Autonomy's blog concerning western sahara

MR Ould Errachid: “Autonomy is a political solution which takes into account positions of all parties”

The Moroccan initiative for autonomy for the Sahara region is a consensual political solution which takes into consideration positions of all parties, after the apparent failure of previous attempts for a settlement of this conflict. These attempts which proved to be inapplicable, affirmed Mr Khalihenna ould Errachid chairman of the royal advisory council for Saharan affairs (CORCAS).

Ban Ki Moon: the 2nd round of negotiations concerning Sahara allowed “good substance discussion”

The United Nations general secretary Mr Ban Ki Moon indicated Tuesday that the second round of negotiations concerning  Sahara was an opportunity for parties concerned to lead “good substance discussions”.

“ Although there were no apparent progress during these negotiations, the two parties had good  substance negotiations during the two days” of their meeting, last Friday and Saturday, at Manhasset, declared Mr Ban Ki-Moon during a press conference at the headquarter of the Un at New York.” What is important at this stage is that parties have agreed to continue their dialogue”. “I will carry on encouraging parties concerned to pursue dialogue, and incite my personal envoy to continue helping out» he affirmed.
Delegations of Morocco, Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania have participated in the 2nd round of the negotiations about Sahara. with the presence of the Un envoy Mr van Walsum.

Sources : www.corcas.com
                www.sahara-online.net
                www.sahara-culture.com
                www.sahara-villes.com
                www.sahara-developpement.com

         Morocco confident and optimist, regrets the stiff position of the other party

Members of the Moroccan delegation to the second round of the Sahara negotiations which took place the 10th and11th of august   at Manhasset, suburb of Newyork, expressed their optimism, and confidence in the on going process, regretting the stiff position of the other party.
During the two day talks at the Greentree residence, under the supervision of the UN discussions tackled the basic points concerning the Moroccan autonomy initiative, according to members of the Moroccan delegation, during a press conference in New York.
“We consider the first round as a contact round, the second one dealt with the mechanism of putting into practise the 1754 resolution of the UN,  in relation with the autonomy” underlined the interior minister Mr Chakib Benmoussa.
Morocco agreed in principle to take part in the third round of negotiations, he said, as to the date and place remains to be decided “we are confident as to this process, and we hope that the next round will allow improving the Polisario’s position” he added.
Concerning the role of neighbouring countries, the minister considered that Algeria and Mauritania could contribute to reach a settlement to this problem”.
“We consider that the presence of neighbouring countries at these talks is important. Algeria is concerned by this dispute, because it shelters Tindouf refugee camps in its soil, and we know the extent of influence that this country practised on Polisario.Mauritania, for its part has got a big number of Sahraouis, which explains its link with this issue» he added.
The Moroccan minister regretted that the high commission for refugees (HCR) was not able to take a census of the camps populations who live in deplorable conditions.
As to the chairman of the royal advisory council for Saharan affairs (CORCAS) Mr Khalihenna Ould Errachid, he reminded that the failure of a number plans in order to reach a solution led to an impasse and to appeals from the international community to the parties to formulate new proposals.” Morocco has taken the initiative to come up with a courageous and innovating plan whereby there will be no winner and no looser” indicated Mr Khalihenna Ould Errachid, deploring that polisario remains prisoner of a backward-looking vision based on obsolete and unrealizable projects. The other party did not understand the spirit of the1754 resolution of the UN, calling for a political solution based on the Moroccan proposal.
In the same context Mr Taieb fassi Fihri underlined that the Security Council has clearly indicated that the responsibility of the settlement of this issue rests with the parties concerned and neighbouring countries, whereas the role of the UN is limited to facilitate the process of negotiations. The autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco was favourably welcomed by the international community which greeted the credible and serious efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco, he added.
Going back to the progress of the negotiations Mr Fihri explained that in parallel to the the  essence of discussions, the UN experts have presented reports concerning the main questions in relation with the autonomy within the framework of the Moroccan territorial integrity, such as management of natural resources, and local governance.
In this respect the Moroccan delegation indicated that the second round was positive compared with the first round, hoping to see the polisario revising its position in view of the next round.
As to the managing director of “studies and documentation” Mr Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, he indicated that although the one-sided of the statements made by members the polisario to the press, throughout the two day negotiations period, these talks were positive”.
as far as the Moroccan delegation is concerned this second round constitutes an important step, and a positive evolution, as it permitted to examine and discuss the fundamental points concerning the essence of the Moroccan initiative” explained Mr Mansouri who, added» Morocco is determined to go ahead with patience , because we  would like to see this initiative of autonomy succeeded”

Source: MAP

-News and events concerning Western sahara-

  The international federation of former fighters defuses the humanitarian crisis of the Moroccans sequestrated in Tindouf

In its 13th meeting, taking place in Accra ( Ghana), during the period of 14 to 16 of July 2007 the standing committee on African affairs, of the international federation of former fighters  approved the recommendation Submitted by the Moroccan high commission for former members of the resistance and the liberation army.

