drug dealing and insulting the Moroccan monarchy to a prison in Agadir were violently dispersed by police, provoking further demonstrations over the next several days. Protests spread by the end of May to other towns in the Western Sahara, such as Smara and Dakhla, and were accompanied by demonstrations by Sahrawi students living in Moroccan cities such as Agadir, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech and Rabat. Moroccan public security units quelled the disturbances, although some subsequent pro-independence demonstrations have subsequently flared up, most recently reported in November 2005. On 30 October 2005, a first fatality was recorded when 31-year-old Hamdi Lembarki died after what human rights organizations assured was police brutality during his arrest, although at first Moroccan authorities attributed his death to an accident.[4][5]
Over a hundred pro-Polisario Sahrawi protesters were reported arrested by Moroccan authorities by international human rights, and approximately thirty demonstrators and well-known Sahrawi human rights-activists have been imprisoned after summary trials.[5] Among them are the former political prisoner Ali Salem Tamek (who did not partake directly in any demonstrations, but was arrested when returning from abroad), human rights-activist Mohamed Elmoutaoikil, and Aminatou Haidar, a former disappeared. An international campaign for her release was signed by 178 members of the European Parliament, and she was nominated as a candidate for the Sakharov Prize.[6][7][third-party source needed] A 50-day hunger strike of all the arrested Sahrawis put the health of several at risk, and the action was aborted.
On 14 December 2005, 14 pro-independence Sahrawis and human-rights activists, including the activists mentioned above and most of the remaining pro-Polisario Sahrawi political leadership, were sentenced to between six months and three years in prison by an El-Aaiún court, on charges of disturbing public order, membership of illegal associations, incitement to unrest, damaging public property and rioting.[8] They denied the charges of using violence. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had expressed serious concern over the trials, pointing to reports of torture and previous abuse of some of the prisoners.[9][10]
International reactionsEdit
Several international human rights-organizations have shown interest in alleged Moroccan abuse of Sahrawi demonstrators. Amnesty International has demanded an investigation into reports of torture of prisoners and called for fair trials, and the release of political prisoners.[11] This has been echoed by Human Rights Watch and others.[12]
Morocco has limited journalists' and diplomats' access to the territory, claiming that their public presence is used by pro-Polisario activists to trigger more riots. Investigative missions from European countries have been denied access to the territory, including several high-ranking parliamentary delegations and foreign ambassadors to Morocco.[13] Several foreign journalists, mainly European, but also al Jazeera correspondents, were expelled after interviewing protesters, and others have been prevented from visiting it.[6] In November 2005, Moroccan authorities shut down a number of pro-independence or pro-Polisario Internet sites. This was condemned by Reporters Without Borders as an example of internet censorship.[14]
The European Parliament voted 98 in favor, 1 abstention and 0 votes against an October 2005 resolution that "deplored" expulsions of journalists covering the uprising and demanded the "immediate release" of political prisoners.[15]
^Sahara, Western. "Sahrawis campaign for independence in the second intifada, Western Sahara, 2005-2008". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Elliana Bisgaard-Church.
^sahara, Western (2010). "Sovereignty on Borrowed Territory: Sahrawi Identity in Algeria". Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. Randa Farah. 11 (2): 59–66. JSTOR 43133843.
