THE SAHARAN PEOPLES SUPPORT COMMITTEE, USA

Volume X, No . 1 SPSC June-September 1989 LETTER ISSN 0891-608X

SADR PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ ATTENDS 25TH President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, OAU SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA President Moussa Traore of Mali, President Ali Sebon of Niger, Presi­ Mohamed Abdelaziz, President of the dent Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, SADR and Secretary-General of the President Quett Masire of Botswana. , arrived in Addis Ababa July 23 to participate in the President Hosni Mubarak, who became 25th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of acting Chairman of the OAU, held ex­ State of the OAU which began July 24. tensive talks with the SADR presi­ Abdelaziz was accorded a ceremonial dent. In their discussions they welcome at the Addis Ababa airport. talked about the latest developments Among those present were Ethiopian in the and President Mengistu Haile Mariam, high the efforts undertaken by the UN and officials of the Workers' Party and OAU in view of settling the conflict. the government, the Secretary-General of the OAU, Idi Ouamarou, and the Sah­ According to informed sources, the rawi Ambassador in Ethiopia. two heads of state underlined the need to continue the dialogue between In his speech during the opening Morocco and the Polisario Front. session of the Summit, UN Secretary­ President Abdelaziz informed Presi­ General Perez de Cuellar, noted that dent Mubarak of all aspects of the "the recent developments in the situ­ 's struggle for their ation in Western Sahara encourage us right to self-determination and in­ to believe in a regular progress lead­ dependence and the latest initiatives ing to settlement of the conflict." taken by Polisario for facilitating He reminded the group that Morocco and the implementation of the peace plan Polisario had accepted the proposal for Western Sahara. The two leaders for setting up the Technical Com­ agreed that "the Sahrawi leaders mission and that the first session had would remain in touch with the Chair­ been held. He said that "some deli­ man of the OAU." cate questions for implementing the peace plan still remain to be solved," Present during the talk between and promised his continued active ef­ President Abdelaziz and President forts in conjunction with the Chairman Mubarak were Ismet Abdelmadjid, of the OAU. Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Boutros Ghali, Secretary, Minister of During the Summit President Abdelaziz State of Foreign Affairs, Egypt; had private talks with a number of Mohamed Sidati, SADR Minister of other heads of state including Presi­ Foreign Affairs; Abdelkader Taleb dent Kaunda of Zambia, President Omar, SADR Minister of Information; Mwinyi of Tanzania, President Didier Malainine Sadik, Secretary-General of Ratsiraka of Madagascar and the presi­ the SADR President's Cabinet. This dents of Gambia and Sierra Leone. was the first Summit meeting between The SADR President also had talks with Egypt and the SADR although Sahrawi and Egyptian diplomats had frequently SEVENTH POPULAR CONGRESS: DIALOGUE, had informal talks during UN, OAU and NEGOTIATIONS AND PEACE ARE PRINCIPLES Non-Aligned meetings. The Seventh Popular Congress of the Addressing the Summit on July 26, Polisario Front which ended its meet­ President Abdelaziz recalled the ing May 1, decided that all future process for Namibian independence, "a policies will be determined by three process which will serve, if it suc­ principles: dialogue, negotiations ceeds, as a model for the efforts un­ and peace. dertaken by the UN for resolving the conflict between SADR and Morocco." As the declaration emanating from the He maintained that a free, regular and Congress underlines, the delibera­ general referendum as stipulated by tions of the Congress, which began the UN and OAU resolutions cannot be April 28, call for an assessment of held in the presence of Moroccan preceding stages of the struggle in troops, administration and settlers. order to overcome obstacles, rectify weaknesses, and be equal to the in­ He recalled the numerous initiatives ternational situation marked by peace taken by the SADR, such as the de­ initiatives and political and nego­ cision to release 200 Moroccan prison­ tiated settlement of regional con­ ers of war, to find a solution to the flicts. conflict. He noted that it was the responsibility of the UN and the OAU The Congress declaration favors the to urge Morocco to remove obstacles so continuation of the dialogue lnl­ that the Sahrawi people could freely tiated with the King of Morocco in exercise their right to self-determi­ January 1989 and the just and uncon­ nation and independence without any strained application of the UN and constraint. OAU peace plan.

