Morocco's Spring Blows out its First Candle Noureddine Boutahar

Morocco's February 20th Movement (F20M) will blow out its first candle tomorrow. The movement is spearheaded by young people with no particular political allegiance and is inspired by other protests in the MENA region, and is triggered by social, economic, and political frustrations that have plagued the country for decades. It has been a year now that people are shouting out loud for real democracy, dignity, justice, and transparency, but their demands seem to fall on the deaf ears of a stubborn Makhzen (ruling elite) which has used every trick in the book to circumvent these demands, fight the movement, and muddy its image.
It has been a year now and Morocco is still at a point where two roads diverge in spite of much ado about change and reform. The centuries old Makhzen mentality still persists and there are no indications that it will change soon. The Makhzen has not made any concessions but only fidgeted in its seat to make itself more comfortable and tighten the grip. The decisions are still made behind the curtains by a mysterious Makhzen that has always hidden its face from the gaze of public accountability. The Moroccan soccer coach's salary case exemplifies the Makhzen institution's modus operandi. This refusal to disclose the coach's salary and all the tergiversations is a message from behind the scenes that the Makhzen has the final say in every nook and cranny and will not pander to all the wishes of the people lest they ask for more. Keeping things in the dark often serves the vested interest of that Makhzen either directly or indirectly.
It has been a year now and the Makhzen is loath to admit its mistakes and make amends. It has placed the country at a crossroad where it is neither a dictatorship nor a real democracy. The country still has opinion and pen prisoners and persecutees. The country still suffers from lack of transparency, embezzlement, nepotism, red tape bureaucracy, tax evasions, income divide, successive price rises, and rentier economy to mention only a few problems which need no more than strong will and determination to be solved or alleviated. The country is still at the mercy of a perversely unyielding Makhzen, lurking in the shadows and operating there. The country is still at the mercy of corruption which is “the real maestro in this country”, to use Abdellah Damoun’s words in today’s Almassae newspaper.
It has been a year now and I still have a misgiving that the Makhzen has its heart and soul in the reform. There are inside the Makhzen institution many who put spokes in the wheel of change because their interests conflict with the reform aspirations of the people. By so doing, however, they ironically fan the flames of anger and perpetuate frustration and instability. Frequent country-wide protests and self-immolations bear witness to the frustration and dissatisfaction of people with the pace, quality and quantity of change that is taking place. On the other side, F20M does not trust the Makhzen's intentions on tackling the pressing issues and does not seem to be leaving the scene anytime soon, which will keep both sides in a kind of "prisoner's dilemma" for a long time.
It might be argued, however, that the movement has not achieved any breakthrough of any significance, which calls the value of the movement into question. But looking at it from a larger perspective, one may find notable positive achievements: For example, the Movement's protests have pulled down the decades-long wall of fear of the Makhzen (one of the classic triads of fear in Morocco: Makhzen, floods, and fire). It has also exposed the magnitude of corruption in this illiteracy-stricken country as well as its main figures. Besides, the movement has precipitated the release of some 'opinion' prisoners and brought Islamists into power - a dream come true for a party with a religious reference. Last but not least, it has been able to "awaken the political consciousness of Moroccans" as Ahmed Benshemssi said.
It might be said, also, that Morocco has a new 'democratically' elected government, which strips F20M protests of their legitimacy and value. However, this can be countered that the current government has limited power to resolve the country's multiple and age-old issues. USFP is still there to confirm that the Makhzen is adept at burning political parties’ fingers, and at using them as shock absorbers in times of need to weather the storms and deflect pressure. Also, because democracy is taken and not given, F20M can act as the rightful custodian of the promised change that's dripping instead of moving normal speed.
The way the reforms are being carried out reminds me of a Moroccan bon mot which had its origin in the following anecdote:
Once, a knight led his men off to fight with a neighboring tribe. It was not long before news came that the knight had been the first to be killed. Upon hearing this, everyone in the tribe was surprised. Everyone, that is, except the town fool. "That guy was riding lopsided when they set out," he exclaimed. Ever since, this statement has been used to describe any endeavor that starts off on the wrong foot.
I sincerely hope to be wrong on this; that is, I hope the new government is not "riding lopsided". I also hope this new government will be given enough power, authority and jurisdiction to deal with the long-standing issues that rile the public most in order to restore people's trust and confidence in its institutions. I finally hope the government pushes the pedal to the metal because we have wasted too much time and because, in Ahmed Al Hafnaoui’s terms, “We have aged” waiting for Godot.

