Zemla Intifada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zemla Intifada |
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| Part of Western Sahara conflict | |||
| Date | 17 June 1970 | ||
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| Goals | Independence of the territory | ||
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The Zemla Intifada (also called the Zemla Uprising) was a major event on June 17, 1970. It involved protests and a violent crackdown by Spanish forces in the Zemla area of El Aaiun. This city was then part of Spanish Sahara, which is now known as Western Sahara.
Contents
What Happened at Zemla?
Peaceful Protest for Freedom
A group called Harakat Tahrir was a secret organization. Its leaders wanted to end Spanish control over Western Sahara. They planned a peaceful protest to share their goals.
On June 17, 1970, about 3,000 people gathered. They wanted to present a list of their demands. This list was given to the Spanish governor-general, General José María Pérez de Lema y Tejero. The protest started peacefully.
Protest Turns Violent
After the demands were read, the Spanish governor-general ordered the crowd to leave. Police then moved in to arrest the leaders of Harakat Tahrir.
The people protesting reacted by throwing stones at the police. The Spanish authorities then called in the Spanish Foreign Legion. These soldiers opened fire on the crowd. At least two people were killed, and some reports say up to eleven died. Many more were hurt or arrested.
After the Zemla Uprising
Leaders Hunted Down
After the events, Spanish security forces searched for Harakat Tahrir activists. The group's founder, Muhammad Bassiri, was arrested in 1970. Sadly, no one ever saw him again after he was taken to jail.
Changes for Western Sahara
The Zemla protest marked the end of Harakat Tahrir. Hundreds of their supporters were arrested. Many others were sent away from Spanish Sahara.
The harsh way the protest was stopped changed things. It made people in Spanish Sahara believe that peaceful protests would not work. They decided that they needed to fight for their freedom. Three years later, a new group called the Polisario Front was formed. This group chose to use armed struggle to achieve independence.
