WESTERN SAHARA: THE WALI EXPOUNDS ON THE CURRENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000283

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2011
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PBTS MO
SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: THE WALI EXPOUNDS ON THE CURRENT
SITUATION

REF: A. 05 RABAT 02262


B. RABAT 00181

C. RABAT 00238

D. RABAT 00240

E. RABAT 00248

Classified By: Pol/Couns Timothy Lenderking, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: On January 25, NEA/MAG desk officer and
emboffs met with Driss Sharqi, the Wali of the Laayoune
region of the Western Sahara. The discussion covered
autonomy (septel),Sahrawi demonstrations, the impact of the
Equity and Reconciliation's (IER) final report, the
development situation in Laayoune, and freedom of the press.
Sharqi does not view all Sahrawis as dissidents; rather, he
claimed that a small minority of dissidents is instigating
the demonstrations at the behest of the Polisario. Most
Sahrawis he said, welcome GOM control of the territory.
Sharqi was articulate; he drew on official GOM and MFA points
to elucidate his argument. End Summary.

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Demonstrations in Laayoune
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2. (C) NEA/MAG deskoff and emboffs met with the Wali of
Laayoune, Driss Sharqi, on January 25 in Laayoune. Deskoff
stressed that the USG remained concerned by the security
situation and that protests and disturbances in Western
Sahara underscore the potential for instability as well as
the need for the GOM to exercise restraint in the face of
efforts to provoke a violent crackdown. Sharqi brushed aside
allegations by human rights activists of GOM oppression and
brutality. While he conceded some abuse by GOM security
forces, he insisted that most allegations were embellished.
Sharqi did admit to Hamdi Lembarki's death at the hands of
Moroccan police and said Lembarki had been innocently caught
in a demonstration in which molotov cocktails were used at
two in the morning. The Polisario exploited Lembarki's death
and his subsequent funeral for its own ends, according to
Sharqi.


3. (C) As with Lembarki's death and funeral, the Polisario
used the January release from prison of female activist
Aminatou Haidar to further their discordant ends, according
to the Wali. (As noted Ref C, there were reports that Haidar
proclaimed her allegiance to the Polisario, and supporters
tore up photographs of the King, upon her return home). When
Haidar returned to her aunt's village, Sharqi explained,
there was a small demonstration. The Polisario manipulated
this situation in coordination with the activists, and the
police had to intervene. There was no shredding of photos of
the King, Sharqi emphasized, and no action taken against
Haidar.


4. (C) Sharqi continued that the protesters' goals are to
show only the negative things about the GOM and to deny what
the GOM has done for the region. At the same time, it is
only a minority that is exploiting others for the Polisario's
ends. The Wali would not confirm an increase in GOM security
forces in Laayoune since Mission personnel had visited in
October, although it was plainly evident to emboffs. He
alleged that young, unemployed people are being recruited by
the Polisario for 40 dirhams (USD 4.00) to participate in the
"on-and-off" demonstrations. The Wali assured us that people
are allowed to express their "proper" political opinions and
that they are not arrested for these. Deskoff stressed that
a variety of political viewpoints should be allowed to thrive.

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Development in Laayoune
--------------


5. (C) When asked how extensive the construction projects
are in Laayoune, the Wali responded that there will be as
many as necessary; however, he did say that the size of
Laayoune city is now reasonable. He emphasized that there
are several economic attractions, including the fisheries and
the industries associated with fishing, and the port
facilities. Included in the economic development of the
region is tourism and the enhancement of local artisans.

While the Wali and his staff were asked to articulate an
"economic vision" for Laayoune, they did not provide any
details.


6. (C) The Wali countered that money sent to Laayoune
(reftel A) is not attributed to Morocco in the international
indices, i.e., Morocco does not receive credit for the
extensive development projects in the city and in the entire
region. This fact has a negative impact on the baselines
established for Morocco. The Wali passed further elaboration
of the economic viability of the region to his deputies.


7. (C) As the discussion of development in the region
continued, the Wali's staff stated that the Western Sahara
could easily become part of the global economy for the
following reasons: there is ease of access with the port and
the airport, there is an excellent road network, and two
off-shore zones will be created. The Wali noted that
Laayoune is a service center for other development sectors.

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Thoughts on Human Rights
--------------


8. (C) When asked about the Moroccan Association for Human
Rights (AMDH) allegations that the Equity and Reconciliation
Commission's (IER) final report did not cover rights abuses
in the Western Sahara, the Wali expressed the opinion that
the formation of the IER was a courageous decision on the
part of King Mohammed VI and followed the path initiated by
his father, King Hassan II. Sharqi had nothing but praise
for Driss Benzekri, secretary of the IER, and now the
president of the Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH).
He acknowledged the criticisms from the Sahrawis, emphasized
that human rights are necessary and must be upheld, and
indicated that there will be changes in the GOM because of
the recommendations in the IER's final report.


9. (C) When asked about freedom of the press, the Wali said
there are no problems for the local press and that
journalists are not barred from covering stories in the
territory. When Polcouns pointed out that representatives of
the Norwegian and Spanish press had not been allowed into the
Western Sahara on several occasions in 2005, the Wali said
that those who are blatantly pro-Polisario and want to create
problems are not allowed.

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Comment
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10. (C) The meeting was cordial and highlighted the
extensive development being carried out by the GOM throughout
Laayoune. The Wali was articulate and supportive of the
GOM's plans. Again, as he had in October (reftel A),the
Wali told the story of how Sahrawis once starved because they
would not eat the fish from the sea. The moral of his story
may be that the GOM has brought both economic development and
is supplying food to the population. Certainly, he does not
wish to characterize all Sahrawis as dissidents or
malcontents; for him, as for the Director of Laayoune Prison
(reftel B),a small group led by the Polisario is provoking
others into negative actions in an attempt to destabilize
Morocco.


11. (U) This cable was cleared by Y. Robert Ewing.
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Riley