“Makhzen's covert schemings to turn Algeria into a transit center of drugs' smuggling”

According to striking revelations made by Moroccan Army deserter, former Lieutenant Abdelilahou Issou to “Echorouk”, Algeria is targeted behind the scenes by all the official Moroccan institutions which are insidiously intent on poisoning it with narcotics and turning it into a transit center of Hashish and Cocaine.

• Second part:
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• Anouar Malek : How was the situation of the Moroccan soldiers in the barracks during the war with the Polisario Front of Western Sahara?
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• Abdelilahou Issou : During the war, the Polisario Front fighters pounded daily our positions with heavy machine-guns causing many casualties among the Moroccan troops.
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• In the face of the Polisario fighters’ relentless and ill-fated attacks, our life became a real nightmare.
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• Furthermore, the Sahraoui commandos succeeded in infiltrating into our barracks and slit the throats of numerous Moroccan soldiers. Personally, I couldn’t sleep at night because I was deeply afraid.
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• But after the ceasefire in 1991, the situation markedly improved.
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• But I should say that in case of a new war in Western Sahara, the Makhzen will be the main loser and worse the Moroccan soldiers will surely desert from their barracks.
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•  “99% of the Sahraouis are backing up the Polisario Front and the self – determination to test the will of the Sahraoui people is the only solution to the Western Sahara conflict.”
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• Anouar Malek : How do you assess the human rights’ situation in Morocco and in occupied Western Sahara?
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• Abdelilahou Issou : One thing is certain, human rights are respected neither in Morocco nor in occupied Western Sahara. The Sahraouis are regarded as third – class citizens and are stripped of their basic rights by the expansionist Moroccan regime.
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• They are ill-treated, tracked down and harshly oppressed by the Moroccan forces at the behest of the Makhzen.
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• As a result, a large number of them joined the ranks of the Polisario Front. 99% of them support the Polisario Front body and soul. That’s why the Makhzen refuses the self-determination referendum as a serious option for a final settlement of the long-running Western Sahara dispute.
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• The oppressed Sahraouis also witness daily the spoliation of their natural resources.
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• The Sahraoui women are frequently raped and beaten up by callous Moroccan soldiers during their brutal swoops on their houses in the occupied Sahraoui territories.
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• Even the children and the elderly are not spared by the Moroccan soldiery.
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• As a result, a large number of these oppressed Sahraouis took refuge in Tindouf in South – Western Algeria in order to save their lives.
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• “Corruption is widespread within the Moroccan Army.”
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• Anouar Malek : Can you tell us about the reported corruption practices within the Moroccan Army?
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• Abdelilahou Issou : I should say that the scourge of corruption is widespread at all levels of the Moroccan Army even among the senior officers who have made a lot of dirty money through the covert sale of narcotics and diverted basic commodities. The heads of military companies don’t waver to sell hashish and heroin to drug – addicted Moroccan soldiers spawning a great deal of financial spin-offs.
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• Everything is bought and sold within the Moroccan Army including exit permits, promotions and even silence about blameworthy and vile acts.
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• The Moroccan Makhzen has hatched plots to transform neighbouring Algeria into a transit center of drugs with the covert aim of showering upon it problems on the International scene only  because of Algeria’s honourable position in support for the just cause of the struggling Sahraoui people and their legitimate right to self – determination.
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•                                                                             To be continued…
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