AL MONITOR
A protester, who stormed the PJD party and judicial development headquarters, is carried after clashes with police during a demonstration on employment issues in Rabat, Sept. 3, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Stringer)
By: Abdel Haq Ben Rahmoun posted on Wednesday, Sep 5, 2012
Following the execution of an Algerian diplomat in northern Mali by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), the pro-regime Algerian press focused on a way to distort the truth and add fabrications from unrealistic analyses, as if in a bid to add fuel to the fire.
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Summary:
Algeria’s pro-government press has implied that Morocco is partly to blame for the killing of an Algerian diplomat, Abdel Haq Ben Rahmoun reports, while Morocco’s political season opened with violent protest by opposition activists.
Publisher: Azzaman (Iraq)
Original Title:
Moroccan Political Season Starts with Escalation of Protests and Raid on Headquarters of Justice and Development Party Moroccan Sources: Algerian Intelligence Attempt to Involve Rabat in Killing of Diplomat
Author: Abdel Haq Ben Rahmoun
Translated by: Sami-Joe Abboud
Categories : Algeria Morocco
The press insinuated that Moroccan intelligence agencies shared responsibility for the execution and hinted at a possible link between them and the terrorist group’s activities. This group was established out of separatist elements which, as historically proven, maintain close ties with the separatist leadership in Rabouni.
A statement issued by the Algerian Foreign Ministry on Saturday [September 1] said that they are going to verify the authenticity of statements published by a number of websites regarding the execution of the Algerian diplomat.
The movement announced in a statement published on the Mauritanian News Agency’s website that MUJAO executed on Saturday morning the Algerian diplomat, Taher Touati, after a deadline set by the movement for the Algerian government had passed.
The statement held the Algerian authorities responsible, saying that the government must bear the consequences of its stubbornness and the wrong and irresponsible decisions taken by the president and his generals. At the last minute, the Algerian negotiating team put the decision in the hands of these generals to approve the completion of the agreement.
On the other hand, the first signs of a new [Moroccan] political, social and economic season emerged on Monday [Sept. 3], as doctors from the Ministry of National Education organized a protest in front of ministry headquarters.
According to political experts and analysts, there are indications and expectations that this new season will be particularly eventful, as it will witness further escalation and more protests in the coming days. This escalation is due to rising prices and expectations of anticipated reforms, which had been postponed over the summer holidays. Thus, with the beginning of fall and the new political season, the Benkirane government will have to make quick moves to sooth the anger of the Moroccan public.
In an unprecedented step, the central headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party turned into a base for protests, after headquarters of ministries and parliament had previously been the base of sit-ins. In fact, 20 members of the field coordination network of unemployed graduates stormed the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party in Rabat, resulting in clashes between protesters and private security guards as well as violent confrontations and injuries which included broken bones. Security forces also intervened and four of the intruders were arrested.
Regarding the decision of local authorities in Tangier to forbid a festival for the ruling Justice and Development Party youth organization last Saturday, to be held in a public place, the Interior Ministry released a statement explaining that the principle of neutrality ensures equality and equal opportunities among various political parties competing in partial legislative elections, which are expected to take place early next October in the constituency of Tangier-Asilah prefecture.
The statement adds that the decision of Tangier local authorities neither violates the law nor targets a specific political party. It points out that the resolution confirms the rule of law stipulated by the kingdom’s constitution. The Interior Ministry explained that the organization of this demonstration under such circumstances could lead to bickering between supporters of rival political parties in this election, which could lead to a breach of public order.
Opposition political parties said that the insistence of Justice and Development Party leaders and ministers on organizing this festival — which would include political speeches, be attended by the prime minister, held in a public arena, open to citizens and would take place only two weeks before the electoral campaign — is a flagrant violation of the regulatory laws concerning legislative elections, in particular law No. 27.11 regarding the parliament.
The statement issued by the four opposition parties in Tangier — consisting of the Socialist Union party, the National Rally of Independents, the Constitutional Union and The Authenticity and Modernity Party — said that the actions and statements of the Justice and Development Party leaders and ministers are part of a premature electoral propaganda campaign in the constituency of Tangier-Asilah. They call on the concerned authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure integrity, transparency and equal opportunities for all the competing political parties, before and during the partial elections scheduled for the beginning of October.
