The chairman of the international committee for prisoners in Tindouf (ICPT) Lord Francis Newall asserted that the Moroccan initiative for negotiating an autonomy statute for the Sahara region constitutes the proper way to bring a practical solution to a complicated problem
“The Moroccan autonomy initiative deserves to be greeted, because it guaranties self –determination of Sahraoui populations in the respect of the democratic principles, and ensures the full management of their economic, administrative and social affairs” he pointed out on Wednesday before the 4th commission of the general assembly of the UN.
Lord Francis added that the Moroccan proposal is based on the internationally concept which is recognized by a number of western democracies.
“We are front of a democratic proposal which has been largely greeted by the international community” said Lord Newall.
After having reminded the failure and the inapplicability of previous moves to put an end to this conflict, the speaker deplored the resort of Polisario, and Algeria “” to blackmail, and challenge the international community instead of engaging in direct negotiations, and make practical proposals”
Lord Nowell reminded the committee of which he is the chairman was created to help liberating detained Moroccans, in inhuman conditions, sometimes for more than 25 years, from Algerian prisons.
He pleaded on behalf of families detained victims of “torture, repression and malnutrition, and buried in the Algerian desert” for the repatriation of the rest of their bodies, reminding the Algerian authorities to compensate families of those who perished or suffered, until their liberation, of decades of hard labour, and isolation.
“Those who are responsible of abuse of human rights in the camps during years carry on enjoying impunity, and Algerian authorities have done nothing to refer them to justice» regretted the chairman of ICPT
Algeria which assumes a large responsibility in the persistence of this conflict is required, he concluded, to answer favourably to family victims’ requests, and particularly to seize the present historical opportunity to put an end to decades of misery and suffering of Sahraoui populations.
Source: MAP
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