Washington, Nov 19, 2013 (SPS) - The violation of human rights of Sahrawis and repressive occupation tarnish the international reputation of Morocco and should be more central to the concerns of the international community, said Congresswoman Betty McCollum co-chair of the ''Western Sahara Caucus'' in an interview with APS.
''The occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and gross violations of human rights of the Saharawi people, peacefully defending fundamental freedoms should be more central to the concerns of the international community,'' says McCollum Democratic member of the House of Representatives and co-chair of the parliamentary group of Western Sahara ''western Sahara Caucus.''
While stressing her ''deep respect for the Moroccan people, '' the Minnesota representative found that ''the interests of Morocco lies in the development of its economic, social and political capacity of its own sovereign territory rather than wasting limited resources and damaging its international reputation with this repressive occupation of Western Sahara.''
McCollum deplored that such a case of ''colonialism'' and ''repression'' may still exist in 2013.
According to her,'' the occupation of Western Sahara in Morocco unduly allows to exploit the economic resources of the occupied Saharawi territories, to exercise political control and stifle the demands of Sahrawis to freedom and self-determination."
Asked about the U.S. government's position with regards to human rights, McCollum praised the Obama Administration for defending, for the first time, the issue within the UN Security Council by proposing last April, a draft resolution for the introduction of a mechanism for human rights within MINURSO, even if it had been rejected by some members. (SPS)
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