| The Algerian Imbroglio |
| HASSAN MASIKY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These kinds of statements are an indication of a desperate attempt by an out of touch Algerian government and a decaying FLN to slow the positive momentum that was created by the Moroccan initiative to negotiate an autonomy status in the Sahara. The Algerian government can not swallow the latest diplomatic successes of the Moroccan diplomacy in rallying major powers around its autonomy plan for the Sahara, especially in light of the Spanish government support to the plan. Furthermore, Mr. Belkhadem comments are another indication that the Algerian Government continues to use its war of words with Morocco to avoid dealing with the most pressing issues facing the Algerian people. With a surplus of more than 40 billion dollars, the Algerian government is unable to better the living conditions of most of its citizens, enhance the country infrastructure and fight unemployment. More alarming is the lack of any government policy to diversify the economy that is 97 dependent on oil and gas exports. Fat on Petro-Dollar and a major exporter of gas and oil, the Algerian government is still unable to insure 24 hours of electrical and water supply to the capital Algiers. All the mentioned problems are Algerian internal affairs and nobody but Algerians should discuss them. However, when you have a high ranking Algerian official making such offensive remarks, as mentioned above, then it is time to remind the Algerian leadership to redirect its focus to the more pressing problems facing the Algerian people; problems that the FLN party created and encouraged throughout its years in power. The level of popular support in Algeria for the FLN-Military junta backing of the Polisario is unknown. The same can not be said about the popular support of the Moroccan government policy in the Sahara. Despite the rampant believe among some Algerian media outlets, the Moroccan King and government do not use the issue of the Sahara to hide the economic and social issues facing the average Moroccan. It is myth that "the Makhzen", as some like to call, is distracting the masses by continuing to prolong the Sahara issue. The examples to prove it are abounded and can be seen in Moroccan newspapers and magazines every day. The nagging problems of unemployment, corruption, lack of education and a non transparent judicial system are addressed on a daily basis and at length in the media and at cafes all over Morocco. In fact, among Moroccans social concerns are more discussed than the Sahara issue. It is time to re-adopt the late King Hassan II policy of framing the Sahara Problem as an Algerian-Moroccan conflict. No country in the world would allow its neighbor to host a military militia that threatens its territorial integrity while hosting that neighbor's ambassador. In the face of the current Algerian government hostile attitudes, it is time for the Moroccans to reevaluate their approach.
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Author:
W
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huh
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... This is very funny... really... here we are, an Algerian giving "democracy" lessons and appealing his Moroccan "brothers" to get their house in order", you gotta love this world we live in! The equation today is very simple, either Algiers and its Generals are going to leave Morocco and the Moroccan sahraouis in Tindouf alone in order to find a negotiated solution or they will be making an enemy on their western side for a long time. We are currently past the politics of being reasonable, looking for a middle ground "no winner no loser" solution in Morocco. We are entering an era of the politics of reciprocity, and you might have noticed that in the news lately. I would like to that effect congratulate the Algerian government who was able not to only to make Algerians hate their country but also make its neighbors hate Algeria's governors because of their arrogance, stubbornness, lack of vision, hostility and desire to divide Morocco. Guess what, they did us a priceless favor, the Sahara has strengthened Moroccan unity like nothing else. As far as the Sahara goes, I have an advice for the Algerian army, fighting behind a proxy is not going to work, so either you have some balls and you bring it to the moroccans or you go back to the barricks and you train to defeat the 10+ terrorist in the mountais that are ridiculing Algeria's government and army . Very funny.. "getting our house in order..." And btw, I'm half sahraoui... |
Hmimarmad
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... Dear Algerian, Most Algerians can care less about the Sahara. They want to see democracy, prosperity, and a united Maghreb. They want to see their country rely on industries other than the oil one, They want to see oil revenues spent on making Algeria a thriving country, they do not want to see these revenues spent on military equipment from the Russians , and quiet honestly Algeria is the only oil producing country that's not doing well economically and that is such a shame because the Maghreb in general could have an outstanding future. The Algerian Government however wants the Algerian people to go back to the 50's and 60's. They keep telling their people that Morocco and his king want to take over part of Algeria. They tell the Algerian people that you should never forget the 1994 terrorists attacks in Marrakesh that the Moroccans blamed us for. Please keep in mind that the Moroccans were no angels either, our previous administration was a horrible one under the Basri regime but at least we are not the one imprisoning the Sahraouis in camps and making them live a miserable life and at the mercy of the European leftovers. If Algeria really cares for the Sahraouis, then all they have to do is to open the gates of Tindouf. As simple as that. They won't because if they do, they won't have anymore leverage to sabotage their neighbors. Moroccans are starting to understand that, and hopefully they will go ahead and implement the autonomy without the Polisario/Algeria. Good Day! |
