MOROCCO: Antigovernment protesters clash with police

 

Thousands of demonstrators Sunday took to the streets of Casablanca, the country's largest city, in an antigovernment protest police struggled to disperse, driving into the crowd on motorcycles, armed with clubs.

A similar protest in the capital's twin city of Sale on Sunday also was violently disrupted, as was a demonstration in front of the Moroccan parliament Saturday.

 

Morocco's King Mohammed VI and the ruling elite, or makhzen, have so far avoided the massive "Arab Spring" uprisings that have swept other North African and Middle East countries, promising concessions and constitutional reforms in recent weeks as security forces successfully dispersed large crowds.

But protesters have grown both more assertive and organized in recent days, particularly the antigovernment Feb. 20 movement formed in the wake of uprisings in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, which mounted Sunday's protest in Sale. On Sunday, well-known blogger Mamfakinch (which roughly translates as "We won't give up") posted Google maps of the protests online and live blogged their progress with photo and video updates. He posted witness accounts in French, including observations that police allowed pro-regime protests and even mixed with the crowds, but stopped those opposing the monarchy, accosting those with cameras, including journalists. "I can confirm there are wounded, clubbed in alleys," one witness said.

Both photos and videos posted online showed bloodied protesters collapsed in the streets of Casablanca's lower income Sbata neighborhood after allegedly being beaten by police. "Contrary to what has been said, the residents of Sbata do not reject the demonstrations," a witness told Mamfakinch, "I have never seen anything like it!"

 

Activists reported several arrests and more than a dozen injuries, some critical, during the protests, but those reports could not be independently confirmed.

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Cairo

Video: (Top) Protesters take to the streets of Casablanca. (Middle and bottom) Moroccan police attempted to disperse crowds who gathered to protest in Casablanca and other Moroccan cities Sunday against the monarchy and ruling elite. Credit: Mamfakinch/YouTube.

Photo: A Moroccan protester collapsed in the streets of Casablanca's Sbata neighborhood during portests Sunday. Credit: Mamfakinch.

 

 

Comments

[Jamila Darwish]

It's time for the monarchy to change into a constitutional democracy or leave the country to its people. There's no other choice.

[Mounir]

Morocco is another dictatorship that does it not different than Mubarak's Egypt or Tunisia's Benali, unfortunately the US and France are again supporting this regime that will fall sooner or later

[Ghiwane]

[Part 3] The 20 Feb movement is a farce and their contemptuous attitude serves only to highlight their true colours; they are nothing more than a minority dictatorship and the originators of the group have only one true objective: To transform the Kingdom of Morocco into a "socialist" republic - much like Syria, Algeria and what was of Egypt and Tunisia.

Sadly, many reports across the globe continue to paint an utterly distorted picture of Morocco; but the reality of the situation is certainly not going to be affected by the propaganda of the tabloids. However, instead of belittling developing states and continually trying to portray them in a negative light (especially those doing their utmost to work their way up) - massively betraying truth and reality in the process: Why doesn't Molly Hennessy-Fiske inform the readers about the police brutality of the Spanish police (see video below) against peaceful demonstrators who have been calling for REAL democracy in a state which is close to bankruptcy, has a much higher unemployment rate than Morocco and, according to Amnesty International, has 1 in 5 of its citizens living in extreme poverty!? Or doesn't it pay to write real news?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiW-NesA-YM

[Ghiwane]

[Part 2] Morocco's economy represents the most diverse and second strongest in Africa (behind only SA) - and where even major Western economies faltered, Morocco's financial sector stood up strong to the global economic crisis. Morocco still faces a lot of challenges, big challenges - but these things take time and Morocco is certainly heading in the right direction. Misquoting figures is the job of propagandists, real analysts take into account trends and Morocco's have all been shooting upwards. If we continue heading the way we are going, our future is looking more promising than that of even developed states like Spain and Greece!

With all due respect, there are 50 million Americans living under the poverty line, corruption sparked the global economic crisis, more and more graduates in the developed world are struggling to find jobs and low-voter-turnout is a major threat to most democracies in existence, yet Morocco - a developing state - is expected to rise above all these problems? There is a fine line between constructive criticism and the contempt for truth and it's unfortunate that the ideologically driven activists in Morocco refuse to acknowledge any of our progress - in fact, part of their ploy is to stem the tide, after all, it's only through our nations deprivation that they might find some impetus for their otherwise impotent movements. Thankfully, the majority of Moroccans are not naive to their cunning and they've long seen through these infamous sheep in wolves clothing who have never previously contributed to the betterment of the Moroccan society (as JFK famously said: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"). In spite of this, the Moroccan authorities allowed this movement time and space and opened the doors of concession - unfortunately, dialogue is alien to these 'democrats'!

[Ghiwane]

[Part 1] Contrary to what your alleged witness said, the residents of Sbata are firmly against these communists and religious extremists. And as the video below highlights (taken in Sbata directly after the incident above), the majority of Moroccans are in full support of the police crackdown on these social rejects - who have exploited every single provision given to them with no regard for discourse.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YujEsw_1oNU

The ordinary Moroccan is growing increasingly frustrated with the juvenile 20 Feb movement - who only in the figments of their wild imaginations speak in the name of the people. The proof of that is reflected in the petty numbers this so-called democratic group (established by the extreme left and propped up by an outlawed Islamic group associated with the 2003 Casablanca terrorist attack) manages to persuade onto the streets. Morocco is a state accustomed to large scale demonstrations and has often seen millions protest at a time for major issues; across all the towns and cities in Morocco, the 20 Feb movement can only muster a grand total of 30 thousand people - and week in week out their figures are steadily waning. Their movement has been an utter failure and well they know it; but, having watched The Motorcycle Diaries, their egos insist on going out with a bang - or in their words: "Mamfakinch". Heroic if not comical.

