WESTERN SAHARA-Nation in the Making

Nation in the Making Rajen Harshe THE Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) celebrated Its fifth anniversary on February 27. The Republic has been functioning with Haousa as its operational capital; the armed struggle of the Saharawi people under Polisario (Frente Popular para la Liberation de Saguia y Rio de Oro) which began in 1973 has yet to achieve its ultimate objective of pushing out the Moroccan annexationists from the Saha- ran soil. However, the Republic is now recognised by 40 nations and the question of the liberation of Western Sahara is receiving increasing attention internationally. For example, the majority of the members of the Organisation of African Unity have not merely offered de jure recognition to Sahara but in the forthcoming summit of the OAU in July the question of Western Sahara will have a prominent place on its agenda. The United Nations too has been deliberating over it since 1970 and the question was discussed in the recent New Delhi summit of non-aligned countries. Despite such mounting international pressure, King Hassan continues to claim Western Sahara as an integral part of Morocco; but this claim bas not helped him in arresting the steady liberation of occupied areas by the Polisario.