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| Cracks between "Western Sahara" Separatists & Algerian Military Backers |
| HASSAN MASIKY | |||||||||||||||||||
 Washington, July 8, 2009- The recent disappearance of a member of the leadership of the Polisario militia confirms what have been circulating in the media, members of major tribes of the Western Sahara that were talked into moving to the Tindouf camps wants out of Algeria. According to several reliable sources, Mr. Ahmed Khalil , “ a founding father of the Polisario”, and Ahmed Ould Bouya Ahmed Laâroussi both residents of the Tindouf camps are unaccounted for and presumed kidnapped by the Algerian Military backed hardliners within the Polisario.
The abduction of Mr. Khalil is of an important significance. He is a key figure within the Polisario and belongs to a major tribe, the Rguibat Souwaad. Mr. Khalil held several key positions in the hierarchy of the Polisario and was an insider by all accounts. Furthermore, other reports coming out of Tindouf have indicated cases where opponents to the current old time leadership of the Polisario have been bared from entering the Camps. Signs of a resurgence of a more proactive and aggressive opposition to the Algerian run Camps are evident from these last events. Thirty five years after its creation by the Algerian Military, the Polisario militia is showing serious cracks in its ranks. As most entities that are formed to serve as a proxy political weapon, the Polisario is metamorphosing into a “freak show” that is obsolete and archaic. Amusingly enough, the Polisario “leader” is in an official visit to Cuba, another country trapped in the cold war twilight zone. Clearly, the aberrant way the Polisario was formed is coming back to haunt the Algerian Military Services. Since its formation, the Polisario had in its ranks few Western Saharan tribes that were promised an “independent state” if they join ranks with the Algerian Military in its “undeclared war” against Morocco. Since few tribes can not constitute “a country in exile”, the Algerian government of the late Boumedienne had to “shop” for other nationalities and nomads in the Algerian, Malian, and Mauritanian Sahara to beef up the population of its phantom state that eventually settled in Tindouf, Algeria. This explosive mixture of different ethnic backgrounds has been a recipe for disaster. The Algerian Special Intelligence Services, backed by few trusted Polisario Militiamen, run the Tindouf camps with an iron fist where dissension is not tolerated. After all, these different nationalities are on Algerian soil and should be ruled by Algerian Authorities. However, as the conflict dragged on, it became evident to the true Sahrawis (originals from the Western Sahara) that the Algerian authorities have no intention of finding a solution to the Western Sahara. Indifferent to the plight of thousands of Sahrawis from the Moroccan Sahara, Algiers is more concerned with keeping Morocco bugged down in this conflict than improving the nightmarish conditions in the Tindouf camps. In fact, few years back, several Polisario affiliate tribal members from the Moroccan Sahara came to realize the divergence of interests between the true Sahrawis who were tricked to moving to Tindouf and the Algerian government. This split within the Tindouf refugee population and consequently the Polisario gave birth to a dissident movement called “Khat Ashahid”. The Algerian Special forces brutally suppressed the rebellion movement and arrested several of its members. The Algerian violent crack down succeeded in silencing opponents to the currently imposed Polisario leadership. The abduction of Mr. Khalil and the total lockdown of the Tindouf Camps are indications of a crisis within the Polisario. In a December 2008 documentary aired on the English service of “Aljazeera” TV network, a friendly journalist was not allowed to film some segments in the Tindouf Camps as the Polisario tries to muffle all dissent. Even tough the film was overtly close to the Algerian position; the Aljazeera journalist could not help but to notice the lack of freedom of movement in the camps since visitors have to go thru Algerian Security checkpoints then Polisario Militiamen position before entering or leaving any of the camps. As the UN Western Sahara envoy Christopher Ross ended another regional tour, the weakness of the Algerian position of an independent Western Sahara is becoming ever more evident versus the more comprehensive Moroccan approach of local rule. With rapidly deteriorating socio-economic conditions, a fragile security atmosphere and an ambiguous political state of affairs, Algeria is facing challenging times. Since the Sahrawis are well aware of these worsening environments, most of them want to speak for themselves rather than have an out of touch Algerian patron decide their fate. The Algerian Military seems unable to control their self-created genie. Let’s hope the international community comes to the aid of the voices of dissent in the Tindouf camps. The Humanitarian conditions in the Polisario run camps are grave and need immediate attention. The human rights situation is as critical. Please open the Camps now and free all political prisoners. “Khat Ashahid” will survive and triumph.
