March 31, 2016, 1:06
Havana (PL) the intransigence of Morocco after the visit this March to Western Sahara secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led to the worst in 15 years of conflict between the two parties mediated by the world body.
Paradoxically the travel world leader, whom Rabat brushed aside even his visits to occupied or liberated territories, served to Morocco more than a pretext to hinder the dialogue that argument to admit finally the referendum demanded by the Sahrawies to vote for their autonomy.
Very much against the will of the Secretary General, his journey, instead of facilitating negotiations between the three partners to the independence of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), eventually raising red hot tone of the dispute, threatening now until the return to arms.
the negative reaction of Morocco came after the first statements of Ban told reporters, who were basically in favor of the referendum, after traveling the world leader in the region to early March to pay this April its annual report on the issue to the UN.
occupied, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
Bastó with Ban uttered in his first comments about the trip the word “occupation” to Rabat answer calling them “unacceptable”, cancel its contribution to the Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and ordered the withdrawal of that body of 84 international civilian members.
on the opposite side, the response was immediate: after several government emergency meetings between 21 and 22 March, the high Command of the people’s Liberation Army Sahrawi (SPLA) declared high alert and the population of its territory felt close again the danger of war.
So, the military-political climate reached for SADR an unusual gravity, just as celebrating the 40th anniversary this country proclaimed by his people after occupying Morocco in 1976 after the withdrawal in 1975 of the former occupying power, Spain, present there since 1884.
political Media agree that preventive reaction for its defense is the most drastic assumed by Saharawi leaders since the independence war interrupted in 1991 by a ceasefire by the UN-brokered, who promised then summon the controversial referendum boycotted again and again by Rabat.
the SADR government and party organization, the Popular Front Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (F. Polisario, founded in 1973), changed at that time to diplomatically armed struggle against Morocco, now punge by returning to the political stage.
RETURN TO ARMS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW
the current military emergency SPLA, however, did not surprise many, as on the occasion of the 40th anniversary, the Saharawi leadership strengthened its position years ago to opt for force if the Moroccan presence persists.
Omar Mansur, Minister of SADR for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Havana Prensa Latina occasion of the date that “the patience of the people has been great, but it is about to run out.”
Amen other recent protests of the Saharawi diplomacy and rejection of the UN and its secretary General to the Moroccan position, the leaders of the SADR reacted with alarm at what is seen as an anti-referendum climbing.
As most immediate antecedent of the resurgence of this position, the Sahrawies recall the withdrawal in 2012 by Rabat of confidence to the representative of the Secretary General in the region, Christopher Ross.
in recent pronouncements about his trip north Africa, which included Algeria and Mauritania, two other active partners in regional dialogue, Ban acknowledged the suffering and despair caused by foreign domination and lack of progress towards a political solution of the conflict.
the SPLA, meanwhile, expanded springs military alert with the start of maneuvers and military exercises “to improve the preparation and combative capacity of the Sahrawi fighter against all kinds of threats and eventualities”.
Ahmed Buhari, the Polisario ambassador to the UN, condemned the March 21 expulsion the previous day by Morocco MINURSO civilian personnel and called the decision “risky provocation that could lead to war”.
BREACH aND REPRESIÃ “N MOROCCAN
While organizations and personalities from different States declare that Rabat has no legal right to prohibit the presence of civilians in the MINURSO, the leaders and the Saharawi people also appreciate that extent a breach of previous agreements.
a statement by the Council of Ministers of SADR stressed that the expulsion of the group of representatives from different countries in that instance “is a total renunciation by Morocco to its commitments signed with the F . Polisario “, which reinforces the Saharawi tendency to appreciate that action as aggressive and prepare for his defense.
the Sahrawi statement blames Morocco” of the consequences that may arise from a state of war and instability in the region “and called on the international community” to take decisive action before things get out of its normal course “.
the declaration calls for increased global pressure on the Moroccan occupation, in response to the demands of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence, based on international law.
Another negative aspect of the dispute is the continuity of the traditional repression of the occupying Moroccan troops against the population, especially when their organizations convene meetings or demonstrations for autonomy occasion of a commemorative date.
to cite just one example, on Saturday March 19 last these forces massacred by brutal way the Ajun, the occupied capital of Western Sahara, a demonstration of solidarity with 13 political prisoners Saharawi hunger strikers, killing numerous injuries, including activists, former political prisoners and journalists.
the victim concentration gathered hundreds of citizens avenue Smara to demand the release of those prisoners from a jail in Gdeim Izik, which then met 20 days of fasting.
Meanwhile, urgent meetings of President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz , also leader of the Polisario Front, discuss possible responses to the rise of Moroccan hostilities, they call “new threat to the security of the region” and “dangerous provocation that could lead to war”.
* Journalist Writing Africa and Middle East Prensa Latina
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