A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm
- HASSAN MASIKY
- 12/07/12
- Written by Hassan Masiky
Washington/ Morocco News Board--The Swedish Parliament recognition of the self proclaimed Sahrawi Republic was several years in the making, and the proof can be found in my writings over the years for Morocco board News. My warnings, along with several Moroccan experts’ alarms, of an imminent and embarrassing Swedish decision to boost the Polisario drive for a state in the Western Sahara went unheeded.
In their typical fashion of denial and silly defiance, Moroccan diplomats are minimizing this significant development. This lack of a Moroccan diplomatic initiative in Scandinavia will very likely lead all Nordic countries to recognize RASD as the representative of Sahrawis.
Morocco’s doctrine of “Al Maghrib fi Sahraihi” (Morocco in his Sahara) is self-defeating. If Sweden recognizes the RASD, Morocco will have a tough time selling its Autonomy Plan for the Sahara. Some Moroccan diplomats, used to Paris' veto cover in the United Nations, justify their laziness and incompetence by highlighting the American and French pro-Moroccan stands. Yet, Moroccan prestige and economic well-being is damaged each time a European country adopts the Algerian position.
With fully staffed Embassies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, it is hard for the Moroccan public to understand Polisario’s success in lobbying the Swedish Socialists who control the Parliament. In fact, the Moroccan diplomats were playing the high and mighty in Rabat and Stockholm while the “underdog” Polisario representatives, turbo charged with Algerian petro-dollars, were playing the victims.
Moroccan diplomats’ lack of understanding of the political, social and cultural environments in their assignment countries have had disastrous consequences on Moroccan efforts to lobby for the Moroccan position in the Western Sahara conflict.
Without a Moroccan political and diplomatic counter-offensive, Algeria through its proxy the Polisario is having a field day in Scandinavia. Gauging the Moroccan street pulse from reading comments on Moroccan websites, such as Hesspress, average citizens are “appalled” while the Moroccan Foreign Ministry minimized the Algerian backed and financed Polisario clear win in Sweden.
As a Moroccan blogger put it, the Moroccan diplomats have to start doing the job they were hired to do. In this case “convince the Swedish not to be fooled by the propaganda of independence and to explain Morocco’s proposed autonomy for the Sahara.”
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Comments (17)
+2
#1
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-07 17:03
The Moroccan government instead of including and tapping into the Moroccan community living abroad to help them speak for the Sahara, they chose to spy on them. Just today Germany arrested a Moroccan James bond spy who spies on Moroccans living in Germany.
news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2012/12/08/08/00/german-man-charged-with-spying-for-morocco
Anyway, Hassan and everyone else need to understand that qualified Moroccans do not get the opportunity to work for the government of Morocco. Only cronies gets the opportunity to represent us and speak for us. I blame mostly those who broke every law in the book to get them into positions to represent us.
Do you really think that those who work in our embassies were hired because of their competence and qualification?
Our embassies are good at one thing and one thing only: the party of la fete du throne. We the Moroccan tax payer pay millions for the PR of the king and that is the only reason we have ambassadors.
It's been more than a year that we have a new ambassador representing Morocco in the US. Have you heard anything about this dude since he took office?
At least the previous one Mekouar used to show up and say or do something, this guy is basically getting paid to do nothing.
He once attended an event hosted by Hassan Samrhouni and that is all.
Have you ever called the consulate in NY and someone actually answered the phone?
It is unacceptable that bunch of Nomads from Mauritania and elsewhere are beating the Moroccans as there is no tomorrow. WHAT A SHAME!!!!
All you read is the beating that our representatives are getting on a daily basis, they are a punching bag that these nomads love to beat the crap out of.
The question that comes to mind allllll time time is. Aren't we supposed to blame the commander of the faithful? isn't he the one hiring these useless cronies???
You Hassan, can do much better job than any crony we have seen or heard of.
news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2012/12/08/08/00/german-man-charged-with-spying-for-morocco
Anyway, Hassan and everyone else need to understand that qualified Moroccans do not get the opportunity to work for the government of Morocco. Only cronies gets the opportunity to represent us and speak for us. I blame mostly those who broke every law in the book to get them into positions to represent us.
Do you really think that those who work in our embassies were hired because of their competence and qualification?
Our embassies are good at one thing and one thing only: the party of la fete du throne. We the Moroccan tax payer pay millions for the PR of the king and that is the only reason we have ambassadors.
It's been more than a year that we have a new ambassador representing Morocco in the US. Have you heard anything about this dude since he took office?
At least the previous one Mekouar used to show up and say or do something, this guy is basically getting paid to do nothing.
He once attended an event hosted by Hassan Samrhouni and that is all.
Have you ever called the consulate in NY and someone actually answered the phone?
It is unacceptable that bunch of Nomads from Mauritania and elsewhere are beating the Moroccans as there is no tomorrow. WHAT A SHAME!!!!
All you read is the beating that our representatives are getting on a daily basis, they are a punching bag that these nomads love to beat the crap out of.
The question that comes to mind allllll time time is. Aren't we supposed to blame the commander of the faithful? isn't he the one hiring these useless cronies???
You Hassan, can do much better job than any crony we have seen or heard of.
+2
#2
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-08 05:06
The Polisario did what is in their interest, you can't blame them for that, even if they have to bed with the Algerians. Morocco has done what Morocco does best - ignore all, cock-a-hoop, does a shoddy job, just ask the king, what has he done since he took power, for the people of Morocco? There is a mindset in Morocco that says we are the best, we are a French baby with the American minders, therefore nothing is going to bother us and we are not bothered.
The fact that it is not that the Polisario have gained recognition, that is just an eye opener for the King & Co, unless of course it is all deliberate, a suitable diversion for the economics woes of the country.
The fact that it is not that the Polisario have gained recognition, that is just an eye opener for the King & Co, unless of course it is all deliberate, a suitable diversion for the economics woes of the country.
-2
#3
Weapon of Mass Distraction. —
2012-12-09 14:17
Well mbt, you have touched on something here. I have always said that the King was never serious about the Sahara issue, but he does use it as powerful diverting tool to distract the people from the lack of improvement on a host of issues. Even the Moroccans who want the king gone, would rally behind when it comes to that wretched strip of sand.
Once the population loses interest in the Sahara, they'd wake up to the horrors of the tyranny of the palace. And then things will begin to change.
Once the population loses interest in the Sahara, they'd wake up to the horrors of the tyranny of the palace. And then things will begin to change.
-1
#4
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-09 17:45
I'll go back to the same point, just as Mr. Massiky is pointing it, this is by no mean a good point when the Swedish parliament recognizes the polisario, but then again, let's not loose our heads...
The Sahara issue WILL NOT BE SOLVED...
That is the starting and unique truth, so let's not use it against the king, when he didn't create it, that would be Gaddafi and Boumediane...
Let's go straight to our differences with the system in Morocco, rather than using some futile talking points...
The Sahara was used by others to close ranks more than in Morocco...
The Sahara issue WILL NOT BE SOLVED...
That is the starting and unique truth, so let's not use it against the king, when he didn't create it, that would be Gaddafi and Boumediane...
Let's go straight to our differences with the system in Morocco, rather than using some futile talking points...
The Sahara was used by others to close ranks more than in Morocco...
0
#5
No end —
2012-12-09 21:15
I don't think Moroccans will let the Sahara go. The Algerians and Polisario bet on the Sahara would only stay Moroccan as long as Hassan II was alive. 13 years passed for his death and Morocco still in it. Moroccans have grown more attached to it and will stay like that even if the regime changes. Algeria should know this!!
+2
#6
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-10 11:27
MEB,
I would not go as far calling the king a tyrant. He is not by any means. Definition of a tyrant is more like Hassan II, Qaddafi, Saddam, Bashar, Moubarak, Ben Ali, Bouteflika, Emir of Qatar who just sent a poet to life in prison for writing poetry that does not please the ugly emir and his cheikha.
M6 has good intentions but he is not doing it right by exclusively surrounding himself by his friends and not giving a hoot about those who are actually qualified to do the job. He bases his selections of referral by his cronies.
I wish he would move away from this habit. For instance we have a Othmani supposedly the Forign minister but when Hillary Clinton visits Morocco she meets with Fassi fihri first.
As for giving up the Sahara to Algeria, I am sure you were just having a bad day you do not mean it :). I am sure that your intention is never to compensate Algerian thugs for screwing Morocco for 40 years.
I would not go as far calling the king a tyrant. He is not by any means. Definition of a tyrant is more like Hassan II, Qaddafi, Saddam, Bashar, Moubarak, Ben Ali, Bouteflika, Emir of Qatar who just sent a poet to life in prison for writing poetry that does not please the ugly emir and his cheikha.
M6 has good intentions but he is not doing it right by exclusively surrounding himself by his friends and not giving a hoot about those who are actually qualified to do the job. He bases his selections of referral by his cronies.
I wish he would move away from this habit. For instance we have a Othmani supposedly the Forign minister but when Hillary Clinton visits Morocco she meets with Fassi fihri first.
As for giving up the Sahara to Algeria, I am sure you were just having a bad day you do not mean it :). I am sure that your intention is never to compensate Algerian thugs for screwing Morocco for 40 years.
+2
#8
What is this?? —
2012-12-10 22:01
I'm Tunisian, and I can say that Algerians are simply some of the best people I've ever known, having visited Algeria several times in the past with my family I can completely confirm that the propaganda on this website regarding Algerians is completely baseless.
+4
#9
Moroccan Representative in Australia —
2012-12-11 02:54
The recognition of SADR by the Swedish parliament is a truly disappointing outcome for Morocco. This notion clearly demonstrates the failure of the Moroccan diplomacy in this country. It is true that the Scandinavian countries in are no friend of Morocco, however as in most democracies, decisions that are made by the government must reflect the feelings and aspirations of its citizens. This was where the Moroccan diplomacy was lacked most. There was no opposition to SADR in Sweden. One could have argued the Moroccan position simply by bringing the situation of Tinduf to light and the appalling living conditions taking place there or perhaps raising concerns of the POLISARIO's support of Gaddafi and the kidnapped NGO's in that region and. I believe that it is the duty of every Moroccan citizen to defend their country and its national cause at every given opportunity. You do not have to be working for the government to form a rally in support of Morocco or to denounce the SADR. It is obvious that our representatives around the world are not doing enough to challenge or confront these situations, therefore we must be proactive in defending our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
0
#10
Horses for Courses —
2012-12-11 08:10
Scandinavian countries are oversensitive to alleged human rights abuses.
And so the Polisario sends mostly women to show how open their vision of an independent Sahara would look like.
They sell a dream, a mirage of a tolerant nomad, a free, proud and democratic people.
Yet at their core, Arab Sahraouis are racists and bigots in the way they view blacks and Amazigh/Berber people.
That's why they do not want to live with the rest of the inhabitants and share this land.
They want their own version of pure Arab Sahraoui state free from the contamination of other races who have lived there for centuries before they arrived.
And yet we all know that the Polisario's mise en scene is fake. We all know that the head of this separatist group was never democratically elected, that he is a brutal dictator in the mould of Qaddafi and Saddam. So he stays in the camps and let women do his public relations exercise in Scandinavia.
Now Morocco should get the message from the Swedish parliament and start being proactive by sending delegations of those who fled the Polisario camps and let them in their own words tell the Scandinavian NGOs and political parties the crimes against humanity they had endured for simply disagreeing with the Polisario's agenda.
There are many of them who now live in Morocco. They should get out there ahead of our diplomats and tell their stories. And God knows they have some harrowing ones to tell.
And so the Polisario sends mostly women to show how open their vision of an independent Sahara would look like.
They sell a dream, a mirage of a tolerant nomad, a free, proud and democratic people.
Yet at their core, Arab Sahraouis are racists and bigots in the way they view blacks and Amazigh/Berber people.
That's why they do not want to live with the rest of the inhabitants and share this land.
They want their own version of pure Arab Sahraoui state free from the contamination of other races who have lived there for centuries before they arrived.
And yet we all know that the Polisario's mise en scene is fake. We all know that the head of this separatist group was never democratically elected, that he is a brutal dictator in the mould of Qaddafi and Saddam. So he stays in the camps and let women do his public relations exercise in Scandinavia.
Now Morocco should get the message from the Swedish parliament and start being proactive by sending delegations of those who fled the Polisario camps and let them in their own words tell the Scandinavian NGOs and political parties the crimes against humanity they had endured for simply disagreeing with the Polisario's agenda.
There are many of them who now live in Morocco. They should get out there ahead of our diplomats and tell their stories. And God knows they have some harrowing ones to tell.
+2
#11
Don't let me down —
2012-12-11 09:20
You can add this bad new as well Mr. Masiky, Scandinavians are considered as highly moral people, knowledgeable people, who make their decision after in-depth analysis. Swedish decision to recognize WS has nothing to do with lobbying, espousing Algerian positions, or anything similar, it means one things: they evaluated Morocco’s occupation - you can call it whatever suits you - and found it contrary to the values they recognize for themselves, this is the pointe and nothing else. I would ad that Scandinavians, contrary to Western main players, are peace seeking people, they promote great ideas such as environment protection, green energy, and win-win based international relationship. The defeat here for Morocco has to be seen from a moral angle, your worries Mr. Masiky are founded.
+3
#12
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-11 12:10
"I would ad that Scandinavians, contrary to Western main players, are peace seeking people, they promote great ideas such as environment protection, green energy, and win-win based international relationship" ....
So many things in common with Boumediane, Mohamed Abdelaziz and Gaddafi...
Allah yan3al li mayhshem...
So many things in common with Boumediane, Mohamed Abdelaziz and Gaddafi...
Allah yan3al li mayhshem...
+1
#13
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-11 13:22
Weld Leblad,
Your idea of letting those who came back to do the propaganda for us is a great one. There is only one minor problem, those who came back regret coming back to the lies of the Moroccan government . All the promises they received are noting but a hollow dream.
Your idea of letting those who came back to do the propaganda for us is a great one. There is only one minor problem, those who came back regret coming back to the lies of the Moroccan government . All the promises they received are noting but a hollow dream.
0
#14
RE: A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-11 20:36
@Tunisiaan
Moroccans and Algerians for some odd reasons have more in common with each other than with Tunisians. Shared borders probably? With that being said this forum is not a propaganda, trust me, our beef is with bouteflika and co and not your Algerian average Joe, I mean Mohammed.
At first you get the impression that the this blog is anti Algeria but when you get to hang out a bit more, you'll see that this blog is about everything Moroccan which include the Sahara.
Why is it that Tunisia the only Maghreban country that has never given us any problem in regard to the Sahara from bourguiba to marzouki?
Why can't Algeria do the same and we all live in peace and share the maghreban couscous?
Moroccans and Algerians for some odd reasons have more in common with each other than with Tunisians. Shared borders probably? With that being said this forum is not a propaganda, trust me, our beef is with bouteflika and co and not your Algerian average Joe, I mean Mohammed.
At first you get the impression that the this blog is anti Algeria but when you get to hang out a bit more, you'll see that this blog is about everything Moroccan which include the Sahara.
Why is it that Tunisia the only Maghreban country that has never given us any problem in regard to the Sahara from bourguiba to marzouki?
Why can't Algeria do the same and we all live in peace and share the maghreban couscous?
+1
#15
COMMENT_TITLE_R E A Moroccan Defeat in Stockholm —
2012-12-12 12:39
Mr Tunisian, I am greatful that you notice how this site is anti-algerian, you have to read other Masiky's stuff to realise with which hatred he writes about Algeria. I seldom read an article by Masiky where Algeria is not bashed. Back in 2009 he was even interviewed by an Israeli paper to apparently defend Isreal against Algeria, in a case where Israel was to blame. Except for some exceptions even the people commenting share more or less the same attitude. But I swear to Allah that I like Moroccans.
0
#16
You win some, you loose some. Ethics has nothing to do with it. —
2012-12-13 17:04
Does the regime ruling Morocco materially support projects that undermine Algeria? Absolutely not! Morocco restricts itself only to projects that relate to Morocco.
Does the regime ruling Algeria materially support projects that undermine Morocco? Absolutely yes! The main project is obvious: The establishment of a Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic inside historic Morocco.
