Morocco exacts unconditional release of Moroccans detained on Algerian soil
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/14/2002

Morocco exacts the unconditional release and repatriation of the 1362 Moroccans still detained on Algerian soil in the Polisario jails, Moroccan secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation.

The statement was made by Taib Fassi Fihri, secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, at a meeting Wednesday in Rabat with regional delegate of the International Red Cross Committee, Pierre Ryter.

A statement by the Moroccan foreign department quoted Fassi Fihri as saying 1362 Moroccans are still detained on Algerian soil in the Polisario jails, in alarming conditions and that most of the detainees have been imprisoned for more than 20 years.

He insisted that the Moroccan government is exacting and claiming their release and repatriation, unconditionally and without delay, in line with international regulations.

Morocco's stand of principle has always been to see all the detainees released, he said, pointing out that the long detention of the detainees has seriously affected their physical and moral Health.

The IRCC delegate renewed that the continuous detention of the Moroccan citizens is a serious humanitarian problem and that this detention is in total contradiction with the provisions of international humanitarian law, mainly the 1949 Third Geneva Convention.

The Algerian-backed Polisario separatists are claiming the independence of the Moroccan Sahara, that was formerly under Spanish rule, and that was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords.

Fassi Fihri, who lauded the IRCC for its endeavors to repatriate the Moroccan nationals, denounced the propaganda campaigns waged by the separatists and the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity.

These campaigns, he insisted, are meant to create amalgams and to spread confusion between the outrageous and excruciating situation of the Moroccan detainees in Algeria and the allegations regarding the disappearance of presumed members of the separatist group.

Pierre Ryter voiced appreciation for the cooperation shown by Moroccan authorities that mainly enabled the IRCC to conduct an identification mission last November 2-6, in Morocco to shelve the dossiers of 24 Moroccans of Sahrawi origin, having been allegedly reported missing by the separatists.

The IRCC delegate had actually made a trip to the Moroccan Sahara provinces and met the 24 concerned persons who live freely and normally in the Moroccan southern provinces, as was formally witnessed by the IRCC, which released an official statement on the matter.

The Moroccan Secretary of State equally denounced the way the media exploited the social unrest events that took place in the southern provinces and that were contained, saying the separatists exploit such events to doubtful political ends.

As an evidence to this doubtful exploitation, he mentioned the letter that was recently sent by the separatists to the IRCC chief, wherein they tried to justify the continued detention of the 1362 Moroccan nationals by fallacious arguments, despite the repeated calls by the IRCC, the UN secretary general and the Security Council for the release, unconditionally and without delay of all the detainees.

This letter, Fassi Fihri said, is part of the propaganda strategy and media activism waged by the opponents to Morocco's territorial integrity, the aim being to hamper the huge efforts being currently made to reach a final settlement to the Moroccan Sahara issue.

Ryter voiced appreciation for the various working sessions he held with Moroccan governmental officials, part of the efforts to disseminate International humanitarian law in all concerned sectors in Morocco.

Previous Stories:
  Association calls for inquiry in siphoning of parcels sent to Moroccan prisoners detained in Algeria   (2/4/2002)
  Morocco renews demand for immediate release of all Moroccans detained in Algeria   (1/11/2002)
  Moroccan association launches international campaign for release of prisoners held by separatists   (1/7/2002)

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