Zemla Intifada

Part of a series on the
Western Sahara conflict
Background
Spanish Sahara Greater Morocco Moroccan Army of Liberation Movement for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Wadi el Dhahab Polisario Front Sahrawi National Union Party Madrid Accords
Disputed regions
Saguia el-Hamra Río de Oro Southern Provinces Free Zone
Politics
Political status of Western Sahara Politics of Morocco / of the SADR Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs
Rebellions
Ifni War Zemla Intifada Western Sahara War Independence Intifada First Intifada Gdeim Izik Arab Spring protests
Issues
Refugees Tindouf camps Moroccan Wall Human rights
Peace process
UN resolutions UN visiting mission UN referendum mission ICJ Advisory Opinion Settlement Plan Houston Agreement Baker Plan Manhasset negotiations Autonomy Proposal

The Zemla Intifada (or the Zemla Uprising) is the name used to refer to disturbances of June 17, 1970,^[1] which culminated in a massacre by Spanish Legion forces in the Zemla district of El Aaiun, Spanish Sahara (nowadays Western Sahara).^[2]

Demonstration

Leaders of the previous secret organization Harakat Tahrir called for a demonstration to read out a petition of goals in response against the Spanish occupation of Western Sahara. On June 17, 1970, this petition was read to the Spanish governor-general of the colony, General José María Pérez de Lema y Tejero peacefully.^[3]

Riot

After the demonstration was being dispersed by orders from Spain's governor-general, police moved in to arrest the Harakat Tahrir's leaders. Demonstrators responded to the police's actions by throwing stones at the police. The Spanish authorities called in the Spanish Foreign Legion who opened fire on the demonstrators, killing at least eleven people.^[3]

Aftermath

In the days following the incident, the Harakat Tahrir's founder Muhammad Bassiri, and other Harakat Tahrir activists were hunted down by Spanish security forces. Bassiri disappeared in jail after being arrested in 1970.^[4]

The Zemla demonstration led to the end of the Harakat Tahrir. Hundreds of their supporters were arrested, while other demonstrators were deported from Western Sahara.^[3] The suppression of the Zemla demonstration pushed the Western Saharan anti-colonial movement into embracing armed struggle. The militant nationalist organization Polisario Front was formed three years later.^[4]

References