NEWS RELEASES
August 19, 2005 (2:45 p.m. EDT)
No. 152
MINISTER PETTIGREW PLEASED BY LIBERATION OF LAST
PRISONERS HELD BY POLISARIO FRONT
Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew welcomed the liberation of the remaining
Moroccan prisoners of war held by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el
Hamra and Rio de Oro, known as the POLISARIO Front, from camps in the southern
Sahara.
“This welcome development resolves a humanitarian problem and, I hope, will relaunch
negotiations for a permanent resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara,” stated
Minister Pettigrew.
“I thank the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which, over the years,
has lent its support to ensure a minimum standard of living for the Moroccan prisoners,
who have been living under extremely difficult conditions. The ICRC has also played a
central role in the gradual liberation of all of the prisoners, some of whom had been
detained for more than 20 years.”
The liberation of the 404 Moroccan prisoners closes a chapter in the conflict in Western
Sahara, which for many decades has seen Morocco oppose the POLISARIO Front.
Canada is asking the parties to continue their efforts to reach a peaceful resolution of
the conflict under the auspices of the UN.
From the time the armed conflict between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front began in
1975 for sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, to the cease-fire
that came into force in 1991 under the auspices of the UN, the POLISARIO Front had
captured over 2,000 members of the Moroccan military. They have been released from
POLISARIO Front camps in small numbers over the years, despite repeated calls from
the international community for a comprehensive release. According to the ICRC, with
the liberation of the prisoners, there would be no other Moroccan prisoners of war held
by the POLISARIO Front.
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), a UN
peacekeeping force, has been overseeing the cease-fire between Morocco and the
POLISARIO Front in Western Sahara since 1991.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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