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A
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KHat Achahid There is no Khat Achahid anymore, even their website is down. The only place you hear about them is MAP. |
Riffi
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... Mr Hmida B.Let me explain something to you clearly about the words of Obama to to the king."“My government will work with yours and others in the region to achieve an outcome that meets the people's need for transparent governance, confidence in the rule of law, and equal administration of justice,” he said.The analysis of this sentence is that the USA agree about the autonomy but in negotiation the polisario and Morocco should take in considratiion the protection of freedom of the people and the rules of law concerning the autonomy.The last time I read about the polisarion they still have the same dictatorial system with abdellaziz as their secretary,and also the last time I was in Morocco it was Morocco who is moving toward democraty not Algeria or the Polisari.My dear Hmida I can assure you that the US positin did not move by an Iota.All what Obama wants is the autonomy will be final and take in consideration te real meaning of autonomy and that is self ruling under the Moroccan Flag.Some people need to stop spining and learnhow to be educated in diplomatic corespondance.The conflict will be over in did as well as the polisario. The polisario is starting to be a liability for the algerian and their military .The last speechof Boutef at the MNA in egypt he never used the word independance but autodetemination.Go figure my friend.2010 will tell!!!????. |
Hmimarmad
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... Mr Hmida B. Just because you do not agree with Algeria does not mean that everything the Algerian media publishes is a lie or a propaganda. What's in the letter sent by Obama is not propaganda, it is a letter that was sent by Obama to M6 and published by MAP. Don't do and act like some in the Moroccan government and media by blaming every misfortune we encounter on Algeria. Sometimes you have to take the blame for your own actions. MAP published the letter but omitted to see that Obama did not mention any encouragement to the Moroccan proposal for autonomy. If you see something that no one sees in the letter please refresh our memory. Most Moroccan media news got into the habit of going after Algeria any time our diplomacy fails. You sound like a newbie in this field, let me refresh your memory that not far back Algeria was asking the Moroccan government to put the Sahrara problem aside and talk about other issues, the Moroccans refused, they want to talk about the Sahara and only the sahara, this measure is now biting them in the ass because Now Algeria got the idea and now want to solve the Sahara problem before anything else. Morocco was banking on Algeria's internal problems and thought they could state the terms of the talk. Guess what? they forgot that the Algerian Generals killed their own people and would not hesitate going to war against the Moroccans and the last thing is to be pressured by the Moroccans. If you cannot dig my comment, here is what I am saying. Don't take the failure of our diplomacy as an Algerian Propaganda. I do not need to remind you what happened when Morocco sent 6 mkhazniya to the island of Leila, the embarrassment Morocco had to endure. I'll never forget the look on those poor mkhazniya when Aznar sent them back to Morocco thanks to Colin Powell. You and most of us need not be afraid of failing, the main thing to is get up and try again, If Obama did not send any signals regarding the autonomy, then we need to keep trying, bush did not send any positive signs until later, perhaps if we help obama on the Middle east conflict, he'll have a change of heart. I also want to remind some folks that Morocco contributed to Hillary campaign and none to Obama. Also Obama is trying to undo everything Bush has done. Bush was not afraid to show which side he is with, Obama is playing everything safe and tries to be as neutral as he can to help American interests. America first dude. Siding with Morocco is probably the right thing to do because we are so called Friends and allies for hundred of years but economically, The US heart is in Algeria's oil and gaz fields. Thanks anyway! |
Mohamed B.
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think before you act! Mr Hmimarmad, you are walking on thin ice! first, you circulate Alegeria's Propaganda, then when you are called up on it, you say that you can read between the lines. then regurgitate some pseudo analysis. well, the letter came out more than a week ago, why did not you read between the lines then. nonsense. When a piece of news comes out you have to be careful where it is coming from. Algeria/Polisario are feeding through proxies ( middle east news line) all kind of propaganda. you have to be careful. Do not do what this Moroccan American "leader" did. when he got the "news", he rushed and emailed it to everyone and in addition, he paid for a newsrelease to denounce this pseudo reversal of policy, thus scoring a nice little point for Polisario's propaganda war. now, this wannabe Moroccan American "leader" is sitting there with eggs on his face and mud in his hand. Morale of the story; think before you act. |
Hmimarmad
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... That's non sense, this is not world tribune or middle east online thing, It was clear to me right after i read the letter that was published by MAP. the letter Obama sent to the King said just that. we need to read between the lines. Obama did not mention any autonomy, Hillary never mentioned any autonomy, the US representative in the UN never mentioned any autonomy. They all refer us to the UN. This is pure reversal of policy. Moroccan diplomacy counts heavily on pseudo allies. Today they are with you and the next day they drop you. Unless someone from the state department or the white house comes out and says something like " serious and credible", the letter obama sent to the king clearly shows reverse of policy. Now I hope that Morocco's next move will be an intelligent one. To be fair to our diplomacy, I do not think that they have done something wrong to have Obama change course. Obama is who he is. He does not understand that he just sent us 4 or 8 years backwards, Morocco will not and should not accept anything less than autonomy under Moroccan rule. He might give you the good talk, he might excite you, he might motivate you but in the long run, he is still junior senator who happen to run against The ancient Arizona senator McCain who was not in his right mind choosing a flip flap Sarah Palin. Anyway, it looks like we are going to have to wait for the next US administration to see, it might take 4 or years, we'll see. |
Mohamed B.
