In Casablanca, the pro-democracy “February 20” movement, which called for the protests, said more than 20,000 showed up in the early hours of a rally that began at 11 a.m. The group has not issued a statement about the final estimated number of protesters.
“We want more equality and less corruption,” “We want a king who rules but does not govern,” demonstrators chanted in Casablanca.
In the capital Rabat, protesters were joined by delegations of Moroccans abroad from France and Belgium. A human rights activist who took part in the Rabat rally said that about 10,000 people participated in the demonstrations.
Protests were also staged in the major cities of Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, and Tanagers. The February movement had announced that that 78 cities and towns across the kingdom—of about 32 million people, an estimated GDP of $154 billion, and a per capita income of about $5,000—would take part in Sunday protests.
Inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, dozens of Moroccan youth groups and human rights and civil society organizations came together in mass rallies on February 20, 2011. They called for amendment of the constitution, dissolution of the government and parliament, recognition of the Amazigh (Berber) language as an official language, and an end to corruption.
Defying boycotts by almost all political parties and an intensive smear campaign, the coalition of groups went ahead with their rallies with thousands participating.
Amid fears the protests might gain momentum, King Mohammad VI announced on March 9 a comprehensive constitutional reform. But his announcement was met with larger protests on March 20.
The movement says the King’s speech was short of satisfying its demands, especially since he insisted on keeping his religious authority as the “Commander of the Faithful” in the anticipated constitution.
Sunday’s protests were announced on Facebook, YouTube, and in a show of defiance, even on the national official TV channel.
Several youth members of February 20 movement surprised television viewers last week when they held up placards referring to the planned mass protests during a live broadcast on state TV.
The movement recently released a video on its main Facebook page, which received 47,747 “likes,” showing several people expressing their demands and their reasons for planning protest on Sunday.
“I am Moroccan, I came out on February 20, and I came out on March 20, and I will come out on April 24 to demand the prosecution of those involved in political and economic crimes,” one young man said. “No one should have impunity.”
A second man who identified himself as a student from Fes said, “We are part of the people and we will come out on April 24 to say enough, we can’t take it anymore and to demand that every thief and every criminal who thrives on blood be held accountable and prosecuted.”
A third young man who identified himself as Khalid Tizlin said he was a student from the city of Beni Mellal and had no political affiliation. He said he would take part in the planned protests to call for a democratic and independent press.
In a bid to boost turnout in the capital Rabat, the movement held the protest in a suburban area instead of the city center where there are high poverty and unemployment rates.
Authorities have previously briefly suspended bus transportation between the city center, where protests were held, and the highly populated suburbs.
(Mustapha Ajbaili of Al Arabiya
No comments:
Post a Comment