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Tensions rise in Sahara impasse Upstream Online (www.upstreamonline.com) By BARRY MORGAN, from Accra 02.05.02 US diplomats had raised their efforts to persuade the UN Security Council (right) to ratify a revised autonomy plan for Western Sahara Sahara impasse Sabre-rattling as crucial UN vote on rebel state goes to the wire THE UN Security Council this week failed to approve a plan to settle the long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and militia fighting for the independence of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. Council members instead extended the mandate of the UN mission there until 31 July, despite UN-sponsored talks having failed over 10 years to broker an accord. Saharan indigenes have insisted Moroccan immigrants should not be eligible to vote in a proposed referendum, but frustration is building at what Washington and Rabat claim is intransigence by representatives of the breakaway Sahrawi Republic. US diplomats this week raised their efforts to persuade the UN Security Council to rubberstamp a proposal by Special Envoy James Baker to impose a revised autonomy plan for the Moroccan-occupied territory, this time without requiring both sides to agree. US explorer Kerr-McGee and French supermajor TotalFinaElf are poised to invest heavily in deep-water prospects off the contested territory but had to freeze plans while Morocco's right to license marine acreage is adjudicated. Baker himself wrote last week's draft resolution against all known UN precedent, claimed officials representing the rebel Polisario militia that is fighting for an independent Sahrawi Republic. New York-based UN representatives of the Sahrawi Republic, recognised by the Organisation of African Unity, have meanwhile promised a resumption of the armed struggle if the vote eventually goes Morocco's way. Council members were split with the US and France trying to persuade Britain, Guinea, Cameroon and Norway to force through autonomy, while Mexico, Colombia, Mauritius, Ireland and others support a free referendum. The Sahrawis have consistently rejected partition as an option. "To force such a plan through without the concurrence of both parties runs the risk of being seen as supporting those) motivated by military and oil concerns," said a statement issued by the Western Sahara Alliance of Australia, an activist group that favours unconditional decolonisation as the UN demands. Disillusionment within Polisario over the diplomatic gridlock is building. Several hawks are now advocating a withdrawal from the UN peace process, high-level sources revealed. Sahrawi president Abdel Aziz called Polisario representatives early this week to promise a resumption of the armed struggle if the Security Council approves the Baker plan. "We will defend our rights with the last drop of our blood and we ask oil companies looking for investment opportunities to be patient," a senior aide said. UN Legal Counsel Hans Corell reiterated in February that UN resolutions precluded Morocco from invading or selling the territory's natural resources. (c) 2002, Upstream. ------------------- To read more Upstream stories you can get a FREE two-week trial of LIVE news, Upstream Hardcopy and Upstream archive news at www.upstreamonline.com. ------------------- --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