Moroccan Makhzen plays chicken (Noureddine Boutahar)

"Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law." (Oliver Goldsmith)
It’s really disappointing and frustrating how those against the new constitution are treated and fought by the ruling elite (Makhzen). To my mind, people who seem to be against the constitution or who have reservations about it have adopted such an attitude as a reaction against the rotten mentalities in the ruling elite who claim they own absolute truth and exclude dissenting opinion and prevent others from voicing their opinion. It is also a reaction against the ruling elite's attempts to contain and hijack what I call the Moroccan Spring Movement.
Soon after the king’s speech on 06/17/2011, the Makhzen resorted to its antiquated practices of provocation against opposing activists in the streets and public squares using goon squads, repudiation and exclusion of different opinions, and biasing the rules of the campaigning game. Practices like these have disturbed and interfered with all attempts to build and reform this dear country for more than half a century. No harm in letting things go their normal course and pace instead of acting like a crow that picked its baby’s eye trying to kiss it – look how they are tarnishing the image of the country on the Internet. Be reassured, though, the constitution will be voted by a comfortable majority for the reasons we all know (illiteracy is the first in the list, and that’s why there has never been a real educational reform in this country).
I personally have no problem with the constitutions (old or new one). The problem is with these rotten mentalities, as I said earlier, which will not do any good to the country even if you provide them with the American Constitution (7 articles and 27 amendments that took two years to be debated and voted on). This ruling elite will never let go their powers, mindsets and prerogatives and privileges unless under duress. They will never be willing to apply and enforce the law and make EVERYONE obey the rules and be accountable. So, the new constitution will have no authority if it is put (and it seem it will be put) in the hands of the same people and antiquated institutions and organizations that abused the old ones. These include the political parties which had the opportunity to rule the country and gave bad account of themselves; the unions which have run out of steam and members and alienated all the working classes because they have sold out the employees to the politicians; and the associations and organizations whose interest is only fame and filling their coffers.
The constitutional debate has excluded the real change seekers of Morocco and included only unrepresentative political elite. These elite have not been part of the movement that led to the March 9th speech and eventually to the drafting of the new constitution. So why should they be trusted with it? They are up there ready to parrot whatever gets them some (political) favor and to applaud in expectation of something in return (though they haven’t lived up to their constituencies’ expectations)
Leftists, Islamists, and all Feb. 20th Movement young citizens who constitute a growing proportion of Moroccan population are a result of rejection and exclusion by the country’s political parties and structure. These political parties have not implemented democratic practices within their own structures let alone ask for its implementation in a country they view as a cash cow that enables them to live lavishly at the expense of development, transparency, and democracy. Oppression, wealth gaps and social inequality issues etc are election gimmicks produced and sold only during election period to more than 60% helpless illiterate Moroccans. Election period is the time of political theater and grandstanding. It is always time to throw accusations right and left and to fight the "Don Quixote battle" against the windmills: They eat fat tail with the wolf and cry with the shepherd.
It is almost impossible to imagine the executioners of yesterday – used to operating with impunity – to simply stand up and watch democracy move its pace and fashion forward. They are scared of democracy as bats are scared of light. They are afraid they might lose the lap of luxury and wastage as well as their uncontrolled and unfettered abuse of power. This morbid attachment to power and alienation of all sides is a chicken play because the wind of change has begun to blow and has turned irreversible tides.
"Nothing endures but change," said Heraclitus. So, our ruling elites should be prepared for the certainly coming change and make necessary concessions to save their face and hide. The old game of betting on time to heal the old large and deep wounds is an illusion at this time and age. They should show concrete signs of commitment and willingness to engage in genuine political reforms. They should release whistle-blowers, journalists and all political and opinion prisoners and detainees. Journalist Nini and his Almassae is an example of a model of free and committed press which will play a role in the passage to real democracy. Also, the state should be a real role model and abide by the law if it wants the citizens to do so and not allow itself “in the sins it condemns in others”. The Makhzen should also know that committed, visionary, and competent young leaderships and officials, as well as true and correct institutions, will get the best out of this constitution while waiting for a better and improved one. Hopefully, in Geoffrey Chaucer words,“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” Last but not least, they should not try to abusively change the history and ethnicity of the country: Amazigh language hasn't been given its due place, attention, and importance yet. It's still lagging behind.