Stofa
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Sahara Occidentale If saying the truth is a "sin" so let it be. We suffered a lot for more than 130 years and we know what does it mean to live under oppression and occupation. Algerian people would never tolerated to see this kind of oppression at its border. Let this friendship go to hell if we keep silent watching this aggression happening. Anyway we never forget what our "brothers" did to us in 1963 we may forgive but it is part of Maghreb history. |
Algerian
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Some missing parts In response to : Hmimarmad 5th post Older morocco people, do remember for sure, right after Algerian independence, the attempt of their government to take over West and South-West Algeria territory, which failed. This incident has never been mentioned in Moroccan history books. So please stop saying foolish things. I'd like to add that if Sahraoui people's will is the self-determination then it will be, no matter what. And I'm sure you're aware that there is still a Spanish territory in your land (??!!) So please before you go to war against people that have no hate for you, try to take ownership of your land first, and get a democracy. God bless the souls of the Algerian and Moroccan martyrs who fought for independence |
Hmimarmad
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... Shame on Algeria. Now they are using known al qaida terrorists to defame Morocco. Shame on you Bouteflika! http://www.elkhabar.com/quotidienFrEn/?ida=136912&idc=114 Security Layada discloses new facts about his stay in Morocco in 1993: “Late King Hassan II supported GIA” The founder of Islamic Armed Group (GIA), Abdelhak Layada, has disclosed that his 5 month stay in Morocco in 1993 had been on the invitation of Moroccan security services, rather than meeting Algerian Afghans there. He further mentioned that late King Hassan II used to support GIA. In an interview with Al-Massa (a Moroccan private newspaper), Thursday, Layada unveiled a different version to the known story about his stay in Morocco. He said: “I hadn’t gone to Morocco to visit Algerian Afghan there, because they were already in Algeria. Rather, I entered to Morocco following contacts with security officials there who told me high ranked officials in the Castle wanted to meet me.” Layada, who had been released in March 2006 in the frame of National Reconciliation, disclosed that he met Morocco’s late Interior Minister Idriss Al-Basri, in Rabat, adding: “Al Basri told me welcome in your second country and King Hassan II.” He further denied being arrested in Morocco. He added: “I had entered to the Royal Castle as the National Emir of GIA. I talked for quarter of an hour with Hassan II, and I don’t want to unveil what we told each other; except that I had been subject to blackmail on Western Sahara issue.” However, Layada denied official version saying former Defence Minister, Khaled Nezzar had handed him over from Moroccan Authorities. He said: “What Nezzar said is not true, because he had been fired in 25 July 1993, while I had been handed over to Algerian Authorities in 2 August 1993, i.e. 7 days after his dismissal.” GIA founder criticized Moroccan officials and accused them of treason. He said: “I wonder why Morocco supported us, if we were terrorists.” Observers said such statements are to raise controversy between the two countries, as they confirm charges of Algeria to Morocco as terror supporter country through providing shelter to terrorists and play the blind on terror activities on border. |
Hmimarmad
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... Algeria's main target is Morocco. We are not targeting Algeria. We are not the one who want to confiscate the Sahara from Morocco, Algeria is. Remember that not far back Algeria wants to split the Moroccan territories in half. Guess who wants to take the other half? All we are asking from Algeria is to open the hellish gates of Tindouf and we will see whose going to stay there. |
Sawat
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... your main target is Algeria..sorry... this is what it is The UN has arrangements in place for a referendum of self-determination of the Saharawi people but Morocco refused to allow the referendum to be held. While life is scarcely viable in the harsh Hamada desert where the refugees live, as there are no means for self sufficiency, the Saharawis living in occupied Western Sahara also suffer. |
Hmimarmad
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... Muhammad, Algeria's goal to destroy any effort by Morocco to solve the Sahara problem is no propaganda. It's full fledged reality. Even though some of us disagree with each other on how to handle the Sahara, the goal is the same, to free the sahraouis from Tindouf camps and to complete our territorial integrity. We also agree that MAP is joke but keep in mind that the majority of the Algerian media is also a joke if not worse. They used to have lematin a decent newspaper until Bouteflika decided to jail the director for 2 years which led to the end of the newspaper. We also need to give credit when credit is due. We cannot simply be pessimistic and say that our diplomacy sucks. Keep in mind that the major powers now support the autonomy and that is a diplomatic success unless you see it otherwise. We need to capitalize on this success by reaching out to the Sahraouis and implement the autonomy without Algeria/polisario. Waiting for Bouteflika awakening is no solution and it is a sure diplomatic failure. We should not rely on Algeria to solve the problem for us. It just does make sens that your enemy will help you solve your problem and I wish that our people understand this very simple thing. |
muhamad
