The Association of World Populations in conclave in Fès

The Association of World Populations – Morocco Section (APMM) held its national congress this weekend in Fès. The theme chosen for this meeting is significant: "For equitable laws in favour of mountain dwellers". In terms of form, the dozens of delegates who came from several provinces, including Sefrou, Taza, Boulemane, Beni Mellal, Ifrane, Tinghir, Ouarzazate, etc., followed the normal course of the congress, i.e., an opening ceremony, a presentation of moral and financial reports, and an election of the new board composed of three colleges: individual members, elected officials, and experts and researchers. But in terms of substance, the debate was heated. "We looked at the methods of implementing the list of demands with the slogan: 'The promulgation of equitable laws for this category of citizens'." During their interventions, the members of the APMM stressed the need to simply cancel the obsolete laws, which are none other than Dahirs promulgated under the Protectorate. These are the Dahir of 12 August 1913 relating to land conservation, that of 10 October 1917 relating to forestry exploitation, and finally that of 1919 governing administrative guardianship over collective lands. Hassan Hjij, a leading member of the APMM, is clear: "The time has come to rehabilitate mountain populations in their natural rights. It is no longer admissible that they continue to live under these laws." These laws, according to the members of the APMM, continue to subject the mountain and its populations to systematic exploitation. First, the "legal" spoliation of land, then the squandering of its forest wealth without the populations being able to benefit from it, and finally their deprivation of the benefits of natural resources. On the contrary, they find themselves penalised each time for violating a territory that is their own.

The APMM calls for the resolution of these problems in accordance with the principles contained in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, approved on 13 September 2007. The grievances of the APMM are in perfect harmony with the voices calling for integrated development, as well as for the building of a state of law and institutions capable of ensuring dignity, equality, equity, and social justice. But the most difficult thing is the deterioration of the social situation in the mountains. In addition to the chronic suffering due to cold waves, one must mention the absence of passable roads, operational health centres, water, sanitation, schools, etc. As for linguistic and cultural data, the APMM, which demands organic laws allowing all Moroccans to learn Amazigh in public and private schools, calls for compliance with the specifications requiring national channels to allocate a third of their programming to Amazigh productions.

Provider / Source : Mustapha Elouizi, Libération