Auteur/autrice : mahembarec

  • Le Maroc cherche à prolonger le status quo

    Le diplomate américain Christopher Ross a été désigné, l’année passée, pour démêler ce casse-tête que’est devenu le Sahara Occidental. Ross a été en principe sélectionné pour cette mission au mois de septembre, mais Ban Ki-moon a pris quelques mois à l’annoncer officiellement, étant donné que le Maroc était contre sa nomination parce que, comme les autorités marocaines l’ont déclaré, à partir de maintenant, toute négociation devra se concentrer dans comment appliquer le plan d’autonomie de Mohamed VI, et si ce n’est pas pour l’appliquer, le plan marocain d’autonomie doit être « l’unique plate-forme » pour les discussions futures, en ignorant les propositions du Front POLISARIO.

    Ross a hérité d’un dossier peu enviable. Le Maroc s’obstine à refuser tout référendum qui offre l’indépendance pour le territoire, et le Polisario ne se contentera de rien qui ne soit choisi par le peuple sahraoui. Jusqu’ici, les propositions de l’ONU ont été insatisfaisantes pour, au moins, l’une des deux parties. Le référendum proposé sur l’indépendance signé en 1991 est mort quand le Polisario et le Maroc ont divergé sur qui doit avoir le droit au vote au Sahara Occidental. En 2001, le Maroc a donné son accord à la première version du plan Baker, dans laquelle le Sahara Occidental se convertirait en région autonome au sein du Maroc, mais le Polisario a repoussé le plan. En 2003, Baker a révisé le plan pour inclure une autonomie et un référendum pour la totalité de la population du Sahara Occidental, inclus les camps de réfugiés du Polisario en Algérie. Le Polisario l’a embrassé, ainsi que le Conseil de Sécurité, mais en absence de toute coopération de la part du Maroc, l’initiative a été jetée à l’eau.

    Après avoir visité, deux fois, la région du Maghreb, Ross a dit qu’il n’accepterait pas de solution qui ne contient pas l’autodétermination du peuple sahraoui. Cela pourrait ne rien signifier puisqu’il n’a pas mentionné de référendum. Les Marocains affirment que l’autodétermination inclut l’autonomie. Mais au moins il cherche une « solution basée sur le principe d’autodétermination » et il ne soutient pas l’autonomie comme c’était le cas de Peter Van Walsum. Le nouvel envoyé de l’ONU pour le Sahara Occidental n’assume pas la faible attitude du dernier envoyé Van Walsum sur l’autodétermination.

    Officiellement, le Maroc a déclaré vouloir des négociations qui soient basées sur un plan d’autonomie qui portait peu de chance d’être adopté. Il est possible que ce soit seulement une tentative de faire le dur, puisque les pays occidentaux ne se rendent pas compte que le Maroc n’est pas prêt à plus de compromis; Aussi, il convient de rappeler que le Maroc se trouve dans une position assez confortable avec le status quo, et préfère le prolonger indéfiniment avant d’entrer dans un terrain diplomatique inconnu.

    Si le droit international était suivi, trouver la solution serait un problème assez facile à résoudre pour Ross puisque le Sahara Occidental est soumis aux lois de la communauté internationale. La Résolution 1514 interdit le colonialisme et les puissances coloniales imposent une obligation à tous pour permettre que la population indigène du territoire colonisé de voter pour choisir son destin dans le cadre du principe de libre autodétermination.

    Si l’Ambassadeur Ross arrive à convaincre les parties concernées à s’en tenir au droit international, il aura l’honneur de fermer la porte du passé colonial de l’Afrique. Le nouvel envoyé de l’ONU semble avoir réveillé des espoirs dans la communauté sahraouie. Espérons que d’ici un an, les sahraouis n’auront plus à réclamer leurs droits légitimes et que les réfugiés en Algérie soient dans leur patrie.

    Mais la réalité est différente. La triste réalité est qu’il y avait peu de chance que les conversations en Autriche finissent la stagnation du processus de paix, même si elles ont un nouveau format. Cela signifie qu’un cinquième round de négociations sponsorisé par l’ONU est dans l’expectative, mais il promet peu avancement dans l’immédiat. Tous les analystes sont unanimes : il y a peu d’espoir que les négociations avancent.

    Les dernières réunions peu sérieuses entre le Maroc et le Front POLISARIO ont fait un petit bruit. La bonne nouvelle est que ça bouge. La mauvaise est que ces négociations sans fin continueront à prolonger le status quo si la communauté internationale continue à regarder ce conflit avec indifférence.

    Il est inconcevable que le Front Polisario donne son feu vert à un accord qui ne permet pas le contrôle des ressources naturelles actives aux habitants du Sahara Occidental, surtout des phosphates et de la pêche. Celles-ci donneraient à la population locale de bonnes revenus per capita, probablement au-dessus de celles du Maroc. Et si le pétrole est découvert, y a-t-il vraiment quelqu’un qui pense que le Maroc permettrait au Sahara Occidental de contrôler les pétrodollars ? Inconcevable.

    Les militaires marocains sont retranchés, avec beaucoup de poids, dans l’économie locale du Sahara Occidental. De la contrebande d’espèces migratoires aux milliers de millions de dollars de l’industrie de pêche, ses mains sont dans chaque partie de cette tarte qui est le Sahara. Pendant que le ministère des affaires étrangères marocain organise des tournées en parlant d’autonomie, le Ministère des affaires intérieures et les agences de sécurité serrent ses tenailles sur le territoire. Les rapports récents du Secrétaire général préviennent que le Maroc travaille pour améliorer son arsenal de défense et il a signé un accord de pêche avec l’Union Européenne, qui inclut les eaux du Sahara Occidental; tout en bénéficiant d’un statut privilégié.

