The United Nations fourth Committee 2013

Decolonization — Considered Long Ago by United Nations to Be ‘Irresistible 

Colonialism had no place in the modern world, speaker after speaker declared today in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), echoing the words of the Secretary-General and the foundational resolution of the General Assembly on the subject from more than five decades ago.

As the Committee continued its annual debate on decolonization — a process described by the Assembly as “irresistible and irreversible” — the United Nations, notwithstanding its many achievements in that field, would remain an Organization that had not fulfilled its responsibilities as long it had a “list” to keep of Non-Self-Governing Territories, said Liberia’s representative.

As many as 2 million people “still faced ambiguities and uncertainties” regarding their self-determination, while many colonial administrators continued to give justifications to evade their international obligations, he said.

Similarly frustrated, Nigeria’s delegate said that in the twenty-first century, colonialism was “an anomaly in the relationships between people”. Spurred by the belief that the right to independence was a historical and moral right that must be enjoyed all peoples, Nigeria had played a critical role in the struggle for independence of many African countries, as well as in the fight against apartheid, colonialism, and discrimination.

Also hailing from the continent, Uganda’s representative similarly emphasized that decolonization was long overdue.  He stressed the critical need to complete that process, not simply because it was an Article of the United Nations Charter, but because it was an inalienable right, which scholars agreed was an important principle of “international contemporary positive law”.

A representative of the Polisario called attention to the mass graves of Saharan citizens, discovered in Morocco earlier this year.  Dozens of fellow Saharans, said the speaker, were imprisoned, and their mock trials were unworthy of a State that wished to take its place on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Polisario feared that the Secretary-General’s envoy would again come back empty-handed from his tour of the region because Morocco was unwilling to cooperate with an open and transparent decolonization process, he said.

Background

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of decolonization issues, for which it was scheduled to hear from representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories and petitioners.

Petitioners for Western Sahara

ALOUAT HAMOUDI said he was speaking today on behalf of the Saharan refugees — those who had died in exile and never returned to their homeland in Western Sahara.  The story of the Saharan people was one of a fight for freedom and human dignity, and it was one he had lived.  Western Sahara was among the few areas officially recognized by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory.  The General Assembly had confirmed the Saharan people’s inalienable right to self-determination in 1965, and that right had been recognized in every subsequent resolution on that issue.  It also had been indicated in all agreements signed between Morocco and the Polisario Front.

Despite repeated recognition of the injustice of the current situation, nothing had changed, he said.  Rather, Morocco had rejected all United Nations resolutions and had never been punished for its repeated violations of international law.  In the meantime, more than 200,000 Saharan refugees, including his family, lived in the Algerian desert in “heartbreaking” conditions.  Human rights violations by Morocco were only worsening with the passage of time, he said, citing reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.  “The time has come to stop the 38 year-old illegal Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara,” he declared.  The Saharan people requested the chance to decide their own political fate in a free, fair and democratic referendum.

MULA IHFID SID AHMED, represent the Saharawi Students in North America , noting that he is a current a Saharawi student at Westminster College Missouri, said that the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara had taken place in 1975, during and after which the Moroccan authorities had systematically violated international law and United Nations resolutions. Saharan citizens were humiliated every day. Freedom was the most basic of all human rights, but the human rights of the Saharan people were routinely violated.  In 2010, Moroccan security forces violently dismantled a peaceful Saharawi demonstration camp of about 6,500 tents in the desert at Gdeim Izik,outside the capital of El Aaiun Outside the capital Layoune.  In 2012, Morocco had refused toallow an African delegation on human rights to visit the occupied territory. He finished asking when would the world take action to stop the atrocities inWestern Sahara?

Mulay articulated that the only solution to the conflict of Western Sahara  is through a free and fair referendum. 

AHMED BOUKHARI, representative of the Polisario Front, stated that once again the question of decolonization of Western Sahara was before the Fourth Committee. A great part of Western Sahara was still under military occupation by 
Morrocco, whose newest accomplishment was the mass graves of Saharan citizens, which had been discovered earlier this year. The whereabouts of more than 600 Saharan citizens was still unknown, and he asked whether they would be found in another mass grave.  Further, dozens of fellow Saharans were imprisoned, and their mock trials were unworthy of a State that wished to take its place in the United Nations Human Rights Council.  The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy would soon tour the region again; however, the Polisario feared that he would again come back empty-handed because Morocco was unwilling to cooperate with an open and transparent decolonization process.

CYNTHIA BASINET, actress, singer and humanitarian advocate, lamented that thousands of people of Western Sahara had lived as refugees, without the opportunity to fully enjoy their lives.  That situation had led to tyranny, poverty and untold hardship, she said, stressing the need for self-determination to salvage them from the deprivations.  Regrettably, the international community had turned a blind eye and remained stagnant on a referendum for the people of Western Sahara, and she implored the United Nations to remain forthright and steadfast in its responsibility to enable them to achieve self-determination.

ZITOUNI TAYEB, President, Coordination nationale cito yenne des cites et villes jumelees d’Algerie, said the association was in solidarity with the Saharan cities and people, and it would contribute its time and energy to see to their self-determination.  He called on the Special Committee to facilitate a referendum to enable them to determine their future, and asked why Morocco was afraid of that.  He also urged the United Nations to investigate the human rights abuses, forced detention and disappearances and encroachment on the territory’s natural resources.

ESCALANTE HASBUN (El Salvador), endorsing the statement presented by Cuba on behalf of CELAC, voiced support for the legitimate rights of Argentina over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands, as well as the surrounding maritime areas.   He called for a peaceful settlement of the sovereignty dispute and emphasised that the United Nations should hasten efforts to see to peaceful settlement, as reflected in General Assembly resolution 31/49.

On Western Sahara, he expressed support for the rights of Saharan people to self-determination and, supporting the resolution on the issue, called on the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to accelerate action to enable the people to achieve independence, which would ensure justice, freedom and fairness.  He also reiterated his country’s desire to contribute to global peace and development, foster cordial relationships between neighbours, and remain steadfast in its commitment to resolve conflicts among warring nations.

Nigeria regretted, she added, that the Western Sahara issue was still far from being satisfactorily resolved, after decades of the struggle for independence by the Saharan people. Her country welcomed the Secretary-General’s report of 16 August, and commended his efforts and those of his Personal Envoy to find a lasting solution to the issue. Nigeria also welcomed the latest round of informal talks, and believed that it was still possible for both the Polisario and Morocco to negotiate “a lasting solution to the Western Sahara issue”.