Saharan Shiekhs: tribe members' patience not endless
Morocco-West Sahara, Politics, 2/24/1998

Shiekhs of Saharan tribes said that they are fed up with attempts to prevent people of Saharan origin from registering on the identity lists to establish their eligibility to vote in the upcoming Saharan self-rule referendum.

At the same time, the Shiekhs (tribe leaders) directed a call to the United Nations and the Moroccan authorities, in which they said they have been able so far to lessen the dangers resulting from members of their tribes feeling insulted and frustrated by the process, but added that their patience is not endless.

One Sheikh said that registrars should focus efforts on the secret reports and photographs the Spanish and French policemen collected in the period of 1930's-1950's.

Some of the Sheikhs refused to combine their tribes with others through Sheikh Gharib's supervision.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a message to the Moroccan security council and the Polisario in which he called for resuming the cooperation with the delegation charged with establishing the identity of people of Saharan origin.

Annan also said that settling the refugees according to the international settlement plan will require a budget of $50 million, including expenses for transport and residence. A call is expected to be directed at donor countries to raise the needed money.

Meanwhile Al-Tohamy Al-Khiari, the leader of the Moroccan Democratic Forces Front, said the Western Sahara self-rule referendum could not be achieved without the participation of the people of Saharan origin.

He said in the first meeting in Al-Oun, the capital of the Saharan governerates, "Whenever we get closer to the referendum, we are faced by obstacles made by the Polisario front."

Previous Stories:
  Continuation of preparation for Western Sahara referendum   (2/20/1998)
  Moroccos renews adherence to Houston agreements   (2/12/1998)
  UN Identity Committee lists voters eligible for Western Sahara referendum   (1/31/1998)

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