Book Exposing Polisario Maneuvers Published in Paraguay

“A Latin American Look at the Moroccan Sahara” is the title of a book by Ignacio Martinez that exposes the maneuvers and misleading propaganda of the “polisario”.

The book was presented in Asunción, Paraguay, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Green March at a ceremony held in the presence of Paraguay’s Vice President, Hugo Velázquez — who prefaced the publication–, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies and President of the Morocco-Paraguay Friendship Group, Walter Harms and Senator and member of the Paraguayan-Moroccan Friendship Group, Fernando Silva Facetti, according to the embassy of Morocco in Paraguay.

The event was also attended by Carlos Pereira, Minister of Urban Planning, Housing and Habitat, Jaime Bestard, President of the High Court of Electoral Justice, Benigno Lopez, Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Leila Rachid, former Minister of External Relations, as well as other figures including businessmen and academics.

In this book, the author tackles the genesis of the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara as well as Algeria’s involvement in the process of creating the “polisario” and the so-called “SADR”, with a view to establishing its hegemony over the region.

Martinez exposes “Algeria’s hostile policy towards Morocco and its territorial integrity” and denounces human rights violations, repression and embezzlement of humanitarian aid intended for the populations held against their will in the “exploitation” camps of Tindouf, southern Algeria.

In the midst of these maneuvers, Morocco has made great efforts in the political process conducted under the auspices of the United Nations to achieve a political solution, the Kingdom’s position is supported by historical, geographical, cultural, and legal arguments, as well as the pre-eminence of the serious and credible autonomy initiative, the author wrote.

Highlighting the involvement of Algeria in this regional dispute, Martinez reviewed the various achievements of Moroccan diplomacy and the momentum of development and progress in the southern provinces, while the suffering continues in Tindouf camps.

Speaking at the presentation of his book, the author called on the United Nations to shoulder its responsibility and support the efforts of Morocco that he described as a “strategic partner for Paraguay.”

For his part, Velazquez underlined the usefulness of the book – which reflects the Paraguayan government’s approach to peace and dialogue – for politicians, diplomats and civil society actors.

Morocco’s Ambassador to Paraguay, Badreddine Abdelmoumni highlighted the serious research work supported by a field visit to Morocco’s southern provinces and direct meetings with various components of local civil society to reinforce the book’s credibility.

According to the diplomat, “Morocco, in accordance with the future-oriented vision of HM King Mohammed VI, has worked tirelessly to build a zone of peace and shared prosperity to be able to face together the challenges and threats facing the region.

The soundness of the national cause stems from historical arguments, the principles of international law and the growing support of the international community, as evidenced by the opening of several consulates in the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune and the latest UN Security Council Resolution 2548, Abdelmoumni said.

For his part, Harms said he was honored to have been able to include his testimony among others in this book.

He also underscored the author’s ability to provide an in-depth analysis of Morocco’s leadership, not only regionally, but also multilaterally. Similarly, he highlighted the development of Morocco’s southern provinces who went “from mere desert areas, at the time of their recovery, to a region enjoying significant economic and social progress.”

The Paraguayan deputy also underlined the soundness of the national cause, warning against “the danger posed by the separatist group.”