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hold your horses the news about Obama reversal on Sahara autonomy originated from "middle east news line " a notorious pro-Algeria and polisario site and the news item was picked up by "world tribune" , same type of site as the MENL site. there is a propaganda war going on. for a major change in policy like this, until it come out out of state department, one should be very careful not to play into Plisario-Algeria's propaganda game. |
El Younsi Mohamed
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Khat Ashahid, GSI, Kdjijmat conference! Khat Ashahid brother, not khat arrachid! |
Omar
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The Moroccan's hand is streched towards Algeria I agree with you Mr Hmimamad that we have to resort to talks an d negociations, but as you know and everybody knows that the Moroccan king from time to time wants to open a new page with the Algerians but in vain.Why?simply because the Algerians are haunted be the problem of the Moroccan Sahara.They link everything whatsoever to Morocco so as to further any understanding and communication between the Moroccan people and their brothers in Algeria.According to Bousada's book " the dirty war" Morocco is taught,in the Algerians' military schools, to be the first and only enemy all over the world.'What is your enemy children? " USA and Israel "A pupil answers innocently."No! son of a bitch , the country on our west, that is to say Morocco.To come back to our issue.Algeria will experience the same dilemmas that other countries are still experiecing.Those countries who invited rebels and refuges purposefully to make pressure on the neighbours think day and night how to solve this problem.Those camps in Tindouf will change to settlements and Algeria will suffer and won't be able to move them.I think Algerians(generals)are playing with fire;any medecine has side effects.Polisario ,on the other hand,should think of its benefits of living in harmony ,peace and prosperity in Morocco rather than in a great jail named TINDOUF. |
Hmimarmad
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... I do not think that we should bank too much on some polisario leader disappearance to be the beginning of the intifada in the Tindouf camps. Polisario without Algeria is a big fat zero. Algeria will not hesitate to break anyone's bone if they threatened their policies in regard to Morocco. Algerian generals killed and mass graved tens of thousands of their own people to stay in power, let alone some polisario dude from some of the never ending tribes of the Moroccan Sahara. You mentioned Khat arrachid, as far as everyone knows, this movement is asking for the return of hostilities, they want to take up arms and fight, I do not see how they can be better than the Polisario, besides, these are all people that want power for themselves, If this Khat arrachid was any good, we would see their headquarters in Rabat, instead we placed some businessman ould henna as the head of the Sahara affairs, What a joke! The only way out of the mess is to somehow get bouteflika and likes to sit down and talk, talk, and talk. We are going to have these infomal talks with the Polisario in Austria soon, i can guarantee you that it will end up in failure, because the talk should be with Algeria not the Polisario. Someone needs to find a formula to get us out of this or we might as well start planning how are we going to deal with the issue for the next 34 year. Algeria needs to get something out of this and that's why we need to sit down and talk. Let's face it, we have a big problem because no one recognizes that the sahara is Moroccan. We have a huge hurdle, so perhaps letting Algeria export their fuel via Morocco for free or some sort of incentive like using our side of the Atlantic ocean. The Algerians are not going to get out of this empty handed. Miracles do not happen very often and Morocco should not count on Miracles when it comes to Algeria. Algeria is not going to host refugees on their land for 34 years and then say "ok guys we lost go back to Morocco". We have to be realistic. All this back and forth with Algeria is not helping us, sometimes they score, sometimes we score, and the winners are France, Spain and the US, it is time to find a formula to solve this extremely difficult puzzle. |
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