    Est-ce que cela ressemble aux actions d’un gouvernement qui contemple l’autonomie ? Conformément au plan Baker 2001 – celui qui a plu le Maroc – l’industrie de pêche et l’exploitation d’hydrocarbures seraient compétences du gouvernement autonome du Sahara Occidental. Rabat n’a encore donné aucun signe pour indiquer qu’il est disposé à partager le contrôle de l’actif économique du Sahara Occidental.

    Le fait que l’autonomie semble si improbable au Maroc d’aujourd’hui dit long sur où va son projet d’autonomie.

    Le Maroc a volé une astuce du livre d’Israël : parler de paix et faire la guerre. Et il espère que la communauté internationale sera trop occupée pour remarquer la différence entre la rhétorique et la réalité. Quelqu’un qui pense que le Maroc permettra un jour aux Sahraouis de contrôler n’importe lesquels des ressources minérales ou maritimes du territoire se trompe. Il ne le fera jamais. Comme il a été indiqué, les militaires marocains, l’élite, et la monarchie étaient occupés, joyeusement, à voler les abondantes ressources du Sahara Occidental pendant plus de trente-quatre ans et ils ne sont pas disposés à abandonner leur mine de l’or.

    Il conviendrait de rappeler que le Sahara Occidental serait aujourd’hui indépendant si le Maroc s’était acquitté de ses promesses qui commençaient avec le cessez-le-feu pour organiser un référendum. Le Maroc a systématiquement violé chaque accord qu’il a signé avec le Polisario. Si le Maroc est d’accord avec une fédération, une confédération, ou n’importe quel type d’autonomie, ce serait extrêmement difficile de croire que le Maroc respecterait ses engagements.

    Le Maroc n’est pas l’Espagne. C’est un pays autocratique, appauvri, un royaume profondément corrompu, avec un coefficient d’éducation au-dessous de celui des pays les moins développés, et dont les exportations principales sont le terrorisme et le hachisch. En tenant compte que le Maroc a échoué dans la gouvernance de ses propres gens, il est incroyable que quelqu’un puisse encore penser à lui confier le destin d’un autre peuple. N’importe quel accord sur une autonomie de n’importe quel genre ne vaudrait pas le prix du papier sur lequel a été signé.

  • The sahrawi women have a lot of hope on the recent talks

    The Saharawi Women and the great majority of the people of Western Sahara have a lot of hope in the very Peace-Talks that has taken place in the Austrian city of Duernstein between the two belligerant in the conflict of the last colony in the african continent: Morocco and POLISARO Front (liberation movement recognized all over the world as thesole representative of the people of Western Sahara).
    Polisario Front and Morocco have agreed to the publication of statement, read to the press by Christopher Ross concluding the meeting between the two parties in the Austrian town of Duernstein, on August 10 and 11, that the Polisario Front and Morocco have renewed their determination to continue negotiations as soon as possible.The discussions took place only between the delegations of Polisario Front and Morocco and covered the assessment of rounds of negotiations in Manhasset, how to implement resolution 1871 of the Security Council and confidence measures, which are fundamental issue of human rights.

    These discussions took place in « an atmosphere of sincere commitment, openness and mutual respect », according to the statement.
    Both parties in conflict, the Polisario Front and Morocco reiterated their determination to continue negotiations as soon as possible, and the personal Envoy will fix the date and venue of the next meeting in consultation with the parties, the same source added.

    Delegations of neighbouring countries, Algeria and Mauritania, were also present at the opening and closing sessions and were consulted separately during the talks.
    Following these meetings, the United Nations Secretary General Personal Envoy, Mr. Christopher Ross and delegations would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Austria for its generous hospitality.
    The british newspaper « The Guardian » has just published a very interesting article written by the Saharawi Leader, Emhamed Khaddad. Under the tittle of « We seek no revenge – only Peace » the also Saharawi Coordinator with MINURSO says in his article:
    The people of Western Sahara stand prepared to engage with Morocco and to enter open discussions about our joint future.A new round of talks between the kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front of Western Sahara are under way in Vienna, Austria. These talks, characterised as informal by the personal envoy of the UN secretary general, Christopher Ross, are the latest attempt to bring peace and security to Western Sahara and to the wider Maghreb region.
    We enter them with an unwavering and genuine commitment to finding a just, mutually acceptable and democratic solution. Will our Moroccan counterparts adopt the same approach?In every circumstance, peace comes at a cost. Somehow, somewhere, there must be a compromise and someone, generally everyone, must be prepared to search for common ground and to yield to the higher ideals found there. For the people of Western Sahara, the price of peace is high. We have been occupied for over three decades, following an illegal annexation by the Moroccan kingdom. We have seen our natural resources become unethical trade boons to the Moroccan economy while our people languish in refugee camps, unable, or too afraid, to return home.Yet, rather than seek to exercise a sense of revenge or frustration, we stand prepared to engage with Morocco and to enter open discussions about our joint future. This is long-established policy. In our statement to the UN security council in 2007, we stated we would guarantee « the rights and obligations of the Moroccan population in Western Sahara ». We also put on the public record that our readiness « to participate with Morocco and the countries of the region in the maintenance of peace, stability and security for the whole region.
    « The people of Western Sahara remain committed to the self-determination process initiated by the UN nearly 50 years ago, and have backed ever since via various resolutions and statements. For instance, we recall the security council resolved in 2002 to express « its readiness to consider any approach which provides for self-determination ». It is not clear how or where Morocco’s proposal for autonomy within the Moroccan state fits in with this basic agenda.
    A unilateral solution to a three-decade-long conflict, as is proposed by Morocco, is not only farcical, it is an option the community of democratic nations cannot countenance.The people of Western Sahara have been clear that we are willing to work with the Moroccan monarchy and will act without recrimination in relation to Moroccans now living in Western Sahara. We are aware we do not choose our neighbours and so we are destined to share a border. This is a form of realpolitik that makes sense at all levels. We do not seek any victories over Morocco, we only seek parity. We aim to co-operate in economic and security matters, as any decent neighbour would be expected to do.For Morocco, the benefits of good relations with a free and democratic Western Sahara are immense.
    The massive costs of its military occupation have been estimated at 3% of Morocco’s GDP. Analysts suggest the military costs in keeping some 150,000 troops in the occupied territories alone is over $153bn (£92.3bn) since 1975, or around $12m (£7.2m) for every day it has occupied Western Sahara. As a result of this extraordinary outlay, Morocco has the world’s fifth highest proportional spend on its military. Moreover, the long-touted Maghreb union, which has faltered for decades on the back of the Western Saharan dispute, would at last be free of this considerable obstacle to better relations.
    Quite apart from the damaging moral position Morocco maintains in Western Sahara, ending this money drain must surely be a priority for Rabat and its often impoverished people, as must the prospect of awakening the sleeping giant of North African economic unity. The UN’s way is the only way forward. A referendum on self-determination, a fundamental mechanism for all UN-mandated colonies – as Western Sahara is – is the only viable means of engendering anything like a sustainable common ground. The future of the Sahrawi people must be in their own hands, not in any institution and it is certainly not the right of an invading power, maintaining an illegal and unjust regime.
    As we enter these talks we favour the open-palm approach of US president Barack Obama. We are willing to pay the price of peace as an investment in our future. That is our stated agenda going into the Vienna talks. The people of Western Sahara deserve nothing less from us, for it is peace and freedom we crave most of all.

