The Polisario asks world to help the Western Sahara

The recent hunger strike conducted by the pro-independence Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar shows that urgent action against violations of human rights carried out by Morocco, says the head of the Frente Polisario.
The hunger strike was conducted during one month at the airport in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, has shone the spotlight of international news on the Western Sahara as frequently since the annexation of the former Spanish colony in Rabat in 1975.

The Polisario Front said the independence of Western Sahara in 1976.

The militant aged 43 years and mother of two children had stopped eating in protest against Morocco's refusal to let her return to Western Sahara if it does not recognize Rabat's sovereignty over the territory.

She was finally able to go home after the intervention of the United States, Spain and other countries.

"The hunger strike was about our fight and handed over Western Sahara led major international issues," said the leader of Polisario, Mohamed Abdelaziz, in an interview with Reuters at his headquarters in Algeria.

"Morocco must stop its campaign against our people inside the occupied territories. We urge the UN to establish a mechanism to protect human rights and accountable for its action until resolution conflict ", he hoped.

TOWARD RESUMPTION OF TALKS?

Territory the size of Great Britain and has rich deposits of phosphate, and perhaps oil off the coast, the Western Sahara is witnessing one of the oldest territorial conflicts in Africa.

The Moroccan Minister of Communications, responding to accusations of Polisario Front said it was only propaganda.

"Morocco's record on human rights is the best in the region," said Khalid Naciri told Reuters in Rabat.

The Sharifi kingdom, he said, wishes to negotiate a peaceful solution to this conflict. According to Naciri, the Polisario and its allies within the Algerian government attempts to exploit this hunger strike to paralyze the peace process.

The talks are deadlocked, even though both sides say they are ready to resume dialogue. The head of the Polisario reiterated Monday in Algeria.

"Obviously, it is now more urgent than ever to find a just and balanced solution to this conflict. We are ready for direct negotiations with Morocco," said Abdelaziz.

"We believe there are several measures that Morocco can take immediately to facilitate negotiations and to prove his good faith. One of them would free seven of our activists."

In October, the Moroccan police arrested seven members of the Polisario Front who were returning from a trip to the headquarters of their movement in Algeria. Rabat said they were facing charges of treason and espionage, acts that are punishable by twenty years in prison.