boras Posted 2008-04-28

The first semblance of common sense from the UN in a long time. This is the beginning of the end for supporters of the balkenisation of the Maghreb.

esther cohen Posted 2008-04-28

It is not only the Moroccans who agree with Mr. Walsum, but also the Algerian Workers Party. Their secretary general explained himself on this subject. Just to let you know, I sent this same comment to “le Matin DZ”, but they apparently censored it, giving free reign to the insults of their compatriots: “The Question of the Sahara has Nothing to do with the Rights of the People” -Miss Louisa Hanoune- Algiers, 26 April 2008 The Sahara is “not a question of decolonisation… |and| …has nothing to do with the right of these peoples to self determination” affirmed Miss. Louisa Hanoune, the secretary general of the Workers Party (PT) in a quote in Saturday’s edition of the newspaper “le Jour d’Algeria”. During a press conference on Friday in Algiers at the closing of the work of her party’s central commission, Miss Hanoune warned against foreign interference in the region and, in light of finding a solution to this case, called for the dialogue between the concerned parties “to begin with our country”. (Algeria’s NDLR)

بنيونس Posted 2008-04-29

Firstly, we would like to thank the United Nations envoy Mr Van Walsum who carried out his serious and faithful work and did his mission fully to get out from this impasse reached by the issue of the Sahara because self-determination is the only possible solution to end this conflict fabricated by Bouteflika and his assistants as a result of their hatred against Moroccans and their desires to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

Van Kaas Posted 2008-04-29

The remark of Moroccan Communications Minister Khalid Naciri that the envoy's assessments are "also based on the three visits he made to the region" is right. Unfortunately Van Walsum did not visit the other side of the berm, also called the liberated area. So Van Walsum did not assess this area and so we do not know how this area should have autonomy. Maybe it can be an autonomous region in Algeria or maybe Mauretania? Somebody should ask Master Van Walsum.

John Murphy Posted 2008-04-29

It is so good to know that a country can annex another country, & as long as the Americans don't kick up a fuss, they can keep it. Of course China annexing Tibet is different, America says so. Maybe if all the Sahrawi people turned christian & claimed they were fighting Muslim extremists, America would take notice, but as long as it's just brothers of Islam fighting against each other the so called first world will not worry. I pray for my brothers that this long running conflict will end soon,with a final peaceful answer for all people of Western Sahara.

عبدالهادي Posted 2008-04-29

Eh Boutfelika, face of evil. Think a little and go backward. The Moroccan people and Algerian people are one nation. Think a little about what your problem is, think a little of what happened to your mind. Go home and hand the presidency to someone who thinks of the future of the Maghreb people.

ALAINBIO Posted 2008-04-30

Come on! Come on, have a little decency, you so-called “Maghrebis”, in this final hour. You are only deluding yourselves when you talk about censorship of the Algerian press. It is the freest in the Arab world, the only one to have sacrificed lives to wrest its independence. As for the question of the Western Sahara, reread history so that you may understand that this territory cannot belong to Morocco or Algeria, the latter of which is not claiming it or colonising it. The War of the Sands was the stage for the Moroccan army’s massacre of the Sahrawis; it was not a civil war in Morocco and I know it!!! Come on, dear Moroccan government, make peace bravely and let destiny be fulfilled with a Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in the Maghreb.

UN VOISIN Posted 2008-04-30

I think that we need to appeal to Algerian intellectuals who at least have a knowledge of history to tell their political authorities that they are making a big mistake by supporting the separatists. I am sure that this is a national cause in Morocco and our historical legitimacy is obvious. So, my humble advice to the Algerian leaders is not to press our buttons too hard because the consequences will be unfortunate for the whole region, especially Morocco and Algeria, and, at that time, regret will serve us no good. So, demonstrate your maturity. Try to gather yourselves together around a table and have a discussion like responsible adults do. Leave your feelings aside and your quarrels in the past.

bensaidms Posted 2008-04-30

With all the time lost in this crazy business of the Sahara, the Algerian authorities do not want to admit their defeat. They are holding fast to their Stalinist ideology, trying to make Morocco fold. This is a lost cause: Morocco is a firm country. All of their calculations have been proven wrong. They want to make Morocco into a progressive country. This was a failure because the big winner is Morocco. It has always been liberal. It is Algeria that was completely toppled over by terrorism, a multi-party system and so on. Morocco is proud of its royal persona. Our Sahara is within us. No military junta shooting off its last ammunitions is going to cut us off from our country, from our Sahara. Morocco won the war over the Sahara, and Bouteflika needs to admit his defeat. The late Hassan II died with the Sahara in his pocket; the late Boumediene died, leaving the Sahara Moroccan. Bouteflika, given his age, will leave the Sahara Moroccan too. Meanwhile, Mohamed VI, full of youthfulness, has all the time in the world to see the last residue of the FLN leave us. Our King will soon encounter a new generations of Algerians who are looking for the unity of the Maghreb instead of having a complex about being the leaders of the Maghreb.

