Corruption, freedom and a plea for a change

10/08/2007

Moroccans complain of another episode of press freedom repression, while Algerian bloggers share their views on corruption in the country.

[Getty Images] Ahmed Benchemsi was charged August 6th with "showing disrespect for the monarchy"

Moroccan bloggers have complained recently about the censoring of magazines Nichane and TelQuel in early August that resulted in the confiscation of both issues and the investigation of their Editor-In-Chief, Ahmed Benchemsi. Benchemsi was "questioned by police after he published an editorial, in which he criticized the king's speech," wrote Adil Ski, of A Moro in America. "This time it seems Benchemsi's column was too 'daring and insolent' to the personality of the king in the eyes of Driss Jettou's cabinet."

"This affair will probably be echoed by foreign media, despite the holidays … I won't be surprised if the Moroccan government ends up backing down, because a deterioration of the country's image abroad will have strong economic repercussions on the country's development," blogged Laurent Bervas.

"Freedom of expression in Morocco is a myth," blogged Mohammed Slimani. "Episodes of this masquerade come one after another at a speed that makes it impossible to get bored … Bravo dear government! Don't count on my vote in the next legislative elections," concluded the blogger.

Some thought the magazines have gone beyond what is socially acceptable, and as before Mohamed El Kortbi supported "freedom of expression but not insolence".

The same denigration appeared in a response to the aforementioned A Moro in America post. The anonymous commentator wrote: "I used to love Nichane and Tel-quel but I am fed up with always reading more or less the same thing. You are smart; you discuss taboo subjects to increase sales. You have a noble mission and you are using it on futility. I will give you some subjects that could be interesting: why is Morocco busy sending aid and doctors [elsewhere] while Moroccans need help? Why isn't Morocco doing something to stop Moroccan girls from prostituting themselves around the world? Why are Moroccan police and customs agents treating us like dogs at the airport while they treat foreigners better? There are many other subjects."

Next door in Algeria, bloggers debated the latest report on corruption published (July 29th) by the Algerian Association Combating Corruption (AACC), representative of Transparency International in Algeria. According to the report, "the phenomenon is extending to the different levels of the society as well as the administration," quoted blogger and journalist Idir Dahmani.

With its booming economy, the revenue generated by gas exports, the payment of most of its external debt, and almost 50 billion dollars in reserve, Tahia Bladi blogged that the country should be able to take care of its citizens, if it were not for , "corruption that touches every sector, Ministry and public administration." The report discusses an increasing "tarnishing of institutions", such as the All Africa Games, where certain contracts were allegedly awarded out of favouritism.

It is not the first time the phenomenon is debated in the country, wrote Idir Dahmani. But despite the law adopted February 20th, 2006, to prevent and combat corruption, there is an "absence of political will to fight," according to the seven-page report.

Algeria was "ranked 84th" among most corrupted countries by Transparency International in 2006.

According to the petition published by blogger Mohamed Benchicou of Le Matin, Votre Journal Interdit, Algeria's Ministry of Culture is one of the most corrupt. The signatories called the Ministry "a mafia", headed by Minister Khalida Toumi, "a voracious, corrupt woman who treats her senior staff like disposable towels, shame on this country."

On Wednesday (August 8th), "an investigation was opened, not to verify the veracity of the allegations made by senior officials at the Ministry of Culture, but to identify them and reprimand them. Just like they punished all the officials that dared attack [Khalida Toumi]," published Tahia Bladi on behalf of the Ministry of Culture petitioners.

In a post entitled "Corruption: Where is Algeria headed?" Hchicha Blog pleaded with "observers and international institutions not to let the wrongs committed against the people of this part of the world… to go unpunished or unnoticed."