Comments on: Western Sahara: Summer is Over for Sahrawi Children http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:19:58 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1575581 Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:26:17 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1575581 Dear Ali, You are simply exxagerating the matter of beeing in the Western Sahara region. People are living and travelling freely with their moroccan passports. Even the few separatists living in Laayoune and Smara are travelling freely from/to the Western Sahara region. The region has been developed since 1975. What about the camps of repression in Tindouf? Why dissidents to Polisario leaders are persecuted? Why people flee the camps to return to the Western Sahara region? Stop this unuseful propaganda and work on the future of the region. Many activists are asking for more human rights without asking for independence. Dear Ali,

You are simply exxagerating the matter of beeing in the Western Sahara region. People are living and travelling freely with their moroccan passports. Even the few separatists living in Laayoune and Smara are travelling freely from/to the Western Sahara region. The region has been developed since 1975. What about the camps of repression in Tindouf? Why dissidents to Polisario leaders are persecuted? Why people flee the camps to return to the Western Sahara region? Stop this unuseful propaganda and work on the future of the region. Many activists are asking for more human rights without asking for independence.

]]> By: ali http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1575507 ali Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:59:29 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1575507 I am from the occopied part of western sahara and I feel that I should let everyone know that we also are suffering under the Moroccan Control, we are abused if we talk about our rights we are even denied from saying the Name Western Sahara you have to Say Moroccan sahara or you will be puted in Jail and many other things...the world keep looking at the refugee campus and totally ignore us, yeah I totally agree that they are living under really hard living conditions but at least they have the ability to express their vues and to say the fact that they are from western sahara, we are denied even when we travel because we travel with Moroccan Passports and Morocco can send any of us to jail anytime if we break the moroccan law which for example say you cant say anything against the king neither the Moroccan nation I mean how could that be possible for us... we are in a serious matter and god knows when we are going to get helped I am from the occopied part of western sahara and I feel that I should let everyone know that we also are suffering under the Moroccan Control, we are abused if we talk about our rights we are even denied from saying the Name Western Sahara you have to Say Moroccan sahara or you will be puted in Jail and many other things…the world keep looking at the refugee campus and totally ignore us, yeah I totally agree that they are living under really hard living conditions but at least they have the ability to express their vues and to say the fact that they are from western sahara, we are denied even when we travel because we travel with Moroccan Passports and Morocco can send any of us to jail anytime if we break the moroccan law which for example say you cant say anything against the king neither the Moroccan nation I mean how could that be possible for us…
we are in a serious matter and god knows when we are going to get helped

]]> By: Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1515108 Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:42:12 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1515108 Of course children and people living in hard life conditions are the most important than any political consideration. The problem in Tindouf camps is that people who are retained are mostly from Mauritania and Mali. They are considered sub-race (sorry for this shocking term but that's the reality) comparing to Western Saharans by Polisario leaders. Many international reports talked about slaves and ill-treatment. At the same time, these people are used as "human shield" to ask for more aids...and for a STATE!!!!!! FYI, Backer plan I voting lists was agreed by Morocco and rejected by Algeria/Polisario. Then Backer plan II voting lists was rejected by Morocco and accepted by Algeria/Polisario. There were two lists and there were two blocking visions. So one from two, do you want to let these people die in the desert because of the stubborness of some polisario leaders or do you want to let them enjoy the modern life for what they left to live. There is no way for independence. The only way to be in conformance with international law is to get autonomy. The international community is asking Polisario leaders to propose his view of autonomy. Why not making a proposal in that sense? Well, there is already one on the table. Why not discussing on the basis of the moroccan proposal? Why? Of course children and people living in hard life conditions are the most important than any political consideration. The problem in Tindouf camps is that people who are retained are mostly from Mauritania and Mali. They are considered sub-race (sorry for this shocking term but that’s the reality) comparing to Western Saharans by Polisario leaders. Many international reports talked about slaves and ill-treatment. At the same time, these people are used as “human shield” to ask for more aids…and for a STATE!!!!!!
FYI, Backer plan I voting lists was agreed by Morocco and rejected by Algeria/Polisario. Then Backer plan II voting lists was rejected by Morocco and accepted by Algeria/Polisario. There were two lists and there were two blocking visions. So one from two, do you want to let these people die in the desert because of the stubborness of some polisario leaders or do you want to let them enjoy the modern life for what they left to live.
There is no way for independence. The only way to be in conformance with international law is to get autonomy. The international community is asking Polisario leaders to propose his view of autonomy. Why not making a proposal in that sense? Well, there is already one on the table. Why not discussing on the basis of the moroccan proposal? Why?

]]> By: Renata Avila http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1514857 Renata Avila Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:54:11 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1514857 Hey, thanks for the informative comments, but what about children? Did you like the attitude of children back in School? Believing in future, life, learning from differences? For me is the thing to appreciate and keep in mind. Hey, thanks for the informative comments, but what about children? Did you like the attitude of children back in School? Believing in future, life, learning from differences? For me is the thing to appreciate and keep in mind.