Solution Posted 2008-04-30

Morocco’s bailing out ahead of time by siding with the West is going to cost it dearly. Algeria is not a threat—may God watch over Algeria and me. Rather, it is history that has done Algeria wrong. There is a lesson that we Muslims need to forever bear in mind when we examine our relationship with the West: is the West giving us its support for free? Does the West wish the Muslims well? The Moroccan leaders who sold their souls to the waning West are biting their nails. Even if the West’s appearance has the air of still weighing in on world affairs, in reality the signs of its decline are blindingly obvious for those who want to see them. I look forward to that day.

sliman Posted 2008-04-30

My apology, I just sent a note complaining about not showing the comments. You actually published my comments. I ought to be ashamed of my self jumping into conclusions without any facts. Kudos to you. I do still think that the political news that you provide on your site is not fast enough. Progress is needed. Good luck!

esther cohen Posted 2008-05-01

You can translate this into any language you want, but the meaning remains the same. We share Mr. van Walsum’s assessment, wherein an independent Sahara is not a realistic option to resolve this conflict and wherein true autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only possible solution. At this time, he also told the press that “the most realistic way to move forward is to work towards a solution that would lead to true autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty… This is our national stance and we have clearly stated it before the Council” he insisted. P.S. I am not only pro-Moroccan, but also an authentic Moroccan Jew.

SAGESSE Posted 2008-05-02

Being completely neutral to the story of the Sahara, I think that Algeria is wrong. I mean to say that the Algerian government is pushing Morocco to canine rage and the first to get bit—I think—will be the Algerians. So, be more realistic. A word to the wise...

jouhara Posted 2008-05-02

You have gone mad, poor Hoggar. You do not understand anything about diplomatic terms because you are used to violence. Reread this well: it is the complete opposite of what your birdbrain—pardon me, you bird—makes of it. The message is as follows: Since the UN does not put pressure on Morocco, why wouldn't it recognise the Moroccan-ness of the Sahara? And, this did not fall upon deaf ears, being that the US delivered their official position, qualifying it as their “national” position. It is on the U.S. ambassador's website and it states: “We share Mr. van Walsum’s analysis, according to which an independent state in the Sahara is not a realistic option to resolve the conflict; the only possible option is true autonomy under Morocco’s sovereignty.” He added for the press at this time that “the best, most realistic way to move forward is to work towards a negotiated solution leading to a true autonomy under Morocco’s sovereignty.” He insisted that “This is our national position and we have clearly stated it to the Council.” This is a slap in the face for all the Hoggars out there, since you are looking for an emergency exit.

Ahmed safi Algeria Posted 2008-05-02

If we love this, then we have what we deserve. It is only when hatred for the republic returns to everyone’s personal attitude, that we do not. The position the monarchy took has done a lot more bad for the Sahrawi people than it has done to its own regime. On the other hand, the Makhzen’s antinomy has reinforced Algeria. No Algerian will accept seeing Morocco change his fate. Morocco’s products—drugs, terrorism, contraband—have forced “X” number of Algerians to suffer heavy expenses and it is the people who are paying. Algeria had to change its priorities, allocating the means to manage a problem that the Moroccan ministers of the Makhzen are successfully cashing in on, as it was the Moroccan people that were invested in this. Listening to these same Moroccan ministers speak today, I truly do not see why we have to go to Rabat to improve the image of these people and give them the pride of having succeeded in getting all the leaders of the Maghreb together in a meeting. I truly do not see why we have to sympathise with the Makhzen, who have mercenaries at their disposal, and meet on their land under their terms and with their arms violating the security of another neighbouring country. Nothing—neither morals, nor a sense of neighbourliness, nor religion, nor even the UN charter—is stopping the Makhzen from interfering in our affairs.

BEN Posted 2008-05-02

No, I think we need to be clear here: the Algerians do not understand anything at all about the issue with the Sahara. After more than 30 years of conflict, they are beginning to get interested in advocating a dialogue with Morocco, which is neither about decolonisation nor self-determination nor anything else. The omnipresent Algerian government endorsed this issue from the very beginning and has not cured itself of its opinion, which, even with the particular political circumstances of the era, are in favour of Morocco’s recuperation of its rights, albeit while shouting from the rooftops because they cannot do this. And, of course, we could applaud Morocco for its great patience with the Ayoub and for telling the Algerians “Oh, how long has it been?”

