Funny world!!More on the Marroco-Western Sahara conflict and its similarities with Israel-Palestine conflict. Please voices of Islam, comment on this too!!!First Morroco occupied the country and did not hesitated in bombarding civilians with NapamQuote:On November 14, 1975, Spain evacuated its forces, repatriating even the Spanish corpses from its cemeteries, although its mandate had not formally ended. Morocco and Mauritania invaded in full force , and caught the Polisario in a pincer movement. Heavy fighting ensued, and the Mauritanian army did not succeed in penetrating the territory until it had received Moroccan aid. During the fighting, tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees fled the advancing troops, heading for distant villages such as Tifariti and Guelta Zemmur. After aerial bombardments of the refugee columns in these locations, including with napalm , most of the refugees continued across the border into Algeria. The Algerian government, which had begun backing the cause of Polisario in mid-1974, provided an area south of the city of Tindouf for setting up refugee camps. The Algerians left Polisario in charge of the area, and Polisario promptly made it its main base. The organization could now draw recruits from the refugees, and also added experienced fighters from former pro-Spanish militias and police forces; in addition to this, Algeria began pouring heavy armaments into the movement, and it rapidly transformed from a Bedouin raiding party into a modern fighting force. Second Morrocco sent masively settlers to the country Quote:...... an agreement between the Polisario Front and Morocco on the organization of a referendum, which would constitute an expression of self-determination for the Sahrawi people of the non-decolonized territory of Western Sahara, possibly leading to full independence. It resulted in a cease-fire which remains effective to this day, and the establishment of the MINURSO peace force to oversee it and to organize the referendum.It was based on an earlier peace proposal by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), but this time organized by the United Nations. Originally introduced in the late 1980s, the plan was signed in 1991. The referendum was then supposed take place in 1992, but this never happened, as Polisario protested the influx of Moroccan settlers to the territory, and disagreements over voter eligibility persisted . In 1997, the UN's Houston Agreement attempted to clear the path for the referendum to be held in 1998. Despite initial optimism, the 2003 Baker Plan has not progressed, due to Morocco's rejection of said plan. Third Morrocco kept on going and conquered more territory,....QuotePolisario made the weak Mauritanian army its main target, and after raids on the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott (where a gunshot killed El-Ouali, the first president of the SADR), Mauritania succumbed to internal unrest. The presence of a large number of Sahrawi nationalists among the country's dominant Moorish population made the Mauritanian government's position yet more fragile, and thousands of Mauritanian Sahrawis defected to Polisario. In 1978 the army seized control of the Mauritanian government and Polisario declared a cease-fire, on the assumption that Mauritania would withdraw unconditionally. This eventually occurred in 1979, as Mauritania's new rulers agreed to surrender all claims and to recognize the SADR. Following Mauritania's withdrawal, however, Morocco extended its control to the rest of the territory, and the war continued. Fourth, There is an intifada too,.... curious, isn't it? Quote Meanwhile, the gradual liberalization of political life in Morocco during the 1990s belatedly reached Western Sahara around 2000. This spurred political protest, as former "disappeared" and other human rights-campaigners began holding illegal demonstrations against Moroccan rule. The subsequent crackdowns and arrests drew media attention to the Moroccan occupation, and Sahrawi nationalists seized on the opportunity: in May 2005, a wave of demonstrations known by its participators as the Independence Intifada, broke out. These demonstrations, which continued as of June 2006 with greater intensity than any before in the territory, have engendered a new wave of interest in the conflict - as well as new fears of instability. Polisario has demanded international intervention, but declared that it could not stand idly by if the "escalation of repression" continues. Fifth I forgot to mention that the Marrocans has built a defensive wall too!!!Quote:The Moroccan Wall is a 2,720 km-long system of defensive walls/berms, running mainly through Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara. A minor section is located in the southeastern portion of Morocco. It is dubbed The Wall of shame by the Polisario Front and other Sahrawi independence-seekers. The barrier is longer than the Israeli West Bank barrier and the Berlin Wall . It consists of sand and stone walls about three meters in height, with bunkers, fences and landmines throughout . Military bases, artillery posts and airfields dot the interior behind the wall at regular intervals, and radar masts and other electronic surveillance equipment scan the areas in front of it. Sixth, human rights abuses and population living in refugee camps!!! Quote:Human rights in Western Sahara The Western Sahara conflict has resulted in severe human rights abuses , most notably the displacement of around 200,000 Sahrawi civilians from the country. Both Morocco and the Polisario accuse each other of violating the human rights of the populations under their control. Morocco has been heavily criticised by international human rights organizations for its actions in Western Sahara, while criticism of the Polisario has been less frequent. During the war, both sides accused each other of targeting civilians. Morocco has been internationally condemned for employing napalm against refugee columns in 1975 and for collective punishment against Sahrawi civilians (see 'The "Disappeared"'). The difference: Polisario is not a Terrorist Organization like Hamas or Hezbolla The Moroccan claims of Polisario terrorism has generally received little support abroad, with the USA refusing to include the group on its list of terrorist organizations. Polisario in turn maintained that they are ideologically opposed to terrorism and will only wage a "clean war of national liberation" Why nobody is talking about this???? different measures perhaps for "infidel" countries??? double morality? or simply it does not fit the "offical propaganda"?Your "official" arguments are a joke when you have arab and muslim countries implementing what you are denouncing!!!! ........... shame on you,........For more info History of Western SaharaMorrocan WallSettlement Plan

