For example, after a proposal by the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs to His Majesty, the King gave orders to solve all those problems definitely and gradually with each department separately.
First measure was the royal pardon for all political prisoners in the Sahara. He also gave orders to stop lawsuits for a group of wanted people for a long time, in different cases, and was behind severe protestation in the ranks of young people. These two initiatives has special impact on these liberated people, members of their families and all families affected by the status of their parents.
With regard to social rights, and improving the status of groups of citizens who had outstanding social problems, especially those who had problems with the Administration of Fous Bokraa, His Majesty’s order following the Council’s request, came to solve this problem, which was considered one of the oldest problems that have been facing our southern regions and brought about demonstrations and protests.
The settlement of this problem was an agreement concluded between the workers and the enterprise’s management under the auspices of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, which made it possible for workers to have compensation as the basis for comprehensive and final solution to this dilemma that had an impact on people for many years. This issue raised foreign interventions from associations and trade unions for thirty year.
Another issue, not less important than social rights concerned Maroc Telecom workers, as this file concerned the rights of a number of workers and employees from the Sahara not in terms of compensation and employment. This issue has been settled adequately. Some of them left voluntarily after receiving their rights. The others joined work in decent conditions with full reconciliation between workers and the company.
Other issue knew positive breakthrough after the founding of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, notably; granting Sherifian Dahirs to elders determining identity of the Sahara tribes, who contributed to the defense of national unity with courage and composure, as they have been demanding these Sherifian Dahirs for a long ago, in recognition of their role. His Majesty the King King Mohammed VI, may God bless him, at the request of the Council, gave orders to deliver these dahirs.
In addition, the situation of advisers at the former advisory Council for Saharan Affairs was settled by granting compensation claimed for more than a decade, and the problem was raised at every opportunity.
Regarding the issue of professors inherited from the colonial period, it was closed in recent days by giving them all the dues that were owed by the Department of Education.
With regard to the process of repairing individual and collective harm made to the Sahara citizens who were subjected to gross violations of human rights, the compensation procedure is on the way in accordance with established practice nationally within the framework of the Consultative Council for Human Rights.
All of these individual and collective files and issues of social nature, affecting the rights of citizens throughout the South were tackled with wisdom and foresight by the Council according to the policy of His Majesty the King and according to the objectives for which the Council was established.
Accordingly, trust and tranquillity reigned across our southern provinces and the fire of anger was extinguished. The opponents of our territorial unity received a hard knock as they continued to use these circumstances and claims to undermine the dignity of the nation, distort facts and show Morocco as a country which does not respect the basic human rights including social rights for a period of thirty years. Today, They can no longer use these issues to stir up the international community and lay to foreigners.
With regard to improving conditions in all fields in the South, the Council has devoted all of its regular sessions to examine them according to the royal directives. They were all treated with responsibility to turn the page on the past, and look to a bright future, with a view to achieving growth and economic progress.
The Council treated in its second regular session of 2006 housing problem in the Southern areas in its two aspects; - non-decent housing
- Housing that meets the inhabitants requirements to get equipped property for decent residence.
Since 1991, al wahda camps have been established in all Saharan cities. Over time, these camps have become a political and social problem making the ground for many protests, which were exploited by the opponents of our unity. The slums within cities was a blot on the conscience of Moroccan architecture.
His Majesty the King assigned the Council to examine the problem. The session devoted to it was successful; the Council suggested final solution which was endorsed by His Majesty the King. More than 65000 equipped parcels is expected to eliminate indecent housing on the one hand and, and, on the other hand, parcels of land were distributed to all inhabitants who did not previously benefit. Therefore, all their demands were satisfied and were satisfied as well those who thought they were marginalized. It was a final solution complete and comprehensive, leaving no non-decent housing, and concluded the grievances of people who have been demanding parcels to build their homes and live in dignity in decent housing.
The Council followed the completion of the project with government authorities and elected bodies, since the beginning to the end. Its implementation period did not exceed one year and half.
The first regular session of 2007 was devoted to studying the problem of fishing in the South Coast. It has been agreed to create more than one thousand small enterprise to employ the youth.
In the same context, the second regular session of 2007 in the city of Smara was devoted to resolve all the problems related to road and air transport; It was agreed to create a national company for internal transport
The first session of the year 2008 treated the problems of health in the southern provinces; it has been agreed to provide all technical equipment and provide human resources in order to meet the aspirations of the region.
The Council, together with the governmental authorities and non-governmental organizations concerned, carried out these actions within the framework of reconciliation and comprehensive final solution to the issues and outstanding problems, in an atmosphere of transparency clarity, openness and responsibility.
These positions gave our country credibility, both internally and externally and showed that democracy in Morocco is in steady pace so as to give everyone his rights, in all fields.
We should objectively inform about what has been accomplished in the Sahara since its retrieval in 1975, which has been confined on the Web, monopolised by the opponents of our unity for a decade.
The Council created a six websites speaking eight languages, to reflect this reality. It revealed to the whole world the realities of economic, architectural, cultural, social and political development to allow those are interested know these achievements.