The standing committee on African Affairs:

     1- Denounces the suffering endured by the Moroccan Sahraouis sequestrated in the Tindouf and considers this situation as being anachronistic and contrary to international legitimacy.

     2- expresses preoccupation about the cruelty and violence inflicted upon those detainee Moroccans sequestrated.

     3- Delighted at the positive development of the Sahara problem and at the Moroccan initiative calling for direct negotiations with the Polisario, in accordance with the terms of Security Council resolution n 1754.

     4-requests the parties involved to bring an end to this dramatic situation

The Spanish popular party affirms that self-determination does not mean necessarily independence

In an interview published Wednesday by the daily newspaper Asharq Al-awsat the spokesman    of the foreign affairs commission of the Spanish popular party Mr Gustavo De Aristegui, expressed his optimism as to direct contacts between parties concerned, which constitutes, he underlined “an important step towards a solution of the problem, in order to put an end to several decade old  Sahara conflict”
The solution of this problem is equal to the main “engines of stability of the Arab Maghreb region” he assured, considering that direct negotiations constitute “a huge step of a great importance”’
Mentioning the Moroccan policy of the PP. Mr Aristegui underlined that his party places Morocco» among its priorities of its foreign policy”. “It is for this reason that we grant the importance to its stability and the positive economic and political developments “he added.

He affirmed that the the PP is “ from now on convinced that morocco represents an important priority for Spain from the historical, geo-political, geo-strategic , and economic points of view”

“our hopes for Morocco are positive, what happened in the past is not a result to the conflict or to the confrontation, but a simple misunderstanding, taking into account that the communication between us was not at its best, he underlined, promising that relations between Madrid and Rabat» will not suffer when the party goes back to the power; and that the party “will not spare any efforts to improve its relations to the best level”

The responsible of the foreign relations of the PP announced to be “firmly convinced to the necessity of following the building of a bilateral interest’s network between Morocco and Spain in the economic, trade, political, and cultural fields, in addition to the fight against terrorism”

For Mr Gustavo de Aristegui “the only way to handle relations with Morocco, is to consider this relation a matter of state, and to avoid home political debates”

Mr Aristegui made it clear of the necessity to give Morocco, priority in the program concerning visits of the PP leaders, reminding that a visit to Rabat is in the engagement book of the leader of the party Mariono Rajoy.

Source: MAP

-Events concerning the Western Sahara issue-

The region of Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia-Elhamra celebrates with pride and mobilization the throne festivity

The inhabitants of the region of laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia-El hamra celebrated last Monday in an atmosphere of pride the 8th anniversary of the enthroning of his majesty the king Mohammed VI, , an opportunity to reiterate their affection to the noble person of the sovereign, in addition to Their constant mobilization behind the glorious  Alaouite throne.
During the ceremony organized in the “palais des congres” at Laayoune with the presence of the governor of the region Mr M’hamed Dreyf, local civil and military authorities, and several elected and other personalities.
The audience followed the throne speech, during this ceremony, prices were given to the winners of the championship of “Laayoune-foot” .
At Boujdour the celebration of the throne festivity was marqued by a ceremony of raising the national flag, organized at the square of the prefecture, with the presence of the governor of Boujdour province Mr Mohamed Najem Bhai.
Besides a reception organized at the provincial council, which includes reading of poems, and hassani songs, the official festivities taken place at the hall of meetings of the prefecture of Boujdour have been marked by several speeches underlying the profound feelings of loyalty, and fidelity of the entire inhabitants of the southern provinces to his majesty the King Mohammed VI, and their attachment to the glorious Alaouite throne and their constant mobilization behind the sovereign

Source: MAP

    
Sahara issue:

                Morocco 'ready to negotiate autonomy, nothing but autonomy'

Tangier, July 30

King Mohammed VI, on Monday, made it clear that Morocco will negotiate only autonomy, in a bid to solve the 32 year-old Sahara dispute, opposing the North African country to the Algerian-backed separatist movement "the Polisario", over the control of the former Spanish colony.

