London, October 26, 2016 (SPS) - The British organization for human rights defence in Western Sahara, Adala UK, has denounced Wednesday Morocco's continuing strategy for the isolation of Sahrawi people by denying entry to international observers, journalists and pro-Sahrawi activists.
Adala UK said that dozens of activists, journalists and international observers who attempted to enter the occupied city of Al Ayun in response to calls from the Sahrawi NGO community to lift the blockade imposed by Morocco on the region "were expelled."
Human rights activists who wanted to participate in non-violent resistance activities against the Moroccan occupation were also expelled or denied entry by the Makhzen forces, in order to hide the daily human rights abuses in the region from the international opinion, added the British NGO.
Adala UK said that in September, the Moroccan security forces expelled the French Le Monde journalist Camille Larco upon her arrival at the international airport of Dahkla.
Two activists of the Spanish National Youth Council, Julia Prieto and Ruben Campos, were also expelled, added the British NGO.
The Moroccan government attempts to justify those unacceptable behaviours by denouncing the visitors as "pro-Sahrawi radicals" and accusing them of wanting to disturb the peace, said the NGO, adding that 83 people have been denied entry to the occupied territories since the beginning of the year.
Other European activists managed to enter the Occupied Territories but were later expelled and sent to Moroccan cities.
"Through these manoeuvres, the Moroccan authorities attempt to prevent all forms of investigation and criticism of the crimes committed against the Sahrawi population by Morocco in the occupied territories of Western Sahara," said Adala UK.
The British NGO also "strongly" condemned the imposed blockade on the occupied Sahrawi territories and urged the United Nations to assume their responsibilities regarding the Western Sahara conflict, calling for the lifting of the blockade. (SPS)
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