Moroccan crackdown as UN envoy visits Western Sahara
Moroccan police (plainclothes and uniformed officers shown here throwing stones) have violently broken up Saharawi human rights demonstrations, under the nose of the visiting UN envoy, Christopher Ross.
Peaceful demonstrations by Saharawi human rights groups in El Aaiun are reported to have been violently broken up by Moroccan security forces.
Demonstrations took place in a number of streets of the Saharawi capital on October 19th. They were organised to mark the visit of UN envoy Christopher Ross, who was in the city on his third trip to Western Sahara.
Police and members of four other Moroccan forces (including the army) threw stones and teargas grenades, beat up demonstrators (including elderly women) and entered houses, destroying property.
40 people are said to have been injured, including some veteran human rights defenders: Mohammed Daddach, Brahim Dahane, and Hassana Dwihi. A further 20 houses were broken into in follow up raids later in the day.
The violent response of the Moroccan security forces, while a UN delegation was in the city, show how the Moroccan government feels it can abuse human rights with impunity in Western Sahara.
It also underlines the need for permanent independent human rights monitoring in Western Sahara.
Saharawi activists have called on the international community to pressure Morocco to "stop the violence perpetrated in Western Sahara against defenceless Saharawi citizens".
Members of the UN Security Council - like the UK - should step up their efforts to ensure that the UN mission to Western Sahara (MINURSO) includes a human rights monitoring force.
Further human rights reports from occupied Western Sahara can be found at:
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