An agency dependent on Morocco questions the role of Spain in the assault on the Melilla fence

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), a commission dependent on the Government of Morocco, has questioned this Wednesday the role of the Spanish authorities after the massive attempt by more than 2,000 sub-Saharans to cross the Melilla fence on June 24 and has argued that they "hesitated" to provide "the necessary assistance and aid" to prevent an increase in violence.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
16 July 2022 Saturday 11:09
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An agency dependent on Morocco questions the role of Spain in the assault on the Melilla fence

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), a commission dependent on the Government of Morocco, has questioned this Wednesday the role of the Spanish authorities after the massive attempt by more than 2,000 sub-Saharans to cross the Melilla fence on June 24 and has argued that they "hesitated" to provide "the necessary assistance and aid" to prevent an increase in violence.

The final report drawn up by the commission, chaired by Amina Bouayach and Mounir Bensalá, both appointed by King Mohamed VI of Morocco, has put the number of dead at 23 and the number of injured at 217, of which 140 are policemen and 77 migrants. , most of them from Sudan and Chad. All of them had reached Morocco through Libya and Algeria.

The CNDH has thus indicated that the acts of violence took place due to the inaction of the Spanish authorities "despite the pushes and hooks of migrants in front of the doors that remained hermetically closed" and whose "most likely" consequence was that of " increase the number of dead and wounded".

The Ministry of the Interior did not want to comment on the National Human Rights Council of Morocco and limited itself to ensuring that "the Civil Guard acted at all times within the national and international legal framework, always with criteria of proportionality and full respect for human rights, without any type of action contrary to them being attributed to any of the agents".

The entity also considers that the deaths recorded during the attempted assault in front of the border crossing between Melilla and the Moroccan city of Nador were caused by "mechanical suffocation" due to jostling and the agglutination of a large number of people, according to the Moroccan newspaper 'Le Matin', published by Europa Press.

The commission, however, has not been able to determine whether the origin of the injuries of some migrants were the result of falls and pushes suffered or, instead, injuries resulting from a disproportionate use of force.

The CNDH, which has conducted numerous interviews with local authorities, non-governmental associations and affected migrants, has also concluded that "bullets were not used" at any time and that the security forces used batons and tear gas.