I met Elkhadir Mohamed Ayad, who now works on a health programme at the Saharawi (Western Saharan people's) national hospital run by Polisario, the liberation movement:
He was jailed by Morocco in March 1976, and released with another 250 in 1991. He had been kept in the Galaat Magouna Prison, the existence of which had not previously been known. He was tortured and spent a period in solitary confinement. Typically he would have his hands and feet tied behind him, and then be suspended from an iron bar while his feet were beaten. No one could resist for more than 20 minutes. Electric shock torture was also used.
During his incarceration, he had no contact with his family other than his father and brother who were held with him. He last saw his brother being taken from the gaol very ill; his father was eventually released, by which time he had lost his mind.
Of his 300 fellow prisoners, only 250 were released - like three in his cell, the others had died of torture and malnutrition. Because of thrombosis brought on by torture, his cell mates' legs were paralysed before they died.
Food consisted of small quantities of bead and flour - and dates for those suffering from malnutrition. Now 72 kilos, he weighed 49 kilos on release.
60 of the prisoners were women of whom six died in gaol.
Of the 250 released, two were arrested after a demonstration in the town of Smara, a third picked up again after six months. Of the rest, he didn't know; "They have no papers, cannot move about the country, are not allowed to speak to journalists and are not allowed to work".
(Extract from "The Sahara's Forgotten War", published NCU, June 1993)
Morocco, under the autocratic rule of King Hassan, is being used as the client state for the illegal access by France and other European powers to the mineral and fishing wealth of the the Western Sahara.
Since my visit, the camps have been devastated by flooding, and within the occupied zone, thousands more Saharawi have "disappeared" as Morocco tries to supplant the indigenous population with the enforced settlement of Moroccans.
The Western Sahara Campaign is organising an international initiative to expose the torture, murder and "disappearance" of Saharawi citizens. You can help by contacting them:
Copies of the NCU report can be obtained from:
Roger Darlington, Head of Research, Communication Workers Union, Greystoke House, 150 Brunswick Road, Ealing, LONDON United Kingdom W5 1AW
Tel: 0181 998 2981 (International: +44 181 998 2981)
Fax: 0181 991 1410 (International: +44 181 991 1410)
16th June, 1995