A week of culture and solidarity with the Saharawi people in Zeralda
05/08/2008

A week of culture and solidarity with the Saharawi people under the slogan: "The city of Zeralda: a space of culture and solidarity with the Saharawi people" started on Sunday in Zeralda (West Algiers).

Many cultural activities are scheduled and will be animated by Saharawi musical band "Noujoum Esmara" (the Stars of Smara), who animated the official inauguration of the demonstration that was attended by representative of the Algerian civil society, academics, parliamentarians and local elected officials, in addition to Saharawi students and representatives of civil society.

During this week of solidarity many conferences are programmed to discuss many themes related to freedom, democracy, humanitarian questions, human rights and the struggles of the colonised peoples, the organisers indicated.

This event will be an "occasion to put forwards the noble values of good neighbourhood, security, stability, brotherhood and peace", the organisers said.

On the other hand, a space was prepared in the seat of the Algerian National Agency for Leisure and Youth (ANALJ) to hold the different activities in the event, including a photos exposition on the Moroccan human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

In a statement on the occasion of the opening ceremony, the Secretary General of the Algerian National Organisation of the Sons of Martyrs (ONEC) and president of the Algerian-Saharawi Parliamentarian group, Mr. Tayeb el-Houari, affirmed that the question of Western Sahara is "a part of the activism of the Algerian people, who support all the peoples that struggle for freedom and independence".

On his side, the President of the Municipality of Algiers-Centre, Mr. Tayeb Zitouni, underlined that this event is a "platform to express solidarity with the Saharawi people for the recovery of their national sovereignty, and a platform of solidarity with all just causes".