"For Amnesty International, the impunity of those accused of human rights abuses in the Polisario camps remains a source of main concern," AI Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa program told the Moroccan news Agency "MAP".

    Speaking on the fringes of the presentation of AI 2008 report on the state of the world's human rights, Mr. Luther also cited among the violations committed in the camps cases of forced disappearances, torture and detentions in secret places.

    "No investigation into these cases was launched neither by Polisario leadership nor by Algeria that hosts Polisario camps on its soil," said Mr. Luther, deploring the fact that the perpetrators of these violations are still free and have not been sued.

    In its 2008 report, AI underlined that no steps were taken to address the impunity of those accused of human rights abuses in the camps in the 1970s and 1980s.

    The Polisario is a separatist movement that lays claims to Morocco's Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara, a territory, which Morocco had retrieved from Spanish rule under the Madrid Accord, signed in 1975 with Spain and Mauritania. A year later, Polisario lured thousands of Moroccan Sahrawis into joining it in the Tindouf camps where they have been held ever since.

    As for the situation of Human Rights in Morocco, AI welcomed the progress made in reinforcing Human Rights in the north African country over the last ten years. 
    Mr. Luther underlined, however, that many things need to be done, especially the implementation of the recommendations of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), adding that AI had praised the importance of these recommendations, which would serve as a good plan of action for the Moroccan government.

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