The letter joins the international human rights advocacy groups criticizing the Polisario’s arrest of its own Chief Police Inspector for alleged “treason” and “espionage”—simply for expressing his support to a Moroccan autonomy solution to reunite Sahrawi families and put an end to a three decade-long Western Sahara conflict.

“We are writing today to express our concern for the safety and well being of Mustapha Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud,” wrote Republican Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus, and Republican Moran, member of the House Democratic Caucus leadership, both ardent international human rights advocates. “We urge the State Department to work to secure the immediate release of Mr. Sidi Mouloud. He, and everyone in the refugee camps, should be allowed the right to movement, freedom of speech, and liberty.”

The letter says that Sidi Mouloud was in Morocco on a recent UN-sponsored family visit. After seeing the progress in W. Sahara, which he had not seen in more than three decades, he announced his intention to return to the refugee camps to express his support for Morocco’s compromise autonomy plan put forward by the King of Morocco in order to resolve the 35-year W. Sahara dispute. The letter notes concern from international human rights organizations—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Leadership Council for Human Rights, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)—criticizing the arrest of Sidi Mouloud and the violation of his right of freedom of speech, and voicing concern for his safety.

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas