Appeasing Morocco is destablising north-west Africa

The story of the people of Western Sahara is a tragic and unfortunate one. It is a vivid example of how a tolerant and moderate people are being let down by the UN and almost forgotten by the outside world.

Located on the Atlantic coast of northwest Africa, Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, when it was invaded and illegally occupied by two neighbouring countries Morocco and Mauritania.

Western Sahara is the size of Britain and is rich in mineral resources. Morocco's invasion was the result of greed and an attempt to divert attention from the regime's internal problems.

The invasion provoked a long and bloody war with the Saharawi people under the leadership of the Polisario Front, the movement that had fought for independence from Spain. Soon Mauritania gave up its claim and withdrew from the part it occupied.

Since its occupation of the Western Sahara, Morocco has embarked on a brutal campaign of human rights abuses. As a result, more than 170,000 Saharawis have fled their homeland and now live in makeshift refugee camps situated in the desert of south-west Algeria and are dependent on foreign assistance.

For the past 12 years the United Nations has been involved in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict through the organisation of a referendum on self-determination.

Despite its efforts and the huge costs involved - more than US$500 million - the UN has so far failed to accomplish its task because of Moroccan obstructions and delaying tactics.

On July 30, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution which reaffirmed the validity of the UN and Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Settlement Plan, and rejected the "Draft Framework Agreement" proposal, which intended to give Western Sahara an autonomous status within Morocco. The Council asked the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, James Baker III, to continue their efforts in order to provide a genuine opportunity for the Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination and report back to the Council before January 31 next year.

Throughout 26 years of occupation, the Saharawi people have conducted their struggle within international norms. They have never undertaken hijackings or suicide attacks. Terrorism was avoided from the outset but the Saharawi struggle has always been either neglected or put on the backburner.

Unfortunately, some Western powers have extended their military, financial and political backing to the Moroccan regime in its illegal occupation and terrorist war against the Saharawi people.

Morocco's brutality has been rewarded, while the patience and good behaviour of the Saharawi people are being ignored.

Morocco has been plundering the resources of Western Sahara with the complicity of some multinational corporations. Last year, two American and French oil companies, Kerr McGee and Total Fina Elf signed deals with Morocco to explore along the coast of the disputed territory.

Moroccan apologists are only too keen to use some old fashioned arguments to garner support for a regime that has been rather spoilt by Western democracies.

Some of the arguments used to support the Moroccan regime in its wrongdoings are that it is an old ally of the West, and is an essential player in the Middle East problem, leading to the conclusion that come what may, its stability must therefore be protected. These arguments are weak and misguided.

First, the significance given to Morocco's historical friendship with some Western countries amounts to emotional blackmail, and cannot be a factor influencing any decisions regarding the fate of another people. This is an argument that was used during the Cold War and has outlived its time.

It is well know that some Western countries had friendly relations with regimes such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the apartheid regime of South Africa and many others. On the other hand many former enemies have become friends and allies in the New World Order. When it comes to relations between states there are no lasting and constant friendships.

Second, the argument that Morocco is an essential player in the Middle East conflict is no longer valid. The experienced and shrewd King Hassan II is no longer available and the Palestinians and Israelis are talking directly to each other nowadays. Countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, alongside the active participation of the USA, now fill the role that Morocco used to play.

As far as Morocco's stability is concerned, this is a valid point; but stability cannot be maintained by sheer force and to the detriment of others.

We realise that stable Morocco is paramount for peace and progress in the whole Maghreb region. But stability in Morocco can only be achieved if a just and lasting resolution to the conflict in the Western Sahara is accomplished.

The dangers to Morocco's stability stem from Morocco itself. The Moroccan regime has to find genuine solutions to problems such as the Western Sahara, poverty, corruption, democracy, and respect for human rights.

The independence of the Western Sahara would be of great benefit and help to Morocco. Not only will Morocco be able to enjoy fruitful relations with an independent Saharawi republic but it will also be able to make use of about $US3 million that are spent daily on the maintenance of the occupation of the Western Sahara for other productive projects.

Morocco will also be able to redirect the energy and attention that it is currently focusing on the Saharawi conflict for other issues of concern to the Moroccan people, like poverty, health and education.

The just solution of the Western Sahara conflict will certainly create an atmosphere of harmony, peace and cooperation among the countries of the region that will be of great benefit to all and accelerate the establishment of the Maghreb Union.

It is the duty of Morocco's friends to encourage the regime to find real solutions to the problems facing Morocco instead of adopting policies of window-dressing.

By choosing to side with the absolute and corrupt Monarchy in Morocco, some Western countries are alienating the majority of the people in Morocco and the Maghreb region. Such a policy is counter-productive and dangerous. The appeasement of dictatorships does not work.

It is only by respecting international law, human rights, and democratic norms, and by abandoning the bad old habits of aggression and occupation of foreign territories, that Morocco could be considered part of the civilised world and a real friend of the West. At present Morocco is just another rogue state.

The UN must adhere to its resolutions and its Settlement Plan when trying to overcome the current obstacles, which are hampering the decolonisation process in Western Sahara. This is the only way that peace and stability could be achieved in the volatile Maghreb region.