President Abdelaziz expressed satis­ Elected to the Political Bureau dur­ faction at the formation of the Arab ing the Congress were the following: Maghreb Union. He noted, however, Mohamed Rahal, Malainine Sadik, that "this union cannot be harmonious Sidahrned Ahmed Mahrnud, Mohamed Si­ as long as the question of Western dati, Bukhari Ahmed, Mohamed Haddad, Sahara is not solved." Brahim Ahmed Mahrnud Beidilla, Nih Ali Emblai, Mohamed El Ouali, Babilla At the close of the Summit, President Shiaa, Benna Bouah, Senia Ahmed Merh­ Abdelaziz read a motion of thanks on ba, Khalil Sid M'hamed, Ahmed Moulay behalf of his peers and stated that he Ali, Salem Lebsir, Mohamed Salem was highly appreciative of the honor Mounak, Abdelkader Taleb Ornar, accorded to the SADR through him. The Mohamed Ould Tleimidi, Mohamed Salem SADR, which served as member of the ould Salek, Brahim Hakim, Mohamed Management Committee of the OAU, had Oubeid, Mahfoud Ahmed Zein, Mohamed been elected Reporter for the prepara­ Fadel Ismail, Salek Baba Hassanna, tory ministerial session of the 25th Mahjoub Brahim, Lehsan Mohamed Ali, Summit. SADR Foreign Minister Mohamed Sidahrned Batal. Sidati served as Reporter. At the Congress Abdelhamid Mehri, FLN New Chairman of the OAU is President Secretary-General, pledged continued Hosni Mubarak who replaces Malian support of for the Sahrawis President General Moussa Traore. The and likened this period of their new Secretary-General of the pAU is struggle to 1962 in the Algerian war. Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania who re­ He told them that their "long awaited places Idi Oumarou. happy ending will corne Inshaallah." PUBLICATION UPDATE ON THE LIBERATION is factual and personal. The STRUGGLE OF THE SAHRAWI PEOPLE .. 1989 strength of the chapter comes from the details he gives of his experi­ ences with the Sahrawis and the "Solution Needed for Western Sahara," clarity of his explanation of the Yahia Zoubir and Daniel Volman, New conflict. African, June 1989, p. 38.

"Der Frauenstaat in der Sahara," Zoubir and Volman comment on Algeria's Christine de Grancy and Stefan continued support of the Sahrawis and Schennach, International, Die Zeit­ the alleged success of Morocco in win­ schrift fur internationale Politik, ning over the Sahrawi population of 3-4, 1988, pp. 5-11. the occupied SADR. They note that the attack at Oum Dreiga in September 1988 demonstrated the continued military Schennach describes the unique po­ strength of the Polisario Front and sition of Sahrawi women in the Arab quote Assistant Secretary of State for world. Photographs are by Christine African Affairs, Chester Crocker, as de Grancy. The article discusses the noting that the only option for ending role of Senia Ahmed Mehrba, as former the conflict is a negotiated settle­ wali of the refugee daira of . ment. Senia (since the Seventh Popular Congress) is now Head of the NUSW, The authors suggest that the US could the National Union of Sahrawi Women, assist in the peace process by insist­ member of the Political Bureau and ing that funds "provided the Royal Head of the School of .February 27. Moroccan Armed Forces in the Fiscal Year 1990 Defense Department budget be used solely for defensive purposes and "Deux Suisses Dans Les Zones Occupees not be used in operations in the West­ du Sahara Occidental," Ueil Schwarz, ern Sahara. " Nouvelles Sahraouies, No. 62, June 1989, pp. 7 & 10. The authors argue that a prolongation of the desert war could make King Hassan more vulnerable to an attempted Schwarz' account supports the account coup and they accuse the King of re­ published in the last SPSC LETTER by neging on his promise to renew direct C. H. of life in the occupied terri­ talks with Polisario. tory. Schwarz recounts that in El Aiun, the capital, of the 126,000 inhabitants, 25,000 are Sahrawis. "Western Sahara: Struggle in the The others are Moroccans who have Desert," George M. Houser, No One Can settled in the Western Sahara. He stop The Rain, New York: The Pilgrim also notes that over 4,000 Sahrawi Press , 1989, pp. 309-325. civilians have been detained by the