Sahrawi dignitaries asks US Congress staffers to intervene for release of sequestered populations
Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2001

A group of heads of Sahrawi tribes and former officials of the Polisario group- which claims the independence of Moroccan southern provinces- have asked a delegation of US congress staffers to intervene for the release of populations sequestered in the Tindouf camps, Southwestern Algerian.

In a meeting held on Friday, the group of heads of Sahrawi tribes, persons who fled the sequestration camps and representatives of local non-governmental associations asked the US congress staffers to take action for an end to the blockade enforced against Moroccan Sahrawis and to the plight and sufferings which have been going on for several years.

Several persons who were forcibly held in the camps before returning back to Morocco talked about the atrocities and inhuman conditions in the camps and invited the US staffers to promote the cause of prisoners and other kidnapped persons held in the camps, where they are subjected to all forms of torture and ruthless behaviors.

They also surveyed the history of "the artificial problem created during the clod war era and the stages covered by Morocco to recover the territories and perfect its territorial integrity thanks to the historical bounds linking the populations of southern Morocco to the glorious Alawite throne.

Representatives of local women associations also took the floor during the meeting to deplore the tragic situation of women in the sequestration camps. They said women are forced to give birth to children and are separated from their husbands. Drawing a comparison with Sahrawi women in Morocco, they said they are given a chance to participate in the economic, social and political life and are given access to literacy courses and to information on reproductive health.

The 11-member US delegation comprises both Republican and Democrat staffers.

Previous Stories:
  French former minister: internal autonomy regime to settled Sahara issue   (4/11/2001)
  Morocco's ambassador in Lisbon denounces Polisario's war and violence logic   (4/7/2001)
  King Mohammed issues instructions to promote situation of sahara populations   (4/5/2001)

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