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Morocco still provoking resistance in Western Sahara | Morocco still provoking resistance in Western Sahara |
(25 days later) | |
By Aidan Lewis BBC News, Laayoune | By Aidan Lewis BBC News, Laayoune |
Like much in Western Sahara, the facts of Said Dambar's death are contested. | Like much in Western Sahara, the facts of Said Dambar's death are contested. |
The 26-year-old was fatally shot by a policeman, who has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison. The authorities say it was an accident. | The 26-year-old was fatally shot by a policeman, who has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison. The authorities say it was an accident. |
But the Dambar family suspect a cover-up. They say officials made a series of false claims: That he and the policeman were friends, that Mr Dambar had attacked him, and that he was drunk. | |
They also wonder why they found sand in Said's trousers if he was shot, as the authorities claim, in the policeman's flat. | |
A year after he died, his body is still in the mortuary. The family has refused to pick up the body, saying he was never given a proper autopsy. | A year after he died, his body is still in the mortuary. The family has refused to pick up the body, saying he was never given a proper autopsy. |
They think he was targeted because of the family's role in a protest camp that led to the worst outbreak of violence in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara for years. | They think he was targeted because of the family's role in a protest camp that led to the worst outbreak of violence in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara for years. |
It is a case that shows how deep mistrust and anger between the authorities and indigenous Sahrawis can run, 35 years after Morocco seized control of this stretch of desert land. | It is a case that shows how deep mistrust and anger between the authorities and indigenous Sahrawis can run, 35 years after Morocco seized control of this stretch of desert land. |
"We are a family that just wants to live in peace," says Mattou Dambar, one of Said's sisters. "After [Said's] death and the attacks [on the family] we are really afraid. They told us: 'You won't get jobs unless you forget about the autopsy.'" | "We are a family that just wants to live in peace," says Mattou Dambar, one of Said's sisters. "After [Said's] death and the attacks [on the family] we are really afraid. They told us: 'You won't get jobs unless you forget about the autopsy.'" |
"We have to bury my brother," she adds. "It hurts me every day." | "We have to bury my brother," she adds. "It hurts me every day." |
'Hatred and revenge' | 'Hatred and revenge' |
The fragile peace in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara was briefly shattered in November 2010. | The fragile peace in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara was briefly shattered in November 2010. |
Thousands of Sahrawis had pitched tents near the region's main city, Laayoune, to demonstrate over social and economic complaints, in what Sahrawi activists like to see as a precursor of the Arab Spring. | Thousands of Sahrawis had pitched tents near the region's main city, Laayoune, to demonstrate over social and economic complaints, in what Sahrawi activists like to see as a precursor of the Arab Spring. |
"We went like everyone else so we could have a job and some land," said Mattou Dambar. | "We went like everyone else so we could have a job and some land," said Mattou Dambar. |
"The demands were social - nothing more." | "The demands were social - nothing more." |
What happened next at the Gdeim Izik camp quickly became obscured in the fog of a propaganda war. | What happened next at the Gdeim Izik camp quickly became obscured in the fog of a propaganda war. |
Officials said they forcefully dismantled it because dangerous political activists had taken control. They say 11 unarmed soldiers were killed and 17 injured. | Officials said they forcefully dismantled it because dangerous political activists had taken control. They say 11 unarmed soldiers were killed and 17 injured. |
According to activists, at least four Sahrawis were killed as the violence spread to Laayoune - though this number is far lower than initial estimates. | According to activists, at least four Sahrawis were killed as the violence spread to Laayoune - though this number is far lower than initial estimates. |
The climbdown shows that Sahrawi campaigners, desperate for attention, can be prone to exaggeration. | The climbdown shows that Sahrawi campaigners, desperate for attention, can be prone to exaggeration. |
Yet they also contend that the Moroccan intelligence services planted false claims to embarrass them. | Yet they also contend that the Moroccan intelligence services planted false claims to embarrass them. |
And they complain that there followed a crackdown that fits with a long pattern of abuse. A military court is still holding 22 Sahrawi suspects in provisional detention at a prison in Sale, near the Moroccan capital, Rabat. | And they complain that there followed a crackdown that fits with a long pattern of abuse. A military court is still holding 22 Sahrawi suspects in provisional detention at a prison in Sale, near the Moroccan capital, Rabat. |
The events exposed an ill-concealed rancour that has periodically surfaced here, between much longer stretches of impasse. | The events exposed an ill-concealed rancour that has periodically surfaced here, between much longer stretches of impasse. |
"What worries me is the lack of confidence, and the hatred and revenge that emerged," says Ghalia Djimi of the Sahrawi human rights group ASVDH. | "What worries me is the lack of confidence, and the hatred and revenge that emerged," says Ghalia Djimi of the Sahrawi human rights group ASVDH. |
How far that sentiment might translate into full opposition to Moroccan rule is the question at the heart of the Western Sahara dispute. | How far that sentiment might translate into full opposition to Moroccan rule is the question at the heart of the Western Sahara dispute. |
But it is one that Morocco has always shied away from, repeatedly dodging a referendum that includes the option of self-determination. | But it is one that Morocco has always shied away from, repeatedly dodging a referendum that includes the option of self-determination. |
"I can't say anything because we need a vote," says Ms Djimi when asked how many people want independence. | "I can't say anything because we need a vote," says Ms Djimi when asked how many people want independence. |
