The Incidents at Gdeim Izik: What has not been said!
The events Gdeim Izik have spilled much ink ... criticism here and there and the police stigmatised, especially by foreign media with well "managed" .. photos "rigged" have also been due to the "objectivity" alleged by some media.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/The-Incidents-a...
However, concerning the violence of the demonstrators, very little was mentioned and protesters were always "alleged victims."
It all started on 10 October 2010 when a group of residents of the city of Laayoune pitched tents in the area of Gdeim Izik focusng on social demands, in particular, housing, employment and national promotion earnings cards.
Considering that this type of event is part of freedom of expression, the authorities had allowed the protesters to freely express their claims to social benefits, provided that it did not affect the safety and to public order, and the protest dealt with constructive dialogue which was credible and responsible.
The authorities even provided water and medicines, and medical units and emergency services, by focusing on the freedom of access and circulation inside and outside the camp without any hindrance with more than 8,000 entries and exits daily which were recorded from the camp.
Dialogue took place, and despite provocations vis-à-vis the public authorities, who were trying to push them to interventions that may cause slippage ... acts were thwarted.
However, it turned out later that the camp housed more precarious and impoverished families, fugitives from justice, the wanted and traffickers, and a group of opportunists who established their grip on the occupants, and began to act maliciously against authorities to derail the dialogue.
Based on the information received by local authorities, some of these opportunists also introduced different types of weapons into the camp: knives and Molotov cocktails and gas cylinders.
Incidents at Gdeim Izik: What has not been said!
Nevertheless, in response to claims of "representatives of the inhabitants of the camp," the public authority took several measures, including the creation of a tripartite committee comprising representatives of local authorities, "the representatives of the camp," the sheikhs of the tribes , elected officials, and representatives of civil society and the opening of registration offices at the headquarters of the Prefecture and urban districts for the
establishment of lists of needy families.
Following the dialogue, instructions were given to assign national promotion cards for the elderly, sick and disabled; direct recruitment in the public service, allocation of hundreds of prizes by lot ...
The Minister proposed to coordinate the development and signing of the minutes fixing obligations of each party in a transparent and accountable manner, but the coordination said not to judge of the signature of this record, alleging its full confidence in the authorities.
But when the Wali of the region and two walis from central government were moved,on 5 Nov. 2010, at the camp, along with some sheikhs and elected to start putting into execution the agreed measures masked militia appeared composed of elements that prevented them from entering the camp, showing no desire for a solution to social problems, but a desire to set up camp in time for ulterior reasons.
These militias resorted to threats and physical and psychological violence against people who settled in the camp, especially the elderly, women and children to prevent them from leaving the premises and dismantling their tents.
Thus, after exhausting all avenues of dialogue and peaceful negotiations, local authorities have been forced to use public force to restore law, enforce public order, evacuate the camp and arrest gangs of convicts and wanted persons who took hostage the occupants of the camp.
Subsequently, several groups transferred demonstrations and clashes to some parts of the city of Laayoune, where they burned buildings and public property and harmed property of others.
The consequences: four wounded in the ranks of civilians, eleven deaths in the ranks of the forces of order and 70 wounded, including three seriously injured. In addition, one civilian was killed on the same day following a collision with a vehicle in one of the arteries of the city of Laayoune. The incident led to an investigation by the Prosecutor General.
It seems clear that government was committed to respect for the rule of law, to preserve the dignity and freedom of citizens. This was despite all the "hands" trying to sow violence, disorder and chaos.
It all started on 10 October 2010 when a group of residents of the city of Laayoune pitched tents in the area of Gdeim Izik focusng on social demands, in particular, housing, employment and national promotion earnings cards.
Considering that this type of event is part of freedom of expression, the authorities had allowed the protesters to freely express their claims to social benefits, provided that it did not affect the safety and to public order, and the protest dealt with constructive dialogue which was credible and responsible.
The authorities even provided water and medicines, and medical units and emergency services, by focusing on the freedom of access and circulation inside and outside the camp without any hindrance with more than 8,000 entries and exits daily which were recorded from the camp.
Dialogue took place, and despite provocations vis-à-vis the public authorities, who were trying to push them to interventions that may cause slippage ... acts were thwarted.
However, it turned out later that the camp housed more precarious and impoverished families, fugitives from justice, the wanted and traffickers, and a group of opportunists who established their grip on the occupants, and began to act maliciously against authorities to derail the dialogue.
Based on the information received by local authorities, some of these opportunists also introduced different types of weapons into the camp: knives and Molotov cocktails and gas cylinders.
Incidents at Gdeim Izik: What has not been said!
Nevertheless, in response to claims of "representatives of the inhabitants of the camp," the public authority took several measures, including the creation of a tripartite committee comprising representatives of local authorities, "the representatives of the camp," the sheikhs of the tribes , elected officials, and representatives of civil society and the opening of registration offices at the headquarters of the Prefecture and urban districts for the
establishment of lists of needy families.
Following the dialogue, instructions were given to assign national promotion cards for the elderly, sick and disabled; direct recruitment in the public service, allocation of hundreds of prizes by lot ...
The Minister proposed to coordinate the development and signing of the minutes fixing obligations of each party in a transparent and accountable manner, but the coordination said not to judge of the signature of this record, alleging its full confidence in the authorities.
But when the Wali of the region and two walis from central government were moved,on 5 Nov. 2010, at the camp, along with some sheikhs and elected to start putting into execution the agreed measures masked militia appeared composed of elements that prevented them from entering the camp, showing no desire for a solution to social problems, but a desire to set up camp in time for ulterior reasons.
These militias resorted to threats and physical and psychological violence against people who settled in the camp, especially the elderly, women and children to prevent them from leaving the premises and dismantling their tents.
Thus, after exhausting all avenues of dialogue and peaceful negotiations, local authorities have been forced to use public force to restore law, enforce public order, evacuate the camp and arrest gangs of convicts and wanted persons who took hostage the occupants of the camp.
Subsequently, several groups transferred demonstrations and clashes to some parts of the city of Laayoune, where they burned buildings and public property and harmed property of others.
The consequences: four wounded in the ranks of civilians, eleven deaths in the ranks of the forces of order and 70 wounded, including three seriously injured. In addition, one civilian was killed on the same day following a collision with a vehicle in one of the arteries of the city of Laayoune. The incident led to an investigation by the Prosecutor General.
It seems clear that government was committed to respect for the rule of law, to preserve the dignity and freedom of citizens. This was despite all the "hands" trying to sow violence, disorder and chaos.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/The-Incidents-a...