Moroccan rights abusers must be brought to book

Rabat: Constitutional reform crafted by Morocco's king protects human rights better but won't amount to much unless the state apologises for past abuses and holds to account those responsible, a top rights group said.

The Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) also called for a separation of powers to eliminate interference by the palace elite in domestic security issues and in the judiciary.

Without such measures Morocco would replicate "previous failed bids" to overcome a dark legacy of human right abuses, AMDH chairman Khadija Ryadi said in an interview.

King Mohammad, a staunch ally of the West, is expected to hand over some of his powers to elected officials under a new constitution approved in a referendum earlier this month.

But the 47-year-old ruler will continue to have a key say over strategic decisions and will chair both the judiciary and a newly-created national security council.

The move by the Arab world's longest-running dynasty is viewed in other Arab monarchies as a test case to see if reform can hold back the wave of uprisings sweeping the region.

Arbitrary arrests

"What has been added in the new constitution marks an advance for human rights over the 1996 constitution," Ryadi, whose organisation is the country's main independent rights body, said in a weekend interview.

She noted an emphasis on gender equality, bans on torture and arbitrary arrests and recognition for the indigenous Tamazight language spoken by Berbers.

"But it does not guarantee the establishment of a state of law and does not respect the people's right to self-determination because it keeps wide influence in the king's hand and puts him above accountability."

"Impunity is key: It will be very difficult for anyone to believe in the new process while officials responsible for past human right abuses remain in office."

Driss Al Yazami, who chairs the National Human Rights Council set up this year by the king, said the body plans workshops to educate law enforcement personnel and other public employees on rights protection in the new constitution.