Mr. Arne L. Lynngaard, leader of the Rafto Foundation was deported from Western Sahara last night. Together with four other Norwegians, he was escorted by Moroccan police to Agadir. The Norwegian delegation is urging Norwegian authorities to respond to the deportation, and to the arrest of Saharawi human-rights activist. (6-JULY-2005)
Mr. Lynngaard was in Western Sahara to monitor a trial against 16 human-rights activist. He and four other Norwegians had been given permission to attend the trial by a local judge. On Monday night, one of the delegations liasions, Mr. Latif Allal, was arrested. When the delegation tried to locate him through Moroccan police, they were told that they would be expelled, partly because the Moroccans could not guarantee their safety, and partly because they had made contact with the Saharawi opposition. Last night, Moroccan police forcefully put the Norwegian delegation into two taxis, and started to escort them towards the Moroccan border.
The members are now urging Norwegian authorities to take some kind of action against Morocco. They fear for the safety of Mr. Allal, who is said to have been released, after being badly beaten .
Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. The Saharawi people have been oppressed, and even peaceful demonstrations have been met with violence by Moroccan police.
The Rafto-prize was awarded Mr. Sidi Mohammed Daddach in 2002. Mr. Daddach is a Saharawi human-rights activist. Morocco protested against the award.
