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I was born in Smara in the occupied territory [of Western Sahara] in 1955. I remember the valleys and littles houses. I loved those valleys around Smara. I felt free there, even the wind smelt of freedom. I used to go to school with Spanish children, it was a simple life together, we integrated, I had Spanish friends. The Spanish had everything, cars, diggers, they made roads. When they left they buried the Saharawi, we felt stabbed in the back. When Morocco invaded I ran with my family, it was a surprise because nobody had radios. Some fled on foot and others on camels but many were caught.
I spent a lot of time in the camps, I hated it there, I felt like a tourist of Algeria and I hated this feeling. So after the ceasefire I moved to the liberated territory. We are free here and I love it but there are difficulties. We have little water and the children have no school. If it rains we move to feed the goats but not far from Tifariti. But even with these difficulties this is a better life. I like the life by the trees rather than by the houses of the camps.
I hated to lose our men in the war but it was necessary to get justice and independence. I lost two husbands. The first in 1978 in Operation Smara when the Polisario tried to free civilian prisoners, the second died in an operation near Zuk. If war started again my sons could die like their fathers, they feel the same as him. I cannot speak about how that would feel, it would be too hard (pauses)… but it is the only way to get justice for the people of Sahara. The peace process and the UN cannot give a solution to the Saharawi people, eighteen years produced nothing. The war must begin again if these conferences don't bring any independence soon. I have waited 35 years and UN liars all the time extending the mission of MINURSO. |
