Joe Pitts: “the country of Morocco has been in the news a lot the last couple of weeks. This morning, I rise on behalf of 83 freed…”

“the country of Morocco has been in the news a lot the last couple of weeks. This morning, I rise on behalf of 83 freed Moroccan POWs in the midst of the Sahara Desert. These men were originally imprisoned due to the conflict between Western Saraha and Morocco. These prisoners were released in 1997 by Western Sahara as a goodwill gesture when former Secretary of State George Baker, who was the emissary of the UN Secretary General, visited the Sahrawi people in their refugee camps. Eighty-five prisoners were released and filled with anticipation of going home. Unfortunately, two of the men have died while waiting for permission from their government to visit Morocco. Last year I visited these released POWs in their camp. You can see these men in the photo around me. Madam Speaker, some of these men have languished, along with the Sahrawi refugees, in the desert for 20 years. Yet, even though they are free, Morocco has not allowed them to return home to Morocco to their families. Why? No one knows. Madam Speaker, I urge the new King of Morocco as a gesture of good will to accept the freed Moroccan citizens so they can return home to their families.”