^2005 County Reports on Human Rights Practices – Morocco – Respect of Human rights US Department of State
^Luis de Vega (1 November 2005). "Un joven detenido por la Policía, primera víctima mortal de la "Intifada saharaui"" (in Spanish). ABC. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
^"RSF denuncia las condiciones de trabajo de los periodistas en el Sahara Occidental" (in Spanish). IFEX (Reporters Without Borders). 17 June 2005. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
^ Western Sahara Human Rights – LISTE des PRISONNIERS et CONDAMNES au cours de l'INTIFADA 2005 (in French)
^ Western Sahara Human Rights – FREE AMINATOU HAIDAR
^ Western Sahara Human Rights – Members of the European Parliament who support the International Campaign for the liberation of AMINATOU HAIDAR and of all Saharawi political prisoners
^ Reuters – Morocco jails Western Sahara activists over riots[dead link]
^ Human Rights Watch – Morocco/Western Sahara: Activists Need Fair Trial
^ European Parliament resolution on human rights in Western Sahara
External linksEdit
New arrests and allegations of torture of Sahrawi human rights defenders Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Letter to King Mohamed VI Human Rights Watch
October 24, 2023
second, sahrawi, intifada, independence, intifada, intifada, arabic, uprising, also, intifada, sahrawi, activist, term, series, disturbances, demonstrations, riots, that, broke, 2005, citation, needed, moroccan, controlled, parts, western, sahara, south, moroc. The Independence Intifada 1 or the Second Sahrawi Intifada intifada is Arabic for uprising and also May Intifada 3 is a Sahrawi activist term for a series of disturbances demonstrations and riots that broke out in May 2005 citation needed in the Moroccan controlled parts of Western Sahara and south of Morocco This event has also been called The El Aaiun Intifada by the same sources citation needed Independence IntifadaPart of Western Sahara conflictDate21 May 14 December 2005LocationWestern Sahara south of MoroccoCaused byTransfer of a Sahrawi prisoner from El Aaiun to AgadirGoalsIndependence of Western Sahara Respect of human rightsMethodsDemonstrations Civil resistance RiotingResulted inSahrawi failure to gain independence 1 2 PartiesIndependentist Sahrawis Moroccan government Auxiliary Forces Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Groupes urbains de securiteNumberHundreds citation needed Casualties and losses1 civilian killeddozens wounded citation needed Contents 1 Background 2 Demonstrations and arrests 3 International reactions 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditMain article History of Western Sahara Western Sahara formerly Spanish Sahara was annexed by Morocco in 1975 as Spain pulled out A war with the Polisario Front which according to the UN represent the indigenous Sahrawi population and was backed by neighboring Algeria ensued In 1991 a cease fire was agreed upon on the condition of a referendum on self determination including the options of independence or integration into Morocco Since 1991 the terms of a referendum have been subject to years of dispute between the parties although the cease fire continues to hold despite remaining tensions Morocco controls the majority of the territory with Polisario forces controlling a rump A UN mission MINURSO mission patrols the demarcation line Sahrawi political activity in the Moroccan controlled parts of Western Sahara remains severely restricted and police crackdowns and forced disappearances were a frequent response to civil protest 2 The political climate gradually relaxed in the 1990s after the cease fire and following considerable liberalization in Morocco proper Since political liberalisation intermittent protests have broken out and pro Polisario groups have declaring minor intifadas in 1999 and 2000 often resulting in dozens of demonstrators being arrested 3 4 Demonstrations and arrests EditDemonstrations began on 21 May 2005 in El Aaiun after relatives protesting the transfer of a Sahrawi prisoner accused of drug dealing and insulting the Moroccan monarchy to a prison in Agadir were violently dispersed by police provoking further demonstrations over the next several days Protests spread by the end of May to other towns in the Western Sahara such as Smara and Dakhla and were accompanied by demonstrations by Sahrawi students living in Moroccan cities such as Agadir Casablanca Fes Marrakech and Rabat Moroccan public security units quelled the disturbances although some subsequent pro independence demonstrations have subsequently flared up most recently reported in November 2005 On 30 October 2005 a first fatality was recorded when 31 year old Hamdi Lembarki died after what human rights organizations assured was police brutality during his arrest although at first Moroccan authorities attributed his death to an accident 4 5 Over a hundred pro Polisario Sahrawi protesters were reported arrested by Moroccan authorities by international human rights