"The only thing I know is that nearly all Sahrawi families have been affected by cases of marginalisation, disappearances, or detention." | "The only thing I know is that nearly all Sahrawi families have been affected by cases of marginalisation, disappearances, or detention." |
'Algerian agenda' | 'Algerian agenda' |
Morocco says it has brought peace and prosperity to the two-thirds of Western Sahara that it controls. | Morocco says it has brought peace and prosperity to the two-thirds of Western Sahara that it controls. |
It staked its claim to the territory when more than 300,000 Moroccan civilians crossed the border in the "Green March" of 1975, as Spanish colonial forces were preparing to leave. | It staked its claim to the territory when more than 300,000 Moroccan civilians crossed the border in the "Green March" of 1975, as Spanish colonial forces were preparing to leave. |
That followed a ruling by the International Court of Justice rejecting Moroccan and Mauritanian claims of sovereignty to Western Sahara. | That followed a ruling by the International Court of Justice rejecting Moroccan and Mauritanian claims of sovereignty to Western Sahara. |
While Mauritania withdrew from the southern part of the territory in 1979, Morocco continued to fight the Sahrawi independence movement, the Polisario Front, until a ceasefire in 1991. | While Mauritania withdrew from the southern part of the territory in 1979, Morocco continued to fight the Sahrawi independence movement, the Polisario Front, until a ceasefire in 1991. |
It has since held its ground behind a 1,500-mile sand wall, guarded by as many as 160,000 soldiers. | It has since held its ground behind a 1,500-mile sand wall, guarded by as many as 160,000 soldiers. |
International efforts to resolve the dispute, the last case in the UN's African decolonisation dossier, have repeatedly failed. | International efforts to resolve the dispute, the last case in the UN's African decolonisation dossier, have repeatedly failed. |
The issue has poisoned relations between Morocco and its neighbour Algeria, which backs Polisario and continues to host the movement and tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees. | The issue has poisoned relations between Morocco and its neighbour Algeria, which backs Polisario and continues to host the movement and tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees. |
Most Sahrawis live in the area controlled by Morocco, but they are outnumbered by Moroccans from the north who have settled, attracted by heavy subsidies and higher salaries. | Most Sahrawis live in the area controlled by Morocco, but they are outnumbered by Moroccans from the north who have settled, attracted by heavy subsidies and higher salaries. |
Moroccan officials claim Algeria is now propping up the independence movement, which they argue enjoys little real backing outside the refugee camps. | Moroccan officials claim Algeria is now propping up the independence movement, which they argue enjoys little real backing outside the refugee camps. |
"There are groups of separatists, but how many?" asks Dkhil Khalil, the governor of Laayoune. "Perhaps 1%. So it means nothing. No-one can impose an Algerian agenda on us." | "There are groups of separatists, but how many?" asks Dkhil Khalil, the governor of Laayoune. "Perhaps 1%. So it means nothing. No-one can impose an Algerian agenda on us." |
He accuses Mr Dambar's family of exploiting their case to advance the separatist cause. | He accuses Mr Dambar's family of exploiting their case to advance the separatist cause. |
Some ethnically Sahrawi and pro-Moroccan officials in Laayoune express support for an autonomy plan that was offered by Morocco during recent talks at the UN. But Polisario, which says the pro-Moroccan officials have been bought off, continues to hold out for a referendum. | Some ethnically Sahrawi and pro-Moroccan officials in Laayoune express support for an autonomy plan that was offered by Morocco during recent talks at the UN. But Polisario, which says the pro-Moroccan officials have been bought off, continues to hold out for a referendum. |
There seems little international political will to force an end to the deadlock. | There seems little international political will to force an end to the deadlock. |
"Compared with the desperate efforts to give South Sudan independence, the French and the US are very comfortable," says Jacob Mundy, a Western Sahara expert and assistant professor at Colgate University in the US. | "Compared with the desperate efforts to give South Sudan independence, the French and the US are very comfortable," says Jacob Mundy, a Western Sahara expert and assistant professor at Colgate University in the US. |
He says that for there to be a solution, "there would have to be a significant change in the basic dynamics of the conflict... whether it was the collapse of the Moroccan regime, the collapse of the Algerian regime or the collapse of the Polisario". | He says that for there to be a solution, "there would have to be a significant change in the basic dynamics of the conflict... whether it was the collapse of the Moroccan regime, the collapse of the Algerian regime or the collapse of the Polisario". |
The activists in Laayoune feel forgotten and neglected. | The activists in Laayoune feel forgotten and neglected. |
Aminatou Haidar, a campaigner who gained some rare attention two years ago when she staged a hunger strike in Lanzarote airport, says she is disappointed with an international community that stands by "with their arms folded - either indifferent or complicit". | Aminatou Haidar, a campaigner who gained some rare attention two years ago when she staged a hunger strike in Lanzarote airport, says she is disappointed with an international community that stands by "with their arms folded - either indifferent or complicit". |
Driving through the heavily patrolled streets of Laayoune, where activists are closely monitored by plain-clothes policemen, she says the pattern of repression and abuse is being passed on to younger Sahrawis. | Driving through the heavily patrolled streets of Laayoune, where activists are closely monitored by plain-clothes policemen, she says the pattern of repression and abuse is being passed on to younger Sahrawis. |
Her 15-year-old son was recently threatened with rape and abuduction, she says, and other teenagers are also being targeted. | Her 15-year-old son was recently threatened with rape and abuduction, she says, and other teenagers are also being targeted. |
"The new generation - that of my son - is even more determined than those who came before," she says. | "The new generation - that of my son - is even more determined than those who came before," she says. |
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