Geneva: HRC Questioned on Algeria’s Responsibility in Crimes Committed by Polisario

Several organizations speaking as part of the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), held in Geneva, have strongly denounced the crimes and abuses committed by the polisario militias in the Tindouf camps, making the Algerian regime bear full responsibility for all violations committed by the separatists in the said camps. The organization “Africa Culture International Human Rights” (ACI Human Rights), which has Special Consultative Status “ECOSOC” with the United Nations, expressed its concern about the violations of the rights “of the population held against its will in the camps of Tindouf, and the ill-treatment, torture, and abuse inflicted on them”. Speaking by video conference, the president of the organization, Dianko Lamine spoke out against “the practice of the polisario which resorts with impunity to the military enlistment of children to send them, by force, in military training centers”. “ACI Human Rights is outraged by this violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, which constitutes one of the worst attacks on human dignity, as it deprives these children, aged 12 and 13, of their childhood and their most essential rights,” he added. “We call on the international community on the fate of the population of the Tindouf camps, victims of all forms of violations of its rights,” he said, noting that “this situation demonstrates the objective of this separatist armed group which also deprives them of humanitarian assistance that is intended by the international community”. This aid is diverted by the polisario for the personal enrichment of its members, she noted. Speaking on behalf of the NGO “Network unity for the development of Mauritania”, Naji Moulay Lahsen, drew attention to the ordeal endured by the population of the camps of Tindouf for decades, noting that “this population, deprived of its fundamental rights to live in dignity, abandoned by the international community that has turned its back on it, and abandoned to its fate, is exploited (…) to serve the agenda of Algeria”. For its part, the Swiss non-governmental organization, “Promotion of economic and social development” (PDES) said it was following “with great concern the current situation prevailing in the camps of Tindouf in southwestern Algeria”, and “the continued deterioration of the situation of rights and freedoms due to the siege imposed by the polisario on the population of these camps”.