sahraoui

The process of defection from the Tindouf camps and rallying to Morocco started in practical terms at the end of the fighting, hundreds of sahraoui refugees have decided to leave Tindouf and to return to Morocco, among them political and military leaders, head of tribes, and hundreds of Polisario army officers of all levels.

Global Voices in English » Western Sahara: Landmine Injures Five During Peaceful Protest 2009

The number of sahraoui political, military and tribe leaders in addition to hundreds of families who opted to regain Morocco is increasing; according to the Chairman of the royal advisory council for Saharan affairs Khali Hena Ould Errachid around six thousands of sahraouis have regained Morocco.

Global Voices in English » Western Sahara: Landmine Injures Five During Peaceful Protest 2009

The vital question about the human rights practices inside the Tindouf four camps is the freedom of expression and even of movement. although Polisario officials confirm every now and then that sahraoui refugees are allowed to leave the camps any time they would like to do so, sahraouis need Algerian documents if they decide to leave and travel abroad, to get such document is not easy, unless you are a Polisario official or you have useful contacts within the sphere of Polisario leadership, but it is known that any saharoui who managed to leave the refugee camp and opt to go to western Sahara region, Moroccan authorities provide the person in question with necessary documents including a passport.

Global Voices in English » Western Sahara: Landmine Injures Five During Peaceful Protest 2009

Having said that, it is almost certain that human rights seems to be the focus of the day to day sahraoui lives whether they are in the Western Sahara region or in the refugee camps in Tindouf inside Algeria. in this respect and within the framework of visits organized by the Minorso between Sharaouis in Tindouf and the main towns of western Sahara region is that last week or so ten young Sahrawi students who went to Laayoune to visit their relatives refused to fly back to tindouf and therefore opted to remain where they believe they belong.

Global Voices in English » Western Sahara: Landmine Injures Five During Peaceful Protest 2009