  • Arrestation d’un militant des DH

    Communiqué de l’ASVDH

    Les Autorités marocaines ont arrêté vendredi soir 14/08/2009 vers 22.00 le défenseur des droits de l’homme et coprésident du Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits humains au Sahara occidental (CORELSO) Mr Naama Asfari au poste de contrôle au nord de la ville de Tan Tan DANS sud du Maroc. Dans un entretien téléphonique avec l’ASVDH Mme Claude Mangin L’épouse de Mr. Naama a indiqué que des traces de coups sur son corps sont visibles et ses lunettes brisées. Et qu’il va être présenté demain samedi 15/08/2009 devant le procureur du roi au tribunal de première instance vers 12.00 sans savoir les charges retenues contre lui. L’ASVDH craint que l’agression contre Mr Asfari s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une vengence contre ses positions politiques et ses activités en tant que militant des droits de l’homme. En particulier que le chef de la sécurité de la ville, Mustafa Kamour est un des officiers impliqués dans une série de violations contre des dizaines de citoyens Sahraouis a la ville de El-Aaiun (Sahara Occidental)

  • How UN can provoke terrorism!!

    UN Secretary-General Envoy, Christopher Ross, is working on his own plan to resolve the thirty-four-year-old Western Sahara conflict. The details of the plan have not yet been released. He has made no secret of his desire to shake things up in the Sahara to unsettle the diplomatic war of attrition being waged by Moroccoand the Front Polisario.

    The major question facing Ross is the Western Saharans’ right of self-determination, which vexed the previous mediators, James Baker, the former US secretary of state. Morocco officially rejected the 2003 Baker plan because it contained the option of independence after the 5 year autonomy period, saying that its « territorial integrity » will not be put to a vote. The Polisario reject anything that doesn’t contain an independence option, which they claim is a part of self-determination. Under the 2003 Baker plan, the majority Moroccan settlers (120,000 versus 110,000 indigenous Saharans) would be allowed to vote, which should have resolved the « voter eligibility » issues for Morocco. So Morocco’s real problem is that it doesn’t even trust its own settlers to vote for integration. In a country where at least 75% of the population wants to emigrate, Rabat’s fears are probably well founded.

    Even if the MINURSO can not carry out its mandate, some UN presence in the territory is nencessary. But from Polisario perspective, MINURSO’s peacekeepers now acts as a kind of buffer between them and Morocco. The presence of the UN also creates a false impression that there is at least something going on diplomatically, when, in reality, the negociations, since, 2000, gave nothing. With that kinf political cover, Morocco is able to fortify its occupation, right under the nose of the UN. This is why Morocco supports MINURSO and Polisario doesn’t. The UN hasn’t been able to anything for Polisario in 18 years, and diplomatic progress has been negative since 2004, year of departure of James Baker.

    Minurso is far from perfect from Rabat’s point of view, since it keeps the Settlement Plan (and the prospect of a referendum) on the table, but for years it has done little more than provide cover for Morocco’s continued occupation, exploitation, fortification, demographic Moroccanization, and generally helping out in its facts-on-the-ground strategy. Also, the frozen no war/no peace situation is seriously wearing down the Polisario morally (among members), politically (no war = no media attention) and militarily.

    That is indeed a very comfortable place to be in for Morocco, and only two things could really change Morocco’s interest in keeping Minurso: either Morocco deciding to go for the kill and finalize the issue legally, or Polisario causing enough fuss in the occupied territories to make the status quo so unpleasant for Morocco that it no longer brings the stability that France and European Union wants.

    Moroccans and their supporters, mainly France and Spain, think MINURSO acts as a kind of deterrent keeping Polisario from fighting. The common refrain from Paris, Washington and Madrid is that MINURSO is a « stabilizing force » in the region. Morocco doesn’t want to be the one who appears to be kicking MINURSO out.

    So, MINURSO helps justify the status quo through its cease-fire monitoring. Morocco thinks the status quo is in its favor. While Polisario sits and rots in Tindouf, Morocco is busy looking for oil, plundering the fish, and constantly investing in the territory.

    Since morocco has spent 18 years systematically breaking one clause of the cease-fire agreement after another (right on from not redeploying its troops, to refusing opening the wall for population, to turning away from two separate UN-ordered peace plans, and finally refusing even the concept of a referendum), there’s no need to look for a casus belli: Morocco has consciously and openly destroyed the cease-fire terms in what was always a formal state of war.

