Weeklies banning was not an easy decision, communication minister
Morocco, Politics, 12/7/2000

Moroccan minister of culture and communication, Mohamed Achaari, said Wednesday the banning of the weeklies Le Journal, Assahifa and Demain, "was not an easy decision nor was it hoped."

The ban was decided after the weeklies published a dossier on the circumstances of the coup d'état of 1972, led by General Oufkir, and a letter reportedly by Fkih Basri, a leftist leader, sent in the seventies to the late first secretary of the USFP, Abderrahim Bouabib, and Abderrahmane Youssoufi, current USFP first secretary, showing they were involved in the coup attempt.

Achaari who was addressing the parliament at question time about the incidence of publishing Fkih Basri's letter said "banning is not pat of our political culture and history." He recalled that those who suffered most of all forms of restrictions, mainly in matters of press and speech freedoms, are now participating in the current government.

He said the government resorted to the law to ban the weeklies after a long period during which it showed tolerance and level-headedness. These weeklies, he said, started their campaign few months ago "with the aim to destabilize the country and harm the Moroccans' feelings and sacred institutions."

The government tried to put an end to these destabilizing acts through dialogue, but in view of persistence in these attitudes, it was compelled to resort to the law, namely article 77 of the press law, Achaari said.

He recalled that these weeklies had "charged the monarchy of plotting with colonialism during the Ecouvillon battle, as they had charged the royal armed forces of plotting against the monarchy in coordination with some political parties, in addition to implicit or clear allegations that those who plotted in the past can participate in plots again.

He insisted that the government will never question the freedom of the press as a right for all but will face any attempt to destabilize the country and will shoulder its responsibility in this respect, whenever necessary.

At a moment everybody is fond of defending the press freedom, the absence of a similar hurry in defending the country's political institutions is deplorable, Achaari said.

Touching on the resort to justice as called for by some mps, Achaari said the sides deeming they had been wronged can go to justice.

The Moroccan government's decision last Saturday to ban the publishing and circulation of the three weeklies, sparked responses from various sides, including political parties, human rights associations, and trade unions. Several sides asked the government to immediately cancel the ban decision that harms, they argued, the freedom of opinion and of speech and consequently the rights guaranteed by the Moroccan constitution and international conventions.

The national press trade union (SNPM) which had voiced in a communiqué its firm opposition to the use of administrative arsenal to decree the suspension, seizure or ban of a publication, and mainly article 77 of the press law, staged on Wednesday a demonstration in front of the communication ministry in Rabat to decry the ban and call the government to reconsider its decision.

The SNPM called again for the abrogation of article 77 and all articles limiting the freedom of speech in general.

Journalists from various press organs and representatives of the civil society who were participating in the protest movement expressed fears to lose the gains scored in matters of freedom of speech.

Previous Stories:
  Weeklies ban still sparks responses   (12/6/2000)
  Youssoufi saddened by attempts to undermine Morocco's credibility   (12/6/2000)
  Benaissa says no pressure on Morocco for Mid-East stand   (12/6/2000)

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