ولد مريم Posted 2008-05-03

The Sahara is Moroccan and will remain Moroccan until God takes back the earth and everyone on it. We ask Thabo Mbeki not to interfere in our country's internal affairs. We ask him to stay away from the Moroccan people, to take better care of the poor and marginalised people of South Africa, half of whom suffer from AIDS, instead of running after Algerian dinars.

pitchou Posted 2008-05-03

I am tired of these bickering bottom feeders. Lift yourselves up, my brothers, for the good of our children. Stop with your incendiary attacks on who is what and what belongs to whom! I think that we are the laughing stock of the world and, in my opinion, this is well justified.

Farid Posted 2008-05-03

In Response to Esther Cohen: We have never heard of you. Are you the new Mother Teresa? All this fuss (even about “brandishing” your religion) just over a Moroccan simply expressing his opinion. I do not see your interest in this at all. And, we are not going to change our opinion; we are with Bouteflika in favour of a referendum for self-determination. We are clear on this. Let the Sahrawi people decide their destiny. We are against oppression. That is what democracy is, no? No censorship, Magharebia! Thank you

Solution Posted 2008-05-04

When reading some of the comments clearly written under the influence of emotions, it is obvious that a lot of Moroccans are taking their dreams for reality. Algeria has a lot of flaws, but no one can deny it of its qualities, among which one is its constant and just commitment to independence against colonialism. South Africa knows of this. In this respect, Algeria may look at itself in the mirror every morning in dignity. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same thing about Morocco, which, due to prostituting itself to the West and Israel, has ended up catching the same “colonising” sickness. You know, it is striking to read these comments and see how they echo those found in colonial France’s literature on Algeria or that of Israel today. Yet, no one can avoid the bell toll of history. May it be clear to all Moroccans that we are not going to dwell on the help Morocco gave Algeria during the war: you helped yourselves by helping us. We are not ungrateful and, indeed, the Moroccan people are our brothers. Yes, thank you, Mohamed V, God rest his soul! On the other hand, Morocco owes its independence—all things being relative, this is true—to the success of Algeria’s war. Who would dare think that with France in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia would be truly free? I turn now to Morocco’s attack on Algeria in 1963. I will not say anything about the King of Morocco’s treason against Emir Abdelkader. Morocco is condemned to have a neighbour that resembles someone who just resolved its crisis, someone who could be useful and someone who will remain nearby for centuries to come, when the French, Spanish, Americans and Israelis will have already completely left them.

Marocain Posted 2008-05-04

Jouhara: More and more, the princely regime is being isolated on the international diplomatic scene, continuing its headlong rush by using a procedure it excels in particularly well: anti-Algerian disinformation and propaganda. At this time, the international community continues to reiterate its preoccupation with the deadlock over the current procedures for implementing the UN’s peace plan. Because of the Kingdom’s stubbornness, it continues to be the standard logic. The King’s spokesmen are continuing to look for culprits beyond its border. The objective of the Moroccan regime’s headlong rush is to conceal from Moroccan and international opinion the extremely preoccupying reality of the internal situation as well as the protests underway in the Western Sahara and Moroccan cities in demand for the independence of the Sahrawi Republic. Thus, since the events of Laayoune, Algeria’s embassies in Europe and the United States are the target of “ultra-nationalistic Moroccans” or, at least, those who pretend to be so. Mohamed VI’s secret service have skilfully orchestrated and directed this campaign.

BEN Posted 2008-05-04

To Slim-16: “We are being humanitarian over here, welcoming poor refugees…”!? Thousands of protesters rejected the Algerian-Moroccan border, most of them crying, remembering solidarity with their country of origin that they left over 50 years ago. They left behind their belongings and their entire lives. This was a humanitarian catastrophe in a country claiming to be Islamic. Their gaze is always upon Algeria, waiting for reparations and recognition from the current president for this disproportionately heavy error. May they finally be heard.

maghni Posted 2008-05-05

Take a cold shower, Slim 16. You are too excited. Do not take your desires for a reality. A future generation will come for everybody. You insult everybody: the website administrator, the Moroccans, Morocco, the Internet-goers and everyone who does not think like you do! What is up with this? At least demonstrate the proper character of your country instead of giving off a catastrophic image of your compatriots. Have a little respect for the other Algerians who have nothing to do with all of this. You know quite well that the country is not at all okay, so be quiet.

VRAI MAROCAIN Posted 2008-05-05

I can confirm that Algerians are nothing but impostors. We Moroccans are proud of having compatriots of all confessions provided that they defend their Moroccan-ness and their country, Morocco. The Polisario have Moroccan ancestors, but, unfortunately, they were raised to hate and some of them have even suffered from brain washing. May God guide them.

