Testimony of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf evidences abuses, France liberte

The "direct testimonies" of Moroccan prisoners of war in Tindouf (southern Algeria) show they were subject to "abuses" in the prisons controlled by secessionist group Polisario, Chairwoman of the French association "France Liberte," Danielle Mitterand, said Monday.

"We have listened to these testimonies and we cannot disregard them. Direct words are the only means for us to know what is going on," said Danielle Mitterand, spouse of former French president Francois Mitterand, whose association has recently published a 52-page report accusing Algeria and Polisario of serious violations against Moroccan prisoners in Tindouf and Blida (northern Algeria)and suspended all aid to the Polisario mercenaries.

"France Liberte is a human rights organization that gives a tribune to those who can't be heard, the Moroccan PoWs, to express themselves," She insisted.

Miterrand, known as a staunch human rights advocate, further argued blames directed at her association for citing Algeria in the report is part of a "their (Polisario) strategy to play down the effect of the report."

"Some Moroccan prisoners were transported to Blida. It is inadmissible," she deplored, adding that Moroccan prisoners should have been released when the ceasefire was proclaimed in 1991.

The Polisario is maintaining these prisoners in captivity as a card that it uses from time to time to please some parties by sporadically releasing some of them, she went.

For her part, Afifa Karmous, a member of the foundation who was part of an investigating team that traveled to the detention camps, said "we were shocked during the investigation that lasted a fortnight mostly by testimonies of Moroccan POWs on forced labor."

Karmous added that she collected around 338 testimonies of forced labor from persons forcibly held in the military regions that are under Polisario's control and in the Tindouf camps.