Despite Diminished Violence, Peace Still Does Not Prevail in Western Sahara, Fourth Committee Hears as It Continues Hearing of Petitioners
Algeria, Morocco in Heated Exchanges as Speakers Raise Concerns about Living Conditions, Resource Exploitation, Arbitrary Detention
While the people of Western Sahara no longer went to bed with the sound of bombs and gunfire in their ears every night, they still did not live in peace, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it continued its annual hearing of petitioners and general debate on the issue.
Several speakers called upon the United Nations to speed up resolution of the dispute and to grant the people of Western Sahara the basic right to self-determination. However, others voiced concern that the United Nations had failed to take up its role in resolving the dispute. While Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps had offered a glimmer of hope for restoring confidence in the Organization, the people of Western Sahara were still waiting for a self-determination referendum to be held.
Many speakers noted that more than a half a million people lived under occupation, and encouraged the Committee as well as the international community to call upon Morocco to withdraw from the Territory. Several others denounced Morocco’s arbitrary detentions and life sentences imposed on civilians, as well as its ongoing repression of the Sahrawi people. In the absence of both war and peace, the status quo in Western Sahara could not endure, one petitioner stressed.
Painting a different picture, another petitioner said Morocco was determined to implement advanced regionalization that would permit the people of the Saharan provinces to manage their own affairs. In similar vein, another speaker said the issue was not a colonialism question but a geopolitical one. In that regard, he called upon States to help Morocco administer the region and reach a negotiated and viable solution to the dispute.
Some petitioners drew attention to Western Sahara’s natural resources, saying that the Territory’s fish, oil and phosphates had raised interest in the area. One speaker said Morocco must be held accountable for its occupation of Western Sahara, its violations of international law and its exploitation of the Territory’s natural resources.
Also today, a number of petitioners voiced concern about constant interruptions by a certain State. Echoing that sentiment, Morocco’s representative declared: “Everyone is free to say what they want.” Such interruptions would set a dangerous precedent for the Committee’s work and prevent petitioners from returning, he added.
In response, Algeria’s representative said no one was against freedom of expression, but the petitioner’s statement must remain within the framework of the question of Western Sahara. The Committee could not deal with other issues beyond the agenda item under consideration, he stressed.
Following its hearing of petitioners, the Committee continued its general debate on decolonization, hearing from representatives of Cuba, Iraq, New Zealand, Viet Nam, United Republic of Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Guyana.
Speaking in exercise of the right of reply were representatives of the Morocco, United Kingdom, Argentina and Venezuela.
The Fourth Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. on Friday, 7 October, to conclude its consideration of decolonization questions.
Petitioners on Question of Western Sahara
AHMED JOUMANI, drawing attention to recent developments, said various trainings had been held in Western Sahara to consolidate a culture of human rights. Regarding reconciliation efforts, he noted that more than 500 victims had benefitted from compensation. Among other things, he also emphasized the need for an open and transparent electoral process.
SIDI AHMED HORMAT ALLAH said Morocco was determined to move forward in implementing advanced regionalization that would permit the population of the Saharan provinces to manage their own matters. Aware that local resources were insufficient to ensure economic growth, the Moroccan Government had allocated the necessary funds to transform those provinces into a model of development, he added.
ZINE EL AABIDINE EL OUALI recalled that during the Committee’s 2015 session, his colleague had been interrupted for stating the location from which her family members had been abducted. One country had not wanted that name mentioned because it belonged to Territory that was not on the list of 17 that could be discussed in the Committee. However, the matter was a question of ethics rather than procedures or rules, he said, adding that they wished to manipulate the rules so that the Western Sahara tragedy could continue in silence.
The representative of Algeria said the Committee was discussing the item on its agenda, Western Sahara, and should not be talking about other situations. The names of other countries should, therefore, not be mentioned, he said emphasizing that the rules of procedure must be respected.
The representative of Morocco said that attitude was the reason why the petitioner had come to speak before the Committee. In accordance with the principle of freedom of expression, he must be able to speak.
The representative of Algeria said no one was against freedom of expression, but the petitioner’s statement must remain within the framework of Western Sahara. The Committee could not deal with other issues beyond the agenda item under consideration, he added.
The representative of Morocco, pointing out that the agenda item was decolonization relating to peoples and territories, said the petitioner had been speaking about family members kidnapped in Tindouf, which was located in Algeria.
The representative of Algeria said he would interrupt anybody who spoke about his country, adding that mention of the Algerian authorities was not on the agenda.
The representative of Morocco noted that his Algerian counterpart was “terrorizing” the room with his threats.
The Chair then turned the floor back to the petitioner.
Mr. EL OUALI said the unnamed country could not get away from the human drama unfolding on its territory through a “sordid manoeuvre”.
HAMMADA EL BAIHI emphasized the need for a fair and equitable solution through negotiations. All attempts thus far had failed, he said, adding that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) did not have any right to rule, and was instead a major obstacle to a lasting resolution of the dispute.
The representative of Algeria, speaking on a point of order, emphasized that his country was not an occupying Power but an observing State. That was not a fabrication, he said, citing previous resolutions on the issue.
The representative of Morocco expressed surprise that the petitioner had not named any country, yet Algeria’s representative wished to take the floor. Expressing regret that petitioners were being constantly interrupted, he declared: “Everyone is free to say what they want.”
The representative of Algeria pointed out that the agenda item under consideration was the decolonization of Western Sahara, not Algeria.
The representative of Morocco said no one in the room was ignorant and emphasized the need for a lasting solution to the dispute over the Territory.
KINO DAILAL said the true problem behind reaching a political solution in the Territory was Morocco’s neighbour, which he could not name for fear of being interrupted. He said his colleagues had been prevented from speaking in the past because they had named that country while some of their families had been confined within that country. He asked how that country could be unmasked without its name being mentioned.
The representative of Algeria said petitioners were authorized by States to express their personal points of view and they should respect the parameters within which they were granted that authority. He reiterated that the rules of procedure be followed or he would call the Legal Adviser to explain the role of petitioners. Algeria was not the issue under discussion, he emphasized.
The representative of Morocco said petitioners were authorized by the Committee and not by Algeria, which had no right of veto. The present situation would set a dangerous precedent for the Committee’s work and prevent petitioners from returning, he cautioned.
The representative of Algeria said his question was procedural because no one was preventing the petitioner from speaking, but he should speak on the authorized item. Algeria was not on the agenda, he reiterated.
The representative of Morocco said it was the Chair’s responsibility to organize the meeting and ensure that the rules of procedure were not abused. The Chair was not compelled to give the floor to any delegate on a point of order, especially if that delegate was being abusive. Algeria had created the conflict under discussion, he noted.
The Chair responded by stating that he was compelled to grant the floor to a delegate requesting a point of order. The Chair was in no position to deprive Member States of their rights under the rules of procedure, he said, adding that he could only appeal to speakers to deliver their statements in a fashion that would facilitate an uninterrupted meeting.
Mr. DAILAL then took the floor again to say he had been born in the Tindouf camps and knew very well that the Government of Algeria was an important part of the question of Western Sahara, especially in terms of formulating Polisario’s policies.
GÍSLI KR. BJÖRNSSON, acknowledged Morocco’s contribution to Western Sahara, saying it was boosting the Territory’s development. Morocco was already blessed with large amounts of natural resources, he said, voicing concern about media manipulation. Poverty had been reduced to a certain extent, and financial resources had been allocated to increase the living standards, he said.
SUZANNE SCHOLTE, Seoul Peace Prize Laureate, said it was time for the Committee and the international community to call upon Morocco to end its illegal occupation of Western Sahara and withdraw from the Territory. The current situation had led to tragic outcomes, including the existence of a generation of youth who had never seen their homeland, she said.
VERONIWUE VAN DER PLANCKE expressed regret that Western Sahara had suffered under Moroccan repression. It was unfortunate that Morocco continued to occupy Western Sahara and exploiting its natural resources, particularly the Territory’s fishing zones.