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You shuold be more objective As a Moroccan I am disappointed with the way you make propaganda just like MAP and other papers that work for the makhzen and against our people. WHAT Moroccan dipl. success? the HRW report? the destitution of Van walsum as polisario wanted or the kennedy price to amintu haidar? the government tricks all of us and now it seems we trick ourselves. Even a minister from the Sahara wants Spanish citizenship!!!! It isn't the time to say enough!!???? |
hmimarmad
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... http://www.latribune-online.co.../9485.html Now there seem to be gold and oil in Tindouf, there is no way that Algeria will let the sahraouis go, instead they will be used them to extract oil from the fields of Tindouf. http://www.latribune-online.com/evenement/9485.html |
Hmimamrmad
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... The question is: are we going to keep waiting for Algeria to have a change of heart? Is waiting 33 years not enough? Everyone knows that dealing with the Algerian government stubbornness is an impossible task. No UN, EU, US can convince the Algerians to accept the autonomy. The Moroccan need to realize that there is no way on earth that Algeria will accept any Moroccan plan. They look at the Sahara as their National security and do you think that will compromise their national security? Again, We need to implement the Autonomy without Algeria/Polisario, We need to reach out to the prisoners of Tindouf. How? We are in the 21st century, if we can spy on Moroccans in Holland and in Brussels, I think we can reach the Sahraouis in Tindouf. If we can allow Spain to bribe Moroccan officials with Spanish Nationality, we can have the Sahraouis embrace the Moroccan Nationality. |
Boras
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Algeria\'s treachery Salaam All, I couldn't agree more with you Hassan Masiky. I think Moroccans for far too long have taken a far too soft approach with Algeria. Whenever Morocco extends it's hand of friendship Algeria responds with spiteful political gestures and these latest statements bare testament to this. It seems a country like algeria rich in oil wealth would at least be able to provide basic infrastructure needs for its citizens, indeed this should be the algerian people's main concern yet they allow themselves to be duped by the military junta who constantly portray Morocco as an enemy simply to deflect the populace attention away from their utter incompetence in governance. It's a fact that Morocco played a critical role in helping the algerian people in their struggle against the French, yet it seems their collective memory is very selective indeed. Yet the algerians host a terrorist group which they fund militarily and financially to undermine Morocco sovereignty claims yet they expect us to accept to be indifferent?! The algerian regime back stabbed Morocco and behaved in a treacherous manner for such a long time you begin to wonder the problems they have had in recent years are a divine punishment for their intransigence. |
Youness Tihm
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What choice is the best! Morocco's diplomacy today lacks the wisdom the late King Hassan II exemplified in matters of foreign relations. The Moroccan diplomacy is pursuing a path that only seems to strengthen the arms of Polisario. The choice to recognize an entity that has no legal ground or legitimate basis to authority or representation of the people living in the southern provinces of Morocco has shown itself to be a source to power only to Polisario. We have given them a voice and now they are using it against us. Sometimes I wonder what another country would do if a group just decided to claim itself representative or a people, and carried on with that mission! More importantly, I wonder if anyone had the right to propose a semi-autonomy plan to Polisario. If Morocco belongs to all Moroccans, don’t they all have a right and a say in what should the future of a disputed area be. Why would I even grant semi-autonomy to a separatist militia group that only caused disruption and instability in the country? Do I have to give them something; anything to calm them down, or do I believe in the validity of my cause and go on with my efforts to secure the unity of the Moroccan people and the territorial integrity of their land? Wouldn’t a more rigid stance on the issue help solve it? Negotiations can only be productive if they are based on good will and the absence of pre-conditions. Is that the case in the Moroccan-Polisario negotiations? I doubt it! The conflict has been going on now for decades, and endless rounds of efficient but very ineffective negotiations only seem to make it last longer. Therefore, the path Morocco’s is pursuing now is counterproductive to the end goals envisioned by King Mohammed VI. Algeria has for so long been using the Moroccan Sahara issue to distract Algerians from the Bouteflika's total inability to serve an impoverished nation. This incapacity has been the status quo since Boumedienne, who turned his back on Morocco after making a promise to back its territorial integrity. Our Algerian neighbors themselves could not care less about the Sahara or the issues surrounding it, but the state has been remarkably successful in shifting the attention from internal enemies (poverty, illiteracy, social stratification, economic disparity, destitution, etc). As you pointed out in your piece, Morocco needs to redefine the dispute not as one with Polisario, but one with its sponsor and host, Algeria. In addition, and with similar importance, a redefining eye needs to take a serious look at the diplomatic teams serving in the different countries that influence the trajectory of the issue. Polisario is making itself and its invalid cause known, whereas the ones with the legitimate claim watch and wait for the new Obama(s) to do it all!!! |
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