Amb. Dr Sidi M. Omar Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations – To: «jean-pierre.lacroix» –  Subject: Urgent: a young Sahrawi sets himself on fire at Guerguerat crossing

Home Actualidad Amb. Dr Sidi M. Omar Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations – To: «jean-pierre.lacroix» –  Subject: Urgent: a young Sahrawi sets himself on fire at Guerguerat crossing
3 de febrero de 20193 de febrero de 2019
0
Amb. Dr Sidi M. Omar Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations – To: «jean-pierre.lacroix» –  Subject: Urgent: a young Sahrawi sets himself on fire at Guerguerat crossing

Amb. Dr Sidi M. Omar
Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations

To: «jean-pierre.lacroix» Subject: Urgent: a young Sahrawi sets himself on fire at Guerguerat crossing

Dear Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations

It is with great sadness that I would like to inform you that, today, a young Sahrawi, named Ahmed Salem Ould Ahmed Ould Lemgheimeth, set himself

on fire at the Moroccan Customs Service in Guerguerat, in Southern
Western Sahara, to protest against the ill-treatment that he has suffered
at the hands of Moroccan officers. Because of his serious injuries, he
was transferred to the hospital where his condition remains very
critical.

On 27 January 2019, Ahmed Salem Ould Ahmed Ould Lemgheimeth staged a sit-in at the Guerguerat crossing when the Moroccan Customs, in pursuit of their usual discriminatory policies against Sahrawis, confiscated the goods that he was transporting (about 10 kg of tea). In reaction, members of the Moroccan military intelligence tried to remove him by force whereupon he tore off his Moroccan passport as a sign of protest. At the end, he was promised to be issued a new passport and that his case would be dealt with duly.

However, instead of fulfilling the promises made to him, today members of the Moroccan Customs Service removed him by force and threatened him with severe punishment if he would return to his protest. Being pushed to the point of desperation, the young man set himself on fire in public (please see the attached clips), and now his life is in great danger.

While drawing your attention to this very serious and sad incident, we
would like to underline that Morocco’s frequent presence in and
“commercial” activities across the Buffer Strip in Guerguerat do not only
raise fundamental questions relating to the ceasefire and related
agreements as highlighted by the Security Council in resolution 2414
(2018). They also put at risk the life of many Sahrawis as evidenced by
the case of this young man. This situation can no longer be tolerated,
and the United Nations must assume its full responsibility and ensure
full compliance with the ceasefire and the terms of the Military
Agreement no 1.

Kind regards,

Sidi Omar

Origen: representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations