ASADEDH denounces the decision of the Polisario Front to suspend contacts with the Spanish Government

The Saharawi Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ASADEDH) denounced the "irresponsible" decision of the Polisario Front, announced on Saturday, to suspend its contacts with the Spanish government after having recognised the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara as the "most serious, realistic and credible" basis for the resolution of the dispute. 

The Polisario claims to have taken the decision so that the Spanish government "stops instrumentalising the Saharawi question in operations of counterparts and shameful compensations with the occupier", and its representative in Spain, Abdulah Arabi, has stated that Spain's new position complicates the work of the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura. 

But ASADEDH maintains the opposite. The Saharawi association, which in March asked the Supreme Court to prosecute the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, for genocide, has criticised the group's decision, while extending its congratulations to the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, for his "courageous and historic decision". 

"We denounce the unilateral and irresponsible decision of the Polisario leadership to break off relations with the Spanish state with which we have cultural and historical ties, given that it is the former colonising power of the Sahara. 

This unilateral decision we understand that its only aim is to further isolate our already isolated population in the Tindouf camps (Algeria). 

At the same time we reiterate our support for the courageous decision of the Spanish government to support a solution without winners and without losers. 

Also and through this communiqué we reproach the parties that are unaware of our reality, who are pressuring the Spanish executive to retract this historic decision of the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, which goes in the right direction to end the hardships of part of our population that has already spent five decades living in deplorable conditions in the inhospitable Algerian desert. 

Therefore we call on these forces to reconsider and support this decision for the good of all Saharawis if they are really looking for their welfare, as well as this decision contributes to the stability of our entire troubled region".