Madam, - Mary Raftery's column of June 24th is to be welcomed for the way in which it drew your readers' attention to the plight of the Sahrawi people. It is unfortunate, however, that in doing so, she mischaracterised both the long-standing policy of successive Irish governments and the purpose of my recent visit to Tindouf.
For years Ireland has been an active supporter of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. During our recent tenure on the United Nations Security Council, Ireland played a crucial role in countering efforts to undermine the full expression of that self-determination. This is a well known fact of which Ms Raftery seems to be unaware. If Ms Raftery has any doubts about that the Polisario themselves will confirm it in strong terms, as they did during my meeting with them in Tindouf. Mr Abdelaziz, the general secretary of Polisario, expressed his gratitude, stating clearly that Ireland was one of a small number of countries which has consistently supported the right of the Sahrawi people to exercise self-determination.
During my visit to Tindouf I visited a refugee camp and saw at first hand the living conditions of the Sahrawi who have been condemned by this conflict to live in some of the most inhospitable conditions known on earth. I had an opportunity to meet the refugees and observe how, against the odds, they have managed to feed and educate their children. I indicated to the Polisario that Development Co-operation Ireland will seek ways to assist further the Sahrawi people. Before, and immediately after, my visit to Tindouf I used my meetings with ministers in Algeria and Morocco to reinforce the need for a solution that would vindicate the Polisario's right to self-determination and be acceptable to both sides.
With regard to the release of prisoners it would have been wrong for Ireland, in its capacity as president of the European Union, not to have used its influence with the Polisario to secure their release. The continued holding of these men, some for more than 20 years, is wrong in itself and tends to distract from the bigger political picture and consequently to undermine the Polisario's cause. I made it clear to all concerned that Ireland saw the matter of prisoner release in exclusively humanitarian terms.
The Polisario stressed that they were acceding to our request to release the prisoners "out of respect for the position Ireland has taken internationally on the broader Sahrawi issue". In short, it is precisely because Ireland has played such an active role in relation to the broader political question that we have been able to use our influence to such effect in relation to the specific issue of prisoner releases.
I believe my visit to the region addressed the issues arising from the conflict in a comprehensive, fair and balanced way, fully in keeping with our traditional support of the rights of the Sahrawi people. - Yours, etc.,
TOM KITT, TD, Minister of State for Development Co-operation and Human Rights, Leinster House, Dublin 2.