Bir Lehlu (liberated territories), 02/11/2005 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, called on the UN’s Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to intervene vis-à-vis Morocco so as to elucidate the fate of the 500 Saharawi ‘disappeareds’ and 151 prisoners of war held by Morocco, after the recent discovery of more than 40 dead bodies of Saharawis in common graves in Morocco.

"The existence, even at this small scale, of such common graves, constitutes (...) a proof that erase all doubts about the complete responsibility of Moroccan Government in the heavy file of Saharawi ‘disappeareds’ and prisoners of war", the President of the Republic underlined in a letter he sent to Mr. Annan, of which SPS received a copy.

 
Morocco recognised, for the first time, last October the 08th, the existence of common graves where 50 political detainees were buried, after they died in Moroccan cells during the 70ies, 80ies and beginnings of the 90ies, including 40 Saharawi who were killed under torture.

"Through this recognition, the proof is thus established on the implication of the Moroccan Government in the persisting violations of human rights, perpetrated in the past and in the present against Saharawi population, which was always subjected to abduction, forced disappearance as well as to systematic torture in all its forms", he added.

"Regarding the immense responsibility of your organisation and the values of justice, law and international legality you incarnate, we address you to inform you about the truth over the 500 Saharawi ‘disappeareds’ " and ask you to pay additional efforts for "the immediate release of those still alive among the 151 Saharawi prisoners of war, incarcerated in Moroccan prisons and to give full information about the persons who died", he wrote to Annan.

The Head of the State, further, asked the international organisation to "impose international sanctions on Morocco", in reaction to its systematic violations of human rights, and in punishment to its "refusal to respect its engagements concluded under the auspices of your organisation", regarding the decolonisation of Western Sahara.

 
He also called for the constitution of an international court to judge "Moroccan officials, accountable for crimes against humanity, and against Saharawi people, including crimes such as: abduction, assassination of persons under torture, use of helicopters to throw persons alive, use of internationally prohibited weapons such as napalm and white phosphor". (SPS)

010/090/100 021205 nov 05 SPS
 

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