US Western Sahara Foundation - Press Release 
28 Jun 01 

U.S. Congressmen Submit Petitions from American People Calling
for Western Sahara Referendum; Their "Third Way" Solution:
Ask Morocco to Withdraw from Western Sahara

Congressmen Joseph Pitts and Congressman Donald Payne on behalf of the U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation (USWSF) submitted petitions to American officials signed by hundreds of Americans calling for the referendum to be held on Western Sahara. The petition signers further request that if Morocco continues to stall the referendum, that Morocco be asked to withdraw from Africa's only unliberated colony.

"We have a better 'third way' proposal to the Baker-Morocco plan that cancels the referendum," said USWSF Chairman Suzanne Scholte and Executive Director Carlos Wilson, "Our third way solution: the withdrawal of Morocco from its illegal occupation of the Western Sahara." The Sahrawi people have repeatedly offered to become good neighbors, to set aside their years of pain and hardship caused by the Moroccan occupation, if only Morocco will let their people go home and live free.

Carlos Wilson, USWSF executive director, recently met with high-ranking MINURSO officials who confirmed that the referendum could be held right away if the United Nations would stop caving in to Morocco obstruction.

"You have hard working individuals who believe in the UN mission that supports the right to self determination who have labored for many years under difficult conditions to make this referendum a reality," said Wilson. "Now, they wonder how can the UN reward the aggressor?"

The petition drive which was launched in response to the repeated delays of the referendum was carried out by volunteers throughout the United States of America.

"We were elated with the response that we received when we began circulating the petitions," said Scholte and Wilson. "This may be an obscure issue to most Americans, but those who know the whole story about the conflict become dedicated supporters of the Sahrawi people."

Congressmen Pitts and Payne, Founding Board of Advisors of the U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation, delivered the petitions this week to President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, and Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

A copy of their letter and the petition follow this release.

For more information, contact Carlos Wilson at (858)458-9191 or email: csahrawi@aol.com or Suzanne Scholte (703)534-4313, U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation.

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June 22, 2001

President George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As Founding Members of the Board of Advisors of the U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation, we are pleased to enclose petitions recently circulated by the Foundation in support of the referendum on Western Sahara.

The enclosed petitions are from over five hundred American citizens from all across the country who urge you to use all influence to push the United Nations to hold the long-promised referendum on Western Sahara. The petition signers request that if Morocco continues to stall this referendum, that you use your influence to ask Morocco to withdraw from Africa's only unliberated colony.

For over twenty-six years, the Sahrawi people have had one simple request: the right to vote on self-determination. First promised by Spain in 1974, re-affirmed by the International Court of Justice in 1975 (which prompted the Moroccan invasion), and then promised by the United Nation in 1991, the referendum for the Sahrawi people has yet to occur.

It would be a monstrous tragedy if the United States failed to exercise its leadership in pushing forward this referendum because the only alternative left would be a return to war. It would be a betrayal of our own principles of freedom and democracy and our historical support for all peoples' right to self-determination. A free, fair and transparent referendum would lead to the establishment of a democracy in northwest Africa, thereby enhancing regional stability and economic prosperity.

Please do not allow the referendum to be delayed any longer. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of freedom and democracy and a peaceful resolution to this conflict.

We look forward to hearing your response.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Pitts           Donald M. Payne

Member of Congress      Member of Congress

cc: Condoleezza Rice

Petition from the American People to the President of the United States, Secretary of State, Speaker of the House, and Senate Majority Leader on behalf of the Sahrawi People

President George W. Bush     The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert

The White House        Speaker of the House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20500      Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Colin Powell      The Honorable Tom Daschle

Secretary of State              Majority Leader, United States Senate

2201 C Street, N.W.        Washington, D.C. 20510

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Majority Leader:

We, the signers of this petition below, urge you to use all influence to push the United Nations to hold the long-promised referendum on Western Sahara. If Morocco continues to stall this referendum, then we ask that you use your influence to ask Morocco to withdraw from Africa's only unliberated colony.

For over twenty-six years, the Sahrawi people have had one simple request: the right to vote on self-determination. First promised by Spain in 1974, re-affirmed by the International Court of Justice in 1975 (which prompted the Moroccan invasion), and then promised by the United Nation in 1991, the referendum for the Sahrawi people has yet to occur.

It would be a monstrous tragedy if the United States failed to exercise its leadership in pushing forward this referendum because the only alternative left would be a return to war. It would be a betrayal of our own principles of freedom and democracy and our historical support for all peoples right to self-determination. A free, fair and transparent referendum would lead to the establishment of a democracy in northwest Africa, thereby enhancing regional stability and economic prosperity.

Please do not allow the referendum to be delayed any longer. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of freedom and democracy and a peaceful resolution to this conflict.