    Polisario Front needs war, and would gain tremendously from it. The cease-fire has been gutted of the referendum, foreign aid is decreasing due to lack of media attention, and what’s left for the refugees is no homeland, but death from malnutrition.

    Polisario still constantly training out there in the liberated zones, teaching a whole new generations how to fight and they still have the will to fight, which is the most important thing for guerilla warfare.

    If war hits again, it won’t be the polisario’s fault, of course (they’ve been warning for several years that they couldn’t keep the lid on this), but they will certainly be blamed for it.


    Of course, the tragedy is that terrorism could actually work, where lawful war, peaceful protest, international legality and democractic activism have all been derailed by western and arab support for Morocco. So far, Polisario has met nothing but indifference and scorn from the US and Europe, while they heap attention on anyone prepared to blow up an airliner or massacre civilians.

    It’s getting to the point where you can’t tell if it’s just normal hypocrisy or a conscious effort to provoke terrorism.

  • The sahrawi women have a lot of hope on the recent talks

    The Saharawi Women and the great majority of the people of Western Sahara have a lot of hope in the very Peace-Talks that has taken place in the Austrian city of Duernstein between the two belligerant in the conflict of the last colony in the african continent: Morocco and POLISARO Front (liberation movement recognized all over the world as thesole representative of the people of Western Sahara).
    Polisario Front and Morocco have agreed to the publication of statement, read to the press by Christopher Ross concluding the meeting between the two parties in the Austrian town of Duernstein, on August 10 and 11, that the Polisario Front and Morocco have renewed their determination to continue negotiations as soon as possible.The discussions took place only between the delegations of Polisario Front and Morocco and covered the assessment of rounds of negotiations in Manhasset, how to implement resolution 1871 of the Security Council and confidence measures, which are fundamental issue of human rights.

    These discussions took place in « an atmosphere of sincere commitment, openness and mutual respect », according to the statement.
    Both parties in conflict, the Polisario Front and Morocco reiterated their determination to continue negotiations as soon as possible, and the personal Envoy will fix the date and venue of the next meeting in consultation with the parties, the same source added.

    Delegations of neighbouring countries, Algeria and Mauritania, were also present at the opening and closing sessions and were consulted separately during the talks.
    Following these meetings, the United Nations Secretary General Personal Envoy, Mr. Christopher Ross and delegations would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Austria for its generous hospitality.
    The british newspaper « The Guardian » has just published a very interesting article written by the Saharawi Leader, Emhamed Khaddad. Under the tittle of « We seek no revenge – only Peace » the also Saharawi Coordinator with MINURSO says in his article:
    The people of Western Sahara stand prepared to engage with Morocco and to enter open discussions about our joint future.A new round of talks between the kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front of Western Sahara are under way in Vienna, Austria. These talks, characterised as informal by the personal envoy of the UN secretary general, Christopher Ross, are the latest attempt to bring peace and security to Western Sahara and to the wider Maghreb region.
    We enter them with an unwavering and genuine commitment to finding a just, mutually acceptable and democratic solution. Will our Moroccan counterparts adopt the same approach?In every circumstance, peace comes at a cost. Somehow, somewhere, there must be a compromise and someone, generally everyone, must be prepared to search for common ground and to yield to the higher ideals found there. For the people of Western Sahara, the price of peace is high. We have been occupied for over three decades, following an illegal annexation by the Moroccan kingdom. We have seen our natural resources become unethical trade boons to the Moroccan economy while our people languish in refugee camps, unable, or too afraid, to return home.Yet, rather than seek to exercise a sense of revenge or frustration, we stand prepared to engage with Morocco and to enter open discussions about our joint future. This is long-established policy. In our statement to the UN security council in 2007, we stated we would guarantee « the rights and obligations of the Moroccan population in Western Sahara ». We also put on the public record that our readiness « to participate with Morocco and the countries of the region in the maintenance of peace, stability and security for the whole region.
    « The people of Western Sahara remain committed to the self-determination process initiated by the UN nearly 50 years ago, and have backed ever since via various resolutions and statements. For instance, we recall the security council resolved in 2002 to express « its readiness to consider any approach which provides for self-determination ». It is not clear how or where Morocco’s proposal for autonomy within the Moroccan state fits in with this basic agenda.
    A unilateral solution to a three-decade-long conflict, as is proposed by Morocco, is not only farcical, it is an option the community of democratic nations cannot countenance.The people of Western Sahara have been clear that we are willing to work with the Moroccan monarchy and will act without recrimination in relation to Moroccans now living in Western Sahara. We are aware we do not choose our neighbours and so we are destined to share a border. This is a form of realpolitik that makes sense at all levels. We do not seek any victories over Morocco, we only seek parity. We aim to co-operate in economic and security matters, as any decent neighbour would be expected to do.For Morocco, the benefits of good relations with a free and democratic Western Sahara are immense.
    The massive costs of its military occupation have been estimated at 3% of Morocco’s GDP. Analysts suggest the military costs in keeping some 150,000 troops in the occupied territories alone is over $153bn (£92.3bn) since 1975, or around $12m (£7.2m) for every day it has occupied Western Sahara. As a result of this extraordinary outlay, Morocco has the world’s fifth highest proportional spend on its military. Moreover, the long-touted Maghreb union, which has faltered for decades on the back of the Western Saharan dispute, would at last be free of this considerable obstacle to better relations.
    Quite apart from the damaging moral position Morocco maintains in Western Sahara, ending this money drain must surely be a priority for Rabat and its often impoverished people, as must the prospect of awakening the sleeping giant of North African economic unity. The UN’s way is the only way forward. A referendum on self-determination, a fundamental mechanism for all UN-mandated colonies – as Western Sahara is – is the only viable means of engendering anything like a sustainable common ground. The future of the Sahrawi people must be in their own hands, not in any institution and it is certainly not the right of an invading power, maintaining an illegal and unjust regime.
    As we enter these talks we favour the open-palm approach of US president Barack Obama. We are willing to pay the price of peace as an investment in our future. That is our stated agenda going into the Vienna talks. The people of Western Sahara deserve nothing less from us, for it is peace and freedom we crave most of all.

