Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), Oct 21, 2013 (SPS) - The Council of Ministers has denounced the brutal intervention perpetuated on October 18-20 by Moroccan occupation forces against the defenseless Saharawi citizens in the occupied Saharawi cities of El Aaiun and Smara, deploring the state of security siege and restriction prevailing in these cities.
In a letter concluded its meeting on Monday, the Council denounced the state of unprecedented tight security siege imposed by Moroccan occupation forces in all streets and neighborhoods in the occupied Saharawi cities of El Aaiun and Smara.
This, added the statement, happens in the presence of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and also in parallel with the visit of the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Mr. Christopher Ross.
“Such intransigence by Moroccan party, as well as its persistence in its gross violations of human rights and its irreverence and disrespect to MINURSO representatives stresses the urgent need to set up a UN mechanism enabling MINURSO to protect, monitor and report about human rights situation in the Western Sahara,” indicated the statement.
Recalled to the Saharawi party’s position to cooperate with the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy, the Council called on the international community to take immediate steps to stop Moroccan state’s practices against Saharawi citizens.
It, therefore, denounced Moroccan state’s intransigent position, expressed at the highest levels, which do not serve the efforts for a peaceful solution to the Saharawi-Moroccan conflict, calling on the international community to assume responsibility towards Western Sahara, international territory under UN direct supervision, and to accelerate the decolonization process, remove the Moroccan occupation’s separation wall and immediately cease the looting of Western Sahara natural resources.
The Council hailed the position expressed by international organizations, governments, parliaments, political parties and personalities from around the world with the struggle of the Saharawi people for freedom and independence, especially those expressed at the last UN General Assembly session.
The statement went on saying that the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco has “grave risks” on peace and security in north-west Africa region, through its encouragement of the organized crime gangs and terrorist groups. (SPS)
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