The General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Mr. Eddie Makue, has expressed concern over reports of torture and police brutality in Western Sahara following a meeting today with Saharawi human rights activist Ali-Salem Tamek and the Ambassador of the Saharawi Republic in South Africa, HE Oubi Bachir.

"I was shocked and deeply saddened by the stories and images that our brothers from Western Sahara shared with us," Mr. Makue said. "Their accounts and photos of people who have suffered assault, torture and rape, apparently at the hands of security officials, brought back chilling reminders of our own struggle for liberation and democracy."

"As people around the world mark sixteen days of activism against violence against women, we are especially troubled by the use of rape and other forms of violence against women as a political weapon," he added.

"The SACC unreservedly condemns the use of torture anywhere in the world," said the General Secretary. "We express our solidarity with the people of Western Sahara and pray for peace, reconciliation and respect for human rights in the region."

"The Council has long been a champion of democracy and the self-determination of peoples. It has been more than 15 years since the United Nations established a Mission in Western Sahara to monitor the ceasefire and prepare for a referendum on the territory's future as part of the historic settlement reached between the Moroccan government and the Polisario Front in 1988. We would urge South Africa to use its seat on the UN Security Council and its position within the African Union to press for rapid progress towards a free and fair referendum and respect for the popular will of the people of Western Sahara," Makue said. "We would also want to join with our colleagues in the All-Africa Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches to consider ways in which we can work together to expose human rights abuses in the region and to promote a just peace for the Saharawi people."

He indicated that the Council will take part in a seminar on Western Sahara being organised by the South African Human Rights Commission at the Commission's Houghton offices on Thursday, 30 November.

For more information, contact: Eddie Makue (082 853 8781).