    "I should like, on your behalf, to stress that Morocco is committed to serious negotiation on the basis of the two following elements: first, having taken part, in good faith, in the first round of negotiations, (June 18-19 in Manhasset, New York) Morocco is and will remain ready to negotiate on autonomy, and nothing but autonomy," the monarch emphasized in a nationwide speech on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of his enthronement.

    King Mohammed VI also insisted that "the consensual autonomy solution can be conceived only within the framework of the Kingdom's full, non-negotiable sovereignty and national unity, and its indivisible territorial integrity."

    The second round of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario is  slated for August 10-11 under the supervision of the United Nations in Manhasset, New York outskirts.

    In his speech, the monarch expressed "satisfaction" with the position of the Security Council and the United Nations, which supported Morocco's initiative, describing it as "serious and credible", in  an allusion to the autonomy proposal the kingdom is wishing to apply to its Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara. The former Spanish colony was ceded to  Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords. However the Polisario, backed by Morocco's eastern neighbor, Algeria, has ever since seeking independence of the territory.

    "Morocco appreciates all responsible, constructive UN-sponsored efforts for serious negotiations on the Initiative," the king added before paying tribute to the "influential powers in the international community and to friendly and sister nations which backed our position."

    "This, he went on, brought the Moroccan Initiative under the global spotlight; it is a modern type of self-determination which is fully consistent, in terms of both form and substance, with authentic, international legality."

    Morocco, he said, will continue to reach out to all the parties which are truly concerned by the political settlement of this artificial dispute, and will seek to convince them of the historic opportunity offered by the Initiative. "We want this solution to be a victory not only for all the parties, but also for justice and for legality; and we want the spirit of fraternity, good neighborliness and Maghreb unity to prevail."

    The monarch called upon all Moroccans including those held against their will in the Polisario-run camps of Tindouf (Southwestern Algeria) to "ensure wider support for this Initiative among their brothers."

    Finally, while pledging that Morocco will honor any mutually accepted political agreement reached with the parties concerned and based on the Initiative, King Mohammed VI made it clear that “under no circumstances, however, will Morocco be made hostage to the calculations of others. Our country will follow through with its political process, and build on its invaluable democratic achievements. They are a model for the region, and we should be proud of them.”

  SOURCE 5MAP)

                              WHAT FUTURE FOR THE POLISARIO

                                                                           
BY: MOULAY AHMED MAOULAININ

Since 1976 the secretary general of the Polisario Mohammed Abdelaziz, and a small group of Other Leaders control the Tindouf refugee camps. Today Algeria remains the main Financial, political, and military supporter of the Polisario, though Libya and countries of the Former Soviet Union .historically backed the polisario in the past, their support has decreased Since the end of the cold war. The polisario is the product of another era prior the Collapse of the totalitarian System, although the world started to experience changes (as from The Last decade of the last Century) Polisario remained apart from such changes in the International political behaviour, No free elections, no democraty, no plurality, no freedom of Speech and expression, no free opinion and most definitely no civil society.

It is not a secret that polisario,was established by a group of young Moroccan sahraouis students, who had felt the necessity to liberate  western Sahara from the Spaniards, during their several attempts to convince the then government in charge, and also the Moroccan national political parties to the urgency of claiming the territory back to the kingdom of Morocco, the answer, or rather the reaction from both sides was very disappointing, as far as the young sahraouis were concerned, which led them to opt for the creation of Polisario.

The aim was at the very beginning to start a struggle against the Spanish colonizer, the idea of disintegrating from the kingdom was not in the mind of the young sahraouis, simply because they are Moroccans as much as their parents, and ancestors. During 1975 Algeria became directly involved with the Polisario in addition to other Arab countries namely Libya, South of Yemen. And a number of the ex eastern bloc, among others the Soviet Union, and Cuba. In this particular time, and thinks to the unexpected international support to the polisario front, and the direct involvement of Algeria. It was the leadership of the polisario that planed during the same year the emigration of a number of sahraouis from their homes in the Sahara to Tindouf refugee camps. In fact the present refugees in the camps inside Algeria were victims of systematic lies and manoeuvres of the Polisario.

