Amar Bendjama : Why is Morocco Afraid of Holding Referendum in Western Sahara ?
NEW YORK (United Nations) – Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama questioned on Tuesday why Morocco is unable to hold a popular consultation in Western Sahara on its so-called autonomy plan if it is “so interesting”, and expressed surprise at the fact that the Makhzen has always refused to hold the referendum on self-determination in the Sahrawi territories.
“Morocco is using all kinds of maneuvers to postpone this consultation (referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people), including the famous autonomy project (…) if this project was so interesting, why does not (Morocco) propose it for consultation (…). Are you afraid of the Sahrawi people’s call for freedom?” asked Bendjama in a right of reply at the end of the general debate of the 79th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
Responding to accusations of alleged interference by Algeria, he recalled that since its independence, Algeria has always defended the inalienable right of oppressed peoples to self-determination, questioning that the Moroccan representative cited Algeria twenty times in ten minutes during his address on the Western Sahara issue.
“If this territory of Western Sahara is so immutably Morocco’s property, why does not the International Court of Justice recognize it, and why has Morocco agreed to carve it up, to share it with the neighboring Republic of Mauritania (…) Why are we afraid of democracy, why are we afraid of the referendum, of the free and frank consultation of the people of Western Sahara?” he asked.
“MINURSO (the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) is in Western Sahara, waiting to be authorized to organize this referendum for the good of the whole region,” he continued.
He also pointed out that the UN, through the General Assembly and the Security Council, had “made a good start on the decolonization process by creating MINURSO, a mission that remains blocked by Morocco.”
Bendjama also recalled Algeria’s position in favor of a “political process within the framework of negotiations between the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people (the Polisario Front) and the occupying power, Morocco (…). If they reach a political agreement within the framework of the inalienable right to self-determination, Algeria can only welcome it.”
“I would like to recall that the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination is firmly enshrined in international law and the resolutions of the United Nations and the Security Council. Algeria, with its historical heritage and its fundamental values and principles, will stand steadfastly by the side of the oppressed, peoples under colonial occupation, like the people of Western Sahara. We will continue our unwavering support for the people of Western Sahara to achieve their full right to self-determination with this unalterable determination and deep conviction,” affirmed Algeria’s representative.
