Historical Dictionary of Western Sahara Third ... - Scarecrow Press

xxxviii • CHRONOLOGY
May 18 by William Eagleton, another former U.S. diplomat. June 15:
The identification process resumes at El-Ayoun and in Tindouf; two more
registration centers are opened in southern Morocco on June 21. July 15:
The UN publishes a list of 84,251 Saharawis “provisionally” entitled to
vote and invites appeals. July 23: King Hassan II of Morocco dies and is
succeeded by his son and heir, Mohamed VI. September: Violent
protests against the Moroccan occupation are reported in El-Ayoun and
Smara; they reportedly involve thousands of Saharawis and allegations of
police brutality are made. November: Some participants in the September
demonstrations are given long prison sentences; the Polisario Front
strongly protests. December 6: Kofi Annan reports that since the start of
the identification appeals process in June, 42,774 applicants from the
H41, H61, and J51/52 tribes have been identified, but many more await
processing. December 14: The UN Security Council extends MIN-
URSO’s mandate until February 29, 2000, pending further developments.
2000 January 17: SADR Foreign Minister Mohammed Salem Ould
Salek, in an interview, says Polisario may resume hostilities if a referendum
is not held and MINURSO collapses; MINURSO releases a second
provisional voter list, with Morocco “dismayed” at the small number
of Saharawis found eligible to vote. February 17: In a report to the
Security Council, the secretary-general summarizes the Western Sahara
conflict since 1991; he states that MINURSO has so far cost over $437
million and additional appeals of voter eligibility could extend the UN’s
tasks indefinitely. March 1: Anti-Moroccan demonstrations are held in
Smara; dozens of Saharawis reported arrested. April 8–11: James
Baker visits northwest Africa, seeking either to restart the referendum
effort or search for alternative solutions. May 22: Kofi Annan reports
that the identification appeals process is continuing and that James
Baker’s mediation efforts are so far not successful. June 26: India withdraws
its recognition of the SADR. June 28: Morocco and Polisario
once again hold talks in London under James Baker’s auspices; he urges
an alternative to the referendum plan. July 12: Another report by the
secretary-general says that neither Morocco nor Polisario shows any
willingness to compromise. September 28: A meeting between Morocco
and Polisario, sponsored by James Baker in Berlin, ends in failure.
October 25: In a report to the UN Security Council, Kofi Annan
says the Saharan conflict is still deadlocked and all of James Baker’s efforts
to broker a settlement have failed; he then asks the parties whether