Moroccans and notes that the visit of the UN Technical Mission in November Houser, who has spent over thirty 1987 was the occasion for detaining a years concerned with development in number of Sahrawi citizens. He also Africa and who, for many years, recounts that some 6,000 young Sahra­ directed the American Committee on wis have been forcibly removed to Africa, has visited both the refugee Morocco so as to rid them of their camps and the interior of the Western Sahrawi identity. Schwarz tells us Sahara with the Polisario. His his travelling companion speaks chapter on the Western Sahara conflict fluent Spanish and Arabic. "Bachir Mustapha Sayed: Polisario's Sahrawis, Perez de Cuellar met with Policies for Peace," Margaret Novicki, President Chadli Bendjedid of Africa Report, May-June 1989, 57-60. Algeria. Earlier he had met with the President of Mauritania, Maaouya Ould Sid ' Ahmed Taya; Senegalese President The interview covers the state of the Diouf, former Chairman of the OAU; peace process, the relationship be­ President Traore of Mali, Chairman of tween Polisario and Algeria, expecta­ the OAU at the time of this visit. tions of the Bush Administration, the role of the UN in the peace process, Following the Secretary-General's difficulties that must be resolved be­ visit, a communique from the UN noted fore the referendum can take place. A that the Secretary-General of the UN good interview. and the current Chairman of the OAU, "have agreed, in agreement with the parties to the Western Sahara conflict, the Kingdom of Morocco and "Shifting Political Sands ' Blur The the POLISARIO Front, to set up a Dream of a Grand Maghreb," "Polisario technical commission to implement" Builds a Desert Democracy," Eric the UN/oAU Peace Plan. Westervelt and Jill Reichman, Toward Freedom: Report on Non-Aligned and De­ The communique noted that "the role veloping Countries, July-August, 1989, of this commission is to further pp. 7 & 10. clarify with the parties the terms, ways and means of carrying out the peace plan to which they agreed in These two articles are authored by two principle on August 30, 1988 in freelance authors who recently com­ Geneva." pleted a three month tour of the Maghreb. The article on the Grand It further stated that "The technical Maghreb points out the need to resolve commission on implementation, which the question of Western Sahara which will work under the direction of the remains an obstacle to Maghreb unity. Secretary-General, will be made up of The pair's visit to the Sahrawi refu­ the following persons: gee camps impressed them with the dem­ ocratic organization of the Sahrawis. 1. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara 2. The Personal Representative of the Current Chairman of the OAU 3. The Under-Secretary for Special PEACE PROCESS UPDATE: UN SECRETARY- Political Questions, Regional Co­ GENERAL VISITS RABAT AND WESTERN operation, Decolonization and Trus­ SAHARA MOVING PEACE PROCESS FORWARD teeship 4. The Under-Secretary-General for Javier Perez de Cuellar arrived in Special Political Affairs Rabat June 18 for talks with King 5. The Legal Counsel Hassan and other Moroccan leaders on 6. The Military Advisor to the the question of Western Sahara. Secretary-General" Following the talks in Morocco, he went to , Algeria where he The first meeting of the Technical continued those discussions in the Commission with representatives of refugee camps of the Sahrawis. Among Morocco and POLISARIO took place at Sahrawi leaders, he met with Mohamed the UN in New York July 12. The Abdelaziz and Bachir Mustapha Sayed. Technical Commission met under the Following conversations with the chairmanship of Hector Gros Espiell, Special Representative of the UN been completed. Secretary-General for Western Sahara. The Chairman of the OAU was repre­ sented by his personal representa­ tive, Ambassador Noumou Diakite of US ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR AFRICA Mali. PRAISES EFFORTS OF PEREZ DE CUELLAR

