Polisario Front reiterates its request to provide MINURSO human rights monitoring in Western Sahara

New York, April 11, 2015 (SPS) – The Polisario Front reiterated its appeal to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon,and the Security Council to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for the monitoring of human rights in the non-self governing  territory of Western Sahara, like all peacekeeping missions in the world, said the Polisario Front representative to the United Nation, Ahmed Bukhari, in a press statement in response to Ban Ki-Moon's report submitted Friday to the Security Council.

The Polisario Front took note of the UN Secretary-General's report on Western Sahara on April 10, 2015. Despite its ambiguities and shortcomings on specific issues, the report reiterates its recommendations and observations the fundamental principles governing the United Nations efforts to resolve a conflict of decolonization on the basis of unequivocal and undeniable requirements of international law.

Taking note of the importance the Secretary General once again granted to the protection of human rights in Western Sahara, systematically violated by the Moroccan occupation forces and the impartial and independent role to be played by observation and monitoring mechanisms of United Nations, the Polisario Front reiterates its determination to cooperate with these mechanisms and continue to call for MINURSO, like all peacekeeping missions in the world, to be in charge of monitoring human rights in the non-self-governing  territory of Western Sahara.

 The Polisario Front also supports the appeal contained in the report about the need to respect international law regarding the exploitation of natural resources of a non-self-governing territory in accordance with Article 73 of the United Nations charter.

 The Polisario Front underlines the importance of the role of the African Union. This role was reaffirmed in the recent decisions taken by the Peace and Security Council and officially communicated to the Secretary General and the United Nations Security Council. "To ignore or block the initiatives taken by the African Union to contribute to the completion of the decolonization of the last colony in Africa would be a serious mistake that the United Nations must avoid," warned the Saharawi diplomat.

The Polisario Front shares the view of the Secretary-General that nothing can justify maintaining the status quo, 40 years since the conflict began, eight years after the submission of both parties of their proposed solutions, and that the regional stability and security require a solution to the conflict guaranteeing the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

 The Polisario Front reiterates its willingness to continue direct negotiations with the Kingdom of Morocco under the auspices of the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General and assuming the responsibilities so that the MINURSO mission fulfill its mandate which is to organize and supervise a self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara to choose between independence or integration.

In this context, the Polisario Front condemns the obstruction and delay tactics which Morocco has used to prevent, so far, any progress in the process conducted under the auspices of the Personal Envoy and calls on the Secretary General and the Security Council to fully assume their responsibilities facing the untenable status quo and the intransigence of the Moroccan occupier. Stagnation is not necessary when peace is sorely tested. (SPS)