Historic decisions on human rights by Morocco
Morocco, Politics, 10/3/1998

Moroccan sources said today that the consultative council for the human rights ratified a plan for releasing political detainees as well as closing the country's cases in the human right's issue.

This will be made through the demand of releasing 24 detainees did not benefit from the Pardon that was issued by king Hassan II for prisoners of conscience in 1994. Most of the beneficiaries of the new pardon belongs to prohibited Islamic groups.

The sources said that "the consultative council will ask for a list for the fate of 120 persons that disappeared under mysterious circumstances during the sixties and the seventies as well as delivering the families of those who died (70 persons) death certificates and compensations for damages."

Moroccan Human Rights Minister Mohamed Aujjar said the Moroccan government will make shortly a "historic announcement" on human rights issues.

During a colloquy on Moroccan-French partnership held in Paris on the occasion of the visit to France of Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, the minister recalled that in 1994 there was a major royal pardon for 224 political prisoners. He added that it was decided that, except for those who challenge Morocco's territorial sovereignty over the Sahara and persons accused of using arms, all pending cases will be settled, Map reported.

He further announced that Amnesty International will hold its congress in Morocco and the UN High Commission for Human Rights "UNHCR" has decided to open a center for documentation and training in Rabat.

Defending Morocco's record on human rights issues, he added that the government has set up two ad-hoc commissions to settle all pending human rights issues and to harmonize Moroccan laws with international conventions. He insisted that the socialist-led coalition government placed the issue of human rights and consolidation of the rule of law at the top of its priorities.

It was formally announced in the two legislative chambers that the pending issues will be settled shortly, he added, stressing that one of the decisions made by the present government was to re-integrate in their jobs all workers who were fired for their unionist activities.

A Moroccan source informed ArabicNews.com on Firday that Morocco decided to settle all pending issues dealing with the human rights situation in the country, concerning the aspect of those previously lost and kidnapped in the prison of Tanzmamart, destroyed by the authorities years ago.

The sources said that King Hassan II decided to settle all remaining questions to complete the pardon he has issued to all those who were exiled and detained in 1994. At that time, this pardon included number of exiles who were allowed to return, in addition to releasing about 400 persons.

Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi renewed on Thursday Morocco's desire to enforce human rights respect and ensure the sound management of the administration.

"We will see to the respect of human rights and to the sound management of the administration, and we will try to correct the anomalies," Youssoufi told the press following a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac.

To a question on whether he would "do something in Paris" to settle the problem of Abraham Serfaty, an opponent currently living in France, Youssoufi said "it is not in Paris that Serfaty's problem will be settled. It will be settled in Morocco."

Relatedly, Moroccan social development, solidarity, employment and vocational training minister, Khalid Alioua, told French TV5 that the progress that Morocco achieved recently in matters of human rights is the result of a long and exacting work aimed at enlarging and consolidating public freedoms.

Answering a question on the information circulated recently and according to which Morocco is preparing to "recognize the death of 70 persons who were reported missing between 1960 and 1980" and "the imminent release of some 30 political detainees," Alioua, who is also government spokesman, said this is "a natural evolution" and "an act of conciliation of Moroccans with themselves."

Meanwhile, Morocco will hold this October 14-26 a national solidarity week for the struggle against poverty.

The week, to be organized in collaboration with the UN Development Program, seeks to sensitize Moroccans to the importance of solidarity and incite them to contribute to the building of a new culture favoring humanitarian actions.

It also aims to raise funds for the rehabilitation of charity houses and for the improvement of their services and performances.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco to settle all pending human rights issues   (9/30/1998)
  King Hassan grants pardon to 984 prisoners   (8/19/1998)
  King Hassan pardons 1,060 prisoners   (7/8/1998)

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