Our King is arguably the most popular head of state in any nation and much of the world, famiarly with Morocco, is already aware of the great support his majesty enjoys. The people of Morocco revere the King - who is very much appreciate for his tireless services and efforts to develop a nation which now stands as the primary example for all developing states. Morocco's tenacity and brilliant government led initiatives and programs have earned the nation an advance status with the EU and we've also recently been invited to join the GCC; it is a testament to the competence of the Moroccan authorities, who have throughout the past 10 years done a remarkable job improving all aspects of the countries infrastructure (housing, roads, water supply, electricity, telecommunications, transport, sports facilities etc) without any major natural resource (out-doing even those nations with abundant amounts of oil and gas), that they have been offered these positions.

[Zaki]

This is just western media trying again to tarnish the reputation of the tourist country. At the moment, only a minority who are causing this chaos...majority of moroccans are happy and satisfied with the outcome...the government has invested millions in developing the country, eradicating poverty and crating jobs...Dont know what these people want. Tell me something what has tunisia and egypt achieved? the answer is nothing...the problm is still there full stop.

people should go ack to work and develop the country rather than just moan and riot

http://www.discountedtravels.co.uk

[Mehdi]

I'am just wondering, how is it possible for "Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Cairo" to report about a "MOROCCO: Antigovernment protesters clash with police" without being in Morocco?

[bennani]

as a secular doctor from morocco,i really was shocked when i saw in the hospital the injured demonstrators who were victims of violent and savage repression committed by the moroccan security forces ;just because they denounce corruption,nepotism and poverty.while the friends of the king accumulate illicitly billions of dollars at the expense of the poor and unemployed.Besides,we dont see any reaction from the american administration who the king is an ally;thanks too much LOS ANGELES TIMES for this accurate and objective article;

[Last Night in Orient]

thank you for this objective information !

[Moroccan]

Abdallah seems to be buying into the state propaganda that claims that anti-regime protests are controlled by violent and extreme Islamist and radical group. Same old crap that Zine Abidine Ben Ali, Mubarak, Gaddafi and Bashar Assad claimed time after time in their state owned media. What's even more pathetic is the number of Moroccans who seem to be eating up this sort of crap.

[Dr.Machkour]

Mamfakinch simply mean's no concessions for despotism , absolutism , and tyrany. It's not a violent term' rather a peaceful one. To comment dose not mean to post a lies to defend what is not defendable ! what hapening in the streets of Morocco is a crime against the people right"s to speach and to protest and to demonestrat peacefuly . Their's a wing in the Moroccan Authority that is refusing the King's attitude declared in his speach of 9/9/2011 and the result is what we saw last night on the ground in the streets of Casablanca!!!

[Abdallah.E]

The governement has shown restreint for a long time against a bunch of Islamists as well as kids under 15 and sometimes 10 that have been asking for "democracy".Now what those people really want is set up a strict Islamic society in Morocco.Business owners have suffered greatly by those demonstrations.Most of the sales are done on sunday in those popular neighborhoods. Unfortunately ,they have been invaded by a small number of people that have threatened the store owners and have at time forced them to close or face damages ,thefts,arson etc.. The Moroccan police has a duty to defend its citizens against those thugs . In Los Angeles ,those people will have been litreally beaten to death by the Police. Mafakinch does not mean ,we won't give up.It is rather a violent term used in a physical fight to intimidate somebody.

[hamid]

they were indeed rejected by a bigger demo,all Sbata called the King´s name loud that the movement had only to leave.
the game is ovr for them,the people are now against them.

[Salim Bouzid]

The Moroccan authority is changing its attitude towards the protests in Morocco in an attempt to prepare the ground for the new constitution that is largely rejected by the majority.
Morocco has a long history in human right violation and repression in all its form, including violation of freedom of press. Rachin Nini, a well respected journalist, director of a local newspaper "Al Masae" was recently Jailed because of his sharp criticism to the government and human right violation, and corruption.
Some analysts think that the tipping point that caused the disproportional use of police force in May 22nd was due to the fact that Feb 20th movement tapped into a sensitive issue: the torture of political detainees, and the religious members of Salafists. The torture took place in the secret Zaki prison Located in Tmara, close to Sale. Youtube videos from the Salafists illustrated the various form of torture they were subject.

Few years ago, the palace initiated a reconciliation process with human rights victims that suffered under his father reign (Hassan II). During this process, victims were not allowed to name the perpetrators, many of them are still part of the system. This was pretty much "a quick and dirty version" of reconciliation that was necessary to clean the Monarchy's face and prepare M6 for a long term reign. It worked!

Today the government and the palace wanted another "quick and dirty revision" of the constitution to stop the unrest that swept Morocco and the Arab nation. This time the Moroccans says "No" to the top-bottom approach, they refused a constitution that is cooked by the palace and insist in putting their sole, and finger prints in the new constitution. The Moroccan authority will likely continue with repression, but it is unlikely that the street will give up, especially that close neighbors have gone through the exact same experience, and now are starting democratic governments.