Marruecos vuelve a advertir a España sobre la “grave” crisis por el caso Ghali
The hospitalisation in Spain of Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali continues to strain relations between Madrid and Rabat. The Moroccan Foreign Ministry has once again warned of the "serious" crisis between the two countries in a communiqué. In the note it also urges Spain not to "minimise the impact" of the current situation.
"The attitude of some Spanish government officials, prejudging the Moroccan reaction and minimising the serious impact on relations cannot hide this deplorable situation", the ministry said. Brahim Ghali was admitted to hospital in Logroño on 22 April for respiratory difficulties after contracting the coronavirus. The Spanish government has justified his hospital stay "for humanitarian reasons", as reported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya. The Polisario leader had to use a false identity because the Spanish justice system accuses him of human rights violations. The minister also made a statement on the judicial issue, assuring that, if the court understands that Ghali must appear, "the government will not stand in the way".
However, Morocco has not been convinced by the "humanitarian" motives expressed by Laya. "Humanitarian considerations cannot explain the inaction of the Spanish judiciary when it is duly informed of the documented allegations", the Moroccan Foreign Ministry points out. Ghali is accused of alleged crimes of illegal detention, torture and crimes against humanity. The statement also stresses the "usurpation of a false identity", asking Spain for explanations.
The kingdom is also displeased by Madrid's position after welcoming the Saharawi leader. The Moroccan government points out that the Spanish authorities did not inform their Moroccan counterparts about Ghali's transfer and that they found out about it through the press. Morocco considers this attitude as "premeditated" and assures that it will "draw all the consequences" from it.
The communiqué ends by referring to bilateral relations between Spain and Morocco. For the ministry, the preservation of these ties is "a mutual responsibility that is nourished by a permanent commitment to safeguarding mutual trust". It also recalled "the fruitful cooperation and strategic interests" of both countries.
This is not the first time that Morocco has reprimanded Spain for its behaviour during "Operation Ghali". In April, after its reception in a hospital in Logroño, the North African country expressed "its disappointment at this act", which it described as "contrary to the spirit of paternity and good neighbourliness". A few days ago, Naser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with Efe that he is still waiting for "a satisfactory and convincing response" from the Spanish government on the Ghali case. He also wondered whether Spain "wishes to sacrifice" its bilateral relations with Morocco because of this event.
Burita accused Spain of preferring to coordinate with "Morocco's adversaries", referring to Algeria. The Algerian government is the Polisario Front's main ally and its main supporter against Morocco. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered medical assistance to Ghali before he was transferred to Logroño. The Moroccan minister compared this situation to Catalan independence. Bourita noted that Rabat refused "all contact and interaction" with pro-independence leaders, while informing their (Spanish) "partners". He also stressed that when the separatists asked to be received at the ministry, they "demanded" that someone from the Spanish embassy be present. "With partners you don't manoeuvre behind their backs", he stressed.
The minister also took advantage of the interview to criticise the Polisario Front. Bourita affirmed that while its leaders have the right to a private plane and medical assistance, the "kidnapped" population has neither masks nor hydroalcoholic gel. Bourita appeals to Spain and recalls what Ghali is accused of. "He is a rapist who tolerated slavery, torture, war crimes, child soldiers", the minister stressed. Bourita considers that Spain is aware of these crimes, but turns a blind eye to Ghali's "atrocities".
The Moroccan government has not been the only one to reproach Spain for its behaviour towards Ghali. The Sahrawi Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ASADEDH) has asked the Audiencia Nacional for the immediate arrest of the Polisario leader. This organisation hopes that Ghali will not evade "the action of justice" and that he will answer for the alleged crimes committed against the dissident Saharawi population in Tindouf. The Canary Islands Association of Victims of Terrorism (ACAVITE) has also called on the Spanish justice system to act in the Ghali case. El Fórum Canario Saharaui has rejected the presence of the Polisario leader in Spain.
Criticism of the Spanish government for its treatment of Ghali has also come from the European Parliament. Tomáš Zdechovský, a Czech Christian Democrat MEP, reproached Spain for letting Ghali in. "This is against our values and principles", he said.
.
The Audiencia Nacional has scheduled Ghali's appearance for 1 June, although legal sources have told Efe that they doubt they will be able to carry out the interrogation due to Ghali's delicate state of health.