Reconciliation commission 'courageous and daring step' to step up democracy, French Senators
French senators said the Moroccan decision to deal with past human rights violations is "a courageous and daring step" towards reconciliation and making up for past prejudices and democracy consolidation.
The visiting French-Moroccan friendship group senators, at a meeting in Rabat Tuesday with members of the Justice and reconciliation commission (IER), said the setting up of this body to shed light on past human rights breaches perpetrated between 1956 and 1999 and compensate former victims is "an exceptional political act," adding other governments prefer to forget and hide their past.
The senators, headed by chairwoman of the friendship group, Mrs. Paulette Brisepierre and paying since Monday a seven-day visit to Morocco, said the Moroccan experience can be a model of transitory justice, for IER action results contribute to the enhancement of democracy and human rights.
The commission - known by the French acronym IER (instance equité et reconciliation) - started in December of 2004 a series of public hearings, first in Rabat, then in 2005 in Figuig, Errachidia, South-East, and in Khenifra, Central Morocco. It also held hearings in March in Marrakech (Central South), Al Hoceima (North) and Laâyoune (South).
At the meeting with the senators, IER chairman Driss Benzekri told the senators of the actions and the mission of the commission, which was created in January 2004 to seek the truth about the violations and forced disappearances.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Brisepierre held talks with Moroccan Interior minister Al Mostafa Sahel, on the Moroccan democratic experience with emphasis on local governments contribution to social and economic development. The meeting also reviewed issues on illegal migration, terrorism…
The French senators also met peers of the Moroccan Parliament Upper House and members of the French-Moroccan friendship group, to discuss issues of common interest, including the Sahara issue, immigration and entry visas.
