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Saharawi Coordinator with MINURSO meets with ICRC President

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Geneva, Oct 25, 2017 (SPS) - the Frente POLISARIO’s coordinator with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Mr. KHADDAD met Tuesday with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. MAURER, in Geneva.
 
During this interview, M. KHADDAD reaffirmed that it was absolutely necessary for the Kingdom of Morocco to adhere to the principles of humanitarian law which form the basis of the universal human right. These principles should ensure that all Saharawi citizens living in occupied territory are protected against the effects of the conflict.
He emphasized that Saharawi activists for the independence of Western Sahara must be protected against any acts of violence or intimidation because they are nationals of a non-self-governing territory in the process of decolonization.
 
Mr. KHADDAD referred to the number of political prisoners held to date outside the occupied territory. He gave the example of the prisoners of Gdeim Izik and recalled that Morocco, however, had not applied strict judicial guarantees recognized as essential, by civilized peoples.
Khaddad took the opportunity to deliver a letter from the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to the ICRC president, in which President Ghali appeals to the Committee for the implementation of an impartial investigation after the torture of the political prisoners.
The meeting comes after Gdeim Izik's political prisoners have been separated and dispersed in seven Moroccan prisons, adding to the suffering of their families, including their wives and children.
Beyond the Committee's humanitarian activities, M. KHADDAD recalled the strong commitment of the Frente POLISARIO to cooperate so that Saharawi citizens living in the occupied territory can be protected and eliminated from the daily repression they continue to suffer.
The meeting was attended by Bouhebeini Yahya, president of the Saharawi Red Crescent and Oumeima Abdeslam, representative of the Frente POLISARIO in Switzerland. SPS
 
125/090/TRA