The Polisario Front criticized this Saturday the government from Spain for endorsing the autonomy plan of Morocco for him Occidental Saharaand has ensured that, in this way, Spain “supports the occupation” and “legitimizes the repressionagainst the Saharawi people.
“The position expressed by the Spanish Government (…) lacks credibility, seriousness, responsibility and realism, because it is a dangerous deviation, contradicts international legitimacy, supports the occupation, (…) and seeks to legitimize repression, war crimes (…) and the looting of wealth that Morocco continues to use against the Saharawi people“, he assured in a statement.
In addition, the Polisario has lamented that this change of opinion “seems to be” the result “of intense months of Moroccan blackmail” against Spain to restore diplomatic relations “to their previous state.”
“Very dangerous” position
The new position of the Government of Spain has been described by the Polisario as “very dangerous” for showing “clear support for the unilateral approach” of Morocco, “in contradiction with International Law”. In the statement, he reminded Spain that international organizations such as the UNthe EU or the African Union do not recognize “any Moroccan sovereignty” over Western Sahara.
“We hoped that Spain, out of impartiality and a sense of its legal and historical responsibilities, would accompany the two parties and the new (UN) personal envoy to revitalize the political process. It is unfortunate that Madrid choose, once again, to submit to the moroccan blackmail and dissipate the hopes that existed, fueling tension, escalation and pushing towards more nonsense”, detailed the Polisario.
On the other hand, the group has assured that Spain “cannot unilaterally divest itself of its legal responsibilities” towards Western Sahara and its people, since it is “an administering power of the territory” pending its decolonization. He has also pointed to Spain as the “main person responsible for the suffering of the Saharawi people”, for “the bleeding wound” that the country left in 1975.
The Polisario Front has appealed to the Spanish political forces and “to all the peoples of Spain” to put pressure on the Spanish Government so that it “corrects this unfortunate error”, and thus obliges the Executive to “assume its original responsibilities”.
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These statements have taken place after this Friday a letter was released that the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchezhas sent the king Mohammed VIin which he assured that he endorses Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara as a “serious and credible base” to find a solution to the conflict.
The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara was occupied by Morocco in 1975 despite the resistance of the Polisario Front, with whom it remained at war until 1991, when both parties signed a ceasefire with a view to holding a self-determination referendum, but Differences over the preparation of the census and the inclusion or not of Moroccan settlers have so far prevented it from being called.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.