769:
directly faced Najir Hotel, where United
Nations personnel stayed during their visits. The square was also symbolic because of its past history: in 1970, the Spanish army had killed a group of Sahrawis protesting for independence in the square. The students were also joined by Sahrawi political prisoners, arguing for compensation and an end to the common "disappearances" of other political activists. Shortly, they were also joined by Sahrawi mine workers and Sahrawi members of the "National Association of Unemployed University Graduates" in Morocco. The demonstrators occupied al-Zamlah Square for 12 days before Moroccan officials responded, sending police to break up the protest, beating protesters, and arresting many; some Sahrawis were reportedly driven out into the desert and left there.
115:
691:
336:
795:
collective, and Ali Salem Tamek, vice president, were both organizers of the
Sahrawi plight. Also in January 2004, Moroccan King Mohammed released and pardoned twelve Sahrawi activists, some of whom had been involved in the Sahara Branch of the Truth and Justice Forum. By 2005, however, discussions for peace negotiations had reached a standstill. Out of this, a new wave of Sahrawi nonviolent protest erupted, in what is known as the Second Sahrawi Intifada or Independence Intifada.
1499:
143:
773:
rounded up many more in the early months of 2000. Though security forces released the prisoners fairly quickly, Sahrawi activists accused the police of torture and other maltreatment during detainment. Throughout the First
Intifada, Sahrawi protests attracted other Moroccan settlers. Witnessing the violence and injustices, many of Morocco's own Sahrawis became disillusioned with Moroccan government policy.
740:(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 ceasefire continues to hold despite remaining tensions. Morocco controls the majority of the territory, with Polisario forces controlling a rump. A UN mission,
782:
The
Moroccan government had little tolerance towards the Sahara Branch, stating that it was a pro-independence campaigner, and in November 2002, Moroccan courts created legislation to outlaw the organization. Protests persisted throughout the years 2000 to 2004, but small peace developments were made during the time period (such as the
772:
Sahrawi activists organized another protest five days later in which they demanded independence and a referendum. It is claimed that in response, Moroccan officials authorized local thugs to ransack
Sahrawi homes and businesses. State security forces arrested 150 demonstrators during the protest, and
764:
Since political liberalization, intermittent protests have broken out and pro-Polisario groups have declared minor "intifadas" in 1999 and 2000, often resulting in dozens of demonstrators being arrested. The First
Sahrawi Intifada began in late 1999 and was characterized by large-scale protests. King
768:
In early
September 1999, Sahrawi students held a sit-in at al-Zamlah Square in al-'Ayun, the capital of the territory, demanding scholarships and transportation subsidies to Moroccan universities located in northern Morocco. Many students sat in a constant vigil underneath tents in the square, which
781:
In
November 1999, Sahrawi political activists, who had been jailed and "disappeared", formed the Truth and Justice Forum, which sought government redress of human rights violations and injustices. A branch of this group was formed in al-'Ayun, Western Sahara, by Sahrawi activists on 26 August 2000.
794:
In
January 2004, Sahrawi political activist groups united under the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders. The collective demanded the formation of an international commission of inquiry to investigate human rights injustices in the Western Sahara. Aminatou Haidar, the president of the
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751:
have been a frequent response to civil protest. The political climate gradually relaxed in the 1990s after the ceasefire, and following considerable liberalization in
Morocco proper.
371:
1453:
221:
605:
741:
615:
1392:
532:
285:
862:
732:(SADR) in Polisario-controlled areas of Western Sahara. In 1991, a ceasefire between Polisario and Morocco was agreed upon, on the condition of a referendum on
610:
786:
of 2003, which was the United Nation's proposal to grant self-determination to the territory), influencing activist mindsets and the protest environment.
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1202:
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671:
214:
949:
1172:
466:
207:
1303:
527:
472:
280:
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Sahrawi political activity in the Moroccan-controlled parts of Western Sahara remains severely restricted, and police crackdowns and
1351:
809:
The Independence Intifada refers to a series of disturbances, demonstrations, and riots that broke out in May 2005 in the Moroccan-
1366:
967:
950:"Sahrawis campaign for independence in the second intifada, Western Sahara, 2005-2008 | Global Nonviolent Action Database"
804:
308:
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1059:
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451:
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163:
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1402:
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522:
275:
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Hassan II, who had pledged democracy and reform, had died on 23 July, creating a new political atmosphere.
