Boycott reform vote, says Morocco union

One of Morocco’s biggest trade unions urged its members yesterday to boycott voting in a July 1 referendum for a reformed constitution led by King Mohamed, adding weight to a youth-led movement’s opposition to the plan.
After some of the biggest protests in decades—inspired in part by the “Arab Spring” uprisings—the monarch announced on Friday he would devolve some of his powers to parliament and the government and put the reforms to a referendum on July 1.
“The proposed constitution reinforces what has always been applied in the past and does not deliver on what has been promised,” Noubir Amaoui, who heads the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT), said.
The CDT becomes the biggest organisation to announce its intention to boycott the referendum after three small left-wing parties and the youth-led February 20 Movement, which was inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia to demand the establishment of a parliamentary monarchy.
Although exact membership figures are hard to come by, in 2009 the CDT won most seats among trade unions at elections of representatives of public administration employees and also has a large following in the banking sector.
Under the changes, the king would retain his hold on security, the army and religion. That disappointed some opponents who had wanted to see the monarch hand over all his executive powers to elected officials.
“What we want is broad democracy and full transparency without the exclusion of anyone. Furthermore, the final copy (of the reformed constitution draft) did not correspond to the copy that was given to us: Some articles were changed without consulting us,” added Amaoui.
Amaoui also said with the referendum date set for July 1, the authorities “have not allowed enough time for Moroccans to understand what the new constitution is all about. They are using the same old tactic of surprise ... Some people don’t seem to understand the changes happening around us.”
After facing the biggest anti-establishment protests in decades, King Mohamed in March ordered a hand-picked committee to discuss with political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organisations a constitutional reform.

Unrest Morocco

MOROCCO
A few thousand people turned out Sunday to protest in Morocco, saying King Mohammed VI's proposed constitutional reforms don't go far enough. Though many expressed support for their king to stay in power, demonstrators argued that a network of privilege and patronage surrounding him must end, and that he must part with more power than he has proposed.

In a nationally televised address Friday, the king declared sweeping reforms that will boost the power of the prime minister and take away some of his own. The revamped draft constitution will make officials more accountable, the parliament in Rabat more dynamic and will give the government greater powers, the 47-year-old king said.

Roots of unrest
Protesters are seeking, among other things, political reforms to curb the power of the centuries-old monarchy. Like other nations in the region, Morocco is grappling with economic woes, including high unemployment.

MOROCCO
King Mohammed VI announced reforms that will boost the power of the prime minister and take away some of his own but some protesters said Saturday that changes are not enough. They have called for a peaceful demonstration Sunday to push for more changes. In a televised address Friday, the king said Morocco's revamped draft constitution will make officials more accountable, the parliament in Rabat more dynamic and will give the government greater powers.

Mustapha Ajbaili: What to do about Morocco’s youth movement?

A police officer clashes with a member of the 'February 20 movement', during a protest calling for political reforms in Morrocco, in Rabat

By MUSTAPHA AJBAILI


When Morocco’s pro-democracy movement first took to the streets on February 20, the government was fighting a war behind the scenes to destroy it, while in the meantime it was embracing it in public.

On the one hand, security services and their servants tried to sow divisions within the group and launched a smear online media campaign against it. On the other hand, they were embracing it in public. During a visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri said, referring to the group, “We are proud of them.” The government initially did not expect a movement born in the sphere of virtual communication to gain momentum and reach a level where it would threaten its political agenda and the interests of those in power.


In the recent weeks, when the movement grew in power and became seriously challenging to the status quo, authorities started to brand it as a collective mass of extremists made up mainly of the outlawed Islamist Justice and Charity Group and the Marxist Democratic Path.

These groups are perceived as threats to the democratic process, and because they are part of the February 20 movement the latter is also lately portrayed as an obstacle to stability and to the alleged democratic course taken by the government. By the government I mean the ruling establishment not the cabinet, which is made up of ministers who come and go.

Following last Friday’s speech by King Mohammed VI in which he unveiled a daft constitution and called upon political parties to mobilize the people to vote “yes” for the project in a referendum scheduled for July 1, there was speculation that the protest movement would disintegrate as the demands of some of its components, mainly the Amazigh cultural movement, were allegedly answered in recognizing Amaizgh as an official language of Morocco.

The speculation proved inaccurate as thousands of people took to the streets in different cities to denounce the constitutional reforms and to demand a genuine democratic change in the country.

Almost all the components of the February 20 movement criticized the draft constitution and called the changes cosmetic. The giant masses of people who marched peacefully in the cities of Casablanca, Tangiers, Fes and even Marrakesh, which is still recovering from the shock of a terrorist attack, are a proof that the conflict between the establishment and the opposition is still alive. Even more, the protests and the recent government reaction to them signaled that Morocco is going down a dangerous slope.

The establishment will rely on the elites revolving in its orbit and on the majority illiterate and low-educated masses to support the constitutional reforms. But the educated people from student unions and opposition groups, who tend to be conduits of political change, are unlikely to be tamed.

Before the draft constitution is passed, I see that there is a door of opportunity to revise things and engage in an honest dialogue with the only real opposition group we currently have in Morocco, the February 20 movement. After the constitution is passed, the chances to diffuse tension will be less.

(Mustapha Ajbaili, a senior editor at Al Arabiya English, can be reached at Mustapha.ajbaili@mbc.net)

Will the new reform bring back the Kamal Al Aamari?

Thousands of activists took to the streets Sunday, but many Moroccans are satisfied at the pace of change in the kingdom, especially after King Mohammed VI's Friday speech promising reforms.