Through these websites, we carry out every day battles with our opponents over our national unity through blogs, forums used by Polisario friends to win the world’s affection as victims. Now they are no longer alone in this field.
Moreover, the most important political work done by the Council, in addition to spreading our national identity, defending it worldwide, and repealing misinformation conducted by the opponents of our territorial unity, I would say the most important task is to participate effectively in the accomplishment of autonomy plan.
We have devoted, thanks to royal diretives, an extraordinary session at the beginning of the month of May 2006 until the month of December 2006, during which extensive debate was organized among the region’s inhabitants on autonomy and in full freedom transparency and democracy. They presented their views and suggestions about what could be the Sahara within united Moroccan Kingdom.
A project was accomplished guaranteeing the Sahara inhabitants the conduct of their own affairs politically, economically, socially and culturally. The project was the result of extensive, serious and responsible discussions, where Corcas members, representing the Sahara community and all its components, their perceptions and suggestions. They expressed their pride of these political achievements made available by His Majesty the King to them. For the first time, the King put the Sahara issue in the hands of Sahrawis and gave them a historic opportunity to lay the foundations for self-rule according to the Sahrawi specificities, cultural traditions and customs. Therefore, the project was subject of unanimity and blessing by all people.
The Moroccan initiative, described by the international community as serious and credible is a major shift in the equation of the Sahara issue since because the project is supported by Sahrawis wherever they are as it guarantees all their rights and turn the page of claims. It is indeed a unique way to find a solution without winner or looser.
When Tindouf populations felt that autonomy guarantees their rights, they have made a great effort from inside the camp and declared for the first time in the history of the conflict, through Gjijimat Conference, which imposed itself in front of officials from the Polisario and exposed their claims and lies, they announced that they do not want a substitute for the Moroccan initiative and that they are tired of deprivation, alienation suffering and persecution. They made it clear to the whole and returned as victorious group with Saharans right to live in dignity.
Being firmly committed to this political right, the council took part in the Manhasset negotiations sponsored by the United Nations, which brought about four rounds. These sessions have proved two essential things;
The first is that autonomy is in conformity with the international law and the concept of self-determination, because self-government is the highest form of self-determination, as is the case in all countries with a long tradition of democracy and the preservation of human rights.
And second, that these negotiations have shown that the Polisario Front is only a single party that controls some of our children unfairly in Lhamada camps. Due to their presence on foreign soil, they does not have even a small margin of freedom of decision.
The Polisario Front, a far cry from the concept of the best interest of citizens as it is the only party in the world that has not changed since its inception because its existence was based on errors and violation of human rights in their basic concepts. It misleads the population of the Tindouf camps and blinds their perceptions with lies and prevents them from individual and collective rights because they believe in one-party dictatorship, single organization and single thought. Thus they prevented the population of documents proving their identity and prevented them from freedom of movement and freedom to settle wherever they want and also prevented them from families, and even confiscated their food and water.
But we remain certain that the people of the region know their interests and historical links with the Throne and the Kingdom of Morocco throughout ages and times. All they want is to stay in their country and enjoy their political, economic and social rights despite the obstacles created by Polisario Front to the negotiations. These negotiations are advantageous to Morocco thanks to its good management, the strength of its arguments their seriousness and credibility, making the former Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Walsum recognize that Polisario Front is wrong and its demands are unrealistic.
I say, despite obstacles, that would not prevent Morocco from moving forward with the strong support for the project by His Majesty the King of major reforms in the political, economic, social and cultural reforms, carried out in our country and especially in the Sahara. This is why today as we are celebrating the 60 anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are proud and appreciate His Majesty the King's speech in November 2008, and the letter sent by the King to the participants in the ceremony yesterday. It an honour and privilege to listen to it by Adviser of His Majesty the King who has put Morocco on the right track, which guarantees it, inevitably, especially in our southern provinces progress, prosperity, democracy and human rights. We are certain that our country will be a model in the field of progress, freedoms, dignity, security and stability under the good care by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God bless him.
Human rights at second regular session of the Council for 2008
5.28.2008
The Council's second session regular was marked by speeches by Ahmed Herzenni and Moulay M'Hamed Iraqi about tendentious exploitation of human rights and good governance
Mr. Harzenni: Human Rights Watch report lacks scientific criteria and political courage
The Chairman of the Consultative Council for Human Rights Mr. Ahmed Harzenni condemned the recent report of the international non-governmental organization "Human Rights Watch," and its claims about human rights abuses in the Moroccan Sahara.
Harzenni said in a speech during the works the second regular session of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs that the "tendentious" report lacks scientific criteria, and its conclusions preceded research and field investigation, stressing that the goal is to try to undermine the reputation of Morocco through the employment of the issue of human rights "for political purposes."
He added that those behind the preparation of this report, "lack political courage" and, therefore, used the subject of human rights as cover to attack Morocco, highlighting that the report lacks the most basic scientific standards required for any neutral scientific research.