  • Arrestation d’un militant des DH

    Communiqué de l’ASVDH

    Les Autorités marocaines ont arrêté vendredi soir 14/08/2009 vers 22.00 le défenseur des droits de l’homme et coprésident du Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits humains au Sahara occidental (CORELSO) Mr Naama Asfari au poste de contrôle au nord de la ville de Tan Tan DANS sud du Maroc. Dans un entretien téléphonique avec l’ASVDH Mme Claude Mangin L’épouse de Mr. Naama a indiqué que des traces de coups sur son corps sont visibles et ses lunettes brisées. Et qu’il va être présenté demain samedi 15/08/2009 devant le procureur du roi au tribunal de première instance vers 12.00 sans savoir les charges retenues contre lui. L’ASVDH craint que l’agression contre Mr Asfari s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une vengence contre ses positions politiques et ses activités en tant que militant des droits de l’homme. En particulier que le chef de la sécurité de la ville, Mustafa Kamour est un des officiers impliqués dans une série de violations contre des dizaines de citoyens Sahraouis a la ville de El-Aaiun (Sahara Occidental)

  • How UN can provoke terrorism!!

    UN Secretary-General Envoy, Christopher Ross, is working on his own plan to resolve the thirty-four-year-old Western Sahara conflict. The details of the plan have not yet been released. He has made no secret of his desire to shake things up in the Sahara to unsettle the diplomatic war of attrition being waged by Moroccoand the Front Polisario.

    The major question facing Ross is the Western Saharans’ right of self-determination, which vexed the previous mediators, James Baker, the former US secretary of state. Morocco officially rejected the 2003 Baker plan because it contained the option of independence after the 5 year autonomy period, saying that its « territorial integrity » will not be put to a vote. The Polisario reject anything that doesn’t contain an independence option, which they claim is a part of self-determination. Under the 2003 Baker plan, the majority Moroccan settlers (120,000 versus 110,000 indigenous Saharans) would be allowed to vote, which should have resolved the « voter eligibility » issues for Morocco. So Morocco’s real problem is that it doesn’t even trust its own settlers to vote for integration. In a country where at least 75% of the population wants to emigrate, Rabat’s fears are probably well founded.

    Even if the MINURSO can not carry out its mandate, some UN presence in the territory is nencessary. But from Polisario perspective, MINURSO’s peacekeepers now acts as a kind of buffer between them and Morocco. The presence of the UN also creates a false impression that there is at least something going on diplomatically, when, in reality, the negociations, since, 2000, gave nothing. With that kinf political cover, Morocco is able to fortify its occupation, right under the nose of the UN. This is why Morocco supports MINURSO and Polisario doesn’t. The UN hasn’t been able to anything for Polisario in 18 years, and diplomatic progress has been negative since 2004, year of departure of James Baker.

    Minurso is far from perfect from Rabat’s point of view, since it keeps the Settlement Plan (and the prospect of a referendum) on the table, but for years it has done little more than provide cover for Morocco’s continued occupation, exploitation, fortification, demographic Moroccanization, and generally helping out in its facts-on-the-ground strategy. Also, the frozen no war/no peace situation is seriously wearing down the Polisario morally (among members), politically (no war = no media attention) and militarily.

    That is indeed a very comfortable place to be in for Morocco, and only two things could really change Morocco’s interest in keeping Minurso: either Morocco deciding to go for the kill and finalize the issue legally, or Polisario causing enough fuss in the occupied territories to make the status quo so unpleasant for Morocco that it no longer brings the stability that France and European Union wants.

    Moroccans and their supporters, mainly France and Spain, think MINURSO acts as a kind of deterrent keeping Polisario from fighting. The common refrain from Paris, Washington and Madrid is that MINURSO is a « stabilizing force » in the region. Morocco doesn’t want to be the one who appears to be kicking MINURSO out.

    So, MINURSO helps justify the status quo through its cease-fire monitoring. Morocco thinks the status quo is in its favor. While Polisario sits and rots in Tindouf, Morocco is busy looking for oil, plundering the fish, and constantly investing in the territory.

    Since morocco has spent 18 years systematically breaking one clause of the cease-fire agreement after another (right on from not redeploying its troops, to refusing opening the wall for population, to turning away from two separate UN-ordered peace plans, and finally refusing even the concept of a referendum), there’s no need to look for a casus belli: Morocco has consciously and openly destroyed the cease-fire terms in what was always a formal state of war.

    Polisario Front needs war, and would gain tremendously from it. The cease-fire has been gutted of the referendum, foreign aid is decreasing due to lack of media attention, and what’s left for the refugees is no homeland, but death from malnutrition.

    Polisario still constantly training out there in the liberated zones, teaching a whole new generations how to fight and they still have the will to fight, which is the most important thing for guerilla warfare.

    If war hits again, it won’t be the polisario’s fault, of course (they’ve been warning for several years that they couldn’t keep the lid on this), but they will certainly be blamed for it.


    Of course, the tragedy is that terrorism could actually work, where lawful war, peaceful protest, international legality and democractic activism have all been derailed by western and arab support for Morocco. So far, Polisario has met nothing but indifference and scorn from the US and Europe, while they heap attention on anyone prepared to blow up an airliner or massacre civilians.

    It’s getting to the point where you can’t tell if it’s just normal hypocrisy or a conscious effort to provoke terrorism.

