Children's Rights Violations in Tindouf camps unveiled in the Belgian Parliament

Brussels, A hearing of witnesses exposed to grave violations of human rights perpetrated in the Polisario-run Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) was held Friday at the Belgian House of Representatives Belgian political leaders and members of parliament, representatives of NGOs and defenders of human rights, in particular Amnesty International, Women's International League and other European political and humanitarian actors highlighted the inhuman acts endured by the sequestered population in Tindouf camps and children deported to Cuba. The six young victims recounted how they were taught the handling of arms and the worst obscurantist theories in schools, under the supervision of the henchmen of the Polisario. They also told of the bad conditions in which they lived after having been torn from their families and deported to Cuba, where they underwent military training and indoctrination sessions. The Polisario separatist movement which has, since 1976, lured thousands of Sahrawis into joining it in the Tindouf camps where it continues to hold them against their will, lays claims over Morocco's Southern Provinces -the Sahara. In a bid to put an end to the 32 year-old Sahara dispute, Morocco submitted to the United Nations in April a proposal to grant substantial autonomy to its Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara. Spain ceded the former colony to the North African country in 1975 under the Madrid Accords, but the Polisario separatists, backed by Algeria, are seeking independence of the territory. Morocco and Polisario held two rounds of UN-led talks in Manhasset (outskirts of New York) in June and August. A third round is scheduled on January 7-9.