Marocain libre Posted 2008-05-05

To Esther Cohen; I am a Moroccan, but I am against Morocco’s politics because they are politics of hatred and transition. It is not for the people. Except for the Jews and foreigners, which are fine, the people have nothing to do with Morocco’s politics. The rest are rotten.

Ahmed Posted 2008-05-05

To the people in charge of Magharebia: Where is my comment? This is a dictatorship. You should just shut your website down. That would be better. You are pulling well for our neighbour in the West. That’s fine, you are just reinforcing our love for Algeria and its leaders with your behaviour. It is funny: this censorship only happens to us Algerians. So, you are pulling for others. You dare not even tickle the Moroccan regime. On the other hand, you accuse the Algerian leaders and soldiers of being dictators, communists, thieves and terrorists. At least have the audacity to publish this comment. What hilarious, Western-style freedom. Algerian newspapers are far more free than your website.

slim16 Posted 2008-05-05

To Ben: The similarity of the situation you are using as evidence is not real. The thousands of demonstrators about whom you were speaking were returned home according to different policies; the military chased the Sahrawis from the places they lived. That is the difference: “the expulsion and return to their country of origin” versus “ a military war in order to become refugees in a ‘welcoming country’”. Ask your rulers about the cause of what you call a catastrophe. It was an application of reciprocity, because ours were also expelled in the same manner. So, tie game! There is no need to complain.

slim16 Posted 2008-05-06

To Maghni: Keep your fibs to yourself; I am not interested. If the country is not fine with you, then get out and go join those you are defending. Let the people who love their country in spite of what is not going well defend it from the critics and their misguided forewarnings. I am as free as the air. I am not constipated like you like you. I am not ashamed to speak well of my country. Take the Moroccans for example: they defend their country tooth and nail, in spite of all the negative things that they have. And you, you just want to go to bed. Well, sleep well my marmot. P.S. It seems the haragas are preparing for a mass exodus in June. Buy yourself a seat and maybe you can end up in Italy.

IMPOSTEURS !! Posted 2008-05-06

Everybody is pretending to be Moroccans in order to hurl insults at other people and thus sow hatred against Moroccans. You are making yourself look ridiculous because the people are more intelligent than you impostors.

esther cohen Posted 2008-05-06

ONCE AND FOR ALL: The Sahara case is now with the fourth UN committee between Morocco and Spain since 1956 and it is still awaiting a definitive status. Algeria’s loyal historians can confirm— just as they have already confirmed on different foreign television channels— the following: Emir Abdelkader was betrayed by the Algerians and the Moroccans fought along with him, but lost because of the lack of Algerian support. Now, if you want to keep on lying and believing in your lies, that is your problem, but one thing is for sure: the case of the Sahara has taken a new turn with the definitive rejection of its independence.

kika Posted 2008-05-07

Khadija, there is no need to be ashamed of your country. Our country is very beautiful. You can invite them to Algeria; we are not ogres. They are going to taste our beautiful cakes. Be proud of your country. Nothing is going on in Algeria; we are fine. Don’t hesitate.

Solution Posted 2008-05-07

If the Sahara truly belongs to Morocco, why did Hassan II admit in 1978 that he was on the verge of proposing a sharing of the Sahara to Algeria? If it were not for Boumediene’s death, this would have been done without a doubt. I do not think that Algeria will do the deciding for the Sahrawi people, but this says a lot about the psychology of a thief: we will never want to share something that belongs to us. Morocco is going to wear itself out. How much more time before Mohamed VI stops proposing the same thing to Algeria? Having already proposed autonomy means that he has recognised that Morocco is not at home where the Polisario is. Sincerely, I do not want to harm the Moroccans: they are true brothers and friends. I understand your nationalism, but we cannot live forever with a lie.

slim16 Posted 2008-05-07

To Baroudi-DZ: Those whom you cited are certainly more Algerian than you. Do you have a problem with the soldiers? That means you. We love our country and we have principles. People are different. Stop begging; this doesn’t work with them. It has already been tried and it doesn’t work with them.

esther cohen Posted 2008-05-09

Hoggar, You are out of your own league. What proves that I am right is that my compatriots, the young Sahrawis from the Polisario, are going to break you down because you lied to them. You have bathed them in your lies (for example: the Taliban). At least admit that Morocco has the advantage of having been transparent; Algeria does not have political means. P.S. I am “Marocaine”, but not the “Moroccan” above. I do not see why he wants to hide behind my name since he has the same nationality. Whether you like it or not, the Sahara was, is and will always be Moroccan. Your gestures and your nerve-wracked crisis will not change anything. Sorry!