Members of the Technical Commission Assistant Secretary of State Herman met with Mouloud Said, Polisario Cohen praised the efforts deployed by representative in New York and with the Secretary-General of the UN to Boukhari Ahmed of the SADR Political facilitate a resolution of the prob­ Bureau. On the Moroccan side, Com­ lem of Western Sahara. "We are fol­ mission members met with Moulay Ahmed lowing very closely the efforts of Cherkaoui, Minister of State for the in this region," Foreign Affairs; Khalil Haddaoui and declared Herman Cohen who was answer­ Abderrahirn Ben Moussa. ing questions of the foreign press accredited to Washington. "The Sec­ At the conclusion of the Technical retary-General of the United Nations Commission's work, the Chairman met is, in our opinion, in the process of with the representatives of Algeria making some progress," he added. "We and Mauritania in their capacity as hope that a referendum will be held observers to the peace process and successfully in the not-too-distant briefed them on the results of the future." "The situation is evolving meeting. in a positive manner," continued Cohen who emphasized that the Ameri­ can Administration had total confi­ POLISARIO REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKS TO UN dence in the efforts of the Secre­ DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE AUGUST 14 tary-General of the United Nations.

Mouloud Said, Polisario representative in New York at the United Nations AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENTARY INTERGROUP SET spoke before the Decolonization Com­ mittee of the UN about the status of An Austrian parliamentary intergroup the conflict in Western Sahara during for support to the Sahrawi people was their session August 14. The Decol­ organized June 28, 1989. During the onization Committee, which has the re­ inauguration of the intergroup in sponsibility of the Western Sahara which several political personalities conflict in its charge, has long sup­ from different Austrian political ported the Sahrawis in their efforts parties took part, the intergroup to exercise their right to self-deter­ elected Waltrand Horvath of the mination. ruling Socialist Party as Chair. Mrs. Klara Motter of the Liberal UN delegates to the Committee used the Party and Mr. Karl Smole of the Green occasion to express the solidarity of Party were chosen Vice-Chairs. their nations with the struggle of the Sahrawis to liberate their nation from Priorities for the Intergroup are: Moroccan aggression. 1. Inform Austrian opinion about the developments in the conflict between The President of the Decolonization Morocco and the SADR. Committee noted at the close of the 2. Demand direct negotiations session that the question of Western between the King of Morocco and the Sahara will corne before the UN Gen­ Polisario Front. eral Assembly at its next session as a 3. Increase humanitarian aid for the decolonization effort that has not Sahrawi people. KING HASSAN REFUSES POLISARIO OFFER TO first journalists to visit the RELEASE 200 MOROCCAN PRISONERS IN JUNE prisoners' camps and interviewed some of those who were to be released as Morocco refused the International Red they prepared to return horne to Cross Committee's mediation for the Morocco. repatriation of 200 Moroccan war prisoners that the Polisario Front had No explanation has been given of King offered to release on June 9, accord­ Hassan's refusal to accept the re­ ing to an IRCC spokesman in Geneva on patriation of the Moroccan prisoners, June 19. some of whom have been prisoners of war since 1979. The goodwill gesture of the Front coincided with the UN Secretary ************************************ General's working visit to Morocco in an effort to speed up the peace plan SADR GOVERNMENT NAMED FOLLOWING accepted by Morocco and the Front in NATIONAL POPULAR CONGRESS IN APRIL summer 1988. The IRCC deplores Morocco's position, according to the Members of the SADR government are: spokesman, because the release con­ cerned sick, wounded and old soldiers. Mohamed Abdelaziz, President and Secretary-General of the Polisario The release of the 200 prisoners was Front; to have taken place June 17. It was delayed June 14 by the Front because