It was a revolution to Tunisia or Egypt. But, for Morocco, the day of protests which took place yesterday against corruption and for greater democratic freedoms, can be an important turning point. Up to 50,000 Moroccans marched in dozens of locations in Morocco for the deepening of democracy, the end of a corrupt oligarchy, and in some cases, limits on the excessive power of King Mohamed the Sixth.
In an unprecedented day of protest, it is estimated that up to 15,000 people marched in the capital Rabat, responding to a call launched a month ago by the so-called Freedom and Democracy movement that grew to 20,000 people in a Facebook forum. In Casablanca, the largest city in the country, said about 4,000 people, mainly groups of extra-parliamentary left.
In Marrakech in the south of the country, 10,000 people protested, according to organizers of the march in a protest that ended with outbreaks of violence when a group of protesters threw stones at regional government offices and smashed the windows of multinationals such as McDonalds franchises and Zara.
There were other acts of vandalism in Larache in the north coast and Tangier where demonstrations have been smaller. Several shops were smashed and the rioters set fire to vehicles. Groups protest against the price of electricity and water had been burned on Friday, a police station and a bank in Tangier Organizers of demonstrations in Casablanca calculated that there had been protests in over 60 different locations.
Although the number of people who demonstrated is much less than that began the mass protests that eventually overthrow the respective dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, leaders of the protest in Casablanca described the protests as a "turning point" and " first bounce of the ball ", according to this newspaper said Sion Assidon, historic leader of human rights associations in Casablanca, in a campaign for democratic freedoms will be maintained in the coming weeks.
The organizers of the call on the Internet raised the possibility of weekly protests in Rabat. An interior ministry spokesman announced during the day of protests that the King would respond with more reforms but did not specify when the king would make public the new program. The conference in Casablanca began in an atmosphere of disillusionment following the spectacular demonstrations of Tunisian and Egyptian peoples.
The drizzle in the Plaza de las Palomas called Casablanca at ten o'clock some 3,000 or 4,000 people, mostly activists of the left organizations outside parliament, carrying placards that read: "Silence is a sign of fear! "or, more daring," We want a king to reign but not rule. " The protesters sang the old anthem of the human rights association formed in the nineties in protest at the imprisonment and torture of political prisoners.
But there was no official presence of unions or of the parliamentary parties of the left, not just the Islamist Justice and Spirituality, despite his belated statement of support. Nor had flocked thousands of resident and bidonvilles neighborhoods of Casablanca organized movement for decent housing "I'm disappointed, depressed, expecting more," said Jaafar Mechbal, 63, a retired professor of Spanish school in Casablanca .
"There was a lot more people in demonstrations against the war in Iraq and against Israelis in Gaza." There was little police presence, at least of police uniform, or in Casablanca or Rabat but the authorities had suspended public transport services enter the two cities that are situated at a distance of 50 kilometers.
In Rabat, more people came to 15,000, according to organizers, and leaders of the Movement for Democracy February 20, managed to convey the message agreed upon, attack corruption, but not the king: "This is a peaceful protest in the name of reform Constitution, the restoration of dignity and purpose of the waste of public funds, "said Mustafa Muchtati, spokesman for Baraka.
But neither became massive mobilization advocates domino theory had predicted. "A single event can not fix a problem for centuries," summarized the vice president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, Abdelhamid Amin, told the EFE news agency. But as the hours passed in Casablanca, the sun came out and there was a change of mood in Casablanca.
Although he had not formally involved the parliamentary left and the unions, began to see individuals willing to stand out from the endemic political cooptation. "We're talking about a general strike but we have not set a date," said Akhmis Ahmed, leader of the union CDT. A discrete representation of Justice and Spirituality appeared in Casablanca and Rabat spokesman denounced police action that prevented their participation in the capital.
"Morocco is much more complex than Tunisia, we divide, we must unite our forces," said Assidon, historic leader of human rights associations in Casablanca. But there will be a before and after the 20-F. "If you want a football term, we're just warming up today," said another activist. 
In an unprecedented day of protest, it is estimated that up to 15,000 people marched in the capital Rabat, responding to a call launched a month ago by the so-called Freedom and Democracy movement that grew to 20,000 people in a Facebook forum. In Casablanca, the largest city in the country, said about 4,000 people, mainly groups of extra-parliamentary left.
In Marrakech in the south of the country, 10,000 people protested, according to organizers of the march in a protest that ended with outbreaks of violence when a group of protesters threw stones at regional government offices and smashed the windows of multinationals such as McDonalds franchises and Zara.
There were other acts of vandalism in Larache in the north coast and Tangier where demonstrations have been smaller. Several shops were smashed and the rioters set fire to vehicles. Groups protest against the price of electricity and water had been burned on Friday, a police station and a bank in Tangier Organizers of demonstrations in Casablanca calculated that there had been protests in over 60 different locations.
Although the number of people who demonstrated is much less than that began the mass protests that eventually overthrow the respective dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, leaders of the protest in Casablanca described the protests as a "turning point" and " first bounce of the ball ", according to this newspaper said Sion Assidon, historic leader of human rights associations in Casablanca, in a campaign for democratic freedoms will be maintained in the coming weeks.
The organizers of the call on the Internet raised the possibility of weekly protests in Rabat. An interior ministry spokesman announced during the day of protests that the King would respond with more reforms but did not specify when the king would make public the new program. The conference in Casablanca began in an atmosphere of disillusionment following the spectacular demonstrations of Tunisian and Egyptian peoples.
The drizzle in the Plaza de las Palomas called Casablanca at ten o'clock some 3,000 or 4,000 people, mostly activists of the left organizations outside parliament, carrying placards that read: "Silence is a sign of fear! "or, more daring," We want a king to reign but not rule. " The protesters sang the old anthem of the human rights association formed in the nineties in protest at the imprisonment and torture of political prisoners.
But there was no official presence of unions or of the parliamentary parties of the left, not just the Islamist Justice and Spirituality, despite his belated statement of support. Nor had flocked thousands of resident and bidonvilles neighborhoods of Casablanca organized movement for decent housing "I'm disappointed, depressed, expecting more," said Jaafar Mechbal, 63, a retired professor of Spanish school in Casablanca .
"There was a lot more people in demonstrations against the war in Iraq and against Israelis in Gaza." There was little police presence, at least of police uniform, or in Casablanca or Rabat but the authorities had suspended public transport services enter the two cities that are situated at a distance of 50 kilometers.
In Rabat, more people came to 15,000, according to organizers, and leaders of the Movement for Democracy February 20, managed to convey the message agreed upon, attack corruption, but not the king: "This is a peaceful protest in the name of reform Constitution, the restoration of dignity and purpose of the waste of public funds, "said Mustafa Muchtati, spokesman for Baraka.
But neither became massive mobilization advocates domino theory had predicted. "A single event can not fix a problem for centuries," summarized the vice president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, Abdelhamid Amin, told the EFE news agency. But as the hours passed in Casablanca, the sun came out and there was a change of mood in Casablanca.
Although he had not formally involved the parliamentary left and the unions, began to see individuals willing to stand out from the endemic political cooptation. "We're talking about a general strike but we have not set a date," said Akhmis Ahmed, leader of the union CDT. A discrete representation of Justice and Spirituality appeared in Casablanca and Rabat spokesman denounced police action that prevented their participation in the capital.
"Morocco is much more complex than Tunisia, we divide, we must unite our forces," said Assidon, historic leader of human rights associations in Casablanca. But there will be a before and after the 20-F. "If you want a football term, we're just warming up today," said another activist.
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