Moroccan associations in Spain denounce peaceful demonstration banning
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/11/2005

Several associations of Moroccans based in Spain denounced the banning of a demonstration they asked to stage in Madrid to protest the Algerian acts hostile to the Moroccan territorial integrity as well as instigations by some Spanish organisations to interfere in Moroccan internal affairs.

A communique released in Madrid said a group of five Moroccan associations asked to stage a protest on June 11 in front of the Algerian embassy in Madrid to spread awareness on "the tragedies and suffering befalling our countrymen in the Algerian prisons of Tindouf" held by the separatist "Polisario" movement.

The Algerian-backed movement is detaining hundreds of Moroccans and sequestrating thousands of Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps, South-West Algeria, some for three decades now and since Morocco retrieved its Southern provinces, known as the Sahara, from Spanish rule in 1975.

The associations wanted to demonstrate peacefully to protest the acts of Algeria, notably following the death of four of the Moroccans detained in the Tindouf jails because of lack of medicines.

Demonstrators also wanted to draw the attention of the public opinion to the acts of some pro-"Polisario" Spanish organisations that are interfering in Morocco's domestic affairs to undermine its democratic process and its excellent relations with Spain, the communiquŽ said.

The Moroccan associations said they were "surprised and disappointed" by the banning of the demonstration, for the banned gathering had set the noble objective to expose the truth over the inhumane situation of the Moroccans detained in the Tindouf camps.

Meantime, Moroccans residing in Spain were prevented to express their opinions at a conference on the Sahara, held on Thursday by "friends of Polisario" in Malaga, South-East Spain.

At the debate, a Moroccan professor working in a Spanish university was not allowed to say his opinion on the Sahara issue and ask question to the speakers at the conference.

The professor picture was taken while an individual, introducing himself as a Spanish intelligence agent, ordered him to leave the room.

Two Sahrawis, human rights defenders, who spent years in "Polisario" jails in Tindouf, South-West Algeria, wanted to know about the hundreds of the missing from Tindouf camps and the tragedies lived by their families, but were not allowed to ask the questions.

Previous Stories:
  Pro-separatists Catalan MPs seek to mar Morocco-Spanish relations, Minister   (6/9/2005)
  Pleas for constructive dialogue between Moroccan, Spanish civil societies on Sahara conflict   (6/9/2005)
  Morocco, Spain agree to re-launch search for Sahara conflict solution, communique   (6/8/2005)

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