Geneva hosts conference on forgotten victims of Sahara conflict
Morocco-Switzerland, Politics, 8/13/2004

The Swiss capital hosted Tuesday, on the sidelines of UN Sub-Commission on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, a conference that called for an end to the abuses committed by the Polisario separatists in the Tindouf camps (South-Western Algeria).

Organized by Interfaith international, the debate was an occasion for human rights advocacy organizations to shed light on Polisario abuses against the populations held against their will in the Tindouf camps, southern Algeria.

Interfaith International Secretary general, Charles Grave, deplored that the human rights violations sustained by the sequestered in the camps are "forgotten" by the international community.

Ennajem Ould Mohamed Salem, a former Polisario leader in Paris, deplored some NGOs' backing to the mercenaries' "shaky theses and their failure to denounce their violations."

Another former member of the Polisario front, now head of the 'Arrai' association, Semlali Abadila, denounced the "Stalinian" atmosphere prevailing in the camps, where torturers can make anyone suffer or disappear, whenever they want, for any reason.

Abadila recounted at the conference his own case, shocking everyone in the conference. He was jailed 25 days for listening to the Beatles in public.

Later, he said, he understood that the only acceptable music in the camps was the propaganda songs praising the Polisario.

The youths of my generation are victims of a "big and serious manipulation. We have never been told the historic, cultural and social dimension of our Moroccan roots," he said.

Keltoum Khayati, who headed the "Association of Polisario Women" for several years, insisted on Polisario's corruption and thirst for power and wealth, recalling the massive embezzlements of international humanitarian aid.

Previous Stories:
  March in geneva to condemn Polisario crimes   (4/1/2004)
  Moroccan, Swiss officials call for bilateral trade promotion   (5/14/2003)
  New ambassador of Switzerland to Morocco   (4/19/2000)

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