BEN Posted 2008-05-09

To Hoggar: your incendiary speech is a sign of your distress. This is the same distress that your prisoners in Tindouf, whom you keep as hostages, resent. Some of them have managed to escape your jailers. Did you hear about this? You talk in the name of Algeria but I do not know which Algeria you are designating, given that the Algerians write in this forum and their point of view is clear. And, in confirmation of your other confession, the Touaregs should say the same thing to Algeria, but not on your terms, as, in my opinion, they deserve to be listened to. Come on, stop with the showbiz bellyaching in foreign embassies just to get some subsidies, cars and luxurious mansions. Go back home before it is too late for you, as the royal family you have heckled said "The Motherland is merciful."

slim16 Posted 2008-05-10

Esther Cohen: You are so judgmental. “Once and for all” means that there is no need to have a discussion. Is no one right but you?? Then, you say things in favour of the Algerians! It would seem that Emir Abdelkader was betrayed by the Algerians and that the Moroccans fought with him and lost out of a lack of Algerian support. Bravo!!! I see that the Moroccans are unable to win without Algeria. They fought only to lose. It was also these same ones, who, through the defeat of the Sultan of Morocco, had Isly’s French victory finally bring the Emir down to a state of namelessness before his imprisonment in 1847. He poorly chose his alliances. Previously, weary from the merciless war-making of Bugeaud beginning in 1839 and knowing that it was a lost cause, the Algeirans decided to separate from their chief, replacing him with Duke d’Aumale. Replacing a chief is not betraying him!!! It is in this precise cases that your reaction is correct: without the Algerians, nothing could be done. In sum, I am going to respond to your text in capitals—that said: DEFINITIVE INDEPENDENCE FOR THE POLISARIO, ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! THANK YOU!!!

Karim Posted 2008-05-11

The Security Council backed van Walsum in his mission. He was the Secretary General's special envoy, and he will be for 12 more months. I am anticipating his next trip to Algiers...

slim16 Posted 2008-05-11

To “observateur”: For an Arab observer, you are not too insightful. Your analysis is biased. You are not a good judge; you are lamentable and irresponsible. The South Africans like Algeria because they lived through Hogra just as the Sahrawis are now. And, they have always received Algeria’s aid because we have had solid principles ever since our victory over the French colonialists. Moreover, you are racist. You seem to be saying that the South Africans are not our brothers; we are all Africans!!! Furthermore, South Africa’s attitude towards Algeria is a thousand times better than that of our neighbours/false-brothers. I am sorry, but what does harm to one does not do harm to another. It has been a long time that people have been thinking like you. We came out of terrorism alone, right?

بلقندوسي Posted 2008-05-12

Firstly, Algeria was never a sovereign or independent state. It was a province under the Abbasid dynasty then the Ottoman Empire. Later it became a province of France. The Moroccan honourable kingdom exerted all its efforts in order to drive away the colonizers and help our Algerian brothers. But the price of that was very high. This pushed the French army to invade wide areas of Morocco: Laknadsa, Touate, Tindouf, Saoura, Tidikla and Bechar. As regards the sand war, why and who is the responsible? There was an agreement between the government of Morocco and the government of Algeria that the Moroccan territories invaded by France would be restored to Morocco after the independence of Algeria. But after the independence, its rulers refused the agreement. Morocco felt humiliated and disappointed, so what happened had happened. But Mohammed V made a mistake when he refused France's offer that the Moroccan territories should be restored to Morocco before the withdrawal of France from Algeria, but he didn’t accept that, he thought that his Algerian brothers wouldn’t betray him, but this is what happened unfortunately. Morocco will never forsake its territory, whether today or tomorrow.

BOUZIANE Posted 2008-05-13

To Slim 16: Be nice and come join us in Oran; we are a support association made up of real Algerian intellectual and others as well. Do not lose your temper so easily. We can explain the real history of the Sahara to you and we have evidence to support it. We also believe that “they” indeed want hold onto it and that the Sahara not be Morocan. We helped out at Small Business Administration (SBA). The Polisario representative was pitiful. We could sense the lies. We wanted to intervene, but, unfortunately, we are in a democracy and he had a couple of bloodthirsty people at his side. So, you can come up here. We will give you our contact information. Anyone who is interested or wants to know the truth can come too.