and approximately thirty demonstrators and well known Sahrawi human rights activists have been imprisoned after summary trials 5 Among them are the former political prisoner Ali Salem Tamek who did not partake directly in any demonstrations but was arrested when returning from abroad human rights activist Mohamed Elmoutaoikil and Aminatou Haidar a former disappeared An international campaign for her release was signed by 178 members of the European Parliament and she was nominated as a candidate for the Sakharov Prize 6 7 third party source needed A 50 day hunger strike of all the arrested Sahrawis put the health of several at risk and the action was aborted On 14 December 2005 14 pro independence Sahrawis and human rights activists including the activists mentioned above and most of the remaining pro Polisario Sahrawi political leadership were sentenced to between six months and three years in prison by an El Aaiun court on charges of disturbing public order membership of illegal associations incitement to unrest damaging public property and rioting 8 They denied the charges of using violence Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had expressed serious concern over the trials pointing to reports of torture and previous abuse of some of the prisoners 9 10 International reactions EditSeveral international human rights organizations have shown interest in alleged Moroccan abuse of Sahrawi demonstrators Amnesty International has demanded an investigation into reports of torture of prisoners and called for fair trials and the release of political prisoners 11 This has been echoed by Human Rights Watch and others 12 Morocco has limited journalists and diplomats access to the territory claiming that their public presence is used by pro Polisario activists to trigger more riots Investigative missions from European countries have been denied access to the territory including several high ranking parliamentary delegations and foreign ambassadors to Morocco 13 Several foreign journalists mainly European but also al Jazeera correspondents were expelled after interviewing protesters and others have been prevented from visiting it 6 In November 2005 Moroccan authorities shut down a number of pro independence or pro Polisario Internet sites This was condemned by Reporters Without Borders as an example of internet censorship 14 The European Parliament voted 98 in favor 1 abstention and 0 votes against an October 2005 resolution that deplored expulsions of journalists covering the uprising and demanded the immediate release of political prisoners 15 Aftermath EditMain articles Gdeim Izik protest camp and 2011 Western Saharan protestsSee also EditHuman rights in Western Sahara Human rights in Morocco Years of lead Zemla Intifada Sahrawi refugee campsReferences Edit Sahara Western Sahrawis campaign for independence in the second intifada Western Sahara 2005 2008 Global Nonviolent Action Database Elliana Bisgaard Church sahara Western 2010 Sovereignty on Borrowed Territory Sahrawi Identity in Algeria Georgetown Journal of International Affairs Randa Farah 11 2 59 66 JSTOR 43133843 Western Sahara Between Autonomy and Intifada 2005 County Reports on Human Rights Practices Morocco Respect of Human rights US Department of State Luis de Vega 1 November 2005 Un joven detenido por la Policia primera victima mortal de la Intifada saharaui in Spanish ABC Retrieved 6 October 2012 RSF denuncia las condiciones de trabajo de los periodistas en el Sahara Occidental in Spanish IFEX Reporters Without Borders 17 June 2005 Retrieved 18 June 2013 An Urgent Appeal Amnesty International REPORT 1999 MOROCCO AND WESTERN SAHARA Amnesty International Morocco Western Sahara Covering events from January December 2003 U S Department of State Western Sahara 2001 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Reuters Policemen held after W Sahara youth s death Amnesty International Morocco Western Sahara Sahrawi human rights defenders under attack Western Sahara Human Rights LISTE des PRISONNIERS et CONDAMNES au cours de l INTIFADA 2005 in French Western Sahara Human Rights FREE AMINATOU HAIDAR Western Sahara Human Rights Members of the European Parliament who support the International Campaign for the liberation of AMINATOU HAIDAR and of all Saharawi political prisoners Reuters Morocco jails Western Sahara activists over riots dead link Human Rights Watch Morocco Western Sahara Activists Need Fair Trial Reporters without borders Morocco puts US censorship busting site Anonymizer com on its black list European Parliament resolution on human rights in Western SaharaExternal links EditNew arrests and allegations of torture of Sahrawi human rights defenders Amnesty International Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders Under Attack Amnesty International Letter to King Mohamed VI Human Rights Watch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Second Sahrawi Intifada amp oldid 1180989380, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
