Tragic situation of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf exposed to Amnesty International and HCR
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 10/23/2003

A group of Human Rights advocacy associations in the Sahara held, here Tuesday, meetings with officials from Amnesty International and the High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR) to discuss the tragic situation of Moroccan prisoners of war (POWs), persons sequestered in Tindouf (southern Algeria) and the problems of Sahrawis who disappeared in the camps of the Polisario separatist group.

Amnesty International official in charge of coordination with Morocco, Francis Schwan, proposed, the holding of an international awareness day for the release of Moroccan captives. This action may be followed by another one that would focus on the situation of the populations sequestered in Tindouf.

The associations also raised during a meeting with an HCR official, Diederik Kramers, the embezzlement of humanitarian aid destined to the populations in Tindouf camps by Polisario mercenaries.

"HCR should conduct a census of the populations living in the camps to monitor the quantity and final destination of the humanitarian aid," they explained, adding that the names of several people who fled the camps are still registered in the lists of donating NGOs.

The human rights associations asked the HCR to directly supervise aid delivery without relying on figures given by the Algerian Red Crescent which swells the number of populations in the camps to drain more humanitarian aid and increase chances of embezzlement.

In the same connection, representatives of the associations met officials of the European Union humanitarian aid office (ECHO) and a member of the Dutch parliament. They also organized a press conference at the head office of the Dutch parliament.

The human rights associations' meetings are part of a tour to the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) to shed light on the serious violations of Polisario and the tragic situation in Tindouf camps.

Previous Stories:
  Polisario leadership exploits Sahara issue to gather wealth, former Polisario official   (10/21/2003)
  Unlike Algeria, international committee does not back Baker plan on Sahara, Moroccan diplomat   (10/18/2003)
  Former Polisario official says adequate solution to Sahara issue lies in Moroccan kingty   (10/17/2003)

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