At UN,Morocco debunks Algerian allegations on Tindouf camps

In a letter to the members of the UN Security Council,Morocco debunked a series of allegations used by Algeria to deny its responsibility over the continuing suffering of the population held in the Tindouf camps.

The letter was sent by Morocco’s representative to the UN,Omar Hilale,in response to Algerian claims put forward during a Security Council meeting on forced displacement.

The Algerian ambassador spoke of the population held against their will in the Polisario-run camps as forcibly displaced. Hilale noted that these people have been denied the freedom of movement for decades as they continue to be deprived of their most basic rights,including the choice to return to their homeland Morocco,settle in a third country,or integrate into the host country Algeria,as recommended by the UNHCR’s durable solutions.

The Tindouf camps population is also denied the rights to freedom of expression,movement,and assembly,he said,adding that Algeria has abandoned its jurisdiction over the camps to the Polisario militias “in violation of international law and contrary to its obligations as a host country,as denounced by the Human Rights Committee in its report CCPR/C/DZA/CO/4 of August 17,2018,paragraph 9.”

Algeria has also denied the UN Refugee Agency the right to conduct a census to allow a proper registration of the people held in the camps.

“The absence of a census facilitates the diversion of humanitarian aid,which has led agencies and NGOs to reduce the volume of their assistance,” Hilale said.

Hilale asked Algeria to look itself in the mirror as the party that blocks progress towards a lasting political solution to the conflict on the basis of the autonomy plan,which has been described in recent UN resolutions as serious and credible.

As it sticks to the obsolete and unfeasible referendum option,Algeria has blocked the UN round tables process by rejecting to take part,he said.

Hilale added that Algeria’s blindness prevents it from realizing that the autonomy initiative has the support of more than 100 UN member states,including two permanent members of the Security Council,the former occupying power of the Moroccan Sahara,and 23 EU member states.