Western Sahara and Morocco's Southern Provines

Hoping for a low profile for the RFK HR Award for Aminatou Hiadar does not necessarily make make it so. Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of the late Robert Kennedy and the founder of the RFK center for Justice & Human Rights introduced Aminatou Haidar and presented her with the Award. Ms Kerry Kennedy was very biased in her description of the situation in Morocco's Southern provinces and presented an Anti-morocco narrative to the audience. She described morocco as if it was the apartheid regime in South Africa or the Pol Pot Regime in Cambodia. Her introduction was very biased against Morocco and she promised to help Aminatou Haidar in the future to reach her objective. This was followed by Senator Patrick Leah, Democrat of Vermont who declared "It is important to recognize and commend the Government of Morocco for its recent efforts to protect human rights. Morocco has become a party to most of the major human rights treaties. It is also a valued friend and ally of the United States. It is now time for Morocco to fulfill its treaty obligations to uphold the civil and political rights of the Sahrawi people" In her speech, Aminatou Haidar used her unfortunate experience as a selling point to advance Polisario's political aim of full independence and she thanked Algerian President Boutefliqa "for all the help to the Sahrawi People" in a declaration to the large contingent of Algerian Media following her award. Morocco's official media, beside a lone MAP reporter, was not present. There were very few independent Moroccan Activists in the premises who distributed literature to explain the Moroccan position and try to contact some key people. But Mouloud Said, the Polisario representative in Washington, D.C. was acting as a head of ceremonies and also as a gate keeper, he was stopping the Moroccan activists from approaching the RFK widow, Ethel Kennedy. He was also directing the US senate Capitol Police to keep away all those that he thinks are pro-Morocco From talking to any dignitaries. The Head of the polisario in washington telling the US Capitol police what to do! the Polisario Representative, Mouloud Said, feeling empowered, called one Pro- Moroccan Activist a "barking Dog" which precipitated a short give and take between the two camps. This performance showcased, in no uncertain terms, the extent of the Polisario's influence in congress. It was able to weave relationships with low, mid & high level congress staffers and develop that relationship and exploit it to advance its cause. They often find a receptive ear for to their " underdog & repressed people" narrative. The only organized Moroccan action was represented in a small group of Sahrawi women -probably brought at a great expense from El ayoun, Morocco- standing under the rain at some distance from the building carrying few banners. they were so far away from the action that the few pedestrians walking by were puzzled by their presence. Investing some effort and energy to bring about a hundred people with a pro Moroccan message would have brought an alternative message to the one presented by polisario in the US senate that day. more coverage at http://www.moroccoboard.com MoroccoBoard News Service