SOUMAIA FERGANI, Algerian National Committee of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People, said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps had offered a glimmer of hope for restoring confidence in the United Nations. However, the people of Western Sahara were waiting for a referendum to be held and in that regard, the time had come for the Organization to fulfil its duty, she said.
MULAY AHMED, Sahrawi Student Association, spoke about his aunt, Zeina, saying she had died from heat stroke and malnutrition. She had dreamed of an end to the occupation, he said, adding that other family members had died frustrated and fighting for their freedom. He said that without Zeina’s support, he would have gone down the same path.
TOM O’BRYAN said that, while the people of Western Sahara no longer went to bed to the sound of bombs and gunfire every night, they still did not live in peace. More than a half a million of them lived under the brutal repression of the Moroccan occupation, and another 100,000 lived in exile and abject poverty in refugee camps located in the Algerian desert. The status quo in Western Sahara — an absence of both war and peace — could not possibly endure, he said.
MAHFOUD BOUAD, Sahrawi Students Union, offered his condolences to the family of the five-year-old recently killed by a landmine because of the Moroccan occupation. Under the auspices of the United Nations, Morocco enjoyed French support and impunity, and had sent military arsenals to Western Sahara, which constituted a serious threat. The United Nations had failed to take up its role, so the only path left to self-determination for the people was to take arms, he emphasized.
FATIMETU BACHIR JATRI, a college student in the United States who grew up in Sahrawi refugee camps, said hope for an independent Western Sahara seemed to be fading away. With no peaceful solution after 41 years, it seemed reasonable for the Territory’s youth to resume armed struggle as the only way out. The people of Western Sahara had been living with hope, patience and trust in the United Nations, she said, adding that the world body must speed up the process of resolving the conflict and giving the people of Western Sahara the basic right to self-determination. It was also important to hold Morocco accountable for its occupation, violations of international law and exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources, she said.
JUAN JOSE MANZO RAMIREZ said he was from Guatemala, a sovereign State in which human rights were fully respected and protected. However, that was not the reality for all human beings. “We cannot support a State which occupies a Territory for its ambitions,” he said, emphasizing that the Sahrawi people must enjoy the right to self-determination.
SALKA DAHI BACHIR, a Sahrawi student from the refugee camps of Western Sahara, said that the more she learned about international law, the more frustrated and disappointed she became with the lack of action on the part of the United Nations. Noting that between 500 and 1,000 young Sahrawis graduated from high school and university every year, she said they faced a lack of opportunities, and their patience was wearing thin as their elders struggled to convince them that a peaceful approach was valid. Denying the Sahrawi people the right to self-determination shook the credibility of the United Nations in the hearts and minds of Sahrawi youth, she said.
LATIFA AIT BAALA drew attention to Western Sahara’s natural resources, saying the Territory’s fish, oil and phosphate had raised interest in the Territory. However, only 4 per cent of employees working in businesses related to those fields were from Western Sahara, she pointed out.
NAGLA MOHAMED LAMIN, Sahrawi National Youth Organization, said that her people’s patience had yet to bear fruit. The international community reacted to every single violent action, but peace received no attention. If one visited the camps, one could see with one’s own eyes the real price that had been paid while waiting for peace over the past 40 years, she said.
LOSSEYNI BAKAYOKO, Enseignant-Chercheur, INP-HB Yamoussoukro-Côte d’Ivoire, said that Sahrawi children living in Morocco were educated at the same level as Moroccan children, while a minority of Sahrawi citizens lived in the isolated Tindouf camps on Algerian territory. The issue was not one of colonization but a geopolitical question, he said, calling on States to help Morocco administer the region and reach a negotiated and viable solution to the situation.
LEONARD ANDJEMBE applauded Morocco’s contributions to the continent’s development through economic growth. The African people remained attentive to its attempts to consolidate territory, and the delicate question of Western Sahara, he said, adding that he was attending the hearings because he was convinced that the Moroccan initiative was the only possible way to resolve the conflict.