]]> By: alle http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1514816 alle Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:33:06 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1514816 <i>Well, a pre-referendum in Tindouf camps needs first to get the right figures of sahraoui people living in the camps. I guess a census will never be. Regarding the referendum, do I need to remind you that many mauritanians, malians and algerians are living in Tindouf camps. In such case, the referendum doesn’t make sense.</i> ...and even more Moroccans live in the parts of Western Sahara under Rabat's control. For referendum purposes, it doesn’t matter how many or how few live in Tindouf, as long as everybody agrees how many of those who live there should have the vote in a referendum (i.e., are from Western Sahara originally). Such a census has been carried out by Minurso, alongside a meticulous identification process. This found that approximately 40,000 on either side of the Wall (total 80,0000 adults) can be safely identified as Sahrawis from Western Sahara, and should therefore vote. These lists are ready and archived since 1999, and can easily be updated to include those family members who have come of voting age since then, making for a grand total of voters around 100-120,000 people. Not a very logistically difficult number to handle. The problem, then, is not the technicalities of the referendum, but that Morocco refuses to allow it to happen; why that is, I’m sure you can figure out yourself. Well, a pre-referendum in Tindouf camps needs first to get the right figures of sahraoui people living in the camps. I guess a census will never be.

Regarding the referendum, do I need to remind you that many mauritanians, malians and algerians are living in Tindouf camps. In such case, the referendum doesn’t make sense.

…and even more Moroccans live in the parts of Western Sahara under Rabat’s control.

For referendum purposes, it doesn’t matter how many or how few live in Tindouf, as long as everybody agrees how many of those who live there should have the vote in a referendum (i.e., are from Western Sahara originally). Such a census has been carried out by Minurso, alongside a meticulous identification process. This found that approximately 40,000 on either side of the Wall (total 80,0000 adults) can be safely identified as Sahrawis from Western Sahara, and should therefore vote. These lists are ready and archived since 1999, and can easily be updated to include those family members who have come of voting age since then, making for a grand total of voters around 100-120,000 people. Not a very logistically difficult number to handle. The problem, then, is not the technicalities of the referendum, but that Morocco refuses to allow it to happen; why that is, I’m sure you can figure out yourself.

]]> By: Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1514628 Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:17:01 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1514628 Dear mohamed, always on the road :-) If they are 45, please let them return to Western Sahara. If they are more, let them express their will to stay or to return. Well, a pre-referendum in Tindouf camps needs first to get the right figures of sahraoui people living in the camps. I guess a census will never be. Isn't it? Regarding the referendum, do I need to remind you that many mauritanians, malians and algerians are living in Tindouf camps. In such case, the referendum doesn't make sense. There is a win-win proposal on the table. Don't be blind and don't push the west to its limit. Dear mohamed, always on the road :-)
If they are 45, please let them return to Western Sahara. If they are more, let them express their will to stay or to return. Well, a pre-referendum in Tindouf camps needs first to get the right figures of sahraoui people living in the camps. I guess a census will never be. Isn’t it?

Regarding the referendum, do I need to remind you that many mauritanians, malians and algerians are living in Tindouf camps. In such case, the referendum doesn’t make sense.

There is a win-win proposal on the table. Don’t be blind and don’t push the west to its limit.

]]> By: mohamed http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1514539 mohamed Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:52:44 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1514539 the political shall serve the humanitarian my dear and the real number of the Sahrawi refugees is not a problem if they are just 45 persons that could not ignor their right in self-determination.Our cause is gaining support day after day it will gain more and more it is just a matter of time my Moroccan friend and we shall vote in a fair referendum in which we will decid weither to be unionist or to be free. the political shall serve the humanitarian my dear and the real number of the Sahrawi refugees is not a problem if they are just 45 persons that could not ignor their right in self-determination.Our cause is gaining support day after day it will gain more and more it is just a matter of time my Moroccan friend and we shall vote in a fair referendum in which we will decid weither to be unionist or to be free.

]]> By: Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/09/14/summer-is-over-for-saharaui-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-1514482 Ahmed Salem Amr Khaddad Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:05:42 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=49519#comment-1514482 Javier Bardem or Manu chao should be interested more on the humanitarian issue of Western Sahara than the political one. Western Sahara issue is very complex to new supporters under the spell of polisario leaders who made a visit to Tindouf camps. They can't be rational and logical in their manner to treat Western Sahara issue. When Javier talked about 200.000 sahraoui in Tindouf camps, that means he has no idea about the right figures of people and the evolution of the issue. WFP and HCR are talking about 80.000 while unionist sahraouis are talking about 45.000 maybe less. 200.000 sahraoui living in Tindouf camps and VICTIMIZATION are simply mirages of Polisario leaders to recruit sympathy. I ask all these people to visit Western Sahara to make a balanced view of the conflict. There is a reality on the ground which must be taken into account which is definitely different from what you can get in Tindouf camps. Regards Ahmed Salem Javier Bardem or Manu chao should be interested more on the humanitarian issue of Western Sahara than the political one. Western Sahara issue is very complex to new supporters under the spell of polisario leaders who made a visit to Tindouf camps. They can’t be rational and logical in their manner to treat Western Sahara issue.

When Javier talked about 200.000 sahraoui in Tindouf camps, that means he has no idea about the right figures of people and the evolution of the issue. WFP and HCR are talking about 80.000 while unionist sahraouis are talking about 45.000 maybe less. 200.000 sahraoui living in Tindouf camps and VICTIMIZATION are simply mirages of Polisario leaders to recruit sympathy.

I ask all these people to visit Western Sahara to make a balanced view of the conflict. There is a reality on the ground which must be taken into account which is definitely different from what you can get in Tindouf camps.

Regards

Ahmed Salem

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