Arrest and repression in Western Sahara

26 Dec 2007 | Information/Update

El-Ayoune-Western Sahara

The sit-in of the families of the 15 disappeared Saharawi of December 25, 2005, was violently repressed yesterday, Tuesday, December 25, 2007, at the avenue of Smara in El-Ayoune. Families who wanted to celebrate the memory of their 15 children have been subjected to brutal and violent intervention causing several casualties with different degrees of injuries:
- Hassan Ould Sidi Hiba
- Abdati Lebeich Ould Sidi Hiba
- Hiba
- Salma Ould Saleh Ould Bouchalga
- Souad – Ment Lebeich Ould Sidi Hiba
- Elbacha Ment Babeit
- Ment-Anna Lebeich Ould Sidi Hiba
- Rabab – Ment Sidi Bachir Hiba
- Laaroussi Ould Elwali Ould Babou
- Said Hadad-Mustapha
- Mohamed Ali Hadad

In addition, the house of Mr. Sidi Mahmoud Ould Boutanguiza, a trade union activist, was surrounded all the day of yesterday. Two of the 15 disappeared are the children of the family Boutanguiza.

Also, the Moroccan police arrested today Wednesday, December 26, 2007, to Smara, Mr. Said Elballal, an activist for human rights and a student who has just completed his studies at the Mohamed V University in Rabat. The police alleged that Mr. Said Elballal is being sought since the events of the last May during which a group of Saharawi students in Rabat were arrested and sentenced to sentences varying between 4 and 8 months.

Likewise the home of a member of the executive bureau of ASVDH, Mr. Mayara Mohamed, was placed under control of the Moroccan police since this morning. The family of Mr. Mayara asserts that certain officers of the Moroccan police came to enquire about their child.