MARIA DOLORES TRAVIESO DARIAS, President, Asociation Canaria de Juristas por la Paz y los Derechos Humanos, said she had held interviews with victims of landmines, the disappeared and former prisoners, in addition to having worked with Moroccan human rights associations. Denouncing Morocco’s arbitrary detentions and life sentences imposed on civilians, as well as its ongoing repression of the Sahrawi people, she said the expulsion of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and subsequent detention of human rights observers had occasioned the undermining of the international legal framework.
MARIA NIEVES CUBAS ARMAS recalled that the European Union had expressed its opinion of Morocco’s lack of competence to administer Western Sahara. Calling attention to arbitrary detentions and expulsions occurring in the Territory, she said Morocco did not respect international law or Security Council resolutions.
SEBASTIAN GARCIA expressed concern about the situation in Moroccan jails, noting that Sahrawi activists were being sentenced to prison terms.
DIEGO MORERA said peace should be available to everyone regardless of their country or region. The people of Western Sahara had a right to live free from terror and occupation, he emphasized, noting that Morocco continued to oppress them.
YARA MAALAININE, Sahrawi Association in United States, said that while freedom could be taken for granted in the United States, whenever he went back home, he was placed under surveillance, which prevented his permanent return. Morocco had spent thousands on promoting “fake” images whereas if one looked at social media, one would find evidence of torture and other such practices, he said.
MINA LAGHZAL said the resolutions adopted over the past 10 years had had an impact on Western Sahara. However, international law must be respected, civil society must be heard and the region must be developed, and not simply by pillaging resources, she stressed.
YANJA EL KHATTAT, Region of Dakhla-Oued Eddadhab, said an advanced regional approach in Western Sahara had enabled the Territory to develop infrastructure and representatives of various groups to be elected directly. The Sahara was attached to the territorial integrity of Morocco, and its people were interested in getting involved in workshops and institutional reform. The transitional period would allow them to enjoy Moroccan sovereignty, he said.
AHMED BOUKHARI, Polisario Front, said he would not respond to gratuitous statements that had been made because it would be superfluous for him to do so. The situation in Western Sahara had been stagnant for 40 years and the International Court of Justice had recognized Morocco’s presence as an occupation that must come to an end, he said. That had been substantiated by the fact that many martyrs had fallen and lost their lives. After years of cruel war waged by Morocco, the situation had become so difficult that the people had not been able to agree. The Polisario Secretary-General had said that a referendum was no longer an option, he said, adding that an alternative solution had been identified but it would come at a great cost.
General Debate
ANA SILVIA RODRIGUEZ ABASCAL (Cuba) said colonialism had not been eliminated, but was a pending task. There remained 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, as well as others in identical conditions, such as Palestine. Cuba defended the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination on the basis of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations, she said. Noting that the people of Argentina had been waiting for discussions to resolve the bilateral dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgia Islands, South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, she emphasized that any action to militarize the South Atlantic would have negative consequences and escalate the dispute. She went on to call upon the United States to allow Puerto Rico to exercise its right to self-determination and independence, describing the “cruel colonial domination” as a political farce.
ALI RASOOL (Iraq) said all peoples around the world were entitled to sovereignty over their respective territories and natural resources. Emphasizing that occupation contravened the United Nations Charter, he reiterated his country’s commitment to the self-determination of all peoples and called for the independence of the Palestinian territories under occupation by Israel. Iraq looked forward to members coming together for the Committee’s success and the welfare of humankind, he said.
The representative of Ecuador asked Mr. Boukhari for more information about the referendum process that should be held in Western Sahara according to United Nations mandates, about the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, and about public works in the Guerguerat region.
The representative of Venezuela said a significant number of petitioners had provided information about events in the Territory, and every effort should be made to view the situation impartially, taking the needs of the Sahrawi people into account. One way might be to invite a visiting mission of the Special Committee on Decolonization to Western Sahara. He asked for clarity regarding the role of General Assembly resolution 3437 on conflict.
The representative of South Africa said he was aware of reports that Morocco had written to the Chair of the African Union that it wished to rejoin the regional bloc. Would it be able to accept all provisions of the African Union Constitutive Act?