On the other hand, Mr. Harzenni, in his speech, outlined the outcome of the achievements of human rights in the southern provinces, where he indicated, in particular, good governance, the policy of proximity and the new concept of authority, which have been translated on the ground through the frequent visits by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to the Territories in order to track the progress of economic and social projects in the region aiming at raising the standard of living of the Sahara population.
Mr. Harzenni also spoke about the activation of the recommendations of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission in the Territories, especially those relating to collective and individual compensation for victims of violations of human rights, and reintegration of the children of the victims in the context of the rehabilitation project.
In this regard, he evoked Moroccan experience in the field of reparations, which he said became a leading international experience compared to others such South Africa regarding the apartheid victims who have not been so far compensated for the damage caused to them.
Mr. Iraqi: Creation of Regional Delegation of Diwan Al Madhalim in the Southern Territories reflects a desire to clean up public utility
The Wali of Madhalim Mhammed Iraqi Confirmed that creating a Regional Office of the institution in the southern regions reflects the genuine will to advance the culture of public utility, and the cleaning up of the Administration.
In his speech, Mr. Iraqi said that the installation of this institution comes within the framework of the defence of human rights through the concept of sincere citizenship and dedication to work and creates some kind of reconciliation between the citizen and the administration.
He added that this institution clearly translates the policy of proximity undertaken by the Kingdom, pointing out that the institution has achieved very positive results since more than 80 per cent of the complaints submitted to the institution have been processed in these regions.
He stressed that Diwan Al Madhalim was expected to hold a meeting in Laayoune, in the coming weeks, in order to inform the Sahara inhabitants about the various actions taken by the institution in the Territories.
Declaration by Corcas chairman after works conclusion of Corcas 2008 second regular session
12/26/2008
Significant progress in the Sahara in the social, economic and political rights
The Council Chairman highlighetd in a statement to the first TV channel after the end the second regular session of 2008 in Rabat, the most important aspects of human rights and democratic approach adopted by Morocco in the field of human rights in the southern provinces
Here is the full text of the statement:
We believe that what has been accomplished so far in terms of quantity and quality in the Sahara region is huge progress that meets the basic needs of the economic and social rights of the Sahara citizens. In the political aspect, in relation to the issue of transparency in dealing with all issues, without exception, political issues, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression has become a reality, everyone can express their opinion without fear of any punishment, but in the context of the rule of law. Any individual can express his opinion, by writing or orally, but he is not allowed to go beyond the rights of others, especially the basic ingredients: the territorial and national unity and other holy issue. We believe that this topic is now understood through practice during the last three years. Any one agree or not with the territorial unity enjoys the freedom of expression within inside and outside the country. The proof is that all those who do not agree with the official plan of the State are allowed to travel abroad and meet organizations ... and then return to their towns safe. This is the best proof of the theory and practice of democracy. However, there are limits in the sense that we do not allow anyone to cross the red lines by using violence in any capacity whatsoever, or reinforcing the false allegations said here and there, which have been refuted by the United Nations organization on human rights in Geneva. Morocco has today its esteem regarding full respect for human rights, including the southern regions. All organizations may speak about Morocco as they want, but not through false issues.
Morocco draws Belgian institutions' attention to instrumentalisation by Polisario of human rights
4/24/2009
Morocco has drawn the attention of Belgian federal and regional legislative institutions to the instrumentalisation by the "Polisario" of certain cases of imprisonment for common law offences to credit the theory of "alleged human rights violations."
Algeria and the Polisario try to mislead the international public opinion and tarnish the image of Morocco through instrumentalising the noble question of human rights in the most vile and dishonest manner, Morocco's Ambassador in Belgium and Luxembourg, Samir Addahre, said in a letter addressed to MPs, senators and parliamentarians from the French community of Belgium, Wallonia and Flanders.
The Algeria-polisario strategy, the letter added, revolves mainly around "the instrumentalization of certain cases of imprisonment of citizens from the Moroccan southern provinces for common law offences, to credit the theory of alleged Human Rights violations in Morocco, whilst the entire international community hails the exceptional progress made by the Kingdom in this field."
Addahre stressed that the real responsible for serious violations of human rights are to be found in the Tindouf camps, where the embezzlement of humanitarian aid, the muzzling of dissidence and opposition, the deportation of children to Cuba for indoctrination as well as slavery and the blockade imposed to the population held against their will in these camps for instrumentalisation purposes, constitute the everyday life of the Polisario's repressive apparatus.
The Moroccan official reiterated the kingdom’s indissoluble commitment to promote human rights and their full exercise on its entire territory, including the Saharan provinces, in strict compliance with its national and international commitments.
He also recalled that Morocco has proposed a plan to grant autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, “ a product of its strong and sincere will to end the stalemate over the Sahara issue” and, therefore, move towards a credible, realistic, and mutually acceptable political solution that respects Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and responds positively to various calls from United Nations and the international community.
This approach, the letter added, which is in itself a historic opportunity to resolve this conflict, guarantees to the people of the Sahara the ability to manage their own affairs democratically.
Source: CORCAS/MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas