Shaia Beiruk, president of the Saharawi Human Rights League: “The Polisario Front is stuck in another era”

Shaia Beiruk (El Aaiún, 1965) is the president of the Saharawi Human Rights Association and a doctor of Sociology. Beiruk stresses that times have changed and Western Sahara needs a peaceful solution to help a population that is “living in hell”.

What do you think is the solution to the conflict? Western sahra?

I bet on autonomy. Thus, all Saharawis will be able to enjoy the wealth and wealth of the region. The first bet was independence after the referendum, Morocco agreed on this path, but Algeria and the Polisario Front refused and chose to advocate independence. Nearly 50 years later, we are still the same. There are no results. That’s why Morocco is putting the autonomy project on the table. The Saharawi Peace Movement leaves the final word to the Saharawi. We want a solution that will save our family and friends from the pain of the camps.

-The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, in March, King of Morocco VI. Did his letter to Mohammed seem like a betrayal?

-Number. We Saharawi see Spain as our second country. This letter is a sign that Spain knows very well the Sahara and the state of the conflict, because it has been there for a century. When he realizes that this is the solution and that it will bring good results to the Saharawi, there is a reason for it. This view is not accidental. This view comes after many studies and is taken with a deep knowledge of Sahara.

-Do you believe that the solution to the Sahara conflict will come from the hands of the Turks? United Nations?

– Those responsible for the United Nations Referendum Mission in Western Sahara had no chance of reaching a solution, and I think it was the fault of Algeria, which always rejected the options the UN put on the table. In this case, the obstacle was Algeria, not the Polisario Front. I hope Staffan de Mistura has more chances to bring their perspectives closer together and to come up with a solution. We are tired of all these years of blood, pain and separation.

Why do you think there is no representative of the Polisario Front in an event where the future of the Sahara is being discussed?

-I do not know. I don’t know them, I don’t know if they are here or not.

-Does the Sahara Peace Movement (MSP) have support among the people of the Sahara or is it mostly supported by foreign institutions?

-MSP was born as a result of the Polisario Front and received a lot of support from the public.

– Why do you think MSP leaders have moved from being a part of Polisario to starting their own organization?

-They have been in charge of the Polisario Front for years and they know that it no longer has a political or military weight. They also know that they have made many mistakes that hurt the Saharawi. The world is no longer the same as before. The Polisario Front is stuck in another era, problems are no longer solved by force.

-Can this mentality change of MSP leaders be produced in the Sahara people?

Yes, that’s why we’re here. We have families and friends living in hell. We must seek the solution through peace. MSP calls for dialogue among Saharawi people and puts everyone’s problems on the table. Polisario has only one point of view, and this is what he advocates without listening to the others. He never mentioned this civil society that needs to be listened to.

– Why do you think they accuse MSP of being a front organization of Morocco?

-This is a lie. When the Polisario Front loses control, it always blames Morocco and uses this as an excuse to hide its mistakes. MSP started with its own financial resources.

-What is the situation of people living in refugee camps?

-I never lived there, but some of my family did. They are in a situation that violates human rights in the camps. Women do not have a chance to participate in social or political life and often do not even choose their life partners. You can only have one perspective in the camps, and that is the perspective of the Polisario Front.