King's decision to create Amazigh institute welcomed by Amazigh cultural associations
Morocco, Politics, 8/6/2001

The National commission of the Amazigh manifesto said it is proud over the decision announced last July 30 by King Mohammed VI to set up a royal institute of Amazigh culture.

The commission expressed hope, in a statement sent to MAP, that the royal decision, which it described as wise, will be put in practice shortly and will be the first step towards the constitutional recognition of the Amazigh language as a national and official language. The commission also hoped that other grievances of the Amazigh movement will be met.

In a related development, the BBC radio station broadcast on Saturday a program on the issue, moderated by a host of Moroccan intellectuals. Ahmed Dgharni, an attorney, said this is undoubtedly a positive step that should be hailed and supported until the institute becomes reality. He also hoped that the Dahir (royal decree) will give large prerogatives to the institute.

In his Throne Day speech, the king announced a project to set up a Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture in a bid to preserve and promote this culture which he considered as a component of national richness.

The institute will promote the Amazigh culture and will participate, along with concerned ministerial departments, in conceiving and following up the process to integrate the teaching of Amazigh language in the Moroccan educational system, the sovereign explained.

The institute will also propose appropriate policies to consolidate the place of Amazigh in the national social, cultural and media space as well as in the local and regional affairs, King Mohammed VI said, adding the move falls in the frame of the new concept of authority meant to enable "the regions of the kingdom to run their own affairs, within local democracy and the unity of the nation."

Several Amazigh (Berber) cultural associations and organizations expressed in a collective statement pride and satisfaction over the royal decision, hailing "the rehabilitation of Tamzight (Berber language) as a component of the Moroccan identity." They also considered the king's speech on his 2nd enthronement anniversary as a program that will usher Morocco in modernity and offer assets for a democratic society able to face challenges of the 3rd millennium.

Recognizing Tamazight as a component of national identity is a historic milestone in the sovereign's will to make of Morocco a space of tolerance, diversity, brotherhood and openness, they said. Rehabilitating Tamazight will open a new era of development of the Moroccan cultural and civilization legacy, the associations said.

The statement was signed by Ouzzin Aherdan, for the youth branch of the National Popular Movement (MNP), Abdelwahed Driouche, for the "Tifinagh" magazine, Moukhliss Moha, for the "Amougguer" cultural association, Ali Alansari for Agraw Amazigh and Mohammed Bouichi for the preparatory committee of the national popular youth congress.

Previous Stories:
  Amazigh cultural associations proud and satisfied over king's decision to create Amazigh institute   (8/4/2001)
  King mohammed pledges to consolidate local democracy, enlarge scope of freedoms, Amazigh Culture Institute   (7/31/2001)
  Political leader against exploiting Berber issue for political ends   (1/3/2001)

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