How Many Years Does A Cambelt Last

King Cool

was ten years ago, Mohammed VI. King of Morocco. He is regarded as more reformist bourgeois king. But the road to a liberal society is still far

last shampooed yet the marble floor, covered by the wrought iron fence in the national colors of green, red and outside on the street curbs repainted. The sumptuous tents had been set up already over a week ago. As always, the "Fete du Trone" everything to be perfect, especially on the 10th Anniversary, the Mohammed VI. today does not celebrate in the capital, Rabat, Tangier, but in his beloved. In a relatively small palace in the suburb of Marshan, of which overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar. Dressed in white, then the ruler of the Alawite riding a horse - accompanied by a servant who holds a parasol over his head - by the elite of his subjects: a mixture of Islamic theologians, ministers, MPs and civil servants. Bowing, they swear obedience to their king.

Ancient Traditions, are actually not the public image of Mohammed VI. . Fit When he in 1999, after the death his father Hassan II, took over the regency, the then 36-year-old was seen as "cooler king". Known was his passion for jet skiing, sports cars, rai-pop and friendship with U.S. rapper P. Diddy, or the French old rocker Johnny Hallyday. An image that the monarch to this day can also cost something. Solely responsible for the maintenance of its fleet, mainly Ferraris and Mercedes, he will spend a year six million, as the Moroccan weekly "Telquel" calculated. Mohammed VI. can afford it, he has one of the 15 richest "Royals" in the world. The U.S. business magazine Forbes placed him 2008 to position seven in the standings, ahead of the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait. Estimated Assets of the Moroccan king: $ 2.5 billion. Five times as much as he had left his father Hassan II a decade ago.

this vast wealth in a country where, according to CIA Fact Book 15 percent of the population live below the poverty line, takes it badly, but hardly anyone. "Even if it is not fair," said Said Naji, 34-year-old manager of a German company in Morocco. "This belongs to a king." More important it was, however, that in comparison to the past everything was much better. "With Mohammed VI. Was more freedom, and our economy is getting better."

brought Indeed, the new ruler when he ascended the throne in 1999, Morocco's reform course. One of his first acts, he caused the dismissal of thousands of political prisoners, invited exiles to return in person, and trusted them to tasks in the reform of the country. In addition, a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission", initiated by the working up of the human rights violations of the "leaden times" (1956-1999) under Hassan II. The chair was Driss Benzekri, a former communist prisoner. The hearings of the commission were broadcast live on national television. "Compared to other Arab countries," said Abdelhay Moudden, political scientist and former member of the Truth Commission, "was the Moroccan How an incredible step. None of the rulers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Syria would tolerate such a commission with him. "

was another milestone in 2004 a new Family Code (Moudawana) belonging to the woman gives much more rights than before, and revolutionary for other Arab countries . For Princess Lalla Salma, wife of Mohammed VI., "a prerequisite for the formation of a democratic society." 2002, the then 24-year-old studying computer scientist married the Moroccan monarch. As the first wife of a king in the history of Morocco, it was the presented in public - without the veil and headscarf, of course. The princess is committed to the fight against cancer and AIDS, speaks as the representative of Morocco in Paris before the UNESCO General Conference or at a meeting of the Arab Women Organization in Tunis. A clear indication of how the royal family imagines a modern woman in a liberal Morocco.

parallel with the political reform has strengthened the infrastructure of Morocco and initiated economic projects. Today, a 1,500 kilometer highway network (under Hassan II, there were 100 kilometers) all major Moroccan cities. A French TGV express trains with locomotives is planned. Near Tangier was made for more than a billion euros, a new Mediterranean port. Dazu eine 500-Quadratkilometer-Industriezone, in der Renault ab 2013 jedes Jahr 200 000 neue Autos produzieren will.

"Die Veränderungen seit dem Beginn der Regentschaft von Mohammed VI. sind enorm", glaubt Khalid Amine, Professor an der Universität in Tetouan. "Sie beschränken sich nicht nur auf Politik und Ökonomie, sondern sind auch sozialer Natur." Damit meint er die Alphabetisierungsprogramme für die rund 40 Prozent Marokkaner, die nicht lesen und schreiben können, sowie die Einführung einer medizinischen Basisversorgung der armen Schichten, die sich keinen Arzt leisten können. Oder auch das Programm zur Beseitigung von Elendsvierteln. Bisher sind 30 Städte für "slumfrei" erklärt worden. Bis The end of 2009 another 50 000 of these disappear hut villages and their residents to be resettled in new houses. The measures in the urban periphery, however, have not only social behavior. The perpetrators of the bombings in Casablanca in May 2003 that killed 43 people, came from such urban slums. With the end of this district want to take the radical Islamists a recruiting base.

apply the bombs in Casablanca as a turning point on the path of liberalization in Morocco. Only eleven days after the attacks in Casablanca by the Parliament to tighten the anti-terror law adopted. Human rights organizations protested strongly against the amendment, the Terrorismus wesentlich weiter fasst und die Todesstrafe für eine größere Anzahl von Delikten vorschreibt. Bis heute enttarnten die marokkanischen Behörden über 50 angebliche Terrornetze militanter Islamisten, die Attentate im In- und Ausland geplant haben sollen. Unter Hassan II. bevölkerten Kommunisten als Systemgegner marokkanische Gefängnisse, heute sind es die Islamisten.

In den letzten Jahren gab es auch immer wieder Verhaftungen und Verurteilungen von Journalisten. Sogar ein Jugendlicher, der "Gott, Nation und FC Barcelona (statt König)" an die Schultafel geschrieben hatte, war von den Behörden in Gewahrsam genommen worden. "Mit insgesamt 25 Jahren Haft und zwei Millionen Euro Geldstrafe sind Journalisten punished in the past decade in Morocco has been, "says a report by Reporters Without Borders. Where is not, however, said that some penalties were in the second instance reduced substantially or even eliminated.

After 38 years of dictatorship under Hassan II some of his followers have not yet grasped that this rigid era is over. "of course, Morocco is still no democracy, but it is on the way to do this, although some try to avoid ever again," said Abdelhay Moudden. "The group of liberalization opponents, sabotage behind the scenes, is very heterogeneous. These include conservative monarchists in the judiciary or in other parts of the state bureaucracy. Aber auch Industrielle und säkulare Militärs, die den althergebrachten Status quo verteidigen." Man brauche mehr Reformen, vor allen Dingen eine Überarbeitung des Strafgesetzbuchs, damit keine Verstöße gegen die Meinungsfreiheit mehr möglich sind. "Aber nach wie vor", fügt Moudden schmunzelnd hinzu, "kann man sich als Marokkaner, im Vergleich zu anderen arabischen Ländern, immer noch ziemlich gut fühlen."