Morocco accuses Western Sahara activists: November 2011

On October 9, 2010 residents of Laayoune, Morocco began setting up a protest site in the desert east of the city. The protests were for additional housing and job opportunities to accommodate the growing population. Pro-Polisario provocateurs soon infiltrated the demonstration site to "hijack" the protest. The protest had nothing to do with Polisario demands for independence. Once the provocateurs began intimidate and threaten the peaceful protesters, Moroccan authorities decided to dismantle the protest site before the circumstances deteriorated further. In the early morning of November 8, 2010, Moroccan police authorities, carrying only non-lethal weapons, sought to peacefully dismantle the protest site. This video contains images of the police intervention from cameras carried by Moroccan authorities and a confiscated camera phone. The images are extremely graphic and gruesome.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Opinion: World Community Ignoring Refugees In Algeria

Joseph K. Grieboski, founder of the Institute of Religion and Public Policy, writes that the international community has forgotten the plight faced by refugees in Algerian and Polisario-run camps. However, with the recent kidnappings of Spanish aid-workers, the world is now showing concern for the situation in these camps. Grieboski points out that Algeria, in which the camps are located, has been silent regarding the kidnappings and must address the kidnappings and the Western Sahara issue at-large. Read More

Question of the Day: What more can be done to bring light upon the situation in the refugee Camps?

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Morocco Dealing With Lone-Wolf Terrorism

Morocco’s counter-terrorism measures have made it difficult for Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to gain a foothold in the country. However, Morocco continues to suffer from lone-wolf operators who operate outside the structure of the larger terrorist network. Though the Algerian-backed Polisario and AQIM are unlikely to work together because of Algeria’s opposition to Al-Qaida, Morocco’s primary source of trouble may be the Western Sahara. Analysts warn that its inhabitants’ anger with the Moroccan government may lead to youth being drawn to violence. Read More

Question of the Day: What can Morocco do to prevent Western Sahara from becoming a source of trouble?