718:
596:
581:
456:
446:
384:
900:
1257:
881:
365:
1523:
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863:"Sahrawis campaign for human rights and independence in the first intifada, Western Sahara, 1999–2004"
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Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.
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728:. In 1976, the main Sahrawi movement, the Polisario Front, declared statehood of the
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1018:
552:
153:
81:
1361:
1308:
1217:
1177:
1141:
1136:
1101:
714:
694:
Status quo in Western Sahara since 1991 cease-fire: most under Moroccan control (
625:
410:
379:
355:
1222:
1207:
1182:
1167:
1121:
1111:
1096:
841:
814:
721:
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497:
389:
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245:
119:
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51:
335:
1517:
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1197:
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1116:
415:
1313:
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1227:
1044:
968:"Amnesty International - Library - Report 2004 - Morocco / Western Sahara"
698:), with inner Polisario-controlled areas forming the Sahrawi Arab Republic
199:
1318:
1293:
1288:
569:
1283:
1106:
783:
635:
1412:
1323:
1252:
492:
986:"Amnesty International – REPORT 1999: MOROCCO AND WESTERN SAHARA"
725:
710:
461:
142:
55:
307:. It began in 1999 and lasted until 2004, transforming into the
1278:
713:
in 1975, as Spain pulled out. This sparked a war with the
129:
National Association of Unemployed University Graduates
1019:"Western Sahara - Sahara Occidental -Droits humains"
1515:
901:"Western Sahara Between Autonomy and Intifada"
1060:
1040:Western Sahara Between Autonomy and Intifada.
665:
215:
905:Middle East Research and Information Project
717:, which, according to the UN, represent the
1074:
860:
229:
1067:
1053:
789:
672:
658:
222:
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724:population; it was backed by neighboring
882:"Western Sahara — the next desert storm"
689:
776:
1516:
944:
942:
940:
938:
936:
934:
805:Independence Intifada (Western Sahara)
281:Western Saharan clashes (2020–present)
1048:
932:
930:
928:
926:
924:
922:
920:
918:
916:
914:
898:
203:
42:main phase: September 1999–early 2000
1367:National Human Rights Council (CNDH)
879:
303:forms part of the wider and ongoing
16:Part of the Western Sahara conflict
13:
911:
452:Political status of Western Sahara
374:Saguia el Hamra and Wadi el Dhahab
14:
1585:
1033:
867:Global nonviolent action database
754:
1498:
1497:
759:
744:, patrols the demarcation line.
730:Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
334:
141:
113:
880:Rice, Xan (14 September 2010).
187:Hundreds arrested, some wounded
66:Respect of Sahrawi human rights
1429:Human rights in Western Sahara
1011:
992:
978:
970:. 14 June 2004. Archived from
960:
899:Mundy, Jacob (16 March 2007).
892:
873:
854:
827:Human rights in Western Sahara
372:Movement for the Liberation of
1:
1398:Years of Lead (Hassan II-era)
847:
314:
276:2011 Western Saharan protests
798:
457:Foreign relations of Morocco
447:Annexation of Western Sahara
385:Sahrawi National Union Party
7:
1258:Temara interrogation centre
820:
366:Moroccan Army of Liberation
164:Groupes urbains de sécurité
96:Sahrawi uprising suppressed
10:
1590:
1534:Protests in Western Sahara
1529:Politics of Western Sahara
869:. Elliana Bisgaard-Church.
861:Bisgaard-Church, Elliana.
802:
683:
159:Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
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1421:
1375:
1342:
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954:nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu
817:and in southern Morocco.
