THE MOROCCAN SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY
PROPOSAL AIMS AT PROMOTING PEACE
SECURITY AND STABILITY
BY: TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT, MA
JOURNALIST /RESEARCHER
IT is notable that the world political landscape knows a number of
disputes, and conflicts that are threatening directly, or indirectly
peace, and stability around the world. In fact some of these conflicts
deserve the international community full attention in order to solve
them, having said that others are simply unfounded, but unfortunately
continue to exist for some reasons or others, draining out financial
resources, as well as putting tremendous pressure on the international
community. As to the Western Sahara conflict, it is in my view a
result of regional politics in the North African area, during the
seventies, and particularly between the two most powerful countries in
the region i.e. : Morocco and Algeria. Vital economic and strategic
interests where undoubtedly behind the three decade crisis over
Western Sahara.
IT is known to everybody that historically speaking Western Sahara
was always an integral part of the kingdom of Morocco, until 1884 when
the Spanish started invading the area, by 1912 Morocco was colonized
by two major European powers: France and Spain
The process of decolonization of Moroccan territories which were
occupied by Spain took place through negotiations. In this respect,
Morocco regained the north zone in April 1956, Tarfaya and Tan Tan in
1958, Sidi ifni in1969, and the Sahara in 1975 .Therefore the UN does
not consider the Sahara issue as a colonization affair , but as a
political conflict, particularly that the international court of
justice decided that Western Sahara was not a TERRA NULLIUS. Its
population, although consisting mainly of nomads, was organized in
tribes under the authority of the elected sheikhs. It found that legal
ties of allegiance between the Sultan of Morocco and the tribes living
in the territory of Western Sahara existed and this legal situation
was recognized not only by the sultan and the population concerned,
but also by the international community. (See international court of
justice / advisory opinion 16/10/1975)
Morocco is still in the process of informing, and discussing the
autonomy proposal with permanent members of the UN Security Council
and the rest of the world, according to the wish of the international
community
The plan of a substantial autonomy transfers competences and creates
local institutions (legislative and executive) within the framework of
Moroccan sovereignty .again autonomy is seen by experts in
international law as a very advanced form of self determination. This
plan was prepared mainly by the Royal Advisory Council for Sahara
Affairs, under a close and direct supervision of the King Mohamed VI
(see http://www.corcas.com)
and it has been subject to large
consultations with the sahraoui populations and Moroccan political
parties.
There is no doubt in my mind (and for the same purpose to the mind of
sahraouis) that the proposal in question aims at putting an end to a
dispute that lasted over three decades at the expense of the wellbeing
of sahraouis.
As it is known to everybody the polisario leader****p is based in
Rabouny inside the Algerian territory, and precisely in the outskirt
of Tindouf .the polisario supervises refugee camps of only 20 to 25%
of all sahraouis. The polisario remains a totalitarian military and
political movement, with single party system, sole institutions,
structures and sole bureaucracies, with everything wrapped up in one-
track thinking. The leaders of the polisario travel with Algerian
pass****ts. The Polisario is not the sole and legitimate representative
of the sahraouis; simply because the overwhelming majority of sahraoui
have opted to live under Moroccan sovereignty (75 to 85 %). They are
indeed represented in the CORCAS (http://www.sahara-online.net
)
The Polisario is definitely not the sole and legitimate representative
of the sahraoui, because the overwhelming majority of sahraoui opted
to remain Moroccans and they are represented in the CORCAS which was
established by the King Mohamed VI.
Sahraouis back the process of autonomy under the Moroccan sovereignty.
They are proud to belong to the Moroccan nation. Through out the
history not even one sahraoui opted for the separatism, not even the
parents and families of the present polisario leader****p.
The present deadlock is a result to the Algerian non commitment to its
explicit statement, which says that it does not consider itself as
part of the dispute, facts on the ground shows unfortunately that
Algeria encourages the non elected and non democratic polisario
leader****p to radicalism, on one hand, and to refuse any peaceful
settlement within the framework of a large autonomy. Despite of the
Algerian continued sabotage, all Sahraouis fully and unconditionally
sup****t the autonomy project, whether they are in LAAYOUN, SEMARA,
BOUJDOUR, DAKHLA, AWSSARD, and even in the Tindouf camps. As to
sahraoui refugees in Tindouf's camps North West Algeria they back the
autonomy proposal seeing in it a solution that guaranties political,
economic, and social rights for all sahraouis. In fact they are
looking forward to going back home.
The polisario and the Algerian intelligent services (that control the
polisario) can not in any case stop the process of democracy and
freedom, and the aspirations of the peoples of the Maghreb Arab (North
African countries) to unity, solidarity, and prosperity.
It is obvious that Morocco seeks a final settlement to this dispute,
which is in a way a result of the cold war and the inter- Arab
differences, this conflict did not help to effectively build the
Maghreb Union, at the same time it did not stop the civil war in
Algeria, nor the phenomenon of terrorism in the region. The dispute
over Western Sahara did not help the promotion of democracy in the
region nor making use of natural resources for the people of the
region.