Mahfoud Ali Beiba, Prime Minister and of "practical modalities necessary for Minister of Horne Affairs and Justice; the repatriation of these prisoners." Mohamed Lamine Bouhali, Minister of A delegation of the IRCC, Roland Defense; Hugeurun Bensamin, Zen Ruffinen Francois, Schaufelberger Christopher Mohamed Sidati, Minister of Foreign Feux, and stocklin Jorg Max Andre, Affairs; visited 250 Moroccan prisoners held by the Front June 12-17. It was the , Minister of fifth visit by the IRCC since the Information and Culture; beginning of the conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco. Sid Ahmed Mahmoud, Minister of Health; Other visits of the IRCC to prisoners held by the Sahrawis were September Sid Ahmed Batal, Minister of 20-21, 1976, April 28-May 1, 1984, Education; June 26-30, 1985, June 10-12, 1987. The IRCC has visited over 800 of the Salek Baba Hassana, Minister of Moroccan prisoners held by the Front. Commerce and Economic Development; Sahrawi prisoners held by the Moroc­ cans have not been permitted IRCC Mohamed Mustapha Tlaimidi, Minister visits. of Equipment and Transport.

Jean Claude Perpere and Philippe ************************************ Poncet, two French television PEACE FOR THE SAHRAWI PEOPLE IN 1989. journalists who have covered the PEACE FOR THE SAHRAWI PEOPLE IN 1989. conflict in the Western Sahara for JUSTICE FOR THE SAHRAWIS NOW IN 1989. some time, covered the story about the JUSTICE FOR THE SAHRAWIS NOW IN 1989. prisoners' projected release for PEACE FOR THE SAHRAWI PEOPLE IN 1989. Antenne 3. Poncet and Perpere are the PEACE FOR THE SAHRAWI PEOPLE IN 1989. SAHRAWIS REACT TO TREACHERY IN SADR mer Polisario official fled to Moroc­ co in early August, about four weeks Sahrawis youths in the refugee wilaya after having arrived in the US. of Dakhla which hosted the Annual Hadrani replaced long-time North Youth Festival held at the end of American Polisario representative, summer, held a major rally during the Madjid Abduallah,. who was asked to celebration during which they erected return to the Western Sahara to take effigies representing King Hassan II up new responsibilities in the Office of Morocco; Idriss Basri, Moroccan of the Presidency. Minister of the Interior and Informa­ tion (held responsible by the Sahrawis Hadrani, one of the founding members for the torture of Sahrawi citizens in of the Polisario Front is unique in Morocco and in the occupied territory this group because of his defection. of Western Sahara); and Omar Hadrani What has characterized the Front is (Mohamed Ali Ould El Ouali), a Sahrawi the stability of its leadership, leader who defected to Morocco from particularly in the Executive Commit­ the US this August. tee of the Polisario Front which is elected by the popularly elected Po­ Sahrawi youths expressed their scorn litical Bureau. for "Hassan, assassin; Basri, the cop; and Omar, the traitor." Noting that Current members of the Executive Com­ "crimes and treachery will not be mittee of the Polisario Front are excused," the Sahrawi young people, Mohamed Abdelaziz, Secretary-General who have grown up during the over and President of the SADR; Mohamed fourteen-year-old struggle to prevent Lamine Ahmed; Mohamed Lamine Bouhali; Morocco from seizing the Western Bachir Mustapha Sayed; ; Sahara, vowed to protect the Sahrawi Mahfoud Ali Beiba; Ayoub Lehabib. Arab Democratic Republic against the These Sahrawis were also elected folly of crime and treachery. Executive Committee members during the Sixth Popular Congress in 1986. Mohamed Ali Quid El Ouali (Omar Hadrani), who was posted to the US by Since the death of El Ouali, first the Polisario in mid-July 1989, was Secretary-General of the Polisario replaced in the Sahrawi Political Front and President of the SADR, Bureau during the Seventh Popular Mohamed Abdelaziz has held both these Congress that met in late April 1989. positions. Although there have been According to Polisario sources, changes in ministerial portfolios and Hadrani had been suspected for some younger Sahrawis have risen to im­ time of conspiring with Morocco and portant posts in recent