Identification criteria for Sahara referendum are too sophisticated for local population, UN official

Identification criteria (of would-be voters in the projected self-determination referendum in the Sahara) are too sophisticated for the local population, said Robert Kinloch, assistant special representative of the U.N secretary-general for the Sahara.

It is up to the two parties (Morocco and Polisario) and the U.N to explain to the population their mutual commitments, Kinloch told Moroccan L'Opinion daily.

In order to settle this problem, Kinloch stressed the need to "educate the population."

The new identification phase will begin on June 15 and will be completed at the end of next November, he said, adding that the new phase aims to allow applicants from three tribal groups H41, H61 and J51/52 to register for identification.

The three groups have been denied their right to participate in the vote by the Polisario, an Algeria-backed separatist front that claims sovereignty over Morocco's southern provinces.

The vote is designed to determined whether the Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975, sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario, or remains part of Morocco. The much-delayed consultation is now slated for July, 2000.

Robert Kinloch said identification bureaux will be opened in Morocco, namely in Boujdour, Dakhla, Guelmim, Tan Tan, Rabat, Assa, Tata, Taroudant and probably Ouarzazate. Two other bureaux will be opened in Zouerate and Nouadhibou in Mauritania, and a third will be opened in Tindouf, in southwestern Algeria.

All persons who were registered on the lists four years ago are free to present themselves to these bureaux according to their places of residence, he said, adding that the temporary lists of the already identified 147,000 persons will be published on the first day of the appeals process, i.e. next July 15.

The UN official noted that people will have a six-week deadline to submit appeals. "The bureaux of the identification commission will be opened in all places where we have identified persons."

Kinloch also stated that the U.N Security Council intends to continue cooperating with the HCR for the repatriation of refugees.

The UN settlement plan provides for installing the repatriated refugees near the polling bureaux, he said, adding that the HCR has already started registering people who will be repatriated.

He underlined that the cantonment of forces is not part of the immediate measures. Appeals and identification are the major steps to make until next September, he said.