Fes, Morocco
Morocco's pro-democracy activists launched fresh protests Sunday, despite King Mohammed VI's Friday speech announcing a draft constitution that would limit the powers of his country’s centuries-old monarchy.
“We are sticking to our demands,” says Elabadila Maaelaynine, who joined thousands of other protesters in Casablanca to reject the king’s proposals, which they say don't go nearly far enough.

Rival protesters supporting the king – some genuine, others reportedly pushed by local authorities to speak in his favor – also took to the streets, and the pro-democracy demonstrators had to change their location after they were “attacked” with bottles and sticks by pro-king demonstrators, says Mr. Maaelaynine.
Despite a groundswell of support for democratic reform, however, many Moroccans are satisfied at the pace of change in the kingdom and want to avoid the type of tumultuous "Arab Spring" revolutions they've seen in fellow North African countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt.

“Imagine if the king suddenly says that he is going away … there will be chaos,” says Mohammed Montasir, a journalist in the northern city of Fes, adding that Moroccans are not seeking a revolution but a “movement against privileges” of the ruling elite.

How much reform is enough?

For four months now, activists have campaigned for the king to transfer powers to elected representatives and reign only as a symbolic head.

In Friday's speech, he announced the constitutional reforms he had promised in March after the first bout of protests.

The most significant proposed change is the boost in the executive powers of the prime minister and the parliament. For instance, the prime minister would appoint and remove ministers as well as dissolve the lower house of parliament in consultation with the king.

The king, however, is not divorced from executive power. The king would choose the prime minister from the party that wins the elections and he could also dissolve the parliament in consultations with the prime minister and members of the new constitutional court, half of whom he would appoint.

The continued presence of the king in the executive branch ignores the key protester demand of separation of powers. He also remains the military and religious head of the country.

While the king is offering a constitutional monarchy, the demand is for a parliamentary monarchy like the United Kingdom. For the activists, the king’s reforms are piecemeal and if they compromise now then the momentum they have generated for comprehensive change will be lost.
They also suspect that the king is trying to rush a referendum on proposed reforms – he set the vote for July 1 – before mass resistance can be mobilized.
The activists push back

The pro-democracy movement – called February 20 (after the first day of widespread protests in Morocco) – is made up of the web-savvy youth, left-leaning parties, and Islamists.

Peaceful rallies have attracted tens of thousands of people. A few of these demonstrations have been violently dispersed by government forces but not as brutally as protests in much of the Arab world.

Athman Hajhamou and Maniar Othmane are engineering students and activists in Fes. They argue that those who support the king do so because they’ve never known any other alternative. The current dynasty has ruled for more than 350 years.
Unlike his father, the 47-year-old king remains popular for improving women’s rights and ordering a probe into tortures committed by the state during his father’s reign. More recently, Morocco has been accused of torturing Islamist figures suspected of terrorism after suicide bomb attacks killed 45 people in Casablanca on one day in 2003.

“You elect your leaders, you support them, and you can reject them,” says Mr. Othmane. “You don’t have to love your ruler; you love your country.”

Will the movement lose steam?

Some observers predict that the movement will lose steam. Unlike the regimes of other Arab countries, the monarchy in Morocco has a certain legitimacy that can’t be dismissed, analysts say.

“The February 20 movement is finished now, because the king has answered the people’s movement,” says Jawad Kerdoudi, head of the Moroccan Institute of International Relations, speaking by phone from Casablanca.

February 20 has more than 60,000 followers on Facebook and they are calling on people to study the draft of the constitution, but 44 percent of Moroccans are illiterate. Activists are concerned they may be "duped" by the king's speech.

“Change depends on the strength of the movement," says Athman, "its ability to mobilize, to protest on the streets, to keeps its peaceful nature, and for democratic forces to remain united.”

Moroccan tea: The ceremony of hospitality (Part1)

It is the master of the house (or, in his absence, his wife or a wordless lalla will assume the task) who patiently, religiously and with remarkable seriousness prepares tea before you very eyes. While every other dish and platter is lovingly cooked away from praying eyes, tea is keen to be seen. If you made tea in the kitchen, this would be disobeying the rules of hospitality.

Colourful Marrakech

Anyone who's been to Morocco knows of its blinding colours and sense-assaulting smells. Marrakesh's Djemma el Fna souk erupts with vibrant energy, chaotic beauty and characteristic fervour. In the day, get lost amidst its labyrinth-like market, picking out jewels and carpets. By night, the open-air food market roars alive with aromatic snails and sizzling goat head - perfect for the adventurous foodies.

Liverpool FC to make move for Morocco playmaker Adil Taarabt

QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, is reportedly a transfer target for Real Madrid

The 21-year-old has been a key player for Queens Park Rangers this season with his 19 goals helping the London club to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Liverpool have been keen on the Morocco international for some time, but according to Metro, Spanish giants Real Madrid are also showing interest.

Taarabt has allegedly told team-mates of the interest in him from the Spanish capital and although Real are set for a busy summer in the transfer market as they look to rebuild following Tuesday night's Champions League exit at the hands of rivals Barcelona, whether Los Blancos coach Jose Mourinho makes a bid to sign the former Lens player remains to be seen.

Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli is responsible for bringing the highly-rated youngster to England and was involved in his move from Lens to Tottenham in 2007.

Should Liverpool reach a deal with QPR then Spurs are also set to cash in as they are believed to have included a sell-on clause when they sold Taarabt to QPR last summer.