Tindouf: Polisario Intensifies Its Clamp Down on Protesters

The Polisario crackdown on its opponents and pro-democracy protesters in the Tindouf camps (Southern Algeria) is getting worse, tougher and wider with the arrest this week of Fadel Braika, who was nabbed after the kidnapping of the militant Abba Bouzid, member of the opposition group “Sahrawi Initiative for Change”.

 

Mr. Bouzid was abducted by the Polisario armed militiamen while he was demonstrating in front of UNHCR’s Office at “Smara” camp. The whereabouts of the two activists and other members of the opposition captured lately remain unknown.

 

Their families and Human Rights Watchdogs as well as the opponents of the polisario are all urging the leader of the separatist movement, Brahim Ghali, to release them immediately.

 

These activists were snatched for posting sharp criticism against the polisario leaders in social media networks. They rebuke Brahim Ghali for his blind submission to the Algerian military regime, which is increasing restrictions on the movement of Sahrawi people in the Tindouf camps.

 

But with a growing number of young people using social media in the camps or rather large open-air prisons, Brahim Ghali is struggling to contain the frequent protests organized by the young Sahrawis who are deprived of their most basic human rights including the right to free speech and freedom of movement.

 

These blatant human rights violations committed in the Tindouf camps were denounced lately at the United Nations by several petitioners including militant Touria Hmyene during the meeting of the UN Committee of 24.