many observers see the shift of Polisario attitude towards the Kingdom of Morocco, being their own country, and the claim for a referendum leading to an independent state in western Sahara as a result of the inter –Arab differences. Allowing the sahraoui people to vote on a referendum seems like a simple solution, but the polisario had insisted on restricting the voter lists locked that process into more than six years of fruitless discussion. The UN became aware of the fact that referendum is in practical terms impossible to carry out since sahraouis do not live only in Morocco, but also in Algeria, Mauritania, and Mali. This means simply that there should be a change of these countries borders, in order to organize a just and fair referendum, since the countries concerned would totally reject the idea, the former general secretary of the UN confirmed that the organization of such referendum is impossible politically and technically. Recognizing this deadlock, the UN shifted its approach to encouraging direct political negotiations between Morocco and the polisario.One of the totalitarian stigmata that continue to weigh against polisario is its capacity to take part in the search for a political solution. The real desire for a dialogue even with the majority of sahraouis who have opted to remain in the territory in Morocco, and who are members of the CORCAS is absent (http://www.sahara-online.net )                      

THE DIVERSION OF HUMANITARIAN AID

Sahraoui refugees in the Tindouf camps depend on humanitarian aid donated by numerousUN organizations, in addition to international non-governmental organizations. It is believed And even proved that much of the humanitarian aid does not reach the refugees, instead it is in most cases sold on the black market in neighbouring countries by the Polisario. In this Respect the international community have called in numerous occasions for the Implementation of a census, and an audit system to make sure that the management of the Humanitarian aid is transparent. Both Algeria, and Polisario has refused to allow independent
Oversight of its management of humanitarian assistance. Important quantities of diverted International humanitarian aid sent for refugees in Tindouf camps have been found on the Markets in Algeria, and Mauritania, but also in Mali and Nigers, some still in their original Packaging. The sums recovered would be used to finance the front, and also its leader’s way Of life, at the expense of sahraoui refugees. These diversions according to the report of the US Committee for refugees published in year 2000 “Humanitarian workers have reported that more than 30% of the children from 5 to 12 years old were underfed, more than 70% of the Children of less than 5 years old suffered from anaemia”, in its 2001 report the committee Announced “more than 15000 children are in need of shoes”, and finally in its 2003 report, its
said “some donors in private, have asked for a control of the distribution of food to Make sure that the political and military leaders were not diverting the aid”

HUMAN RIGHTS ASPECT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

  The polisario is severely accused of human rights abuses : the detention, killing ,and the abuse treatment of Moroccan prisoners of war from late 70’s to 2006, other accusations are that a big number of sahraouis are kept in the Tindouf camps against their will, and do not enjoy freedom of expression. In a report published in 2003; Amnesty International concluded that “freedom of expression, association, and movement continued to be restricted in the camps controlled by the polisario near Tindouf in south western Algeria».

In 2006 a full and comprehensive report of an independent committee of inquiry into allegations of violation human rights, crimes ,abuses ,and various other irregularities brought against the polisario front, was submitted to the special political and decolonisation committee (fourth committee) of the United Nations on the 4th of October 2006.This 40page documented report deals the following aspects:
• The condition of detention, the use of torture, the absence of even the minimum level of judicial process, malnutrition of prisoners, and the absence of medical care.
• Forced labour ,and rape ,and The abdication of Moroccan citizens within the international recognized frontiers of Morocco                                                                                           

The existence of the Polisario is connected to the existence of these camps, and the existence of such refugee camps on a hostile territory in subhuman conditions over a long period is a flagrant infringement of human rights. The Polisario has constantly violated the most elementary human rights for the last 30 years. The polisario can not be the sole and legitimate representative of sahraouis, especially if we take into account that two thirds of sahraouis do live under Moroccan sovereignty and they support the substantial autonomy project
(http://www.sahara-online.net ) At the same time, most of those living as refugees in Tindouf camps in Algeria back the autonomy seeing it as a solution that guarantees political, economic, and social rights of sahraouis. 

