What Lies Behind the ESISC Report

by Khatry Beirouk

 

Polisario Front should strongly condemn this Moroccan campaign of defamation and distortion being delivered through the ESISC. The Makhzen - in its concerted campaign of misinformation to deceive the world community - was in search for a humanitarian organization denigrating Polisario to use as reference, and found it on France-Libertés. On Erik Jensen, found someone willing to sell his soul to the devil. Now, the hand-kissing government will be relying on the ESISC's 'expertise' on international security to spread its falsehoods.

Never have the media been so influential in determining the course of the events on the conflict in Western Sahara as during the current Saharaui uprising. The Moroccan regime has already poured millions of dollars into its campaign of propaganda and misinformation which have included an entire range of efforts: free trips for influential people, bribing politicians and intellectuals; and, most important, money for election campaigns in Europe. Makhzen has a severe problem with the truth and has made of mercenary journalism the bedrock of its propaganda campaigns.


This brings us to the report on Polisario Front recently published by the European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center (ESISC) and on its president, Claude Moniquet. Before the publication of this report, Morocco - and its terrorist threat - seemed to be the focus on most of Moniquet's articles and presentations. But, suddenly, there is a shift in focus. The terrorist infested state is no longer viewed as the threat it once was. To try to understand this shift, it has become necessary to shed light on some chronological events that might explain the reason behind the unpersuasive report of the ESISC and, particularly, whether the reason was money, fear, or both?

 

After outlining the above mentioned events, the credibility and timing of the report on Polisario Front raises some questions; What are its real motivations? Why so many misleading statements and deceptions? How could the ESISC so easily succumb, by whatever means, to the Makhzen's trap when other European Centers with good reputation did not?

Since the recent visit of Claude Moniquet to Morocco, the government controlled media presented a new member of the ESISC, in the person of Mohamed Ifkiren, a Moroccan, as vice-president of the Center. Morocco is in dire need for a third party view that shares its claims, and had sought the ESISC's help to butress Makhzen's lines. Morocco is preparing the ground for the buildup of its future accusations against Polisario. All signs are starting to show that that's the path chosen aimed at discrediting the Polisario, and above all, to debilitate the civilian and peaceful uprising in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Polisario Front should strongly condemn this Moroccan campaign of defamation and distortion being delivered through the ESISC. The Makhzen - in its concerted campaign of misinformation to deceive the world community - was in search for a humanitarian organization denigrating Polisario to use as reference, and found it on France-Libertés. On Erik Jensen, found someone willing to sell his soul to the devil. Now, the hand-kissing government will be relying on the ESISC's 'expertise' on international security to spread its falsehoods.

The ESISC has failed to come up with any concrete evidence that Saharawis harbor resentment towards the West or profess violence. No respected international organization has ever suggested or deemed Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. So far, after over three decades of the existence of Polisario, none of those contentions mentioned by the report has panned out. ESISC's exaggerated rhetoric on the supposed Polisario threat to the rest of the world reveals the Center's lack of credibility and puts its reputation at stake.

01.01.06


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