years, sta­ had gradually been removed from key bility also marks most government positions in the Polisario structure. structures and the women's, the The Popular Congress which elects the workers' and the students'organiza­ members of the Political Bureau did tions. not choose Hadrani to serve in the Political Bureau for the first time in ************************************ 1989. The SPSC LETTER is published four According to these same sources, Ha­ times a year. Donation requested is drani had been sent to the US in the $5. For information write: SPSC hopes that he would rethink his LETTER, 217 E. Lehr Avenue, Ada, Ohio changed allegiances. Confronted with 45810. the proof of alleged payoffs (can­ celled checks) by the Moroccan govern­ Thank you for your donations! ment, according to sources, the for- ************************************ VISITS TO CAMPS FOR US ACADEMICS, and clinics and agricultural projects STUDENTS AND JOURNALISTS ANNOUNCED of the Sahrawi refugees.

Polisario authorities announced re­ After their return to Spain the cently a 1989-90 program of visits to delegation reported their findings to in the region of the Spanish Parliament. It is ex­ Tindouf, Algeria. US academics, stu­ pected that the visit will lead to dents and journalists are invited to political and humanitarian initia­ contact US based Polisario represen­ tives in Spain for the Sahrawis. tatives concerning schedules of visits which start from , Algeria. This is the first time that senators and members of Parliament represent­ Since 1976 the camps have seen hun­ ing the totality of Spanish political dreds of international visitors tendencies have gone to the refugee including members of parliaments, camps. scholars, representatives of humani­ tarian groups and students. Few US scholars, journalists for students, SWISS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT VISIT THE however, have visited the refugees. SAHRAWI REFUGEE CAMPS AT EASTER-TIME

The first American journalist in the Four Swiss members of Parliament, camps (1976) was Tami Hultman of Pierre Aguet, Suzanne Lautenegger­ Africa News. American filmmaker Oberholzer, Hanspeter Thur and Fran­ Sharon Sopher produced the first major ~oise Pitteloud, visited the Sahrawi US film on the conflict. Most US refugee camps March 27-30. Among television footage has come from Euro­ Sahrawi leaders they spoke with Mo­ pean sources. No US TV channel has hamed Abdelaziz, SADR President, used the reports by French TV journal­ Khadija, Foreign Affairs representa­ ists, Poncet and Perpere, who have re­ tive for the National Union of Sah­ ported regularly on aspects of the rawi Women, Mohamed Lamine, Mahfoud conflict for Antenne 3 in France. Ali Beiba and others.

For information concerning contacting Pierre Aguet noted in Nouvelles Sah­ US Polisario representatives, write raouies: "We met the President of the the SPSC LETTER. Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, several ministers, doctors, solar techni­ cians, teachers, country people, SPANISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT/SENATORS military leaders. All wore the same VISIT SAHRAWI REFUGEE CAMPS IN MARCH military clothing without rank. They distribute missions among themselves A delegation of Spanish members of and that suffices." Parliament and Senators completed a fact-finding visit of several days in Hanspeter Thur said in the same pub­ the Sahrawi refugee camps March 29. lication: "In the middle of the The Spanish members of Parliament desert a system of education has been represented most Spanish political created to give all camp inhabitants parties and included the PSOE of a primary and secondary school educa­ Felipe Gonzalez, President of the tion as well as technical training. Spanish government. The results of this effort: today only 15% of the camp population is Meetings were held with President illiterate compared with the 85% of Abdelaziz of the SADR as well as with some 15 years previously. Education other Polisario leaders. The Spanish and sanitation are the foremost po­ delegation visited schools, hospitals litical priorities."