CONFLICTS WITHIN POLISARIO

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Recent conflicts between different factions within Polisario and that many  leaders are now returning to Morocco others would if they had the chance .The internal conflict is more serious than differences over “tactics” in any case after 3 decades of isolation in a harsh environment,youngstars who have never seen their homeland, and senior officials alike rail in frustration. The Khat Achahid (line of the martyr) is a faction within the Polisario, the organization announced its existence in 2004,it accuses the polisario leadership of being undemocratic, not caring enough for the refugees, and  also accusing Mohamed abdelaziz of corruption,clientism,tribalism,and for bargaining with the sufferings of the sahraoui people; having no strategy to face the international developments, and for refusing to hold the national congress required by KHAt- AL CHAHID ( see Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

In the absence of any real desire for dialogue with Morocco, a return to armed confrontation with Morocco is unlikely to happen, first of all polisario is not in a position to fight against the Moroccan army, and secondly although Algeria supports, and in so many respects controls polisario, it is almost certain that it would ever permit a resumption of hostilities from its soil.

The question remains: to what extent polisario is in the service of Algerian politics? And what would be the future of polisario, as it is almost certain that it has no chance to win the ongoing diplomatic battle, nor any other battle for that matter

…

     A SENAT CHILIAN DELEGATION REAFFIRMS ITS COUNTRY’S
        SUPPORT TO THE MOROCCAN TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

RABAT, 23rd of July

The chairman of the Chilean senate foreign affairs commission, Mr ROBERTO MUNOZ BARRA, who is leading an important senate delegation, visiting the Kingdom of Morocco, confirmed yesterday his country’s support to the Moroccan territorial integrity.

It is notable that the Chilean delegation had a meeting in the Moroccan House of Representatives, with members of the Moroccan foreign affairs commission, frontiers, occupied areas, and defence of the house of councillors.

Mr MUNOZ BARRA indicated that following explanation provided by Moroccan members of Parliament “we will go back with the conviction that Sahara, from the legal, historical, and geographical points of view, is under the sovereignty of this dear country, which is Morocco”.

In the other hand Mr HABIB AL ALJ, chairman of the foreign affairs commission of the house of councillors expressed his respect to the position of the members of the Chilean delegation who have reaffirmed their favourable position concerning Moroccan national cause, and greeted the Moroccan initiative to grant autonomy to the region of Sahara within the Kingdom sovereignty .

Mr AL  ALJ has equally reminded the historical and geographical facts of the artificial conflict concerning the Maroccanity of southern provinces.

Mr ROBERTO MUNOZ BARRA, who is equally the president of the Moroccan –Chilean friendship group, is paying a working visit to Morocco until the 26th of July.

Source (MAP)

             Morocco in more comfortable situation with autonomy project

7/20/2007

Morocco is in a "more comfortable" position with its initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its southern provinces, The Sahara, said, here Thursday, Moroccan deputy Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri.

    Speaking at a meeting with national media outlets, Mr. Fassi Fihri noted that "the other parties are now under pressure", stressing the Kingdom's efforts to reach a "consensual and mutually acceptable" solution to the Sahara issue, opposing the north African country to Polisario separatists.

    The Sahara dispute broke out in 1976 when the Polisario, backed by Morocco's eastern neighbor, Algeria, started laying claims to the territory, a former Spanish colony that was ceded to the North African country in 1975 under the Madrid Accord. The Polisario continues to hold thousands of Moroccans against their will in the Tindouf camps (south western Algeria).

    Recalling that Morocco's autonomy initiative was a break with the past, he noted that it was devised in response to the calls of the international community and the United Nations security Council’s resolution that called on the parties to the dispute to get out of the impasse and enter into negotiations "in good faith and without preconditions.”

   Echoing him, Moroccan Interior Minister, Chakib Benmoussa, stressed that Morocco would take part in the second round of negotiations on Sahara, due in Manhasset (New York outskirts) on August 10, “in a climate of trust, confidence and openness.”

    Morocco “is firmly convinced of the justness and the credibility of its cause”, he went on, adding that the initiative is likely to signal a new page in the history of the Great Maghreb, based on cooperation and solidarity, so that the region’s countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya) can face up to challenges, face threats lurking around Maghreban people and establish safety and stability in this area, which is targeted by dangers and covetousness.

    In accordance with the UNSG resolution 1754 (of April 30) that called upon the parties to the dispute to enter into negotiations "in good faith and without preconditions," Morocco and the Polisario held the first round of UN-sponsored negotiations on the Sahara in Manhasset. The parties have agreed to resume talks in the same venue in the second week of August.

    The United Nations Security Council, which convened on July 12 in a closed-door session to discuss the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon’s report on the status and progress of the negotiations on Sahara, voiced hope that the parties will use the next round of negotiations to engage "in good faith in substantial negotiations."

Source ( CORCAS )