WESTERN SAHARA: LETTER TO SECRETARY RICE FROM

UNCLAS RABAT 002218 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CAPTION) STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PBTS PHUM PINR MO SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: LETTER TO SECRETARY RICE FROM SAHRAWI DISSIDENT REF: RABAT 2098 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified, protect accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) The evening of October 25, emboffs met with 10 Sahrawi dissidents in Laayoune, Western Sahara, as part of our regular reporting and fact-finding visits to the territory (details of the discussion to follow septel). During the meeting, former political prisoner Mohamed Dadach gave to Poloff the following letter addressed to Secretary Rice, written in Arabic. ¶3. (SBU) Begin informal embassy translation: Dear Madame Secretary, Due to the effective role that you have always played to provide just treatment for the victims and to stand with oppressed nations, I am pleased to write you this letter requesting your immediate intervention to save 37 Sahrawi political detainees whose health conditions are deteriorating and who have been subject to inhuman treatment by the prison headmasters and the civil servants. On October 20, the 37 Sahrawi political detainees decided to resume their open-ended hunger strike to denounce the continuous harassment that both the detainees and their families are subjected to. It is worth noting that on September 29, 2005 Sahrawi political detainees suspended a 52-day hunger strike. The Sahrawi political prisoners in the Black Prison (Embassy note: The popular name for Laayoune Prison is a holdover from the days of Spanish rule in the Western Sahara, when the prison was known as "Casa Negre." End Note.) started their unlimited hunger strike protesting the barbarous treatment they are subjected to by the prison administration. They are put in cells where the simplest conditions of treatment are not provided; they are subjected to inhuman treatment by the prison headmasters and the civil servants; they are deprived of visits (from) their families and friends; they are deprived of their right to medical treatment and (are placed) in one cell; and those subjected to torture are left alone in cells. We call for the immediate release of the detainees, especially since most of them have not been accused (of a crime). Signed, Sidi Mohamed Dadach ¶4. (SBU) Biographical Note: Mohamed Dadach was imprisoned for his support of the independence of the Western Sahara for approximately 20 years. He was pardoned by King Mohammed VI in 2000. He received the Rafto Award from Norway in 2002. He is a well-known Sahrawi human rights activist. End Biographical Note. RILEY