The representative of Algeria, noting the presence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Food Programme (WFP) and other organizations and witnesses in the Territory, asked how some could say that the refugee camps were a prison, given the presence of so many stakeholders.
The representative of Namibia asked about the human rights situation in Western Sahara and how a clear picture on that matter could be obtained. Many petitioners supported the Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, she noted, asking whether it would be acceptable to the people of Western Sahara.
Mr. BOUKHARI said in response that Morocco was offering a plan that was unacceptable and in violation of international law. The Security Council was not taking the steps that it should to implement the referendum, and Morocco wished to demolish the peace process entirely. The situation was spiralling out of control and approaching conflict, he cautioned.
Responding to Venezuela’s representative, he said it was true that the two parties had agreed to a resolution and set out parameters for a referendum, but Morocco had taken a step back, which was the cause of the current problems. On the question of a visiting mission, he said there had not been one in 40 years. The Committee had the right to investigate what was happening on the ground rather than hear about it second-hand. He added that Polisario was the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people and could respond to any dispute.
In response to South Africa’s representative, he said the question was not whether Morocco would or would not accept the African Union Constitutive Act, but that it was obliged to do so. Borders must be respected, in accordance with Principle 4 of that Act, and it must therefore withdraw from Western Sahara, he emphasized. Africa could not allow Morocco to rejoin the bloc because it could not readmit a country that had violated so many agreements. Its borders had changed and shifted many times over the years, he noted.
Responding to Algeria’s representative, he said many entities were based in the Western Sahara and everything was transparent with regard to their work. Morocco had asked the United Nations to oversee the situation and set up a human rights office to monitor the camps, he added.
The representative of Ecuador reiterated his request for more information on the activities of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy.
Mr. BOUKHARI said the Personal Envoy had waited many months for Morocco’s agreement to begin a fifth round of negotiations, and he was in ongoing contact with Mr. Ross. However, he still did not have a response from Morocco allowing him to carry out his missions.
PHILLIP TAULA (New Zealand), addressing the question of Tokelau, noted a number of recent developments, including the delivery of a new purpose-built ferry, as well as efforts to improve education and boost fisheries revenues. New Zealand, the administering Power, was working closely with Tokelau on the island Territory’s climate change adaptation plans and consulting on ratification of the Paris Agreement. It was providing technical assistance for improved Internet and telecommunications links, as well as a three-year programme to build public financial management capacity. Self-determination efforts remained paused following referenda in 2006 and 2007, he said, adding that New Zealand would be guided by the pace that Tokelau alone set as the Territory developed towards a future of its own choosing.
NGUYEN DOAN MINH (Viet Nam), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, expressed support for United Nations decolonization efforts, as well as regret that the task had yet to be completed. Calling on all States to strengthen cooperation efforts — including with United Nations entities and other relevant international organizations — to speed up the decolonization process, he underscored the need to continue to pursue dialogues aimed at reaching agreement between Non-Self-Governing Territories and administering Powers. The United Nations had a role to play in ensuring that economic and other activities carried out by the latter did not affect the legitimate interests of peoples of those Territories, but instead promoted their economic, cultural and social development.
MAURA MWINGIRA (United Republic of Tanzania), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said she regretted the continuing existence of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Recalling that the period 2011-2020 had been declared the third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, she called upon administering Powers to take all necessary steps to grant the peoples of the Territories the right to self-determination. Adding her country’s voice and concern over the lack of progress on the question of Western Sahara, she said the current stalemate was regrettable, and urged all parties to proceed with negotiations without preconditions and in good faith. A durable solution would rest on the people freely deciding the Territory’s status, she said, emphasizing the importance of a referendum. As the custodian of peace and security, the Security Council should consider the question without bias, she stressed.
CLAUDE STANISLAS BOUAH-KAMON (Côte d’Ivoire), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, called on all parties in Western Sahara to reach a just and durable solution based on the relevant Security Council resolutions. Côte d’Ivoire would continue to promote dialogue and negotiations on the path to peace, he said, describing the status quo as unacceptable. Côte d’Ivoire strongly supported Morocco’s autonomy plan under its Moroccan territorial integrity, he said. Regarding Morocco’s request to rejoin the African Union, he said a political solution would help strengthen the Arab Maghreb region, as well as the Sahel region.
