Saharawis pro-independence people see a “betrayal” the change of position of Spain

Rabat, 21 Mar The Saharawi independence groups present in Western Sahara see Spain's change of stance in the conflict as a “betrayal” and believe that it is no longer a reliable part of the resolution process being carried out at the UN. In the former Spanish colony, there are several associations that defend the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people, which often denounce human rights violations against independence activists in the territory and advocate for a UN mechanism to ensure these rights. According to activist Ali Salem Tamek, member of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA, one of the main Saharawi NGOs in the territory), Spain with its new stance “has betrayed the Saharawi people for the second time after the agreements of November 14, 1975". It refers to what is known as the Madrid Tripartite Agreement, signed between Spain, Morocco and Mauritania after the Green March and which divided the territory between the latter two countries. Tamek adds to Efe that with its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, Spain “violates international legality and UN resolutions” and that the change of position “will affect the efforts of the UN special envoy, Staffan di Mistura,” and will contribute to “deepening tension and instability in the region.” “This position will cover the commission of more crimes against humanity against the Saharawis and the plundering of their natural resources,” says Tamek, for whom Spain, with its new stance, is not empowered to mediate the conflict. “The right of the Saharawi people is unshakable, and they will continue to fight,” says Tamek. He claims that the current situation in the territory is marked by “the siege” of the Moroccan authorities on the activists and adds that many of them are spread out in several prisons in the country. He mentions as an exception to the case of activist Sultana Jaya, on which the siege in which she lived with her family was built more than a year and a half ago, after the visit of a US delegation to Bojador. “But I wonder how long this situation will last,” he concludes. Hmad Hamad, activist and vice-president of CODAPSO (Committee for the Defense of the Right to Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara), believes that Spain's position is “nothing new”, since it already “betrayed the Sahara” in the Madrid agreement. “That was the first betrayal,” he points out to Efe, adding that Spain “continues to betray us.” For Hamad, who argues that “the only solution” for his people is to resort to arms and hold a referendum, “Spain has never been next to the Saharawi people, but the Spanish people have always been.” This activist rejects the autonomy plan because, he says, “the Sahara has never been Moroccan.” “If they want to give autonomy, they can give it in Marrakech or Casablanca, but this is not Moroccan territory,” he says. Mohamed Mayara, journalist activist of the Equipe Media collective, also lives in El Aaiún, who tells Efe that since the announcement of Spain Morocco has strengthened security in the city's streets, in anticipation of protests. “We have seen a massive presence of Moroccan service forces,” he says, especially in the center of Laayoune and in neighborhoods with a high presence of Saharawi citizens. Mayara does not anticipate protests in the town in the coming days because, she says, Morocco prevents any kind of demonstration. CHIEF mt.fzb/jac