MOROCCAN PROPOSAL FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY

                        MOROCCAN PROPOSAL FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY

TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT, MA
JOURNALIST/RESEARCHER

6/7/2007

On Wednesday, April 11, 2007 the Moroccan government submitted its proposal for a substantial autonomy for the Western Sahara region to the newly nominated secretary general of the United Nations organization, taking the first step, which the international community has called for repeatedly, toward a political direct dialogue with the parties concerned ie Algeria and the Polisario front.
The conflict between the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Algerian-backed polisario front, dates back more than three decades. From 1975 until a UN-brokered cease-fire agreement in 1991.
The terms of 1991 cease-fire agreement were not fully met until august 2005, when the polisario, under pressure from the international community released the over 400Moroccan prisoners of war. During their very long capture the Moroccan POW faced barbaric torture, and forced labour from both: the Algerian and polisario military intelligence services. On april2003, the France libertés foundation led an international mission of inquiry on the conditions of detention of Moroccan POW long held in the refugee camps in Algeria, the French foundation produced detailed accusations of torture, forced labour, arbitary detentions, and summary executions of captured soldiers, that revealed the true nature of the polisario front, which had long portrayed itself as victim.
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 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 negotiations between Morocco and the polisario.
The Moroccan Proposal for substantial Autonomy is the first, and the only practical proposed framework for a political solution, and from it the two sides can craft a final agreement. IT preserves Moroccan sovereignty, but gives the Western Sahara sufficient autonomy to become effectively self-governing. The autonomous region would have:

1. regional parliament and president of a local government
2. right to create local laws, as long as they do not contradict Morocco’s constitution
3. regional judiciary to rule regarding local laws
4. control of local police, schools, economy, infrastructure, taxation and housing
5. Moroccan national emblems, including Moroccan flag, currency, stamps and national anthem

The Kingdom of Morocco would control:

1. external defence and national security
2. foreign relations
3. national judiciary
4. religious affairs, with King Mohamed 6 as the highest religious authority

The Moroccan Substantial autonomy Plan  should be seen by parties concerned  as an initiative that achieves the principal of self-determination, through a free, modern and democratic expression regarding the autonomy statute .It is in no doubt in conformity with international legality as well as with international norms, and standards applicable in area of autonomy.
Despite the refusal of the polisario front of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan (and for that matter Algeria) the polisario could still come to reason .It is of no use to be stubborn and remain in error.
Today Morocco enables the polisario to open the road to hope, to make people forget the suffering, the errors and moral failures of the past.
Today a golden opportunity is offered to the Polisario to accept the only solution possible, indeed the best one is a Substantial Autonomy under the Moroccan Sovereignty.

The Moroccan plan’s language was purposefully broad to allow for open debate, Morocco remains open to this solution that preserves its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and that allows populations to manage directly, and democratically their local affairs .Morocco is ready to cooperate with other parties, as well as with the general secretary, and his special representative to reach a solution that is accepted by all parties.
To this aim, Morocco is ready to engage in a constructive negotiation to contribute concretely to its success. In the pursuit of this objective the kingdom of Morocco hopes to rely on the good will of all those who are committed to create favourable conditions for a realistic and consensus –based solution of the western Sahara conflict, a solution that enables the populations in the refugee camps inside Algeria to finally join their families and that allow Maghreb states to find unity and solidarity

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Comments

[Chasli]

Control of economy? So you are saying that the autonomous region would receive all the money from phosphates and fishing and if oil is discovered all the petro-dollars?