Bachelet asks Spain and Morocco to purge responsibilities for what happened in Melilla

Bachelet denounces the violence with which the Moroccan Police was used

MADRID, 28 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has requested this Tuesday the governments of Spain and Morocco to carry out an "effective" and "independent" investigation of what happened last Friday in Melilla when they died at least 23 migrants when trying to cross the fence.

"We are deeply concerned about the deaths of at least 23 African migrants and the injuries of at least 76 others when they tried to cross from Morocco to Spain on June 24," Bachelet said.

"We call on both countries to ensure that an effective and independent investigation is carried out as a first step in establishing the circumstances of the deaths and injuries, possible responsibilities and ensuring accountability, as appropriate," he said. defendant.

Bachelet's words are given in parallel with the claim of the United Nations Committee for the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families, which this Tuesday has also requested Morocco and Spain to "immediately" open an "exhaustive" and "transparent" investigation. of what happened.

Bachelet has highlighted that the tragedy of Friday in Melilla has registered the "highest number of deaths in a single incident" for "many years" and has denounced the violence with which the Moroccan Police was used.

"We have received reports of migrants being beaten with batons, kicked, pushed and attacked with stones by Moroccan officials when they tried to climb the barbed wire fence, between six and ten meters high, that separates Morocco from Melilla", the high commissioner.

"We call on Morocco and Spain to guarantee respect for the human rights of migrants at their common border and, in particular, that their border agents refrain from any excessive use of force against them," he claimed.

In turn, Bachelet has asked the authorities of both countries to take "the necessary measures" in collaboration with other international organizations, such as the European Union, or the African Union to implement border governance mechanisms in line with respect for Human Rights. Human.

This means, he has detailed, access to safe migratory routes, individualized evaluations of each of the asylum seekers, protection against collective expulsions and rapid returns, as well as against arbitrary arrests and detentions.