Former UN Secretary General Assistant Julian Harston welcomed Morocco’s response to the four explosions that hit residential areas in Es-Semara in southern Morocco in October.
The explosions, which occurred on October 28, killed one victim, while three others were injured.
Morocco responded to the explosions by opening an investigation to uncover all details and possible perpetrators of the explosions.
Harston, who also served as a former UN Special Representative and Head of peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara MINURSO, issued a statement on the Es-Semara explosions, stressing that “Morocco has reacted with wisdom and responsibility to the unprovoked mortar attack on civilian targets in Smara in Morocco’s southern province.”
Mourning the killing of the young Moroccan man who died in the blasts, the former UN official said that the Moroccan legal process is ongoing while MINURSO is carrying out an enquiry to brief the UN Security Council on what happened.
He also recalled Polisario’s statement, in which the separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
“For my part I believe that the confusion and lack of a coherent response from Rabouni is perhaps an indication of the beginning of the end of the rule of the unelected geriatric clique which has cynically kept the Sahrawi in insufferable conditions for so long,” the former official said.
Morocco’s public prosecutor has not yet revealed details of the investigation into the four explosions that hit the city’s residential areas and an industrial district.
The Moroccan government, however, emphasized readiness to take the necessary action against whoever is responsible for the heinous acts, targeting civilians.
Morocco’s permanent ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, told reporters on October 30 that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the case.
Hilale also presented documents showing the sites where the explosions took place.
“There were no military installations, as you can observe. In the first explosion in the industrial district, there were no military sites or anything of the sort,” he said, using visual demonstrations. “Similarly in Hay Essalam, you can see buildings, streets, and open areas.”
Stressing that Morocco is not accusing anyone, Hilale recalled Polisario’s statement in which the separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
“It mentions the explosions and projectiles they launched on the night from Saturday to Sunday. This is the first piece of evidence and it’s an official statement by the Polisario,” the diplomat said.
Citing a second piece of evidence, Hilale said: “The second piece of evidence is that when radios and TV stations around the world, as well as news agencies began reporting on these explosions, the Polisario, in quoting it, never denied their involvement.”
The international law, and Security resolutions qualify any attack or targeting of civilians as terrorist acts and acts of war, Hilale argued, stressing that those responsible will have to assume their “legal, as well as political responsibilities.”
Source : Morocco World News
