Interior minister urges Sahrawis rejected from referendum identification to lodge appeals
Morocco, Politics, 7/23/1999

Moroccan Interior Minister Driss Basri on Wednesday urged Sahrawis whose applications to register for the referendum in the Sahara were arbitrarily turned down by the United Nations Identification Commission to introduce appeals in this respect.

Basri, who was chairing a meeting in Laayoune on the identification, appeal procedures and preparations for the coming stage of the referendum process, called on the concerned persons to seek the help of attorneys to get explanations of the conformity of their appeals with the criteria approved by the United Nations.

The interior minister underlined that the Sahrawis, whose identification has been rejected, have the right to request their dossiers to learn the reasons for their rejection and prepare appeals on the basis of new elements.

During the Laayoune meeting -- attended by Shioukh, observers participating in the identification operation and a ministerial delegation -- Basri underlined that when the time of truth comes, the Sahrawi brethren, who are genuinely Moroccan by blood, culture and education, will give the whole world the proof on their Moroccan identity and their attachment to the Alawite throne.

He also affirmed that Morocco will see to the publishing of the names of persons sequestered in the camps of the Polisario separatists in Tindouf (south-western Algeria) so that the genuine Sahrawis will warn and denounce the filling of lists with people coming from other countries and people coming from tribes having no link whatsoever with the Sahara.

Morocco recently informed the United Nations of this issue, Basri said, adding that the kingdom is preparing a dossier to unveil such practices to the national and international public opinion.

The minister stressed that the presence of a large ministerial delegation in this meeting translates the keen interest King Hassan II grants to the national first cause and to the respect of the right of all Sahrawis to participate in the referendum.

Driss Basri insisted further that the publishing by the MINURSO of the provisional lists of the persons entitled to participate in the referendum is a first success won by Morocco.

According to the lists -- covering the two first identification stages carried out from August 28, 1994 to December 22, 1995 and from December 3, 1997 to September 3, 1998 -- some 84,251 persons were identified and found to be entitled to vote in the referendum. The lists show that 46,255 of the eligible voters live in Morocco, 33,786 in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) and 4,210 in Mauritania.

Basri said the lists shatter the fallacious thesis claiming that "the Sahrawi people live as refugees in Lahmada camps." Those who circulated this thesis and their accomplices were rather after funds from some humanitarian organizations than defending a whatever principle or ideal, Basri said, adding this is evidenced by the systematic embezzlement of the assistance before it reaches the intended destination.

If Morocco's opponents continue to refuse the identification of genuine Sahrawis, they will have to face men and women determined to defend their right, the strict implementation of the U.N. settlement plan, ethics, legality, justice and above all their identity, Basri said.

"We should get ready for the coming stage, that of the identification of the members of the tribes of Ait Youssa, Azouafet...," he added.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan official party visits UN identification center in Laayoune   (7/22/1999)
  Visits expected between Algerian president, Moroccan monarch at end of July   (7/22/1999)
  Some 25,000 people celebrate Morocco's success after publishing of MINURSO's provisional lists   (7/21/1999)

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