HRW Report on Morocco's Truth Commission

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report urging the government of Morocco to end impunity for the security forces and enhance judicial independence in order to cement the legacy of the country’s Equity and Reconciliation Commission (ERC). The report entitled Morocco's Truth Commission: Honoring Past victims During an Uncertain Present, praised the process that led to the creation of the ERC, but emphasized that the truth commission is only one phase in a longer process and that the state must act on the letter and the spirit of the ERC’s recommendations and provide for a judicial and administrative process that holds those responsible for past abuses accountable within the realm of the rule of law.

Morocco's Equity and Reconciliation Commission, was set up by King Mohammed VI in January of 2004 in order to investigate forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions carried out by the Moroccan authorities in the last half century. The commission is to recommend forms of compensation and reparation for the victims, including measures of rehabilitation and social, medical, and psychological assistance. After nearly two years of investigations, the ERC has recently submitted its final report and recommendations to King Mohamed VI.

My position on this issue happens to be largely in line with that of HRW. This is because I do not believe that our people can fully reconcile with a brutal past and look forward to a brighter future when those responsible for past abuses continue to enjoy total impunity. King Mohammed VI is innocent of the crimes that his father's regime committed against the people of Morocco. However, if he does not act to at least dislodge the abusers from positions of power; if he does not move to cleanse the state's security and political institutions from the dark forces of the past; if he does not place the rule of law at the very center of his reign, then his legacy will eventually become tainted by that of his father and the forces of resentment and anger within the country will largely outweigh those of hope and optimism to the detriment of the next generations of Moroccans.

Shall we be reminded that the optimism of a whole nation was spurred by the King himself when he bluntly stated to the Nouvel Observateur, a French magazine, on the eve of his ascent to the throne in 1999:

« Je sais que pendant que je vous parle, vous n'allez pas manquer de regarder le portrait de mon père accroché au-dessus de ma tête, et vous n'éviterez pas de faire des comparaisons entre lui et moi. Eh bien, les uns et les autres, vous devrez vous y faire : je ne suis pas Hassan II. » - King Mohammed VI.


Report in English

Rapport en Francais

Report in Arabic