Following the protests in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Iran for the weekend in Morocco and Algeria planned demonstrations. Does the Maghreb before a new revolution? Searching for Clues in Rabat.
About a thousand demonstrators went last Sunday with loud cries the Avenue Mohammed V in the center of the Moroccan capital Rabat up and down. But the visitors in the outdoor cafes along the road appeared like little impressed. "Unemployed," a waiter said tersely, and shrugged his shoulders. "Such protests in recent weeks almost every day," added a member of the Goethe-Institut. Uniformed police officers stood in the roads, and far away from the demonstration, busy with their radios, Officers in plain clothes.
"currently found in Morocco daily eight p.m. protests take place," is reported Communications Minister Khalid Naciri recently to speak, "no more or less than last year." You do not have the impression that "the tensions in other countries" in Morocco, a role played. Outwardly, the government is allowed. In truth, she is nervous. "Events such as Tunisia and Egypt in Morocco is unlikely, but who may in these times even make predictions," says Rashid Meknassi, a law professor at the University of Rabat. "The fall of the Tunisian and Egyptian President, no one had thought possible."
Reform or Revolution?
considerable concern as the Moroccan authorities, scheduled for this Sunday protest in the capital. "These are called the Islamic \u0026lt;Adl wa al-Ihsaan> (Justice and Charity) and groups of the extreme Left and the youth organization from the Internet," said Daoudi Lahser of the strong Islamic Party for Justice and Development PJD. The Vice President of Morocco's lower house is set in his spacious office in the administrative wing of the Parliament building. "No, no, we take no part in the protest," assured the 64-year-old decided. "We are a political party and work within Parliament to political change - step by step." Daoudi know very well: the protesters who go on Sunday on the streets have no sympathy for his cautious. You can not go fast enough. He says: "Oh yes, just like all the youth movement - and your company today. But we have no storm that devastated all you need, just a refreshing breeze. "
The youth groups are called" movement for freedom and prosperity "or" Moroccan youth against corruption and tyranny. " For the time being sind sie nur virtuell als Facebook-Gruppen existent, mit einer Mitgliederzahl von etwas über 10 000. Wie viele es zusammen mit den anderen Gruppierungen genau sind, die sich für einen raschen Wandel einsetzen, ist nur schwer zu sagen. Wie schon in Tunesien werden im Internet Informationen ausgetauscht, diskutiert und vor allen Dingen für die Demonstration am Samstag mobilisiert.
Dazu wurde am Mittwoch auch ein Video auf YouTube gestellt. In dem zweiminütigen Spot erklären vierzehn «normale Marokkaner», warum sie demonstrieren wollen: «Ich gehe am 20. Februar auf die Strasse, weil ich ohne polizeiliche Übergriffe und Korruption leben will.» Sie fordern das Recht auf Bildung, Arbeit, eine kostenlose medical care, a life free from exploitation and a new democratic constitution. It is a spot that looks like a commercial advertising clip, but all attempts to address current problems of Moroccan society.
The majority of Moroccans should feel concerned by such claims. Corruption is pervasive, whether it be traffic controls or with the authorities. "Baksheesh" is paid everywhere. Of millions of dollars, paid in large construction projects, not to mention. According to the World Bank, the country loses five to ten percent of potential gross national income by corruption. And still slams the police, bevor sie Fragen stellt. Fünfzig Prozent der Bevölkerung leben von weniger als zwei US-Dollar pro Tag. Und die Arbeitslosigkeit liegt wesentlich höher als bei den offiziellen dreizehn Prozent.
Trotzdem werden diese Probleme kaum Hunderttausende auf die Strassen von Rabat bringen. Davon ist auch Abdellatif, ein Taxifahrer aus Tanger, überzeugt. «Was bringt das auch. Uns geht es doch heute unter König Mohammed VI. viel besser als noch unter seinem Vater Hassan II. Überall wird gebaut, neue Strassen, Schienen, ein Hafen in Tanger. Der König tut etwas – und wir können reden, was wir wollen.» Der 38-jährige Vater von zwei Kindern, der monatlich etwa 3500 Dirham – umgerechnet gut 400 Schweizer Franken - Deserves represents an average Moroccan. Of course, you would like to complain a little more, but you do not want to. And King Mohammed VI., Who ascended in 1999 after the death of his father's throne, is no enemy to the people. On the contrary: "This is a good man," said Abdellatif, even though he lives in abundance. He happens to be a king. "
The fear of civil war
Unlike the situation in Algeria. Reigns there is no king who can appeal to a centuries-old dynasty. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika arrived in 1999 as a "military man" into office. The army had eight years earlier coup to power, in order to avert an electoral victory of the Islamic Salvation Front, so it caused a more than decade-long civil war with the Islamic fundamentalists, in which more than 120 000 people were killed.
parallel with the revolt in Tunisia is also seen in Algeria to protest. Early January were burned police stations and government buildings. As always the cause of price increases for staple foods such as flour, sugar and olive oil were called, spend an average family needs to forty percent of their income on them. "That alone is regarded as a trigger, something falls short," says Alexander Knippert However, the head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Algiers. ". There is also general dissatisfaction with the Algerian government to corruption or unemployment" Algeria will undertake an annual 55 billion U.S. dollars with an oil and gas exports - but the public sees little of that money.
As in Morocco and in Algeria, a coalition of political parties, trade unions and human rights organizations in a protest march in Algiers has called. On Saturday, the second within a fortnight. A week ago she had stated that it brought about 10 000 people on the street. "From time to time there are more people be," believes Rabah Boucetta from the "Alliance for Culture and Democracy." They would To continue fighting even if 30 to 000 police officers to stop the protest march on Saturday with violence. "And will continue the repression, we will at some point the general strike call," adds the opposition.
The promises of President Bouteflika, the lift for nineteen years, the existing state of emergency, Boucetta considers a red herring. "We want much more. A complete change of power, the dissolution of all elected institutions and new elections under international supervision" The right moment for change has come. "The events in other Arab countries have encouraged us. The international public is on our Side. "However, will take the peaceful transition to democracy" in Algeria, not just a few weeks, as in Tunisia and Egypt. It will be months. "
prevails that a bit of too much revolutionary euphoria? The horrific events from the time of the Civil War are not forgotten. They feed the fear in the population, changes could lead to renewed violence. "When the riots broke out in mid-January and youths from the suburbs with the police beat," recalls Alexander Knippert, "concluded the population simply the shutters." And after the government lowered the price of food again, either immediately ruhig auf den Strassen geworden.
WOZ vom 17.02.2011
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