Spanish Journalist: “Polisario” Leaders Refuse Settlement of Sahara Issue

Spanish journalist Patricia Medjidi Juez condemned, on Tuesday, the inhumane living conditions and ordeal endured by the people detained in Tindouf camps, confirming the involvement of “Polisario” leaders in diverting the humanitarian aid intended for these residents.

In a statement on the sidelines of a national symposium held in Agadir on the subject of “Moroccan Sahara: the historical and political roots of the conflict and the path towards a solution”, Juez considered that the leaders of the Polisario do not want to reach a settlement of the conflict over Sahara, noting that she noticed during a visit to Tindouf camps that people are not benefiting from international humanitarian aid and are suffering from starvation.

While the inhabitants of the southern regions of Morocco lead a decent life, work and live like any other citizen in the world, the camp population faces extremely difficult conditions and suffers from all kinds of deprivation, famine and extreme poverty.

On the other hand, the journalist emphasized that Polisario leaders do not wish to engage in efforts to find a settlement to the conflict over the Sahara because such a settlement would not serve their personal interests, explaining that the settlement of the problem would put an end to the privileges they enjoy, including the embezzlement of humanitarian and financial aid that they receive from international NGOs, especially from Spain.

“I think this situation must be condemned clearly and categorically,” she said. “The Polisario front cares only about its own interests. I believe that the international community is aware of this situation”, considering that the opening of consulates in the southern provinces of Morocco by a number of foreign countries is like a message addressed to the Polisario and an invitation to support Morocco’s efforts aimed at finding a permanent solution to this conflict.

The journalist also refuted the allegations made by Polisario separatists about the human rights situation in the southern provinces of the Kingdom. In this context, she emphasized that during her visit to the region, she noticed that Sahrawis lead a normal life like everyone else.

In this regard, Juez invited people to visit the southern provinces of the Kingdom as well as Tindouf camps, to closely get acquainted with the reality on the ground and see firsthand the living conditions of people in both sides.

This symposium, organized in attendance and through visual debate, at the initiative of the “Moroccan Sahara Association”, included a group of professors, researchers, politicians and media professionals from various regions of the Kingdom, in addition to former Polisario leaders who returned to their homeland.

It is noted that discussions during this symposium dealt with a number of themes, including “the historical roots of the Algerian position against the territorial integrity of Morocco since the beginning of the conflict until now”, “Moroccan political parties and the national cause”, “Moroccan political parties and developments of Moroccan Sahara issue”, “Morocco and its serious involvement in settling the file and the importance of the autonomy initiative to fold the fabricated conflict over the Sahara”…etc.