Sahrawi dignitaries renew allegiance to King of Morocco, warn against civil war
Morocco, Politics, 1/20/1999

Heads of Sahrawi tribes renewed their allegiance to King Hassan II of Morocco, stressing that the same bonds united their ancestors to the king of Morocco and argued that as a result the Sahara is a Moroccan territory and they have the right to take part in the UN-projected referendum on self-determination in the Sahara.

In interviews published on Tuesday by French daily "Le Figaro," the Sahrawi tribes expressed backing for Morocco's claims to recover its southern provinces, on the basis of historical documents that prove that the territory is Moroccan.

They recalled that when the late King Mohammed V was arrested by the French colonizers, all the local heads of tribes sided with him. They also criticized the Spanish census conducted hastily in 1974 with the intention of excluding all pro-Moroccan tribes, as it was conceded by the census organizer, Emilio Cuevas himself.

It is a paradox that members of a Sahrawi tribe were denied the right to be registered in the elector rolls while their cousins were accepted, they told the French daily, asking for equality between tribes and stressing that they will never accept a referendum without their participation. They further warned against a civil war that might break out.

The story also dealt with Morocco's efforts to promote socioeconomic development in the southern provinces, particularly in Laayoun which is "the pride of King Hassan II."

"The Moroccan state has invested huge sums in this formerly inhospitable town, which sprang up from the sand in twenty years," said the reporter who noted that "the symbol of Morocco's Alsace-Lorraine" recovered following the added march (1975) has an ultra-modern specialized hospital, paved roads, industrial units and international airport.

The United Nations has sponsored since 1990 a peace plan, initiated in 1990 with a cease-fire between Morocco and the Algerian-backed secessionist Polisario movement.

The ultimate goal of the plan is the holding of a referendum that will determine whether the former Spanish colony would stand on its own or remain Moroccan territory.

Previous Stories:
  Sahara issue in decisive turning point says Moroccan minister   (1/4/1999)
  Security Council extends term of UN mission in Sahara   (12/18/1998)
  Morocco cannot accept some Sahrawis be considered as 2nd-class applicants in Sahara referendum   (12/18/1998)
  Morocco: No conflict between us and U.N on Sahara issue   (12/17/1998)

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