Return of 201 missing servicemen from Algerian territory

Some 201 Moroccan servicemen, who were detained in the Algerian territory, returned to Morocco Thursday.

The Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation department said in a clarification communiqué released on the occasion that 1481 missing persons are still detained in unacceptable conditions in Algerian territory. "Morocco deplores that these people be exploited in forced labor and be subject to other violations, as testified by various sources having direct access to information regarding the detention camps," the communiqué said.

Morocco, which expresses thanks to the International Red Cross committee for the release of detained persons, claims the immediate and unconditional liberation of all the detainees and calls on the international community to see to the strict and rigorous implementation of the international humanitarian law by virtue of which these people should benefit from protection and be freed and repatriated without any delay, it said.

The fact that Morocco accepted the partial return of 201 people does not mean at all that it will accept that the remaining detainees be the subject of any overbidding whatsoever, the release said, adding that in its constant position of principle, Morocco has always claimed the release of all detainees. These people's long detention affected their physical and moral health, which seriously deteriorated.

"Morocco has always avoided, in accordance with established human rights rules, to exploit, for political ends, the situation of people captured, displaced, kidnapped or having been reported missing during hostilities," the foreign affairs and cooperation department said.

"Respectful of the principles of the international humanitarian law, Morocco honored all duties in this connection with a view to eliminating all humanitarian consequences linked to the Sahara problem," the release said, underlining that the separatists do not respect this law and seek to use the detained people as a card.

By systematically blocking the United Nations settlement plan, the separatists also created a serious and urgent humanitarian situation that today preoccupies the international community as a whole, the release said, recalling that the U.N secretary general, the international red cross as well as many governments and associations called for the unconditional return of missing persons detained in Algeria.