Amnesty International to move toward the liberalization of moroccan POWs in Algeria
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/1/2003

Amnesty International (AI) will start on September 6 a train of actions to free the Moroccan POWs sequestered in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria), a representative of the organization announced here on Saturday at a forum part of the "Moroccan Sahara Week" that is organized in Brussels

"It is scandalous to use persons as hostages," noted the AI representative, adding that the AI general secretariat will discuss with the Polisario (Algeria-backed secessionist group) and Algeria, the liberation of the prisoners, some of whom are being held for more than 27 years in inhuman conditions.

During the forum, governor in charge of coordination with Minurso (French acronym of the UN mission in the Sahara) and ex-member of the Polisario political bureau, Mustapha Bouh Barazani, and NGOs presidents and former detained in Tindouf denounced Polisario's utilization of POWs for personal enrichment, underlining that the leaders of the secessionist group are the ones who mostly profit of the humanitarian aid destined to the sequestered populations.

It has to do with thousands of sequestered that are held against their will in the camps and who will not hesitate to run away to regain their country, they stressed, denouncing the dreadful conditions in which Moroccan POWs live in southwestern Algeria and who are used for forced labor works.

Participants were particularly touched by the testimony of Faysal, son of a detained in Tindouf since 1979, who said he does not remember his father's face and who is only in touch with him via ICRC.

On the fringes of the forum, the Moroccan delegation, led by Hamid Ghabar, had intensive contacts with Belgian political officials, notably chairwoman of the Humanist Democratic Center, Joelle Milquet, and minister president of Brussels region, Daniel Ducarme, who led the "passport of liberty" campaign in favor the Moroccan POW, Mimoune Zeggai.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan POW tells story of horror in Polisario jails   (6/28/2003)
  Morocco calls UNHCR to release moroccans sequestered in tindouf   (6/26/2003)
  Morocco, Algeria convene 1st session of joint consular, social affairs committee   (6/26/2003)

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