Moroccans of Sahrawi descent turn down any proposal harming Morocco's territorial integrity

Moroccan of Sahrawi descent, mainly heads of tribes, dignitaries, elected officials and former members of the Polisario separatists, have expressed total refusal to the Sahara partitioning proposal as it harms Morocco's territorial integrity and their attachment to their national identity.

In statements to MAP and to the regional radio station of Laayoune, they said this proposal, one of the four options for the Sahara issue contained in the UN secretary general's latest report on the Sahara, unveils the expansionist goals of Algerian leaders who know better that anyone else that the Sahara is irrevocably Moroccan territory but continue, out of rancor, to dispute Morocco's legitimate and historical rights over the Sahara.

For chairman of the provincial assembly of Laayoune, Ibrahim Douihi, this is clearly an old idea through which Algeria seeks to lead the region into an endless war. Douihi, one of the key national resistance figures, insisted that the Sahara partitioning is rejected by all and should be combated with firmness.

Ali Razma, one of the region dignitaries, forecast that like all previous plots hatched against Morocco's unity, this one is also doomed to fail while Mohamed Bachrala Lambarki, another local dignitary, underscored that the partition idea should be rejected because it will not only affect the territory but will lead to tear families apart. Any option, other than Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, is refused, he insisted before advising Algeria to settle its own internal problems instead of interfering in Morocco's internal affairs.

One of the heads of tribes, who participated in the UN identification operation, denounced the Algerian proposal as inapplicable since all Sahrawis are attached to the glorious Alawit throne and to their Moroccan identity.

The Sahrawi figures were reacting to the report submitted Wednesday by UN secretary general Kofi Annan in which he outlines four options for the Sahara issue: either to implement the (initial) settlement plan, revise the framework agreement which provides for granting the territory autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, partition the territory or end the UN mission in the territory.