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Writer's pictureFernanda Vargas
Jun 9, 20205 min read

MINURSO



This article contains fictional, and realistic parts, both of them talk about one of nowadays world's problems. The main character is fictional, but the rest of the article talks about historic and realistic events.




I’m staying at the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a member of the “MINURSO” project, there are three Mexican women, and we are here to maintain and promote peace, stability, and security (safeness) on this area; as well as helping, cooperating, and do certain tasks like protecting civils, offer security, monitor the compliance of the ceasefire order, and mainly enhance the solution of the conflict with Morocco.

My team act under the orders of the UN security council. In order to be part of this mission, there were many things to consider such as language, physical and intellectual capabilities, knowledge of the region and the conflict, among other things.



On the contrary of the team that was here before we arrived, which allowed the torture of many Sahrawi women and children, a wild and cruel dismantling of the peaceful Sahrawi protestant camp, and the imprisonment of thousands of Sahrawi citizens in Moroccan prisons, we believe in the importance of fulfilling our duty properly and that we should stop the prolongation of the suffering of the people that live on this territory.


After many years the conflict continues, and it is considered one of the most complex international situations.

Until 1975 it was a colony of Spain, but the Spanish betrayed them when they breached the agreement of holding a referendum to confirm their desire to be an independent and autonomous nation, they abandoned them. A little after that, the Moroccans invaded them, and since then the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is under the domain of Morocco, being tortured and mistreated; because of Morocco’s brutal aggression towards them, they decided that they needed to scape, therefore losing their wealth to the Moroccans, who decided to build a 2,000km wall in order to take the Sahrawi’s territory. The Sahrawi people took shelter in the desert that is part of Algeria, living in terrible, inhumane conditions, it is estimated that most women suffer from anemia, due to their poor diet.


The main participants in this conflict are Spain, Morocco, … and …; but after the Morocco invasion, the main participants became the government of France, the United States of America, and Spain, because they are interested in all of the riches of that region.


The “MINURSO” project or United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, which began in 1991 and it hasn’t ended, in other words, continues to date. What they have been trying to do to achieve peace, is a census to celebrate the referendum, in the census the habitants of the Sahara can choose between forming part of Morocco or to become independent, but it was rejected by Morocco.


The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a member of the African Union, as well as of the African Parliament in which 55 states belong. It has been recognized by more than 80 states, where it has embassies and consular representatives, many of them are united by the same ideas and principles, derived from having had a common colonizer, Spain.


The risk is that the conflict might continue indefinitely, unless an exchange agreement is reached, that allows the independence of Western Sahara, including the areas illegally invaded by Morocco. This situation or objective is very difficult to achieve since foreign powers have commercial interests in areas that include fishing and the exploitation of the largest phosphate mines in the world, which are located in that territory. Reaching a definitive solution, at this point, requires a firm intervention of the powers mentioned above and direct and disciplined observation of compliance with the agreements that may be reached. The participation of the United Nations in this fight, as well as the declaration of commercial illegality on the products that Morocco exploits in that part, both fishing, as with minerals, it will help that this situation could reach at some point an agreement favorable to the Saharawi people who today suffer unjustly the effects of an invasion and the dispossession of their territories and their wealth.



"Pedro Sánchez has betrayed us Sahrawis like all Spanish governments" (Galia Lebchir). This is the position of Galia Mostafa Lebchir, the director of a school for disabled children in Western Sahara and who is part of an interview conducted by Emilio Martínez on August 14, 2018. Regarding the current situation of the problem, Galia confirms that the territory of Western Sahara is illegally occupied by Morocco, in which these people, in addition to not being duly informed of the situation, are unaware of their history and traditions, but despite this, they are not willing to surrender “we will continue our fight until the end". This affirmation is based on the search for a better future for future generations, which are based on the self-determination of the people, a right to freedom.



Regarding the Spanish position, Galia indicates that the current President of Spain and his party are totally in favor of Morocco, but not the response of the Spanish people who have clearly expressed their support for the Sahrawi people, through the material aid they send. to the camps and organizations called "Associations of Friends of the Saharawi people".


The position of Patricia Lalonde, French MEP, rapporteur of the commission on international trade and agreements with Mediterranean countries "The development of the southern provinces is unquestionable", this affirmed the deputy when she visited with three other MEPs on her visit to the DAJLA I El Aaiun populations.


This region is part of what Morocco calls the southern provinces, but they are really the territories occupied by Morocco and are pending their decolonization.


The Saharawi delegate minister stated that these statements are only supporting Morocco's intervention in the nation, in total violation of the sentences issued by the European Union court of justice.


The Blue Helmets mission is at no time geared towards participating in political problems, its task is eminently geared towards maintaining peace, according to the ceasefire agreements, thus preventing the conflict from reaching very serious levels that continue. affecting the population. Their task then is to protect the civilian population and to assist in the removal of the personal mines that the invaders have planted on their territory.


In conclusion, the solution, in my opinion, must be brought through the United Nations by means of very severe sanctions to the commercialization of the products that Morocco exploits in the Saharawi territory. The countries that buy these products must abstain or suspend these practices until an agreement is reached that favors the freedom and restitution of the territory to which it really belongs.



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