Algerian embassy clarifies

On April 29, 1997, The Jakarta Post published a picture of Sahrawi Polisario Front soldiers, with some comments which obviously intended to mislead readers on the nature of the conflict in Western Sahara. I was not surprised to read this intentionally distorted information, since your newspaper seems to excel in reporting erroneous news.

Exercising my right of reply, let me put the record straight.

First of all, the conflict in Western Sahara is not a "conflict between the Sahrawi people and the governments of the area" as you wrongly put it.

Secondly, the newly appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. James Baker, made a recent visit to the region. His goal is to relaunch the peace process and achieve a just and lasting solution to the conflict between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front.

Following this visit, the Polisario Front has, in a good will gesture, decided to release 85 of 2,000 Moroccan prisoners.

Thirdly, the neighboring countries namely Algeria which is hosting in its territory thousands of Sahrawi refugees and Mauritania are in accordance with the settlement plan official observers to the peace process.

These are the real facts and therefore I do not want to elaborate more on your insidious report. It is simply not worth it.

SOUFIANE MIMOUNI

Ambassador

Algerian Embassy, Jakarta

Note: We reprint this letter to verify an erroneous meaning contained in the sixth paragraph. We regret the error.

-- Editor