UN, EU urged to act for immediate release of Moroccan captives in tindouf
Morocco-Regional-UN, Politics, 10/21/2003

Participants in a debate on the "humanitarian situation in Tindouf camps" (southern Algeria) called Saturday the United Nations Secretary General and the European Union to interfere for the immediate release of all Moroccan prisoners held in Tindouf and halt the suffering of the populations forcefully living in exile.

"The action will restore lasting peace in the region and will contribute to the construction of an economic space cherished by all populations in the region," said participants in the debate that was organized in Stains (region of Paris) by French association "Synergie Ile de France" in partnership with Sahrawi associations in France.

Sahrawi notables, former members of the Polisario (separatist group that is claiming the independence of Moroccan southern provinces), former prisoners of war and members of families whose relatives are sequestered in Tindouf took part in the meeting. They underlined that the world cannot remain "indifferent to moral and physical tortures of prisoners who are submitted to forced labor and malnutrition."

"We were forced to do all kinds of job and build all types of infrastructure," said, Ahmed Kheir, a former prisoner who had spent 14 years in Tindouf jails.

Witness also described the life of populations who are compelled to remain in exile in Tindouf camps, and recount how it is "very hard to return to the homeland because of the siege and the harsh restrictions prevailing in the sequestration camps."

They deplored the "inability" of international bodies to bring to a halt the hardship that Moroccans in Tindouf camps endure, particularly women and children, and urged for putting an end to this tragic situation and guarantee the unconditional release of all prisoners.

In a similar development, a delegation of human rights associations from Moroccan southern regions started Monday a tour in the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) where it will hold a series of meetings with local NGOs on Polisario human rights breaches against Moroccan prisoners and their embezzlement of humanitarian aid destined to populations in Tindouf camps.

Previous Stories:
  The Sahara has never been an obstacle in communication between Arab world and Africa, say seminar participants   (10/17/2003)
  UNHCR agrees to refugee camps census, a long established Moroccan claim   (10/7/2003)
  Morocco calls UNHCR to investigate polisario aid embezzlement   (10/4/2003)

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