Sahrawi association decries human rights violations by Polisario
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/14/2003

A Sahrawi Association has sent an open letter to James Baker, Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Sahara, attracting his attention to the serious human rights violations committed by the Polisario leadership in the Tindouf camps, south-western Algeria.

These violations are committed by the very leadership of Polisario, "with whom you will hold talks," part of the coming tour in the Maghreb, the Association of the Victims of the Human Rights Violations committed by the Polisario said in the letter, a copy of which was sent to MAP news agency.

Baker will start on Tuesday a tour to Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Tindouf camps. Part of his tour, scheduled for January 14-17, Baker will hold meetings with government officials in Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania as well as with the leadership of the Polisario front.

He will present and explain to the parties concerned and to the neighbor countries a proposal to find a political solution to the Sahara conflict.

The association lauded the efforts made by Baker to bring closer the views of the parties concerned. Recalling the options Baker had proposed to settle the Sahara issue, the Association blamed the Polisario and Algeria of foiling the UN Envoy's efforts by trying to make populations from the Algerian areas of Bechar and Tindouf participate in the self-determination referendum.

The association underlined that the partition option, proposed by Algeria, is unacceptable, as it induces the separation of Sahrawi families.

"85 percent of the populations living in Tindouf are of Algerian descent," the association said, deploring that large numbers of Sahrawis, born in the Sahara, died in the jails of the Polisario.

The association added it pins great expectations on Baker to show understanding to its concern over the human rights violations committed by the Polisario.

It recalled that Amnesty International had passed resolutions against the Polisario leaders in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for crimes against the Sahrawi population and requested Algeria to bring them before court, based on the fact that Algeria is signatory to the Geneva Convention.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco says it is ready to listen to U.N. envoy's proposals on Sahara   (1/10/2003)
  James Baker tours maghreb next week   (1/7/2003)
  Algerian-Moroccan problems continue to hinder holding Maghreb summit   (1/4/2003)

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