  • Marruecos busca el statu quo

    El diplomático estadounidense Christopher Ross fue elegido el pasado verano para desenredar este lío en el que se convirtió el Sahara Occidental. Ross fue en un principio seleccionado para esta misión en septiembre, pero tomó varios meses en hacerlo oficialmente, después de que Marruecos obstruyera su nombramiento porque, como la prensa marroquí dice, a partir de ahora, cualquier negociación debera centrarse en cómo aplicar el plan de autonomía de Mohamed VI, y si no es para aplicarlo, el plan marroquí de autonomía debe ser la « única plataforma » para las futuras discusiones, dejando de lado las propuestas del POLISARIO.

    Ross hereda un expediente poco envidiable. Marruecos sigue negándose como nunca a aceptar un referéndum que ofrezca la independencia para el territorio, y el Polisario no se contenta de nada que no sea refrendando por el pueblo saharaui. Hasta la fecha, las propuestas de la ONU han sido insatisfactorias para, al menos, una de las dos partes. El referendum propuesto sobre la independencia firmado en 1991 murió cuando el Polisario y Marruecos discreparon sobre quién debe tener derecho al voto en el Sáhara Occidental. En 2001, Marruecos dió su acuerdo a la primera versión del plan Baker, en la que el Sáhara Occidental se convertiría en una región autónoma de Marruecos, pero el Polisario rechazó el plan. En 2003, Baker revisó el plan para incluir autonomía y un referéndum para la totalidad de la población del Sáhara Occidental, incluido los campamentos de refugiados del Polisario en Argelia. El Polisario lo abrazó, como lo hizo el Consejo de Seguridad, pero en ausencia de cooperación por parte de Marruecos, la iniciativa se echó para abajo.

    Después de visitar, dos veces, la región del Magreb, Ross dijo que no aceptaría ninguna solución que no contenga la autodeterminación del pueblo saharaui. Esto podría no significar nada. Los Marroquíes afirman que la autodeterminación incluye la autonomía. Y no mencionó ningún tipo de referéndum. Pero por lo menos esta buscando una « solución basada en el principio de autodeterminación » y no apoya la autonomía como Van Walsum. El nuevo enviado de la ONU para el Sáhara Occidental no asume la débil postura del último enviado Peter Van Walsum sobre la autodeterminación.

    Oficialmente, Marruecos indicó que quería negociaciones que se basaran en un plan de autonomía que parece poco probable para ser valido. Puede que sólo sea un intento de hacerse el duro, ya que los países occidentales no no se dan cuenta de que Marruecos no está dispuesto para un mayor compromiso; también, conviene recordar que Marruecos esta bastante cómodo con el status quo, y prefiere prolongarlo indefinidamente antes que entrar en terreno diplomático desconocido.

    Si el derecho internacional fuera seguido, hallar la solución sería un problema bastante fácil para Ross ya que el Sáhara Occidental está sujeto a las leyes de la comunidad internacional. La Resolución 1514 prohibe el colonialismo e impone una obligación a todos las potencias coloniales para permitir que la población indígena del territorio colonizado vote para elegir su destino en el marco del principio de libre autodeterminación.

    Si el Embajador Ross convence las partes involucradas a atenerse al derecho internacional, tendrá el honor de cerrar la puerta del pasado colonial de Africa. El nuevo enviado de la ONU parece haber despertado esperanzas en la comunidad saharaui. Esperemos que dentro de un año, los saharauis no estén todavía reclamando sus derechos y que los refugiados en Argelia estén en su patria.

    Pero la realidad es diferente. La triste realidad es que había pocas posibilidades de que las conversaciones en Austria rompieran el estancamiento del proceso de paz, aunque vengan con un nuevo formato. Esto significa que una quinta ronda de negociaciones patrocinada por la ONU esta en la expectativa, pero promete poco progreso de inmediato. Todos los analistas son unánimes : hay pocas perspectivas de avance.

    Las últimas reuniones informales entre Marruecos y el Frente POLISARIO han hecho poco ruido. La buena noticia es que todavía hay movimiento. La mala noticia es que estas negociaciones seguirán prolongando el status quo si la comunidad internacional sigue contemplando este conflicto con indiferencia.

    Habla de paz y haz la guerra

    Es inconcebible que el Frente Polisario de su acuerdo a cualquier arreglo que no conceda el control de los recursos naturales activos a los habitantes del Sáhara Occidental, sobre todo de los fosfatos y la pesca. Estos darían a la pequeña población local buenos ingresos per capita, probablemente por encima de los de Marruecos. ¿Y si el petróleo es descubierto, realmente piensa alguien que Marruecos permitiría al Sáhara Occidental controlar los petrodólares? Inconcebible.

    Los militares marroquíes están atrincherados, con mucho peso, en la economía local del Sáhara Occidental. Del contrabando de especies migratorias a los miles de millones de dólares de la industria de pesca, sus manos están en cada parte de esa tarta que es el Sáhara. Mientras el ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores marroquí organiza las giras hablando de la autonomía, el Ministerio de asuntos interiores y las agencias de seguridad aprietan sus tenazas sobre el Territorio. Los informes recientes del Secretario General advierten que Marruecos esta mejorando su arsenal de defensa, ha firmado un acuerdo de pesca con la Unión Europea, que incluye las aguas del Sahara Occidental; Rabat también ha renovado sus contratos de exploración de petróleo con la compaňía Kerr-McGee en áreas de la costa saharaui.

    ¿Se parece esto a las acciones de un gobierno que contempla la autonomía? Conforme al plan Baker 2001 – el que le gustó a Marruecos – la industria pesquera y la explotación de hidrocarburos serían competencias del gobierno autónomo del Sahara Occidental. Aún Rabat no ha dado ninguna gesto para indicar que está dispuesto a compartir el control del activo económico clave en el Sáhara Occidental.

    El hecho de que la autonomía parece tan improbable en el Marruecos de hoy dice mucho sobre dónde va su proyecto de autonomía.

