Senator Feingold, Rep Payne call on Morocco to allow Haidar’s return
02/12/2009 | Solidarity-Support
Sen Russ Feingold
Rep. Donald Payne
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and Representative Donald Payne on Aminatou Haidar’s Expulsion from Morocco
Chairmen of the Senate and House Subcommittees on Africa
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
We join many around the world in expressing our deep concern as Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar, the recipient of the 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, enters the third week of her hunger strike at the airport on the Canary Islands. We are concerned not only about Ms. Haidar’s health and well-being, but also about the potential for this situation—if not resolved soon—to undermine any hope for ongoing negotiations mediated by UN Special Envoy Christopher Ross. In line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we appeal to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the Moroccan Government to respect Ms. Haidar’s request to return her passport and allow her to return home to Western Sahara. We urge both parties to engage in good faith in the UN-backed negotiations and we hope a new round of talks will be scheduled as soon as possible.
Chairmen of the Senate and House Subcommittees on Africa
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
We join many around the world in expressing our deep concern as Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar, the recipient of the 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, enters the third week of her hunger strike at the airport on the Canary Islands. We are concerned not only about Ms. Haidar’s health and well-being, but also about the potential for this situation—if not resolved soon—to undermine any hope for ongoing negotiations mediated by UN Special Envoy Christopher Ross. In line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we appeal to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the Moroccan Government to respect Ms. Haidar’s request to return her passport and allow her to return home to Western Sahara. We urge both parties to engage in good faith in the UN-backed negotiations and we hope a new round of talks will be scheduled as soon as possible.
