Kigali: Activists Moulay Abba Bouzid, Fadel el Mehdi Breica and Mahmoud Zeidane are detained and prosecuted after denouncing the diversion of international food aid by the leaders of the “polisario”. These subsidies are, to the cost of camp populations, resold in the form of smuggling into the markets of neighboring African countries.
These activists, whose release is required, especially by their many supporters (associations and NGOs) and families have never been brought to justice. They are being investigated for “slander, insults, sedition and incitement to rebellion”.
As a reminder, the camps of Tindouf have experienced, for the last few months, an unprecedented campaign of repression, having caused several victims among the inhabitants of the camps.
Repressive measures, as well as restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles in Tindouf, prompted people to organize peaceful demonstrations and rallies to demand freedom of movement. These demonstrations were brutally repressed through excessive use of force against civilians. At rallies, journalists and bloggers were also intimidated and sequestered.
Human Rights Watch, emphasizing the “lack of evidence of criminal activity” with regard to the three activists, said that “Algeria can not expand the protection of human rights in its territory, and ignore it when the “polisario” violates them. (End)