Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 12/20/2004
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of December 20, 2004
- Over US$ 550 million extended in micro-funds in Jan-Sept 2004
The total amount of micro-credits extended between January and September 2004 has reached 5 billion Dirhams (over US$ 550 million), marking a progression of 47% compared to 2003, says the Moroccan federation of micro-credit associations. Morocco, Economics, 12/25/2004 - Morocco, Gabon examine relaunch of FTA negotiations
Morocco and Gabon might relaunch negotiations to establish a free trade zone with view to reinforcing trade exchanges and promoting economic integration with countries of central Africa. Morocco-Gabon, Economics, 12/25/2004 - Great Britain, Morocco's third largest outlet, Ambassador
The United Kingdom is the third largest outlet of Moroccan exports and the rate of coverage of Moroccan imports by exports has reached 131.9% which is the highest rate in the last five years, said British ambassador in Morocco Haydon Warren-Gash. Morocco-UK, Economics, 12/25/2004 - New visit exchange between families in southern Morocco and Tindouf
The 29th visit exchange between families in Morocco and their relatives in Polisario-controlled camps in southern Algeria was organized Friday from and to the Moroccan city of Laayoune. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Morocco denounces 'irresponsible statements' of Canary Islands official on illegal immigration
Morocco's Directorate of Migration and Borders Surveillance refuted firmly on Friday the "irresponsible statements" of president of the Spanish local government of Fuerteventura who "accused Morocco of being responsible for the phenomenon of illegal immigration." Morocco-Canary Islands, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Revisiting past human rights violations to win the bet of the future, intellectuals and political leaders
Several intellectual and political leaders deemed that making a "mature reading" of past human rights violations is a "pedagogical instrument" to turn the painful pages of the past and face the future with more confidence. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Ahmed Herzenni: I am a not a victim but a militant opposed to all forms of injustice and exploitation
"I am not a victim but a militant opposed to all forms of injustice, exploitation and arrogance," said former detainee Ahmed Herzenni, as he testified in the 2nd session of public hearings broadcast live on Wednesday by the Moroccan first TV channel (TVM). Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Former detainee Abdellah Aaqaou calls for turning the page of human rights violations in Morocco
Abdellah Aaqaou, who was detained in the Tazmamart center, called in his testimony during the 2nd session of the public hearings held, on Wednesday, in Rabat by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), for turning the page of human rights violations in Morocco and for involving all the components of the civil society in order to promote a sound and abuse-free atmosphere of co-existence. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Hidou Abdallah calls for reassuring Moroccans that human rights violations will not occur again
Former detainee Hidou Abdallah insisted on Wednesday in his testimony, held part of the second session of public hearings held by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), that past human rights violations should never occur again, so that Moroccans "can live in the respect of their rights and freedoms." Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Mostapha El Amrani describes atrocious detention conditions after independence
Former detainee, Mostapha El Amrani, testified on Wednesday in Rabat, in the framework of the public hearings held by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER) on the atrocious torture and ill-treatments he suffered during his detention in the wake of independence. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - 'Our torturers did not respect our woman nature', says former female detainee
Former political detainee, Maria Zouini, who was arrested in 1977 for belonging to a Left Marxist group, affirmed Wednesday her torturers "did not respect her as a woman," adding that the period of her detention was "arbitrary." Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Saleh Saadallah reports various forms of mistreatment
Former detainee Saleh Saadallah, a victim of past human abuses in Morocco, devoted his testimony, at the second public hearing Wednesday, by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), to the abuses and mistreatments he underwent at the time of his detention in 1963 at the police station of Maarif, Derb Moulay Chrif, in Casablanca. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Drop in fertility behind decrease of demographic growth in Morocco (census)
The annual average of demographic growth in Morocco has dropped from 2.1pc in 1982 to 1.4pc currently, notably due the decrease in fertility, according to figures released by the High Commissioner for Planning that estimated the Moroccan legal population at nearly 30 million inhabitants. Morocco, Local, 12/24/2004 - Morocco, Spain organize joint patrols to crack down on illegal immigrants Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/24/2004
- Over 7.6 tons of Chira seized north-eastern Morocco Morocco, Local, 12/24/2004
- Spanish Settavex to invest $71.4 million in Moroccan textile sector
The Spanish textile company Settavex signed, here Thursday, with the Moroccan government an accord providing for 634 million Dhs ( $71.4 million) investment in the textile sector. Morocco-Spain, Business, 12/24/2004 - Victims of Human rights deliver poignant testimonies of sufferings
The first testimony was made by Fatma Aït Ettajer whose son Hassan Semlali was detained in 1974 among the Serfati group. The woman, aged over 70, recounted how families of victims of arbitrary detention have experienced a moral and material plight, after their sons and daughters were kidnapped and transferred from one detention center to another. Morocco, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Hearings of HR abuses victims: Morocco starts unique experience in Arab-Islamic world