Moroccan Parties About-face (Noureddine Boutahar)

Most political parties, unions, associations, and all the profiteers who have been riding the Moroccan gravy train for almost a century disparaged February 20th Movement and gave it a stinkeye at the beginning. They all repudiated these youth and avoided them as if they were scabby with mange. They used the media to mock the movement and demonize it by portraying and spreading an untrue image about its members. But as soon as the king announced "to undertake a comprehensive constitutional reform" everybody did an about-face and changed their speech. What had been criticism became praise, and blame changed into acclamation. They did so 'under duress and not willingly' (Mokrahun akhaka la batal), of course.
What is worse, though, is the attitude of many associations and most political parties which now want to appropriate the movement and hijack the 'revolution'. They have appointed themselves chief negotiators on behalf of the youth and on behalf of the Moroccan people as a whole on constitutional reform. The political parties, for example, which do not represent the people mathematically in view of the low turnout of the last elections and low membership are forcing themselves into the movement's seat to steer the country into a darker and uncertain future.
The Moroccan people have abandoned these political parties as a result of their attitudes towards the people's demands and because of their involvement in the distortion of the political life in Morocco. These political parties, associations and unions are responsible for most of the political, economic, and social problems of the country. The greatest crime they committed against the Moroccan people is that the had no vision and no aspirations beyond the interests of the big heads and the few infamous elite.
It is really disappointing to see vociferous and acerbic 'heros'and 'militants' of yesterday become tamed with money, positions and jobs. It is depressing and disheartening to see yesterday's 'symbolic figures of militancy' turn now into "paper tigers" - to use Mao Tse Tung's words.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said, “A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.” In our case, it's the fault of both because the people too have long believed the honeyed promises and speeches of these guys who want to, in Rachid Nini's terms, "abort the revolution of the people and the king". They will do their best to abort the revolution because they don't represent the people, they are far from the people, they are not interested in the people, they have no practical political agenda, and they do nothing but swim with the tide. But because they have grown older, frail and weak, they will undoubtedly be carried away by the tide of time.
Change is coming, though, beyond any shadow of doubt and tomorrow will definitely not be like yesterday because the people and the king want change, and because times have changed. All we have to do now is offer funeral prayers for the political parties, associations, and unions of yesterday. Let's also cross our fingers and hope a new and young generation of leaders will rise up from the multi-ethnic streets of Morocco to lead the country to a better future and to a democracy based on equality regardless of family name or origin.

The chickens have come home to roost. (Noureddine Boutahar)

I am taking some time out of my busy schedule to write down my thoughts about what is taking place in the Arab World these days because it is really the Arab World's watershed moment.
There are frustrated people everywhere in the world, but the Arab World has the worst-ever kind of frustration. The people in these rich countries have been put in “a boiling pot with a tight lid” for so long. The pot, however, has blown up the kitchens of Tunisian and Egyptian leaders and it is shaking that of a few others. These poor people were put there by their rulers and the West and shadow governments have been blowing on the fire, and the result is what you see today in some of these countries.
The Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions’ message is clear and they are asking for something exclusively human, I guess: freedom, democracy and a better life. That’s what people are standing up for there in Egypt right now. They want their economic rights, their dignity, and the right to rule themselves. They want real reform because they’ve had enough of fake reforms and make-up. They’ve had enough of make-believe elections and parody institutions. They’ve had enough of committees “where investigations go to die”. They’ve had enough of unkept promises and eternal waiting-rooms (country) where their dreams fade and die.
People there are fed up to the back teeth with the fallacy that they are not ready for democracy yet. They are fed up of being considered under age, unsophisticated, and not mature enough for democracy.
The wind of change is blowing through the oil-rich Arab world because people are sick and tired of seeing the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Poverty, unemployment, corruption, embezzlement, inequalities and huge disparities in wages and salaries are all themes rumbling across countries awash with wealth and enormous potential. Unfortunately, the embezzlers, the corrupt, the money launderers and other criminals have no fear of the law because they are the law. You really have a lump in your throat to see these perpetrators run scot-free and go unpunished, and unquestioned.
The lull before the storm is over, and the dictators are getting only their come-uppance for ignoring the needs of the poor and allowing corruption and official abuse to run rampant. They are reaping what they have sown. Even their patrons in the West are abandoning them and are asking them to leave. These rulers have missed out on many opportunities to make peace with their people. Now, here emerges a can-do generation which will not be satisfied with piecemeal, cosmetic reforms. Burnishing an image which has been tarnished by decades of autocracy and authoritarianism will not do the job this time. Rather, bold and far-reaching reforms are needed at all levels: political, economic, social, and judicial.
I have been talking about the tyrant rulers, but this does not mean the rulers at the top and their government officials only. There are those who aid and abet them in greedily exploiting the people and the natural resources of their countries. Sometimes you feel those rulers are helpless and are just carrying out agendas set by shadow governments, or the invisible government which in actual fact has the political and economic power. These are greedy, powerful individuals and companies both local and foreign working out plans behind the scenes to rob the people and to milk the country dry like leeches on a cow.
All freedom, peace, and democracy-loving people, let’s pray and hope that real democracy and peace come to the Arab World. Sooner the better, because chaos, anarchy, destruction, and all forms of violence are not in anyone’s interest and will not solve problems.
I also hope that life gets back to normal very soon in Egypt, that its cultural heritage will not suffer the same fate as that of Iraq, and that all my friends there (in Egypt) are safe and sound.