Morocco is a dirty dog of a country, as well as "perhaps Israel's closest friend in the Arab world." They seem to be united in a desire to remove the word "occupied" from the various languages of the world ...Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara, however, involves a very sparsely populated region as compared to other occupied areas of the world. And, while Morocco is heavily supported by the US in its wickedness, it is not nearly as well supported as another occupying power. Western support of Morocco seems to be designed in part to create a thorn in Algeria's side, much as Western support of another country has arguably been designed to create a thorn in the side of the entire Arab world.

I should note that quite a while ago I corrected several errors in the Wikipedia article that you linked to, as well as making it somewhat more readable than it was before and than it is now.

QuoteOriginally posted by: MarsdenI should note that quite a while ago I corrected several errors in the Wikipedia article that you linked to, as well as making it somewhat more readable than it was before and than it is now.Good work indeed.

QuoteOriginally posted by: MarsdenMorocco is a dirty dog of a country, as well as "perhaps Israel's closest friend in the Arab world." They seem to be united in a desire to remove the word "occupied" from the various languages of the world ... Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara, however, involves a very sparsely populated region as compared to other occupied areas of the world. And, while Morocco is heavily supported by the US in its wickedness, it is not nearly as well supported as another occupying power. Western support of Morocco seems to be designed in part to create a thorn in Algeria's side, much as Western support of another country has arguably been designed to create a thorn in the side of the entire Arab world.So like always is a Westerner to blame about instead of recognizing their own mistakes. I think I have written before that democracy means that you can not blame others of troubles caused by your own goverments. It also seems that human rights and territorial values are different depending on the density of the population or who is the enemy,... is that what you are trying to say?So,..... if you based your demands on Palestina on ethical or historical issues, why don't you actively defend the Saharawi cause too?However I may be wrong but I think the reason of western support to Marrocco is not so much to create a thorn in Algeria's side but an effort to try to control illegal inmmigracion over the Gibraltar strain, ..... that may have silenced western goverments over the Sahara Issue,.... but I do not see any revindication from arab goverments either.By the way a good friend of mine told me when asked about the Algerian civil war that it was not about religion, it was about "Mafia" referring to the Islamist Fundamentalist Rebel groups,...... my friend was not a Westener, instead he was an Algerian Berber, an Imazighen, a Tamazight,..... and those were his words.....