RUDOLPH MICHAEL TEN-POW (Guyana) said that, while decolonization remained on the United Nations agenda, there were still nearly 2 million colonized people in various regions across the globe. Greater efforts were needed to promote continued dialogue between the administering Powers, the Special Committee on Decolonization and the colonized people themselves, with a view to advancing the decolonization process. Colonialism was an affront to the dignity and worth of human beings and had serious implications for the international community, he emphasized. “We must commit ourselves anew to the process of decolonization and do all within our power to ensure that the peoples of those Territories exercise the same rights of equality and self-determination that the rest of the world enjoys.”
Right of Reply
The representative of Morocco, speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said that Venezuela’s representative had confused self-determination with independence, pointing out that the Charter clearly set forth those two definitions. While Venezuela recognized Polisario as the sole representative of the Sahrawi people, their true representative had been democratically elected during regional elections in September 2015, and they were free to address issues in their own region, he said. Self-determination would happen on 7 October, when they would be able to participate in legislative elections in Morocco and decide on their own future. Regarding the Guerguerat region, he said he had seen an effort to clean up trafficking in small arms and light weapons as well as human beings.
Noting that Venezuela’s representative had referred to Western Sahara as the last colony, he said that country was a dictatorship and had no right to criticize others. In Morocco, people lived without fear, which was not the case in Venezuela, where people were kidnapped, imprisoned and tortured, he said.
The representative of Venezuela emphasized that he did not wish to discuss bilateral differences or Morocco’s allegations, and would not allow offensive remarks to be made against his country.
The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking in exercise of the right of reply in response to Cuba’s representative, said there was no doubt over who exercise sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands. Nor was there any doubt about the sovereignty of Falkland Islanders to freely pursue economic, cultural and social development. The United Kingdom’s relationship with the Territory was a modern one, based on shared values and the right of each party to determine its own future, he said.
The representative of Argentina reiterated that the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas, formed an integral part of Argentine territory that was illegally occupied by the United Kingdom. It was a dispute between two countries recognized by various international entities that had led to the adoption of 10 resolutions. The United Kingdom and Argentina had been urged to resume negotiations and find a peaceful and lasting solution, he said, pointing out that in June, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States had adopted a new declaration on the matter along the same lines. The self-determination of peoples was the only element upon which the United Kingdom based its allegations, but it was not applicable to the sovereignty dispute over that Territory, he said, adding that interests of its inhabitants were appropriately protected by the resolutions and laws of Argentina.
The representative of Venezuela said that his counterpart from Morocco was employing a strategy of provocation in order to divert attention from the real issue in discussion — Western Sahara. In various General Assembly resolutions, Polisario had been recognized as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, and Venezuela would continue to support their right to self-determination. Western Sahara was the last colony in Africa and Venezuela would not be respecting the continent’s people if it said otherwise. A referendum was needed so that the Sahrawi people could determine their own destiny, he emphasized.
The representative of Morocco said the self-determination of peoples also applied to dictatorships that killed and suppressed their people. In that regard, he questioned Venezuela’s imprisonment of opposition leader Enrique Capriles.
The representative of Venezuela said that his counterpart from Morocco was being provocative and ignorant. Mr. Capriles was an active Governor and was not imprisoned, he said, urging his counterpart to take a closer look at his information.
The representative of Morocco said he was happy to hear that good news and would ask instead about an imprisoned activist.
The representative of Venezuela asked the Chair not to allow Morocco’s delegate repeatedly to offend his country and raise points that were totally inaccurate.
The representative of Morocco said the Venezuela’s delegate was using every opportunity to attack Morocco, but his own point was that decolonization was not only political, but also applied to dictatorships.
The representative of Venezuela said Morocco’s delegate was referring to his country’s position as Chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization. It was unfortunate that Morocco was offended, but Venezuela would continue to fight for the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, he said, adding that his country did not have a neutral position.