rui Posted 2008-05-13

The statement by UN Special Envoy Peter Van Walsum that Western Sahara independence unlikely is outrageous. This is not surprising as I was there in Western Sahara where Dutch fishing trawlers are engaged in fishing Western Sahara resouces. I am sure that Peter Van Walsum is an honest broker but I wonder to what exent his statement were not compromised by pressures from the EU, others and Moroccan autorithies illegally occupying Western Sahara. There are no grounds for Morocco to occupy neighbouring Western Sahara through the use of force, harassment, Green March or any other tactic. This is plain theft of a people who have a right to their independence. Any offer of autonomy as a compromise to illegal occupation is theft and misses the point. The UN should stamp out theft of weaker countries and pandering to external pressures on a matter of principle. I think Lord Chris Pattern of Hong Kong would make a worthy envoy. He has the character and will to be an honest broker. Peter Van Walsum I am afraid has lost all credibility and to have visited the Western Sahara just 3 times one wonders what he saw on the ground and to what extent he was influenced by Moroccan authorities. Morocco is doing very nicely and I have great respect for what they are doing in Morocco but as an occupying force of Western Sahara they are out of order. The use of force will only seed problems in the region. Morocco needs good neighbours and needs to learn to cooperate with them. Trouble in the region will only harm Morocco's own development and soak up its limited resources. Behaving like the touts and bullies will only damage Morocco's own development. Morocco could help Western Sahara's development for their mutal advantage. The UN must be held responsible hereon.

PARIS Posted 2008-05-13

You will know a bit more about the history of the Sahara after Anouar Malik’s book comes out. I recommend it to all the people of the Maghreb.

amine mouloudia Posted 2008-05-13

As our tewfik said so well, “Go with the grain.” Algeria continues on its path in spite of your envy.

Anonymous Posted 2008-05-14

You do those calculations of yours about the 5% and 30% of the Algerian government and I don’t know what else!!! But, you, the Moroccans, have sold off everything. You have nothing left! Nothing!... just your envious eyes. Even the third generation is out on the street. And, your generals are such angels: they have ruined every last one of the Moroccan people with their Makhzen. Oh no, your monarchic junta is more corrupt than Algeria’s. Of course, the causes are just and justified. Take the case of Portugal, Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, Vietnam and I will stop there. What has your monarchy done?... dupe the Arab summits just like Joumblat, Siniora and Geagea. We are not manipulated by anybody. We do not sell our budget off wildly in order to [expletive] our neighbour and brother. We don’t have an appetite for this. How touching Mr. van Walsum was with this word, “realist”, just like the American senator Abrahams. $3 million is now going to your centre for independence in the Sahara. Happily, the French embassy did the same with the riyad the CLF, getting more than another million dollars. And so on. Stop dreaming. Go get back your enclaves Spain is holding onto—Ceuta, Melilla and the Parsley Islands… and even the Canary Islands, which belong to the Sahrawis. [Expletive], they are ours. Moreover, the border between Algeria and your country of drug addicts is shut for the time being!

OBS arabe Posted 2008-05-14

Wake up and stop your squabbling! Forget your past quarrels! Currently, all the conflicts in the world are between the Arab countries. Muslims are manhandled everywhere. We are living through the worst moments of our history. Soon, we are going to witness the fragmentation or even the eruption of the Arab countries, as happened with the Sudan, Lebanon and, soon, the Maghreb. There are microstates and they come about in the name of human rights, egging minorities on to make claims to territories. We need a Maghreb of all peoples, which even Egypt and so on will join. We do not need a Maghreb of dictatorships and military juntas, because they do not represent the people at all in their absence of democracy. You need to get a move on and make some sacrifices, otherwise you will stay miserable for your whole lives and bequeath this to your offspring.

SALIM -DZ Posted 2008-05-14

In Response to Anwar: Stop with your idiocy, saying that Algerians are the enemies of Moroccans! This affair with the Sahara is one of a handful of generals. The Algerian people don’t give a [expletive deleted] about this; we have our own problems. If Bouteflika visits the camps or does something else, then it is because he is obeying orders in order to get another term. I think that a good part of the Polisario has gone back home because we no longer see them swarming the streets and universities. Come on, dear friends! Soon, we are going to be visiting Morocco, and the racists will keep themselves locked up in their homes.

DIDENE Posted 2008-05-14

To Slim 16: Being that you defend the Polisario with such ferocity and tenacity, you have to be one of these separatists yourself. Moreover, do not say that this is a just cause, as you are just proving that you are ignorant of everything.

