After a recent trip to Western Sahara, Morocco's King Mohammad VI looks to be preparing the way to proposing an alternative to the "Baker Plan" (1,2).
Not that the Baker Plan was terribly promising, but it, like the original UN call for a referendum, involved both the Polosario and those still living in Western Sahara along with the Moroccan government in the deciding the fate of the area. Although the King will apparently propose a degree of autonomy, perhaps the most generous offer he can make and still save face, it will probably not be an acceptable solution to the Polosario. Unfortunately, the entire situation has been made so needlessly complicated by the Green March of 1975, which brought 350,000 Moroccans into the territory as settlers to solidify the claim of Morocco on the territory. This is one of those frustrating conflicts where just a little coordinated effort from the international community could have a tremendous effect.
Check this photo slide show from Reuters.
For recent coverage of the 30th anniversary of the Morocco's occupation click, here (this article also details the USA's role in the dispute) and here.
Monday, March 20, 2006
The Forgotten Occupation
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4 comments:
Of course it's forgotten. No Jews to blame it on. Arab on Arab violence is invisible.
If you are going to be that reductionist one could counter with: no "jewish controlled media" covers the dispute of Western Sahara, which is an equally silly notion.
Your cute little comment also does not explain why it is forgotten, or just never mentioned, in non-Arab circles. This is the longest running territorial dispute in all of Africa.
When some commenters talk about how kabobfest focuses so exclusively on the issues of Palestine and Israel, you have to concede that the majority of Western media focuses on very few issues around the Arab world (palestine and iraq take up the lion share). We are not journalists here, so much as as (sometimes silly) pundits commenting on other news sources. If there was a broader coverage of the region, i bet that kabobfest would reflect that. Check out the FAQ for more on this issue.
I am very interested in brining the issue of Western Sahara to this forum, but I don't have that many opportunities as there is simply not that much coverage avalaible. The same could be said for any number of interesting issues and conflicts in the region (need i list them all?)
Lastly, Western Sahara is also an interesting parallel to the problems in Palestine due to the large role played by the US gov't. My tax dollars are not going to the gov'ts of Syria or Tunisia for example.
Thanks for your comment, but it would be great if you could specifically adress contnet in the post in the future. Shrill carping does not really advance anything. If you feel you are not being heard start your own blog. Thanks!
http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD112106
I am highly moved to see something about my own place here (Western Sahara) here. I want to aid,that our suffering did not start from 1975 when bloodily invaded by Morocco, but it started since 1884 when colonised by Spain.The Netherland, the British and the Portoguese have been there before this date.Are we the oldest territory to be spoiled freedom? I wonder, if not, I believe,we are among the first to be given freedom and some peace.
Despite the fact that we made very generous concessions, which are sometimes, against our principles,Morocco still refuse to hounour its engagements and continue to prolong our suffering, meanwhile the international community is not paying any serious attention.How may voices will badly shout when we take arms again to liberate Western Sahara?
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