one word: REVOLUTION

zondag 13 maart 2011

Morocco Revolution song! From February 20th to March 20th!

Sad message from my friend Hamza..

My friend Hamza who was protesting in Casablanca today was asked if he was ok.

He gave this answer...

Quick translation:

'I am not ok, when I just saw them beat the teeth out of a 13 year old child who was saying 'Peaceful Peaceful until we reach freedom'

It's not ok when they stepped with boots on my teacher.

It's not ok When they broke my friend Rahims hand.

It's not ok when they have been beating me and other people until we could not see anymore.

It's not ok when they broke my camera.

It's not ok when they slapped people, broke people and made them bleed'.

لست بخير أختي وقد رأيتهم يكسرون أسنان طفلة 13 عام كانت تنادي بــ:"سلمية سلمية حتى تحقيق الحرية_ بالزواطة
لست بخير أختي وهم شتفوا على أستاذي رشد بأحذيتهم الغليظة
لست بخير أختي وهم كسروا يد صديقي رحيم بزواطاتهم
لست بخير أختي وهم ضربوني وضربوا الناس إلى أن فقدت بصري
لست بخير أختي وهم كسروا كاميرتي التي استلفتها
لست بخير أختي وهم صفعوا الناس وكسروا الناس وأدموا الناس،

ختي زينب
لست بخي

Some pictures of injured protesters in Casablanca, Morocco

I think the reply of the King to the protests that have been taking place the last months en weeks was not the seven silly principles that should be changed in the constitution but the brutal crack down today.

Today in Casablanca protesters kept chanting 'Selmiya, selmiya' 'peaceful, peaceful'. But I think the plice officers did not speak arabic.

Over 150 protesters were arrested and double got injured..

Here are some pictures of injured protesters..

woensdag 9 maart 2011

How the King tried to fool us again

The King of Morocco has spoken to his people. I wonder though how many people actually understood what he was saying. Considering 40% of the Moroccans can't read or write but even worse they don’t know what is in the constitution. Personally I didn’t understand too much of what he said.

For the poor, who need change the most, the promises the king made today won’t make a difference.

All this below really doesn’t matter when the King keeps appointing family members and friends as cabinet members and when protesters are being beaten at peaceful protests.

This was speech number two by The King and the speeches only seem to encourage the people to protest. I think the King wanted to play it smart by 'answering the call for change'. The Constitution has thirteen chapters and one of them, 'Monarchy", has 34 articles and the king only wants to change seven? Let's just say I am looking forward to speech number 3 so we can get it over with.

Thanks to Hishaam_G (who made this a lot more clearer) and with his help I made this summary of what the King said:

For the whole speech visit http://lakome.com/politics/78-news-politics/3119-2011-03-09-20-37-09.html

1. Acknowledgment of the cultural diversity of the kingdom.

“The constitutional recognition of the plurality of Moroccan identity united and rich diversity of its tributaries, and heart which include the Amazigh, the common heritage of all Moroccans without exception.”

2. To strengthen righteous state and respect personal freedoms.

“The consolidation of the rule of law and institutions, expanding the scope of individual and collective freedoms and guarantees of their implementation and strengthening the system of human rights in all their dimensions, political economic, social, cultural, environmental and development issues.(…)

2. To guaranty independence of the judiciary/judicial reforms.

“The desire to establish Justice, amongst independent power and strengthen the powers of the Constitutional Council, the aim being to strengthen the rule of the constitution and to consolidate the supremacy of law and equality of all before it.”

3. Separation of powers, strengthening parliament.

“The consolidation of the principle of separation and balance of powers and the deepening of democratization, modernization and rationalization of institutions.” (…)

4. Create mechanisms to strengthen representative role the parties.

“The strengthening of bodies and tools constitutional guidance to citizens, particularly through strengthening the role of political parties in the framework of effective pluralism and the strengthening of the status of the parliamentary opposition and the role of civil society.”

5. Reform of the public service based on accountability.

“The consolidation mechanisms moralization of public life and the need to link the exercise of authority and responsibility or mandate to the imperatives of public control and accountability.”

6. Institutionalization of principles of good governance.

“The constitutional bodies in charge of good governance, human rights and civil liberties.”

Constitution of Morocco, Chapter 2 which is a joke really..

So here is Chapter 2 of the Moroccan constitution but I don't have to add anything only that.. it really needs some serious changes..

Because there is one particular person who has just a little too much power ;)

For the complete constitutions check out this website:

http://www.al-bab.com/maroc/gov/con96.htm

Inspired by Mamfakinch
http://mamfakinch.com/feb20-fonctions-du-roi-selon-lactuelle-consti

Enjoy.. I guess ;)

CHAPTER TWO

MONARCHY

The King, "Amir Al-Muminin"(Commander of the Faithful), shall be the Supreme Representative of the Nation and the Symbol of the unity thereof. He shall be the guarantor of the perpetuation and the continuity of the State. As Defender of the Faith, He shall ensure the respect for the Constitution. He shall be the Protector of the rights and liberties of the citizens, social groups and organisations. The King shall be the guarantor of the independence of the Nation and the territorial integrity of the Kingdom within all its rightfull boundaries.

Article 22: The King shall be entitled to a Civil List.

Article 23: The person of the King shall be sacred and inviolable.

Article 24: The King shall appoint the Prime Minister. Upon the Prime Minister's recommendation, the King shall appoint the other Cabinet members as he may terminate their services. The King shall terminate the services of the Government either on his own initiative or because of their resignation.

Article 25: The King shall preside over Cabinet meetings.

Article 26: The King shall promulgate a definitively adopted law within the thirty days following its receipt by the Government.

Article 27: The King may dissolve the two Houses of Parliament or one thereof by Royal Decree, in accordance with the conditions prescribed in Articles 71 and 73.

Article 28: The King shall have the right to deliver addresses to the Nation and to the Parliament. The messages shall be read out before both Houses and shall not be subject to any debate.

Article 29: The King shall, by Royal Decrees, exercise the statutory powers explicitly conferred upon him by the Constitution. Royal Decrees shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister, with the exception of those provided for in Articles 21 (Paragraph 2), 24 (paragraphs 1, 3 and 4), 35, 69,71, 79, 84, 91, 99 and 105.

Article 30: The King shall be the Commander-in-chief of the Royal Armed Forces. He shall make civil and military appointments and shall reserve the right to delegate such a power.

Article 31: The King shall accredit ambassadors to foreign nations and international organisations. Ambassadors or representatives of international organisations shall be accredited to him. The King shall sign and ratify treaties. However, treaties committing State finances shall not be ratified without having been approved under the law. Treaties likely to affect the constitutional provisions shall be approved in accordance with the procedures prescribed for the modification of the Constitution.

Article 32: The King shall preside over the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, the Supreme Council of Education and the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction and Planning.

Article 33: The King shall appoint magistrates in accordance with the conditions prescribed in Article 84.

Article 34: The King shall exercise the right of granting pardon.

Article 35: Should the integrity of the national territory ever be under threat or should any event interrupt the course of action of the constitutional institutions, the King shall, after consulting with the President of the House of Representatives and the president of the House of Counsellors as well as the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, and addressing the Nation, have the right to declare a State of Emergency by Royal Decree. Notwithstanding all contrary provisions, he shall hence assume the responsibility of taking all the necessary measures for the country's defence and the restoration of a normal functioning of constitutional institutions and State affairs. The State of Emergency shall not entail the dissolution of the Parliament. The State of Emergency shall be terminated according to the same procedure followed in the proclamation thereof.