    Marruecos ha robado una astucia del libro de Israel: hablar de paz y hacer la guerra. Y espera que la comunidad internacional este demasiado preocupada para notar la diferencia entre la retórica y la realidad. Alguien que piensa que Marruecos permitira algún día a los Saharauis controlar cualquiera de los recursos minerales o marítimos del territorio se equivoca. Nunca lo hara. Como se ha indicado, los militares marroquíes, la élite, y la monarquía han estado, jubilosamente, robando los recursos abundantes del Sáhara Occidental durante más de treinta y cuatro años y no están dispuestos a abandonar su mina de oro.

    Convendría recordar que el Sáhara Occidental hoy sería independiente si Marruecos sólo hubiera cumplido con sus promesas que comenzron con el alto el fuego para celebrar un referéndum. Marruecos ha violado sistemáticamente cada acuerdo que ha firmado con el Polisario. Si Marruecos está de acuerdo con una federación, una confederación, o cualquier clase de autonomía, sería extremadamente difícil ceéer que Marruecos respetaría sus compromisos.

    Marruecos no es España. Es un país autocrático, empobrecido, un reino profúndamente corrupto, con un coeficiente de educación por debajo del de los paises menos desarrolados, y cuyas exportaciones principales son el terrorismo y el hachís. Considerando el fracaso de Marruecos en el gobierno de su propia gente, es increíble que alguien pensara aún en confiarle más personas (los saharauis). Cualquier acuerdo de autonomía de cualquier género no valdría el precio del papel sobre el que sera firmado.

  • Marruecos busca el statu quo

    El diplomático estadounidense Christopher Ross fue elegido el pasado verano para desenredar este lío en el que se convirtió el Sahara Occidental. Ross fue en un principio seleccionado para esta misión en septiembre, pero tomó varios meses en hacerlo oficialmente, después de que Marruecos obstruyera su nombramiento porque, como la prensa marroquí dice, a partir de ahora, cualquier negociación debera centrarse en cómo aplicar el plan de autonomía de Mohamed VI, y si no es para aplicarlo, el plan marroquí de autonomía debe ser la « única plataforma » para las futuras discusiones, dejando de lado las propuestas del POLISARIO.

    Ross hereda un expediente poco envidiable. Marruecos sigue negándose como nunca a aceptar un referéndum que ofrezca la independencia para el territorio, y el Polisario no se contenta de nada que no sea refrendando por el pueblo saharaui. Hasta la fecha, las propuestas de la ONU han sido insatisfactorias para, al menos, una de las dos partes. El referendum propuesto sobre la independencia firmado en 1991 murió cuando el Polisario y Marruecos discreparon sobre quién debe tener derecho al voto en el Sáhara Occidental. En 2001, Marruecos dió su acuerdo a la primera versión del plan Baker, en la que el Sáhara Occidental se convertiría en una región autónoma de Marruecos, pero el Polisario rechazó el plan. En 2003, Baker revisó el plan para incluir autonomía y un referéndum para la totalidad de la población del Sáhara Occidental, incluido los campamentos de refugiados del Polisario en Argelia. El Polisario lo abrazó, como lo hizo el Consejo de Seguridad, pero en ausencia de cooperación por parte de Marruecos, la iniciativa se echó para abajo.

    Después de visitar, dos veces, la región del Magreb, Ross dijo que no aceptaría ninguna solución que no contenga la autodeterminación del pueblo saharaui. Esto podría no significar nada. Los Marroquíes afirman que la autodeterminación incluye la autonomía. Y no mencionó ningún tipo de referéndum. Pero por lo menos esta buscando una « solución basada en el principio de autodeterminación » y no apoya la autonomía como Van Walsum. El nuevo enviado de la ONU para el Sáhara Occidental no asume la débil postura del último enviado Peter Van Walsum sobre la autodeterminación.

    Oficialmente, Marruecos indicó que quería negociaciones que se basaran en un plan de autonomía que parece poco probable para ser valido. Puede que sólo sea un intento de hacerse el duro, ya que los países occidentales no no se dan cuenta de que Marruecos no está dispuesto para un mayor compromiso; también, conviene recordar que Marruecos esta bastante cómodo con el status quo, y prefiere prolongarlo indefinidamente antes que entrar en terreno diplomático desconocido.

    Si el derecho internacional fuera seguido, hallar la solución sería un problema bastante fácil para Ross ya que el Sáhara Occidental está sujeto a las leyes de la comunidad internacional. La Resolución 1514 prohibe el colonialismo e impone una obligación a todos las potencias coloniales para permitir que la población indígena del territorio colonizado vote para elegir su destino en el marco del principio de libre autodeterminación.

    Si el Embajador Ross convence las partes involucradas a atenerse al derecho internacional, tendrá el honor de cerrar la puerta del pasado colonial de Africa. El nuevo enviado de la ONU parece haber despertado esperanzas en la comunidad saharaui. Esperemos que dentro de un año, los saharauis no estén todavía reclamando sus derechos y que los refugiados en Argelia estén en su patria.

    Pero la realidad es diferente. La triste realidad es que había pocas posibilidades de que las conversaciones en Austria rompieran el estancamiento del proceso de paz, aunque vengan con un nuevo formato. Esto significa que una quinta ronda de negociaciones patrocinada por la ONU esta en la expectativa, pero promete poco progreso de inmediato. Todos los analistas son unánimes : hay pocas perspectivas de avance.

    Las últimas reuniones informales entre Marruecos y el Frente POLISARIO han hecho poco ruido. La buena noticia es que todavía hay movimiento. La mala noticia es que estas negociaciones seguirán prolongando el status quo si la comunidad internacional sigue contemplando este conflicto con indiferencia.

    Habla de paz y haz la guerra

    Es inconcebible que el Frente Polisario de su acuerdo a cualquier arreglo que no conceda el control de los recursos naturales activos a los habitantes del Sáhara Occidental, sobre todo de los fosfatos y la pesca. Estos darían a la pequeña población local buenos ingresos per capita, probablemente por encima de los de Marruecos. ¿Y si el petróleo es descubierto, realmente piensa alguien que Marruecos permitiría al Sáhara Occidental controlar los petrodólares? Inconcebible.

