Moroccan government announces measures to guarantee safety of Moroccans in Spanish locality

The Moroccan government is presently considering measures to guarantee the safety of Moroccans living in the Spanish southeastern town of El Ejido where racist acts have undermined their security.

Spokesman of the government, Khalid Alioua, told the Moroccan 2nd TV channel he talked to Spanish labor minister, Manuel Pimantel who said the Spanish government will do its utmost to restore order in the region and consolidate safety and stability of both the Moroccan expatriate community and of all the region, so that Moroccans can resume their work normally.

Alioua said he expressed to the Spanish official Moroccan worries over the material losses and moral harm suffered by Moroccans in El Ejido, adding that Morocco insists that victims should be compensated.

On Friday, the Spanish government announced that its earmarking 400 million pesetas to finance social assistance projects in the locality.

Spanish entrepreneurs' association in Almeria, near El Ejido, opened a bank account with an initial contribution of one million pesetas ($ 65,000) to be managed by the red cross for victims of racist acts. The association called for contributions from other entrepreneurs, and public and private enterprises to the solidarity operation for local and foreign workers who suffered material losses and physical harms.

They also urged owners of farms not to hire east European workers in replacement of Moroccan workers who went on strike so as not to complicate the situation.