la communauté internationale appelée à protéger le peuple sahraoui
Title: Human Rights Violations in Western Sahara: The Demolition of Sahrawi Homes by Moroccan Authorities
The Sahrawi Association of Victims of Serious Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH) has raised alarm over the recent demolition of numerous homes belonging to Sahrawi citizens in Azmeilat el-Guezlan, located on the outskirts of the occupied city of Laayoune. The ASVDH has termed these demolitions as part of a broader "policy of collective punishment" and has urged the international community to intervene to protect the Sahrawi population from such actions.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ASVDH characterized the demolitions as a "premeditated crime," highlighting that these actions represent a clear violation of several international legal instruments. They specifically referenced the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, The Hague Convention, and customary international law as interpreted by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The ASVDH emphasized that these demolitions are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a "systematic strategy of forced displacement," aimed at altering the demographic makeup of the territory. This initiative is seen as a means to facilitate the settlement of Moroccan colonists in Western Sahara, as part of a broader campaign seeking the illegal annexation of Sahrawi lands.
Reminding the world that Western Sahara is a non-autonomous territory awaiting decolonization—recognized as such by the United Nations General Assembly—the ASVDH underscored the illegality of Morocco’s military presence in the region. They asserted that this occupation creates specific international legal obligations, including the duty to protect the civilian population.
In this context, the ASVDH holds the Moroccan authorities responsible for these serious violations and urgently calls upon the international community, notably the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to take immediate action. They implore these organizations to protect the Sahrawi population from the consequences of this repressive policy.
The urgency of their message resounds when they remind global observers that action is needed now to prevent irreversible harm. Several Sahrawi media outlets have also decried these demolition operations, describing them as attempts to "restrict" and "suffocate" the Sahrawi people, compelling them to accept the realities of ongoing colonization.
The ASVDH’s statement is a crucial reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation. The systematic violations of human rights, through forced displacements and destruction of homes, reflect a broader pattern of repression against the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. The international community’s inaction risks normalizing these abuses and further entrenching Morocco’s occupation.
In conclusion, the ASVDH’s claims highlight a critical need for sustained international attention and intervention in Western Sahara. The plight of the Sahrawi people underscores the urgent necessity of upholding international law and protecting human rights in territories marked by conflict and dispossession. Only through global advocacy and intervention can the cycle of violence and oppression be disrupted, allowing for a just resolution to the longstanding disputes in the region.