On his part president of the human rights documentation center, Habib Belkouch, said he was deeply moved by "the historic moment," stressing that the unique way in which the issue of human rights is addressed in Morocco is an evidence to a political will to move forward in the democratic construction. Morocco, Politics, 12/23/2004 - ICTJ welcomes start of public hearings for victims of human rights abuses in Morocco
The IER is the first truth commission to be established in the Middle East and North Africa region and the public hearings will provide victims with the "opportunity -- unprecedented in the region --to tell their stories before an official body," said the New York-based ICTJ in a release Morocco, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Sahrawi sequestered in Tindouf camps decides to stay in Morocco
Babaha Ahmed Hammoud, currently in Morocco as part of the visit exchange program between families in southern Morocco and their relatives in Polisario-controlled camps, decided to "stay with his family in Dakhla (southern Morocco) and not return to the camps," said the Office of coordination with Minurso (French acronym for the UN mission in the Sahara) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Madrid attacks: Moroccan charged with 191 murders
A Spanish judge ordered on Tuesday night that Moroccan national, Hassan El Haski, arrested last Friday in the Canary Islands, be put under provisional detention for suspicion of participating in last March's terrorist attacks in Madrid. Morocco-Spain, Local, 12/23/2004 - Morocco accounts for about 29.9 million inhabitants
The population in Morocco has reached 29.891.708 inhabitants, including 29.840.273 Moroccans and 51.435 foreigners, that is a 14.6 percent increase compared to 1994, announced on Wednesday the High Commissioner for Planning. Morocco, Local, 12/23/2004 - About 7 tons of drugs seized in Casablanca port
Customs services in Casablanca port seized Monday 6.79 tons of drugs worth 67,95 million Dhs (around US $7.55 million). Morocco, Local, 12/23/2004 - Public hearings into past human rights breaches start in Morocco
The hearings, organized by the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (known by its French acronym IER), are broadcast on the two Moroccan TV channels as well as the satellite channel 'Al Maghribia' so as to give the Moroccan public opinion an opportunity to know about past human rights violations that marred the post independence Morocco until 1999. Morocco, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Asharq paper: any attempt to undermine Morocco's integrity will destabilize North Africa
Any attempt to separate a part of the Moroccan territory will lead to the destabilization of North Africa and will undermine peace and stability in the region, wrote the Qatari newspaper "Asharq." Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Kindergarten employee and French man get 5 years each for paedophilia
The court of appeal of Rabat on Monday evening sentenced, in two separate cases, to five years in jail and a fine of 30,000 MAD (US$ 3,333) an employee of a Rabat kindergarten for raping a child and handed out a similar prison term against a 53-year old French national, accused of raping over 10 teens. Morocco, Local, 12/22/2004 - King Mohammed VI launches project of the new city of 'Tamansourt'
The project, stretching on a 1180 Ha area, aims at meeting the needs of the population in terms of housing while preserving the special character of the city of Marrakech. Morocco, Local, 12/22/2004 - Three Moroccan ex-Guantanamo detainees get provisional release
The Court of Appeal of Rabat has granted provisional release to three of the five Moroccan ex-Guantanamo detainees who were handed over last August to Moroccan authorities. Morocco, Local, 12/22/2004 - Public hearings of human rights abuses victims, braced to initiate reconciliation in Morocco
The public hearing sessions of victims who suffered from human rights abuses in Morocco in the period running between Morocco's independence (1956) and 1999 are braced to constitute a remarkable stage to start reconciliation of Moroccans with their past, in a first experience of the kind in the Arab-Islamic world. Morocco, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Moroccan delegation sheds light on Sahara question in Colombia
A delegation from the southern Moroccan region of Oued Eddahab-Lagouira shed light, during a recent visit to Columbia, on the latest developments of the Sahara question. Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Morocco arrests six persons accused of advocating terrorism
Six men accused of being members of a banned group "Attakfir Walhijra" were arrested and referred to the court of appeal of Rabat for advocating terrorism. Morocco, Local, 12/21/2004 - Morocco, EU sign accord on funding program of Borders Control Management
Morocco and the European Union (EU) signed, in Rabat Monday, a convention, providing for 40 million Euro to fund Morocco-EU program on Border Control Management. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Benaissa in Tripoli to take part in UMA FMs meeting Libya-Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2004
- FIDH welcomes public hearings into human rights abuses in Morocco
Around 200 victims, families of victims and witnesses of violations are due to participate in the hearings, which are scheduled to take place in 10 different cities, starting in the capital, Rabat, over a period of around 10 weeks. Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Morocco needs to open up on nuclear technologies, minister
The Moroccan economy needs to open up on nuclear technologies because of the energy bill, said on Friday Moroccan Minister of National Education, Higher Education, Cadres Training and Scientific Research. Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Morocco, Senegal sign series of cooperation agreements
The accords are meant to encourage bilateral cooperation in training, information and experience exchange, and improve the quality of services in prisons to facilitate inmates reinsertion in social life. Morocco-Senegal, Politics, 12/20/2004