Commission on compensation for missing and arbitrarily-held persons starts hearing of applicants

The independent commission set up last August by King Mohammed VI to set compensation for missing persons and victims of arbitrary detention will start as of this November 11 its investigations and hearing from concerned persons.

The announcement was made by the commission's chairman, Ahmed Serraj, during a meeting held in Rabat to assess the work accomplished so far by the commission.

Serraj said several applications for compensation were sent by the concerned persons or their legal inheritors and that commission members have been entrusted with investigating the cases, studying the applications and assessing the harm incurred by the concerned persons.

The investigations and the hearing of concerned persons will start as of this November 11. Each applicant has the right to be assisted by an attorney or by a duly-documented relative, he said.

The commission also said it will continue accepting requests for compensation until end of December.

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.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the French national human rights commission is expected in Morocco this Thursday at the invitation of the Moroccan Advisory Human Rights Council "CCDH."

A CCDH statement says the visit is part of cooperation and exchange of expertise between the two bodies. It will also be an opportunity to look into preparations for the fifth international workshop of human rights national institutions to be held in April 2000 in Morocco.