    Los militares marroquíes están atrincherados, con mucho peso, en la economía local del Sáhara Occidental. Del contrabando de especies migratorias a los miles de millones de dólares de la industria de pesca, sus manos están en cada parte de esa tarta que es el Sáhara. Mientras el ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores marroquí organiza las giras hablando de la autonomía, el Ministerio de asuntos interiores y las agencias de seguridad aprietan sus tenazas sobre el Territorio. Los informes recientes del Secretario General advierten que Marruecos esta mejorando su arsenal de defensa, ha firmado un acuerdo de pesca con la Unión Europea, que incluye las aguas del Sahara Occidental; Rabat también ha renovado sus contratos de exploración de petróleo con la compaňía Kerr-McGee en áreas de la costa saharaui.

    ¿Se parece esto a las acciones de un gobierno que contempla la autonomía? Conforme al plan Baker 2001 – el que le gustó a Marruecos – la industria pesquera y la explotación de hidrocarburos serían competencias del gobierno autónomo del Sahara Occidental. Aún Rabat no ha dado ninguna gesto para indicar que está dispuesto a compartir el control del activo económico clave en el Sáhara Occidental.

    El hecho de que la autonomía parece tan improbable en el Marruecos de hoy dice mucho sobre dónde va su proyecto de autonomía.

    Marruecos ha robado una astucia del libro de Israel: hablar de paz y hacer la guerra. Y espera que la comunidad internacional este demasiado preocupada para notar la diferencia entre la retórica y la realidad. Alguien que piensa que Marruecos permitira algún día a los Saharauis controlar cualquiera de los recursos minerales o marítimos del territorio se equivoca. Nunca lo hara. Como se ha indicado, los militares marroquíes, la élite, y la monarquía han estado, jubilosamente, robando los recursos abundantes del Sáhara Occidental durante más de treinta y cuatro años y no están dispuestos a abandonar su mina de oro.

    Convendría recordar que el Sáhara Occidental hoy sería independiente si Marruecos sólo hubiera cumplido con sus promesas que comenzron con el alto el fuego para celebrar un referéndum. Marruecos ha violado sistemáticamente cada acuerdo que ha firmado con el Polisario. Si Marruecos está de acuerdo con una federación, una confederación, o cualquier clase de autonomía, sería extremadamente difícil ceéer que Marruecos respetaría sus compromisos.

    Marruecos no es España. Es un país autocrático, empobrecido, un reino profúndamente corrupto, con un coeficiente de educación por debajo del de los paises menos desarrolados, y cuyas exportaciones principales son el terrorismo y el hachís. Considerando el fracaso de Marruecos en el gobierno de su propia gente, es increíble que alguien pensara aún en confiarle más personas (los saharauis). Cualquier acuerdo de autonomía de cualquier género no valdría el precio del papel sobre el que sera firmado.

  • Talk peace, make war

    It is inconceivable that the Polisario would agree to any arrangement that didn’t give the Western Saharans control of their natural resource assets, most notably the phosphates and fish. These alone would give the small population of the area a good per capita income, probably well above Morocco’s. And if oil is discovered does anyone really think that Morocco would allow the Western Sahara to control the petrodollars? Inconceivable.

    The Moroccan military is heavily entrenched in the local economy of Western Sahara. From migrant smuggling to the billion dollar fishing industry, its little fingers are in every part of the Saharan pie. While the Moroccan foreign ministry is going around talking about autonomy, the Interior Ministry and the security agencies are tightening their grip on the Territory. Recent reports of the Secretary General note that Morocco is improving its defenses. Morocco has signed a fisheries agreement with the European Union, which includes Western Saharan waters; Rabat has also renewed its oil exploration contracts with Kerr-McGee for areas off the coast of Western Sahara.

    Does this seem like the actions of a government that is contemplating autonomy? Under baker’s 2001 proposal — the one Morocco liked — fisheries and hydrocarbon exploitation would be under the control of the autonomous Western Saharan government. Yet Rabat has not given one indication that it is willing to share, let alone give up, control of these key economic assets in Western Sahara.

    The fact that autonomy seems so unlikely in today’s Morocco says a lot about where autonomy is going .

    Morocco has stolen a play from Israel’s book: Talk peace, make war. And hope the international community is too preoccupied to notice the difference between the rhetoric and the reality.

    Anyone who thinks that Morocco would ever allow the Sahrawi to control any of the territory’s mineral or fishing wealth is wrong. It just won’t happen. As you point out, the Moroccan military, elite, and monarchy have been happily stealing Western Sahara’s abundant resources for over thirty-four years and are not about to relinquish their cash cow.

    Anyone who thinks that an autonomous Western Sahara would realize any economic benefits from oil off its territory has probably been smoking too much of the hashish that the Moroccan government and military habitually smuggle into Europe.

    In conclusion, it’s just impossible to find any reasons to think that there is anything sincere or serious about Morocco’s autonomy plan. They are floating it not because they want to, but either because they feel they have to or because they feel they just might get away with it.

    One need only remember that the Western Sahara would today be independent if Morocco had only lived up to its agreements starting with the Ceasefire Agreement to hold a referendum. Morocco has broken absolutely every agreement it has ever made with the Polisario. Whether Morocco agrees to federation, confederation, or whatever kind of autonomy, it takes an incredible leap of faith to believe that Morocco would stand by its agreement.
    Morocco just isn’t Spain. It is an autocratic, impoverished, thoroughly corrupt kingdom, with education numbers on the level of the least developed countries, and whose main exports are terrorism and hashish. Given Morocco’s lack of success in governing its own people, it is incredible that anyone would even consider entrusting even more people (the Western Saharans) to them. Maybe we should be talking here about returning Morocco to the French.

    Any autonomy agreement of whatever variety would not be worth the paper it was written on.