Chile Condemns Moroccan Propaganda Using Santiago Event to Undermine Sahrawi Cause

Original article: «Que Chile no sea utilizado como plataforma para el blanqueamiento de la ocupación colonial»: Denuncian operación de propaganda marroquí contra la causa Saharaui en Santiago

The Chilean Association of Friendship with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD) issued a strong public statement denouncing a propaganda and disinformation campaign orchestrated in Chile by factions connected to the Moroccan monarchy.

This accusation arises from the so-called «IV International Meeting of Human Rights Defenders and Nature», held in Santiago from July 17 to 19, 2026.

According to the Association, this meeting, organized by the Human Rights Without Borders Foundation (led by Juan Carlos Moraga Duque), «was used as a platform to disseminate unfounded allegations against the Polisario Front, attack the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, and promote Morocco’s official position regarding Western Sahara».

In its statement, the Association also revealed that the meeting «did not include participation from major Chilean human rights organizations, indigenous peoples, or social movements historically committed to these causes».

Furthermore, they categorically denied claims made by the Spanish media outlet Atalayar, which asserted that «progressive sectors and movements linked to the São Paulo Forum formally supported the document against the Polisario presented by the Sahrawi Association for Human Rights Defense (Asadedh)».

«The Association deems this information false and unsupported by documentation (minutes, lists of supporters, or votes)», pointed out the statement.

Lack of Rigor in the Report

The central report was presented by Ramdan Messaud, president of Asadedh. In this regard, the Association rejected that their accusations «be presented as proven facts», reminding that this organization’s independence has been publicly questioned, even by reports from the Spanish CNI, and that their legal complaints were dismissed by the Supreme Court of Spain in 2024.

«This is not an isolated action, but rather a continuation of a strategy denounced since 2020, which instrumentalizes human rights to defend Morocco’s colonial interests», they added.

Another aspect criticized was that the «so-called report misrepresents the reality of the Sahrawi refugee camps, portraying them as isolated, and criminalizes Algeria for its historical solidarity with the Sahrawi people and its support for self-determination».

Finally, the Chilean Association of Friendship with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD) recalled the political background of Juan Carlos Moraga Duque, whom they identify as a known agent of Moroccan monarchical interests in Chile, with public allegations of his alleged collaboration with the CNI during Pinochet’s dictatorship.

«The Chilean Association with the RASD has demanded the organizers of the meeting to make the official program, the complete text of the report presented by Asadedh, the minutes of the supposed approvals, funding sources, and institutional links with the Moroccan state public. Additionally, they urge the media to verify their sources and rectify the misinformation disseminated», emphasizes the statement.

«The Association reaffirms its recognition of the Polisario Front as the representative of the Sahrawi people and its unwavering support for the right to self-determination and independence of Western Sahara, urging Chile not to be used as a platform for whitewashing colonial occupation», concludes the statement.

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