El-Aaiun (Occupied Territories) 22 February 2021 (SPS) - Chairperson of the Sahrawi Organ against Moroccan Repression (ISACOM) Aminatou Haidar called the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to immediately intervene and protect the Sahrawi civilians from the systematic violations committed by Morocco and its repressive practices, holding him and the Security Council responsible for this relentlessness against Sahrawi rights.
In a letter sent to UN SG, the ISACOM wrote: "In view of the reprisals and violations committed by the Occupier State of Morocco against Sahrawi civilians, we call on you and through you, the entire international community, to accelerate the establishment of international protection mechanisms enable the Sahrawi people to enjoy their rights.
Referring to some "serious" violations of the Moroccan occupying forces, with images and videos as evidence, the ISACOM chairperson said that the Sahrawi people "has heard from the UN body no condemnation, nor the expression of any concern in this regard.”
She referred to the Sahrawi activist Sultana Brahim Khaya and her family in the occupied town of Boujdour, under house arrest since 19 November 2020 and victims of daily torture and harassment, as well as the detainees Ghali Bouhela and Nafaa Boutsoufra, wrongly accused of drug possession.
Aminatou Haidar also referred to the arrest of the activist Mohamed Selouki in the occupied city of Smara and the Sahrawi civilian detainee Mohamed Lamine Abedine Hedi, who has been on hunger strike for 40 days.
"The authorities of the Moroccan occupation are arresting the activists, charging them with false accusations including the possession of drugs", expressing the wish that "the UN becomes aware through this letter of the injustice suffered by the Sahrawis".
"The Sahrawi people have received no support or protection from the UN and other international organizations specializing in the protection of civilians, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)," regretted Haidar.
Deploring the stalemate in the UN and AU process to resolve the Sahrawi issue, Aminatou Haidar focused on "the procrastination in implementing the resolutions of international legality calling for the organization of a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara.”
ISACOM holds the UN SG personally responsible for the continued violations of the Moroccan occupation against the Sahrawis. (SPS)
062/090/700