Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), Oct 5, 2013 (SPS) - The Council of Ministers has strongly condemned and deplored the brutal and repressive practices carried out by Moroccan authorities against the defenseless Saharawi civilians, most atrocious of which was the assassination of the young Saharawi Rashid Shin Al-Mamoun in Assa, renewing the words of condolences and solidarity with the family of the martyr and with the Saharawi people as a whole.
In a statement concluded a meeting held Thursday chaired by the President of the Republic Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, the Council said that such practices constitutes “an extension of the campaigns of repression, abduction, detention, enforced disappearance and siege the Saharawi people have been suffering in the occupied territories and southern Morocco since the illegal Moroccan military invasion of Western Sahara on October 31, 1975.”
It also strongly condemned the acts of intimidation and terror of a distasteful retaliatory nature being perpetuated, systematically and continuously, by Moroccan authorities especially in the cities of Assa, Gleimim and Zak.
The statement, in this respect, deplored the attack on the Saharawi human rights activist Mbarek Daoudi and his family, calling on the international community to act to show solidarity with him.
The Council, moreover, urged the United Nations to assume responsibility in protecting Saharawi civilians from Moroccan blind oppression, as to exert pressure on Morocco to release all Saharawi political prisoners and unveil the fate of the Saharawis missing.
The Council, on other hand, hailed the big solidarity shown with the struggle of Saharawi people, hailing in particular the international participation in the events scheduled, especially the FiSahara which will take place on October 8-14, calling for making every effort for the success of this event and for providing the best conditions to welcome guests of the Saharawi people.
It, in the same regard, welcomed the delegations of Algeria, South Africa, Spain, France, Britain, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco and the United States, guest of honour of the 2013 FiSahara.
With regard to the situation in the region, the Council warned of the risks arising from the growing flow of drug from the Kingdom of Morocco towards countries of the region, and how that contributed in encouraging smuggling gangs, organized crime and terrorist groups.
It also recalled to Saharawi state’s tireless efforts to combat these scourges in the context of international commitments and African Union resolutions. (SPS)
090/089/TRA