Inner City Press. Editorial by Matthew Russell Lee: "UN silent on Morocco's detentions, Guinea guards, as Polisario defector deflects resource question"
UNITED NATIONS, October 12 -- As the issue of Western Sahara is once again debated in the basement of the UN in New York, in Morocco the government detained seven officials of the Polisario Front upon their return from Algeria. Polisario's leader Mohammed Abdelaziz called on the United Nations to intervene on what he called an abduction.
But when, two days later, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesperson Michele Montas for the reaction of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, or by implication his envoy Christopher Ross, or even if Mr. Ban is aware of the detentions, Ms. Montas said "I am not aware of it."
The discussion of Western Sahara at the UN gets more and more surreal. On October 8, correspondents were invited to what was advertised only as a briefing on the topic. Once there, a representative of Morocco's Mission to the UN translated, Arabic to English, the statement of one Ahamadou Souilem of the Oulad Dlim tribe, who said that "being convinced that the Polisario cause is worthless and its ideology founded on baseless myth," he "decided to head back to his motherland, the Kingdom of Morocco, in July 29th, 2009."
Afterwards, Inner City Press asked Ahamadou Souilem who has the right to trade away the fishing rights and other natural resources of Western Sahara. Ahamadou Souilem's long answer, in Spanish, essentially said to look to the future, not to the past, that restrictions on the natural resources of colonies refers to Spanish occupation and not the present arrangement.
During the UN General Debate, the representative of the military regime in Guinea spoke in favor of Morocco and its autonomy -- but not independence -- plan. A Polisario representative told Inner City Press that Morocco provides training and assistance to the personal guards of Guinea's military leader.
Inner City Press asked Morocco's Ambassador to the UN about this on October 8. He looked taken aback, and said that all matters are "in the Fourth Committee," and that it is important to be diplomatic. This was two days before the arrests in Casablanca, and now the UN's silence. Watch this site.
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