Morocco is presenting a courageous and revolutionary project that has
never been presented in the Arab and Islamic world, and even in the
continent of Africa
The philosophy behind the Moroccan proposal is that Sahraouis claims
will be satisfied, and Algeria will keep its dignity, provided Morocco
remains sovereign over its southern territories. It appears that the
international community is welcoming Moroccan autonomy project .it is
seen as a constructive and just proposal for all parties, this
viewpoint was felt by the members of Moroccan delegations all over the
main world capitals .The Moroccan diplomatic move was a total success
The Moroccan proposal is to grant a substantial autonomy to the
Western Sahara region under the Moroccan sovereignty, and respect its
territorial integrity, with the aim to putting an end to a 30 year-old
dispute over the territory with the Algerian backed polisario
separatist movement.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Moroccan proposal is an
answer to the UN Security Council resolution and to the constant
international community appeals for a political solution to the
Western Sahara issue, as it is a fruit of national and international
consultations. The King Mohamed VI supervised closely the process of
drawing up such a proposal that guarantees peace, security, and
stability in the region of North Africa on one hand, and gives the
Western Sahara sufficient autonomy to become effectively self-
governing on the other hand.
Generally speaking the parliament of the Sahara will be formed by
members elected by sahraoui tribes, and by members elected by direct
universal suffrage by sahraouis .as to the executive authority in the
Sahara autonomous region will lie with a head of government, to be
elected by the regional parliament. It will have the financial
resources required for its development in areas such as: economic
sector, region's local administration, police forces and
jurisdictions, infrastructure, the social sector, cultural affairs and
environment.
The Moroccan substantial proposal requires an amendment of the
Moroccan constitution, in order to incor****ate the autonomy statute
into it.
The kingdom of Morocco will keep its powers in terms of defence,
foreign affairs and international relations, and the country's
judicial order. in addition to the constitutional and the religious
prerogatives of the King .
Although both Algeria and Polisario refused the Moroccan proposal,
before it was submitted to the UN, and even before finding out about
the content of it .the secretary general personal envoy for Sahara Van
Walsum stated ( in his press conference at the headquarter of the UN ,
after presenting his re****t to the UN chief) that the Moroccan
proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the western Sahara "was the
result of an extended political process of national and international
consultations" whereas the polisario proposal, the UN envoy added "it
is consistent with polisario well known positions" .As far as the role
of Algeria in the conflict Mr Walsum recognized the pre-eminent role
of Algeria, "Algeria has in this whole dossier (Sahara issue) played
an absolutely pre-eminent ,dominant role ever since1975" this is the
first time that a senior UN official dealing directly with the western
Sahara issue that recognized in a diplomatic Worthing to what extent
the Algerians are directly involved in the western Sahara dispute ,and
even in the decision making on behalf of the separatist movement
called polisario while Algiers keeps insisting that "it is not a part
in the conflict".
It is almost certain that the Security Council would go along with
the newly nominated general, secretary of the UN Ban ki-moon's
recommendation, a move that would step up pressure for a negotiated
solution.
IN his re****t to the Security Council Ban Ki-moon reiterated his call
to the parties, including Algeria to accept the principle of direct
negociations,without any preconditions in order to reach a settlement
to the three decade old Sahara conflict, he also quoted his personal
envoy's analysis saying that "the security council had consistently
made it clear that it would not impose a solution to the question of
western Sahara, which had led him to the conclusion that there were
only two options: either indefinite prolongation of the impasse, or
negotiations without preconditions between the parties aimed at
achieving a mutually acceptable political solution .
It does not appear that the polisario nor the Algerian government have
much choice if winning the present diplomatic battle. In fact members
of the UN security council are explicitly asking Algeria to take part
in any form of direct dialogue with Morocco searching for a final
settlement to this conflict .it seems to me that the international
community are "fed up" with the Algerian double standard policy
towards the western Sahara issue...sometimes it presents itself as a
concerned party, other times as an im****tant actor, or as a party in
the settlement of the dispute.
If Algeria is willing ,as it claims ,to help sahraoui refugees in its
own territory in Tindouf, then it has to lift the military and
security blockade imposed around the camps, it would then find out
that Sahraoui refugees will automatically exert the self -
determination by walking from the camps and returning to their
homeland in Morocco.
It seems after a dispute that lasted three decades without any glimpse
of hope of a settlement that Algeria should abandon its old dreams,
and stop its non- stop allegations which are in so many respects
unconvincing at all, in order to pave the way ,and help to create a
healthy atmosphere towards a settlement to the western Sahara issue.
The conflict impede the construction of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA),
hindering any form of agreement between the neighbouring countries,
while keeping sahraoui families from returning home to live among
their own .It also created a center of tension in the north west of
Africa encouraged by the proliferation of human traffic, in particular
in the form of clandestine immigration, weapons trafficking, drugs,
the deviation of goods in the camps as well as the appearance of
terrorism.
Today both Algeria and polisario are loosing momentum; all signs
indicate that polisario in particular will weaken if the status quo
remains
The UN charter, the ultimate international jurisprudence stipulates
that self-determination must take into account the territory integrity
and unity, so autonomy remains one of the best solutions for self -
determination, this type of substantial autonomy exists in the most
highly developed countries across the world
My view is that Algeria and the polisario would continue their refusal
policy towards peaceful and political settlement to the crisis,
although the international community welcomed with interest the
Moroccan Substantial Autonomy proposal. The Moroccan position is
unequivocal; the western Sahara is an integral part of the Kingdom
whether Algeria and polisario come to term with the Moroccan
Substantial Autonomy Proposal which aims at promoting peace, security
and stability in the
region.
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