Maoistiska studenter i Marocko

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"The students who are members of the students’ movement for a basist democratic way (MLM) are detained as political prisoners.

Presentation of the students presently held as political prisoners ; they are members of the Moroccan students’ movement. They have now been divided into two groups and are held in two prisons: Marrakech and Essaouira.

The arrests began on May 14, 2008, the day of the students’historic revolt at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, concomitantly with the struggle of the Moroccan people for free education, public services and the refusal of their privatization. In the struggle many people were killed and hundreds of people were arrested and held in prison as political prisoners.

On May 14, 2008, students of the National Union of Students of Morocco (UNEM), led by the Basist Democratic Way t (VDB) – (the students organized in the Marxist Leninist Maoist-Movemen) led several fights in orderto respond to certain political trade unions’ demands, for example the release of political prisoners, the improvement of living conditions (the prices of food, rents) for scholarships and in order to put an end to the forces of repression camping out in the university and otherl demands.on education.

The semi-feudal and semi-colonial reactionary regime that still exists in Morocco, had no hesitation to repress this movement and therefore a large operation of arrests and detentions was launched. The first victims were a group of students composed of 7 militants arrested on May 14, 2008 and a second group of 11 activists (Zahra BOUDKOUR Group) held on May 15, two of them are still in prison (Mourad Chouin: 4 years in prison in Essaouira and khalid MIFTAH: 3 years in prison in Marrakech)

The struggle of the Moroccan people continued after May 14, 2008 and the movement went on in order to obtain a positive answer to the legitimate demands for political and trade union freedoms and the release of detained students. For two years movement suffered many sacrifices including a''martyr''Abderrazak EL GADIR and other political prisoners

On 10 October 2010 the repressive forces kidnapped another militant Youssef EL basist Hamdia in his house in Marrakech (he was sentenced to two years’emprisonment at the court of first instance and another year and a half at the Court of Appeal because of his participation in the prisoners’ movament in Essaouira.

Two days later, the repressive forces kidnapped the militant Ilham EL HASNOUNI in her house in Essaouira, October 13, 2010, and the judicial procedure has continued until now before the judge for her participation in the events of 2008.

Subsequently, on 18 and 24 November 2010 the forces of repression kidnapped two other activists: Abderrahem Abouhani in his house and Mohamed CHICHAOUA EL MOUADDINE at the CTM bus station in Marrakech, both were sentenced to 6 months by the court of first instance and then 4 months by the court on appeal.

The basist activists continued to be active at the university, including joining the masses inside and outside the university, they played a key role in the movement of February 20, 2011, in the street, and four activists have been detained since February 23, 2011, near the university campus, they are:''Loubna Afriat'',''Fatima Zahra FAIZ'',''''and''Adbelhak ELTALHAOUI Jalal KOUTBI ' they were arrested for distributing leaflets. On the day after, Mohamed EL AARB JEDDA was arrested in the city center and Nasser Hessain on February 25, 2011 and on March 9 Hicham EL MASKIN was also detained, and the activist Safa ISSAM on March 16. We know that there is a long list of prosecution for other students who may be arrested at any time.

The regime refuses to recognize the existence of political prisoners in Morocco and it condemns militants for violations of the first and second degree (misdemeanors and crimes) in the interests of criminalization of political and trade union movement. It reminds us of the seventies and eighties known as the "years of lead". The Moroccan regime, and the main international medias, wanted to make us believe that this page of history was definitely turned. But beneath the veneer of reform, oppression has remained the same, the regime goes on torturing.

Despite the pressures, despite the detentions, the student movement will always remain active as long as there are demands to be fulfilled, as long the regime will go on with inequalities and violations of the people’s rights, The student movement will always struggle for dignity alongside with the Moroccan people to which it belongs."