State is responsible for past violations in Morocco, MP
Morocco, Politics, 3/16/2005

The State, with all its institutions and apparatuses, is responsible for the human rights violations committed in the past, said, on Tuesday, Moroccan deputy Driss Lachgar, calling for reforms to consolidate the rule of law.

The deputy was speaking at the 5th session of dialogue held by the Commission of Equity and Reconciliation (IER), that looks into human rights breaches committed between 1956 and 1999.

The session analysed the role of legislative, executive and legal authorities in fighting human rights violations, and debated the reforms that are necessary for the consolidation of the rule of law.

Lachgar hailed at the session IER's approach that links turning the page of past violations to reforms and to strengthening of democratic transition.

He insisted, in particular, on the need to reform justice and broaden the scope of legislative action.

IER member, Ahmed Chaouki Benyoub, said the Commission, as an intermediary institution between the State and society, hopes its final report, that will be submitted to the king, will serve as a guide for the promotion of human rights and the institution of global reforms in the upcoming decade.

Benyoub said Morocco has made remarkable strides in the promulgation of laws and in the legal realm, deploring, nevertheless, some "dangerous" regressions.

The IER member recalled that the Commission is currently investigating cases that have not been elucidated, and that it is trying to throw light on the fate of victims of disappearances and to define the responsibility of public authorities.

On his part, journalist and author, Mohamed Larbi Messari, believes that two factors are responsible for the violations committed between 1956 and 1999, namely the lack of genuine democratic institutions and the amendments made to allow for more repression, notably the law on public liberties of 1958 and the penal code.

Participants in the dialogue session were unanimous on the need to introduce reforms, particularly in the realm of justice.

Deputy Abdellah Baha, who believes that justice does not enjoy total independence compared to executive authorities, insisted that citizens can only regain trust through the reform of justice.

IER dialogue sessions, that started on February 15, are organized in parallel to the public hearings into human rights breaches.

They are meant to involve the civil society and the public opinion in a reflection on means to consolidate the rule of law and liberties protection so that human rights violations do not occur again.

Previous Stories:
  IER holds new public hearings in Marrakech   (3/14/2005)
  Political, economic advances in Morocco highlighted at Oxford University   (3/12/2005)
  IER to resume public hearings on past human rights violations in Morocco IER to resume public hearings on past human rights violations in Morocco   (3/9/2005)

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