Amnesty calls for torture probe
2005-06-22 09:46
Madrid - Amnesty International on Wednesday called on the Moroccan judiciary to "start by looking into torture" ahead of this week's trial of pro-independence demonstrators in western Sahara.
The recent unrest in the town of El Ayoun was due to culminate in the trial of dozens of people detained following demonstrations between May 24 and 29 which according to Sahrawi sources saw 50 people injured.
Moroccan authorities denied there had been a crackdown but said 32 people had been arrested for vandalism.
Relations with Spain then took a dive when Spanish delegations, including members of parliament and NGO staff, were sent home from the region, Moroccan officials claiming they had come to "spread trouble".
Amnesty said it was "calling on the Moroccan government to guarantee an exhaustive and impartial inquiry into information of torture and bad treatment of those detained".
The human rights organisation also demanded that the rights of all those on trial be guaranteed.
Amnesty said it was "very concerned" at information it said it had received regarding alleged torture and excessive use of force against Sahrawi demonstrators during the unrest.
Amnesty said dozens of people had been hurt in clashes with police in El Ayoun but also other cities including Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech and Rabat.
Of around 100 people arrested some 25 have been accused of participation in a criminal plot and crimes against public order, according to Amnesty.
Moroccan authorities say only 32 people were arrested.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony which Morocco annexed in 1975, declaring it an integral part of the country.
After Madrid pulled out there followed an armed separatist resistance from the Polisario Front, which proclaimed an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and which is backed by Algeria.