QuoteOriginally posted by: menceyFunny world!!More on the Marroco-Western Sahara conflict and its similarities with Israel-Palestine conflict. Why nobody is talking about this???? different measures perhaps for "infidel" countries??? double morality? or simply it does not fit the "offical propaganda"?I made the same point about the Somalia/Ethiopia situation a few days ago

It is also funny to see that Polisario is not recognized as a terrorist organization while it acts like Hamas, nor that his backer Algeria is internationnally considered as a terrorism supporting country as Syria is for supporting Hamas.So, contrary to what you intended to prove (that Israel is condemned by many for its acts while no one cares about what Morocco is doing, a king of 'disfavoritism' for Israel) is biased since the same also apply to the opponent...

QuoteOriginally posted by: DavidFIt is also funny to see that Polisario is not recognized as a terrorist organization while it acts like Hamas, nor that his backer Algeria is internationnally considered as a terrorism supporting country as Syria is for supporting Hamas.So, contrary to what you intended to prove (that Israel is condemned by many for its acts while no one cares about what Morocco is doing, a king of 'disfavoritism' for Israel) is biased since the same also apply to the opponent...No, you are simply plain wrong. I haven't hear about any suicide bombers from Polisario, have you?Polisario Political ideologyThe Polisario is first and foremost a nationalist organization, with the independence of Western Sahara as its main goal, and it believes ideological disputes should be left for a democratic Western Sahara to deal with. It views itself as a "front" encompassing all political trends in Sahrawi society, and not as a party. As a consequence, there is no party programme. The Sahrawi republic's constitution however gives a hint of the movements ideological context: in the early 1970s Polisario adopted a vaguely socialist rhetoric, but this was abandoned relatively quickly. In the late 1970s, all references to socialism in the republic's constitution were removed, and by 1991, the Polisario was explicitly free-market.After independence, the Polisario will either function as a party within the context of a multi-party system, or be completely disbanded. This will be decided by a Polisario congress. Polisario has consistently opposed terrorism, condemning suicide bombings and even sending condolences to Morocco after the terrorist strikes in Casablanca in 2003. Just to remain you about Casablanca attacks,....."Suicide Bomb Attacks in Morocco, May 16, 2003: A team of 12 suicide bombers attacked five targets in Casablanca, Morocco, killing 43 persons and wounding 100. The targets were a Spanish restaurant, a Jewish community, a Jewish cemetery, a hotel, and the Belgian Consulate. The Moroccan Government blamed the Islamist al-Assirat al-Moustaquim (The Righteous Path), but foreign commentators suspected an al-Qaida connection." Polisario IdeologyYour point that Polisario acts like Hamas is not valid, Polisario condemed terrorism and suicide bombers, Hamas uses terrorism and suicide bombers,...... .. my point is still valid,.....

QuoteOriginally posted by: menceyQuoteOriginally posted by: DavidFIt is also funny to see that Polisario is not recognized as a terrorist organization while it acts like Hamas, nor that his backer Algeria is internationnally considered as a terrorism supporting country as Syria is for supporting Hamas.So, contrary to what you intended to prove (that Israel is condemned by many for its acts while no one cares about what Morocco is doing, a king of 'disfavoritism' for Israel) is biased since the same also apply to the opponent...No, you are simply plain wrong. I haven't hear about any suicide bombers from Polisario, have you?Polisario Political ideologyThe Polisario is first and foremost a nationalist organization, with the independence of Western Sahara as its main goal, and it believes ideological disputes should be left for a democratic Western Sahara to deal with. It views itself as a "front" encompassing all political trends in Sahrawi society, and not as a party. As a consequence, there is no party programme. The Sahrawi republic's constitution however gives a hint of the movements ideological context: in the early 1970s Polisario adopted a vaguely socialist rhetoric, but this was abandoned relatively quickly. In the late 1970s, all references to socialism in the republic's constitution were removed, and by 1991, the Polisario was explicitly free-market.After independence, the Polisario will either function as a party within the context of a multi-party system, or be completely disbanded. This will be decided by a Polisario congress.Ok i was wrong with Hamas... but this political chart reminds me a lot the PLO.

fair enough