rui Posted 2008-05-15

The question of Western Sahara's independence is that it is their inalienable right and the world should support it. Algeria, Morocco or anyone else have no business in Western Sahara's independence. They are neighbours and should remain good neighbours. Special interests of the EU, US or Morocco should be negotiated once Western Sahara has been established as an independent country. The country may be poor and weak but this does not give anyone the right to annex the country through the use of force or secret agreements with other powers to endorse the illegal annexation of Western Sahara. The lessons of history has shown that this short term policy has failed in the long term. It is all the more surprising that the UN should appear to dither and be influenced by the power blocks in its decision to let the people of Western Sahara have their seat in the UN without pre-condition. It is their right. If Western Sahara history has associations with its neighbour then it should be their decision and theirs alone on how they forge those links to their advantage. Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania or anyone else has no business in Western Sahara until Western Sahara is seated in the UN. Western Sahara does not need conditions of autonomy from Morocco as a concession for illegal occupation nor does Algeria have to support the Polisarios fight for independence. All countries start poor and weak after colonisation. Spains incompetence in colonial matters is legion and is the fundamental reason for creating this problem. Western Sahara people are their own people with no if's and but's about it. They should be allowed to develop at their own pace under the UN umbrella. It is up to everyone else to help get Western Sahra on its feet asap. UN cannot be seen to be dragging its feet.

slim16 Posted 2008-05-15

To Bouziane: What a good boy you are! Your proposition does not interest me, as it goes against my principles. I will confide in you that I am a ghost of Amghala!!!

wahrani(ourani) Posted 2008-05-15

Now you know that even if I am from the Maghreb and everything it has, I only defend my country Morocco.

algerien Posted 2008-05-15

Stop making idiots of yourselves here. The Sahara is the Polisario’s and that is final. Even if you change your pennames to fight against Algeria, you are not going to win this battle. Read the world press and you will understand: the Sahara will always be the Polisario’s. Spain and Algeria have the power to defend the Sahara; Morocco has nothing with which to make war against the Sahrawis. So, stop blowing your mouths off. Plus, no state in the world of any seriousness, not even Morocco, has denied the existence of the Sahrawi people. This case is solid and, consequently, incontestable. It is inscribed in the UN’s tablets under the chapter “decolonisation.” By choosing to irresponsibly rush ahead in relation to this question, Mohamed VI finds himself in a deadlock.

AZEDINE Posted 2008-05-16

You are getting yourself into quite a pickle here, Felfla Haaara. Also, I will tell the others who do not agree with me that I think that I am more Algerian than you. I come from a family of true mujaheddins, not the fake ones you are defending, the generals who were French soldiers before independence along with thousands of other fake mujaheddins who are now squandering the poor people’s money. It is not in being silent and hiding the truth that we make progress and do our country service; this is what the freedom of expression you are defending is about. We need to denounce thieves and those who are incompetent. The real Harkis are those who keep quiet when they see the people killing themselves off and the country’s wealth squandered by a worthless minority of ex-Harkis. We need to denounce this loud and clear, otherwise we become accomplices to it, taking advantage. Try to learn of freedom and democracy, respecting the points of views of others. Do not stay shut up in the narrowness of your mind, remaining imprisoned in archaic and obsolete ideas. Whoever it is trying to pass himself off as Azedine does not even know how to express himself. I tell him to shut up. Thank you, Magharebia, for giving us true freedom of expression.

RACHAD Posted 2008-05-16

You who protect the thieves are the real Harkis.

SAMAD Posted 2008-05-16

Stop falling in the traps you set, Polisarios!

Kabs Posted 2008-05-16

It is necessary first to recall a major fact: Morocco has constituted a state since the 9th century. This quality in being a state is unique in the Maghreb. It was even protected during its interval as a protectorate from 1912 to 1956. In the functioning structures of the secular Moroccan state, the Sahara has always occupied a privileged, often decisive space. Additionally, the founders of the Moroccan dynasties often came directly from the Western Saharan tribes. This is most notably the case of the Almoravides, the founder of which was Youssef Ben Tachfine in the 11th Century, who had made the “Grand Morocco” which extended to the borders of Senegal. These close ties to the Sahara are not contradicted in the Alouite Dynasty of the 17th Century. It originated in Tafilalet in the Sahara and has hardly ceased in consolidating our national unity and reinforcing the immemorial ties between all the regions of Morocco.

marra Posted 2008-05-17

You shut up! You do not have a cousin who was killed in Amgala in 1976. We do not love the Polisarios; we hate them. Ever since we came to know the Polisarios, we have known nothing but misfortune.

Anonymous Posted 2008-05-19

You are not Algerian and you believe in Santa Claus.

malika Posted 2008-05-20

Marra, my brother died honorably in the field against Islamists. So, I should not love Algerians!? You’re an idiot! May God have mercy on your brother and my brother, but we will always be faithful to Bouteflika’s politics and in solidarity with the Sahrawi people.

