Vol. 73/No. 34      September 7, 2009

The Saharawi people, led by the Polisario Front, have waged a long struggle against the Moroccan regime, which occupies their country. Morocco invaded in 1975 after Western Sahara won independence from Spain, the former colonial power. The territory is rich in fishing waters, phosphate, uranium, and gold, and potentially oil and gas.

In 1989 the Polisario leadership agreed to a cease-fire agreement, which included a UN-sponsored referendum on independence. However, the Moroccan government, backed by Washington, Madrid, and Paris, has consistently blocked implementation of the agreement. “The referendum could easily be held, if the United Nations had the will to support it,” said Mahfoud. “The Saharawi people have the right to choose their destiny.”

The population of Western Sahara “has been cut in two for 33 years, with half living under the Moroccan regime and the other half living in refugee camps in the middle of the desert,” stated Mahfoud. A wall constructed and patrolled by the Moroccan military runs between them.

Mahfoud described how women have played a key role in the organization of the camps, and how from the beginning Cuban volunteers have worked there as doctors. “Cuba gave what we really need. More than half of those growing up in the camps have studied in Cuba,” she said, like herself, together “with many other students from African nations and other Third World countries.”

Kamal Fadel, the Polisario representative to Australia and the Saharawi ambassador to Timor Leste, joined the platform during the discussion. He said that the Moroccan regime is still an absolute monarchy. Under it there is “no right to demonstrate or of free speech. You cannot question the monarchy or the territorial integrity [of Morocco].”

Among Moroccans there is opposition to the autocratic rule of the monarchy but little knowledge of or support to the struggle for independence of Western Sahara, noted Fadel. The increasing number of visits by Saharawis between the camps and the occupied territories is important because “it helps to break the blackout imposed by the wall,” he said.

Today, “there is an intifada in the occupied territories,” Fadel said. The young people born under the Moroccan occupation don’t know the Polisario but they are more radical, he explained. “They say we are wasting time in negotiations.”

Many concessions have been made to Morocco in the negotiations. For instance, “we agreed to have autonomy as a question on the referendum,” said Fadel. But despite the hardship of the camps, the “belief of the Saharawi people for their freedom” remains strong.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home