Commission on compensations for missing persons or victims of arbitrary detention meet

The independent arbitration commission set up on Monday by King Mohammed VI to study compensations for missing persons and victims of arbitrary detention and their rightful claimants held on Tuesday its first session.

The commission comprises three judges, four members of the Human Rights Advisory Council (CCDH), a delegate of the interior ministry and a delegate of the justice ministry. It is chaired by a judge from the supreme court.

Last October, the CCDH published a list of 112 cases of missing persons. A total of 56 of these persons died, 12 others are still alive, enjoying freedom and some of them live abroad. The fate and the identity of 44 others is still unknown.

The CCDH chairman Driss Dahhak read out the advisory opinion that the Council had submitted to the late king last July and stressed that King Mohammed VI, will continue the late king's positive and great initiative in the fields of human rights promotion.

In the advisory opinion which received the approval of the late king, the CCDH had proposed the creation of the arbitration commission to assess compensations for moral and material harm caused to victims of forced disappearances.

Dahhak also referred to the first throne speech delivered by king Mohammed VI on July 30 in which he renewed his firm adherence to consolidating the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

The commission will start studying applications for compensations as of September 1st. Other applications can be submitted up to December 1999.