686:History of Western Sahara
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1544:Western Sahara conflict
1263:Ain Aouda secret prison
1076:Human rights in Morocco
832:Human rights in Morocco
790:Reconciliation attempts
328:Western Sahara conflict
322:Part of a series on the
305:Western Sahara conflict
271:Gdeim Izik protest camp
266:Second Sahrawi Intifada
233:Western Sahara conflict
31:Western Sahara conflict
1574:2004 in Western Sahara
1569:2003 in Western Sahara
1564:2002 in Western Sahara
1559:2001 in Western Sahara
1554:2000 in Western Sahara
1549:1999 in Western Sahara
699:
641:Manhasset negotiations
473:Royal Advisory Council
301:First Sahrawi Intifada
261:First Sahrawi Intifada
1408:Daniel Galván scandal
749:forced disappearances
736:of Moroccan-occupied
693:
616:UN referendum mission
513:Independence Intifada
309:Independence Intifada
177:Casualties and losses
24:Independence Intifada
1388:1965 students revolt
1329:Soulaimane Raissouni
777:Political regrouping
621:ICJ Advisory Opinion
528:2020–present clashes
523:Arab Spring protests
467:Politics of the SADR
1334:Internet censorship
1193:Abdelkader Belliraj
1005:2001-2009.state.gov
611:UN visiting mission
565:Sahrawi nationality
475:for Saharan Affairs
395:Partition agreement
148:Moroccan government
1403:2011–2012 Protests
738:Southern Provinces
734:self-determination
700:
696:Southern Provinces
503:Western Sahara War
426:Tiris al-Gharbiyya
421:Southern Provinces
361:Greater Mauritania
256:Western Sahara War
251:Sahrawi insurgency
1524:Conflicts in 1999
1511:
1510:
1383:Rif revolt (1957)
1272:Freedom of speech
1241:
1240:
886:The New Statesman
709:, was annexed by
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646:Autonomy Proposal
631:Houston Agreement
575:Moroccan settlers
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198:
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1132:Omar El Khattabi
1087:
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1001:"Western Sahara"
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974:on 14 June 2004.
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811:controlled parts
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82:Civil resistance
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1439:Second Intifada
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1371:
1362:Ali Salem Tamek
1344:
1338:
1309:Ahmed Benchemsi
1267:
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1218:Ahmed Benseddik
1203:Kaddour Terhzaz
1178:Ali Salem Tamek
1151:Mohammed VI-era
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1142:Aminatou Haidar
1137:Abdelkrim Motii
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626:Settlement Plan
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411:Saguia el-Hamra
380:Polisario Front
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356:Greater Morocco
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1223:Nasser Zefzafi
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1188:Fouad Mourtada
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907:. Jacob Mundy.
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837:Years of lead
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1433:
1314:Driss Ksikes
1233:Maati Monjib
1228:Salima Ziani
1023:www.arso.org
1022:
1013:
1004:
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972:the original
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746:
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587:Human rights
507:
300:
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260:
139:
111:
18:
1319:Rachid Niny
1294:Ali Lmrabet
1289:Ali Anouzla
1213:Ali Aarrass
888:. Xan Rice.
705:, formerly
570:Green March
93:Resulted in
54:, south of
1518:Categories
1471:Land mines
1449:AFAPREDESA
1107:Fqih Basri
848:References
784:Baker Plan
719:indigenous
636:Baker Plan
518:Gdeim Izik
416:RĂo de Oro
343:Background
315:Background
122:activists
1539:Intifadas
1413:Hirak Rif
1324:Omar Radi
1253:Tazmamart
799:Aftermath
431:Free Zone
311:in 2005.
40:1999–2004
1503:Category
1478:Refugees
1304:Ali Amar
821:See also
553:Refugees
533:Timeline
493:Ifni War
439:Politics
286:Timeline
47:Location
29:Part of
1459:BIRDSHO
1376:History
742:MINURSO
726:Algeria
722:Sahrawi
711:Morocco
484:Clashes
462:Makhzen
403:Regions
120:Sahrawi
101:Parties
86:Rioting
71:Methods
56:Morocco
1284:Lakome
544:Issues
1454:ASVDH
1279:L7a9d
1083:Cases
558:camps
63:Goals
1352:AMDH
299:The
37:Date
813:of
1520::
1021:.
1003:.
952:.
913:^
903:.
884:.
865:.
1068:e
1061:t
1054:v
1025:.
1007:.
988:.
956:.
673:e
666:t
659:v
223:e
216:t
209:v
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