~ HUMAN RIGHTS : SIT-INS BEFORE ALGERIAN EMBASSY IN PARIS ~

[HOUDA-K]

A group of Moroccan Sahrawi associations living in France and in Europe launched, on Friday, a call for a gathering in front of the Algerian embassy in Paris, on Saturday afternoon. The aim of this is to denounce the hostile schemes of Algeria against the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, reported MAP.


Moroccans demonstrating before the Algerian embassy in Paris.


In a communiqué made public in Paris, “the group also asked for the immediate liberation of all the Moroccans detained for three decades on Algerian soil”, underlining that “Algeria always scorn the international law without caring at all about the suffering of our fellow countrymen in the Tindouf camps.”

“Thousands of families are separated since 1976. They are tortured and prevented from joining theirs,” said the group, adding that “it is still again necessary to remind Algeria of the fate of our 408 Moroccan prisoners still detained in the Tindouf camps, in inhuman conditions and unbearable moral and physical sufferings. What did Algeria do with the Geneva Convention?” asked the group.

“The arrogance of Algeria outrages us and seriously makes us doubt its real will to involve in the building of the Arab Maghreb Union, which it sabotages in every occasion,” regretted these associations.

For the group, “the uncouth manipulation in which Algeria has been engaged by means of a band of mercenaries is a blow for the security of the entire region”.

“That is why we decided to gather in front of the Algeria embassy in Paris to draw the French public attention and international opinion on the crimes committed by Algiers against our fellow countrymen held in the Tindouf camps, south-west Algeria,” added the communiqué.

“We cannot keep silent any more. The future of the Arab Maghreb is at risk,” warned the group, who requested the setting of “an international inquiry commission to examine the disastrous situation of our fellow countrymen in Tindouf”.

“Algeria cannot continue to challenge with impunity the right of our fellow countrymen to recover their dignity nor put the Maghreb integration at risk,” said the communiqué

[brim]

These people were approached ny the embassy and paid (or assisted ) to attend. They are utterly fraudulent and do not represent any groups of Saharawis in or outside of Maroc. How stupid does Rabat think it is? Do they really think that we fall for this sort of stunt?

[Ghazala]

No - we just think the Algerian administration would pull that kind of stunt. Much like their meddling in the voter identification process

[brim]

Algeria meddling in the voter id process? Another complete and utter lie. Algeria had no way on earth of interfering in the process. Th eprocess was run by the United Nations. The only obstacle to the process, and this was clearly documented,was the attitude of Moroccan officials. The process is not complete and only Moroccan intransigence is stopping the referendum going ahead.

[Ghazala]

Yes that's right. It's a lie. Same as the lie that Algerian soldiers were forced to kill innocent civilians in attacks which were blamed on the GIA. I have met former soldiers who were ordered to kill their own people. I have seen REAL pictures taken by REAL soldiers. In some, they are holding heads. Real heads. Yep, soldiers killed people then took pictures with their heads. Don't blame the soldiers though - they were high on drugs provided by their superiors in the Army. The only way you could carry out such acts is when completely stoned. Much like the former combatants in Angola. They are scarred for life. Some have attempted suicide because they cannot live with what they were forced to do.

Now, my question is: Can the Algerian administration which can do that to their own citizens meddle in the affairs of another country? The Generals are still in charge are they not? Can they really care about citizens of another nation when they have such low regard to the lives of their own citizens? Even putting past atrocities to one side (though they should never be forgotten), how is Algeria's human rights record these days?

Pot, kettle, Black.

We have serious issues to consider in Morocco. Our administration is far from perfect. We have huge socio-economic issues to contend with. Corruption is rife. However, we come on here & discuss them. We do not go to Algeria.com simply to insult Algeria or its citizens. Any Algerian members on here are welcomed as they are our Maghrebi brothers & sisters. Why all the hate?

Don't be wasting time here 'worrying' about Moroccan issues. Standing in judgement over the affairs of another country does not make you or your country any bigger OR better. Your time would be better spent trying to change the social, political and economic affairs in your own country. Algeria can be a great country. It has great natural resources and citizens. That cannot be denied. Why not try to improve the situation? Or are you too much of a coward to make your voice heard?

Like I said before, none of your posts suggests you know anything about the issues here. You are simply here to bait people. It's not going to happen so..... well, you know

[brim]

what are you taling about? Did you ACTUALLY read the OP and understand what it was about? It wasn't an attack on the pouvoir, per se, it was an attack on the Algerian stance on Western Sahara. Those protestors were no more Saharawi than Chirac. It was a put up job by makhzen stooges. Read BEFORE you post!

As for attacking me in that xenophobic fashion. I am MOROCCAN!


p.s. That withstanding the pouvoir are a bunch of *****.

[HOUDA-K]

MT 03/07/05

The Moroccan community in the United States staged, on Friday, a sit-in before the Algerian embassy in Washington DC to denounce the hostile attitudes of the Algerian officials concerning the Moroccanity of the Sahara.

American Moroccans hailing from many states, namely Virginia, Maryland, New York, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona and Washington DC also called for the immediate release of the Moroccans that are still detained in the Tindouf camps for more than 25 years.

Among the protestors were representatives of many organisations, such as “Free Them Now” organisation, the Washington Moroccan Club (WAC), the Moroccan-American Association of North America (MANA), the Associaton of Moroccans of the USA (AMUSA) and the American Foundation. They chanted slogans denouncing the manoeuvres of the Polisario separatists and reaffirming that Morocco is unified from Tangier to Lagouira.

The protestors waved banners saying, “The Polisario, a terrorist organisation”, “The Polisario, responsible for war crimes” and “Free Moroccan detainees in Tindouf now and without conditions”.

The protestors were joined by members of the delegation representing the Moroccan House of Advisors in the 14th annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for the security and the European cooperation which is taking place between 1st and 5th July in Washington.

“We participate in this sit-in before the Algerian embassy in Washington DC to express our solidarity with our fellow country in the United States that defend the Moroccanity of the Sahara and call for the immediate release of the Moroccan detainees in the Tindouf camps, southwest Algeria,” said Soualhi Bouzekri, third vice-president of the House of Advisors.

“We hope that this sit-in will have an echo in the minds of the Algerian officials to change their hostile policies against the territorial integrity of the Kingdom in order to build the Arab Maghreb Union. This will enable Maghreb countries to talk in one voice with foreign powers,” he added.

Abdelhak Tazi, president of the Istiqlalien group in the House of Advisors, said that Algeria must put an end to its political hypocrisy and set free all Moroccans still detained in the Tindouf camps.

For more pictures, visit www.allied-media.com/album/demo/