~ NATIONAL UNITY : MOROCCANS LAUNCH CITIXEN'S CALL ~

[HOUDA-K]

12/06/05

A group of political and human rights actors and academicians have launched a "Citizen's call" to the Moroccan public.



Here follows the full text of the call:

The Moroccan public opinion has lately become the target of different kinds of manoeuvres aimed at creating a climate of instability, suspicion and uncertainty, and at questioning Morocco's assets regarding its democratic transition and the establishment of the State of Law in the country.

Driven by their common will to defend the basis of Morocco's democratic experience, Moroccan citizens launch a "Citizen's call", which obviously remains open to everyone who shares the same values.

These assets are the result of a long process of maturation and countless struggles which are themselves the objective and tangible result of the moral contract uniting the various components of Moroccan society.

These last days, the concert of insidious voices, raised here and there against Morocco, has reached a climax. According to them, Morocco is at the edge of the pit.

Revolts are said to be following one another and some even mention the word “intifada.” They say the Moroccan State is in a situation of advanced failure, just about to fall like a ripe fruit into the hands of certain "saviours," who do not hesitate to openly offer their services to a power they used to call "the Great Satan."

We, Moroccan citizens of different political beliefs and professions, want, first of all, to denounce these allegations and insinuations, whether they are direct or indirect.

We testify that despite the objective and real difficulties our country is currently facing, the general climate is sound and pacific.

Of course, sometimes protest movements are suppressed by public forces. But similar excesses are being registered elsewhere as well, including those in the most democratic countries. They remain rare and are generally denounced unanimously and publicly by human rights movements.

Morocco is currently going through one of the most important periods of its history and enters resolutely and with full confidence into this dynamic of change. This deep transformation of large parts of the Moroccan society and economy is fundamentally supported by a series of reforms initiated in the framework of the social contract linking the monarchy and our nation.

In order to further consolidate this progress , we insist that the responsible attitude and the moderation of the Moroccan State is mainly due to the will, wisdom and far-sightedness of King Mohammed VI, especially that he has been targeted directly several times.

We understand that in a transitional period like the one Morocco is currently going through, there is a need to release many frustrations which have gone unexpressed for a long time.

History has shown many times that a transitional period is also a period of restructuring all aspects of national life.

However, going as far as believing that vociferation, excess, lies and distortion can promote their arguments; going as far as playing with the country's territorial integrity, civil peace and political stability and daring to delude foreign powers, are limits only the irresponsible and the ignorant can exceed.

We consider that, over these last few days, some people have simply gone beyond the limits of the most basic patriotism; "basic" good citizenship. Moreover, the most intuitive ethics and the simplest decency have been infringed by certain individuals.

Morocco's democratic transition is by no means in danger, its political stability and national unity even less. A new chance must thus be granted to those who are being misled, to realise what they are doing and rectify their behaviour.

It is therefore directly to them that we talk; to simply ask them to stick henceforth to the rules – both written and unwritten, of ethics and simple decency.

As for those who think they are involved in politics, they should remember that in today's world, the only valid policy is founded on the national union, dialogue, civil peace, democracy and the mobilization of the popular masses for development.

Any policy playing on division, chaos, outdated discourses or demagogy is bound to fail.

Having worked together for an independent, democratic and united Morocco, we reiterate here the right of each Moroccan, of each area and each locality of Morocco, and – more generally – of any component whatever national entity it has, to have its place in the national entity.

But this place is granted on the basis of merit, real and verifiable needs and the possibilities of the nation, which can be expanded by development, and not on the basis of higher bid, blackmail or intimidation.

Taking part in the chants of denigration, the Polisario deemed it appropriate to try to carve out a place for itself in the recent incidents of Lâayoune and Rabat, inviting "the Moroccan elite" to "take up the challenge of peace".

The Polisario was in the beginning a fringe of the Moroccan democratic movement. The internal and external conditions at that time made them a naive cool in the hands of Algerian hegemonic policy.

But today the national and international circumstances have changed. And as a conclusion, here is our answer:

Morocco considers within the framework of its democratic transition an authentic regionalization system granting extended powers to the populations of each area along with their representatives.

Here is your chance to contribute to peace in the region, and to speed up the democratization and development of the country. Here is your chance to participate in creating ideal conditions for the construction of the Maghreb. Seize it, with the one condition that you restrain your autonomy.

We are once again solemnly engaged in continuing the struggle to put the finishing touches to the democratic transition in Morocco and to accelerate the process to render our country a genuine state of law, citizenship, social justice, fraternity and prosperity.

Within this framework, we will always be among the defenders of all public freedoms in general, and the freedom of press in particular. But we will no longer tolerate any party seeking to demoralize public opinion.

We recall that in a State governed by law, there are rights but also obligations applicable to everyone without distinction. Everyone knows exactly that these rights were obtained through considerable sacrifice.

We will also be among the first to demand the implementation of law, without undue zeal or laxity, whenever law is transgressed.

Contact: Ahmed Herzenni: ahherzenni@menara.ma

Your signatures could be sent to: appelcitoyen@yahoo.fr