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Oasis of Memory: new book deals with human rights violation in Western Sahara

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Boujdour (refugee camps), April 3, 2013 (SPS) - The Spanish writer Carlos Martín presented Tuesday in the Wilaya of Boujdour, Saharawi refugee camps, his book “the Oasisi of Memory”, in the presence of the President of the Republic and Secretary General of the POLISARIO Front Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.


The book deals with the gross violations of human rights being perpetrated by Morocco since 1975 to the dismantling of Gdeim Izik camp on November 2010.


During the event, the author presented a detailed explanation on the book.


“I came to the camps two years ago, where I heard testimonies by victims and families of detainees and missing Saharawis. This led me to write this book, which is composed of two volumes and more than 150 pages. It is a gift for the Saharawi people in order that the world can remember what the Saharawis have suffered, and also to be a way to work in the field of the protection of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara,” said Mr. Martín, explaining the reasons that led him to write the book.


The author said that the book contains 161 testimonies about grave situations and crimes against humanity, adding that it sheds light on several mass graves cemeteries, like that of Lamsaid, as well as the rape and torture the Saharawi women experience inside Moroccan prisons.


It therefore documents more than 400 cases of enforced disappearance up to 15 years.


The book “Oasis of Memory” was published in Spanish language with summaries in several languages including English,


It was accomplished in cooperation with the Association of Families of the Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeared (AFAPREDESA). (SPS)


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