HOUARI Posted 2008-05-21

You Polisario have [expletive] things up in the Maghreb with the help of a dictatorial regime. I am saying this as an Algerian, whether you believe me or not!

rui Posted 2008-05-22

Greater Morocco I was unware that there had been a Greater Morocco before the Western powers got together to carve up Africa between themselves at the Berlin Conference thus dispossessing Morocco of the region up to Mauritania. I can understand now why Morocco has annexed Western Sahara. I may have been to quick in accusing Morocco of occuping Western Sahara through force without any regard to the Saharawis. It seems that the Sahawis and the Moroccan people share a common history until they were colonised by the France and Spain. In that time it would seem that the two people of Sahara and Morocco have developed separately as indeed this bound to have happened. The presence of the Miltary and Police is intimidating hence I felt the Sahawis may be oppressed and repressed. It maybe that the Sahrawis are being oppressed and repressed but this is where wisdom from Morocco and Michavellis prinicples are called for from Morocco. I can say that from my visit that Moroccan Police and Army North of Sahara have been very good and civil but the ones to the South suspicious and intimiding I guess by the actions. If Morocco could extend the same kind of brotherhood to the Saharwis then I believe that the Sahrawis would recognise their roots and gladly integrate with Morocco. I was shocked to find that Algeria sought and got the aid of Morocco when fighting the French for their independence and promised to reach an angreement with the Moroccan over disputed territories but on gaining independence changed their minds. I thought that in Arab tradition when one gives ones word one is obliged to keep it. There is honour even among thieves. I am appaled by Algeria breaking with the age old tradition. In view of that I think Morocco has been exemplary.

ولد اشهيبي Posted 2008-05-23

Praise be to God. Everything has become clear: the gang of the Polisario, the slaughterers, the killers only represent themselves. The population of the Southern regions of the kingdom of Morocco disown such criminals. They ask the international community to arrest them and present them to justice to be tried. They also ask the Moroccan government to stop its negotiations immediately with these criminals.

الشعب التوارق الحرة Posted 2008-05-24

To the brothers in the kingdom of Morocco, North Africa and the free world. The Touareg people asks for your moral and material assistance. Oh Lord grant triumph to this people against the despotic generals of Algeria. Oh Lord grant them independence over their land which is rich in petrol and natural gas exploited by the spiteful generals. Long live the people of the Touareg and its state free and independent. Go ahead and the struggle is continuing.

mansour Posted 2008-05-25

Toufik; I am from Maghnia, but I do not have any friend or family in Morocco. I am 100% Algerian. I do not love Morocco. I am against contraband and the mazout mafia. Long live Algeria and the village of Al-Kadi.

بلقاسم Posted 2008-05-28

Yes, Algeria has today an excessive balance estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars. All this is thanks to the oil of the marginalized Touareg people occupied by Algeria. Therefore, generals are wandering and enjoying the resources of the occupied Touareg state while its people were marginalised, tortured, killed and deserted from their land. Is this Algeria which pretends to support nations to self-determination? God’s curse on liars.

Ali Posted 2008-05-29

To Houari and my other compatriots: Stop with your heinous behaviour. I was told about this website, and I did not believe my ears. I live in France, but I was not born here. I am originally from Oujda and part of my family still lives there. Okay, we have understood each other. It is no secret that this entire region lives off the border with Algeria. When the border was open, our families and compatriots lived well thanks to Algerian tourists; hotels, restaurants and cafés were filled. But, since its closure, it has completely degenerated. Despite of this closure, all Algerian products, appliances (refrigerators, TV’s, stoves), medicines and even table oil, semolina, powdered milk and so on are still on the shelves. Products of theirs like refrigerators are three times less expensive. For example, semolina in Algeria is taxed at 5% compared to 90% in Morocco. There is no shame in Morocco being poor; we cannot hide this. For example, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates respectively gave us checks for $500 and $300 million. Where is the bad in this? This was reported in every newspaper. As for your behaviour, you are doing harm to the border region, its environs and even the country itself. Everybody knows that Algeria is currently rich. We cannot deny this: it is a reality. It is possible that even some of the leaders visit this website. But, who will be the loser here? A Middle Easterner would never talk like you. Be objective, because we have a lot to lose. You should help the government by opening the border. My best friend here is an Algerian and I am proud of him. I visited Algeria last year with him, and thanks to him…

algérien Posted 2008-05-30

I am old enough, thank you very much. But I was surprised to be treated as an Algerian imposter by “VRAI MAROCAIN”. In fact, are their fake Moroccans? We need to stop with these low-brow debates. We have been condemned to listen to ourselves.

samibcn Posted 2008-05-30

You have sunken too low, Houari. So, now you love Algerian women??? You have no other response to make??? It remains to be known if they love you like you love them!!! Your response comes from a real moron. But, there are a lot of people like you here. I sincerely think that your opinion is truly not constructive.