What would be said if Morocco decided to fund Algerian rebels: imagine if Kabyle, Tuareg or Islamist separatists sought their own homeland at Algeria's territorial expense; imagine--as difficult as it may be--that these separatists could rely on Morocco's resolute support, including continuous physical sanctuary to operate (like Tindouf). Would Algerians refer to Morocco as a brotherly country under such circumstances? Or would Algiers consider such conduct a causus belli for militarily striking locations in Morocco.
Don't try to justify The Generals fossilized and unimaginative Morocco-protoco ls by mentioning past occurrences or conditions that have become extinct, like the infamous Sand War because you may as well be speaking about aggressions of the Mariniyun or further back.
And this site is not anti-Algerian as some claim. Memory convinces me that this site respects the Algerian national identity and Algerian masses; however, like I said, the regime controlling Algeria clearly and undeniably is backing in every conceivable way an existential enemy of Morocco. Therefore, as it stands, Algeria will necessarily be referred to by those concerned with Morocco. However should Algeria choose brotherly conduct by cutting ties with the Polisario and abstains from contributing towards the division of Morocco, Algeria would be unmentioned. Should this utopia appear, Morocco might forget what Algeria even was, forget have something bad to say about it.
I like these comments that portray the Swedish as enlightened progressives and perhaps disconnected from the folly of parliamentarian s. Although, citizens of a democracy share culpability for their governments choices and derelictions. Swedish might want to curb their countries deadly exports. Sweden in 2010 and 2011 was the greatest arms exporter per capita on the planet...likely still number one. It also has a healthy arms relationship with regimes that seem antithetical to its own values and civilisation. The Swedish economy seems partly invested in weaponized conflict. That fact cannot coexist with the notion of a progressive society concerned with ethically rooted international relations.
Does the regime ruling Algeria materially support projects that undermine Morocco? Absolutely yes! The main project is obvious: The establishment of a Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic inside historic Morocco.
What would be said if Morocco decided to fund Algerian rebels: imagine if Kabyle, Tuareg or Islamist separatists sought their own homeland at Algeria's territorial expense; imagine--as difficult as it may be--that these separatists could rely on Morocco's resolute support, including continuous physical sanctuary to operate (like Tindouf). Would Algerians refer to Morocco as a brotherly country under such circumstances? Or would Algiers consider such conduct a causus belli for militarily striking locations in Morocco.
Don't try to justify The Generals fossilized and unimaginative Morocco-protoco ls by mentioning past occurrences or conditions that have become extinct, like the infamous Sand War because you may as well be speaking about aggressions of the Mariniyun or further back.
And this site is not anti-Algerian as some claim. Memory convinces me that this site respects the Algerian national identity and Algerian masses; however, like I said, the regime controlling Algeria clearly and undeniably is backing in every conceivable way an existential enemy of Morocco. Therefore, as it stands, Algeria will necessarily be referred to by those concerned with Morocco. However should Algeria choose brotherly conduct by cutting ties with the Polisario and abstains from contributing towards the division of Morocco, Algeria would be unmentioned. Should this utopia appear, Morocco might forget what Algeria even was, forget have something bad to say about it.
I like these comments that portray the Swedish as enlightened progressives and perhaps disconnected from the folly of parliamentarian s. Although, citizens of a democracy share culpability for their governments choices and derelictions. Swedish might want to curb their countries deadly exports. Sweden in 2010 and 2011 was the greatest arms exporter per capita on the planet...likely still number one. It also has a healthy arms relationship with regimes that seem antithetical to its own values and civilisation. The Swedish economy seems partly invested in weaponized conflict. That fact cannot coexist with the notion of a progressive society concerned with ethically rooted international relations.
+1
#17
Hypocrisy —
2012-12-19 14:14
I wonder what Sweden would think if they had to part with their "samisk" population in the north which also happens to live in the north of Norway and Finland and which they usually don't treat as EQUALS ( as opposed to us who at least cherish our Sahraoui community ) .If they were sound of mind ,I don't think that their population would wish something upon another country that they wouldn't for themselves . I am very curious as to how they will answer that question ?
We need to RETREAT the Ambassador and have a truthful discussion with them .
We need to RETREAT the Ambassador and have a truthful discussion with them .
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