Moroccans denounce delays of Amazigh TV launch
2008-06-26
Morocco's Amazigh movement has raised its voice, demanding media fairness and emphasising the need to accelerate the twice-postponed launch of an Amazigh TV channel.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 26/06/08
 [Naoufel Cherkaoui] Morocco's Amazigh movement demonstrated on Monday to protest continued delays in the launch of an Amazigh TV channel. |
A number of Amazigh organisations demonstrated on Monday (June 22nd) in front of the National Radio and Television Company building to protest continued delays in the launching of an Amazigh-language TV channel. The government has twice failed to meet its own deadlines for the channel's entry into operation.
Security forces dispersed the protesters and representatives of the Amazigh movement responded by issued a statement.
The Amazigh movement expressed its condemnation of "the injustice, alienation and procrastination which the National Radio and Television Company and authorities in charge of media in Moroccan apply in dealing with Amazigh demands for true justice for Amazighs in national public media."
"They have continued to hinder and delay the launching of Amazigh TV," the statement said, concluding with a call for its "immediate launch."
Moroccan Minister of Communications and government spokesman Khalid Naciri responded by denying any bad intentions on the part of the authorities.
"We are taking the issue seriously," he said. "The Amazigh TV channel will go on the air. We are in the process of preparing for it, and are in constant contact with the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture and Amazigh movement leaders."
"We want it to be a quality channel, because we appreciate the Amazighs and believe it is inappropriate to mess with that culture," Naciri added.
Naciri did not provide a new date for the channel's launch, but said "it will take time for the channel to broadcast with the same quality as channels 1 and 2, because it requires training reporters and directors."
Naciri also said there was a need to "correct the Amazigh dialect".
"I see no reason why the channel cannot go on the air," said Rachida Binchiekh, a member of the Amazigh TV channel's technical committee and a member of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture. "There are no obstacles, either in terms of the language, human resources or logistics, as we have studied those aspects extensively with the Ministry of Communications."
"Morocco is rich in Amazigh talent," she added, "but we sense opposition to the idea of launching the channel."
Amazigh League for Human Rights member and journalist Najib Sifao agrees.
Speaking to Magharebia, he said the cause of the procrastination was political.
According to him, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi does not wish to preside over the launching of an Amazigh TV channel because he belongs to a party that is "antagonistic to the Amazigh".
"Claims that the channel's launch will happen 'soon' are wearing thin," Sifao said, "because it has been said twice before, when the former Minister of Communications announced it would go on the air in October 2007, and the present minister previously announced the same thing earlier this year in January."
"It was agreed that the channel would be called 'The Seventh', but this name was given to a recently-launched movie channel," Safao told Magharebia. "We are thus doubtful of how serious the authorities are about the channel project."
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massin Posted 2008-06-26
Unfortunately, with a former Baathist militant at the head of the government, I do not think the cultural rights of the Amazighs are going to get very far, not to mention a television channel ever materialising. It will only be Amazigh to a very weak degree, like that of Radio Plus in Agadir. Let us hope that one day all Amazighs will be able to see Morocco as their country—their real country, where they do not have to compromise their real culture in order to exist.
aksel Posted 2008-06-27
Déjà vu, the governments of the Maghreb are using a policy of sabotage against Tamazight.
سعيد Posted 2008-06-27
The Amazigh people must be granted justice in the media by speeding up the creation of an Amazigh channel.
amokrane Posted 2008-06-28
Morocco’s Baathist government needs to understand that the Moroccan-Amazigh people are tired of this discourse, which has left us in agony for ages. Mr Naciri’s words are nothing but the shadow of those of his predecessor, Mr Benabdallah, who never stopped lying to the Moroccan-Amazigh people throughout his entire ministerial term. Now, we need concrete action, not a bunch of hot air. Tudert i tmazight d imaara n imazighen
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2008-06-30
Some of the Amazighs need to be more serious and recognise the efforts the Moroccan state has made in favour of the Amazighs who are Moroccan just like everyone else. Some of them want to arm wrestle the state, and to them I say, “Game over.” If Morocco and the government of His majesty have donned importance to the Amazigh language, then it is simply because they are part of our cultural heritage and not because of any pressure whatsoever. We are a sovereign, independent and strong state. We will never yield to threats or any other strong arms wanting to arm wrestle us. Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
arid Posted 2008-07-02
The Amazigh people who are isolated in their respective country will not be able to achieve anything unless they act in unison throughout the entirety of the Maghreb. The Arab-Baathist government has but one goal: erasing everything that has to do with being Amazigh. This is even worse than the Nazis. Wake up, Amazighs!
jamal Posted 2008-07-02
Salam. I agree with you. We Amazigh people are marginalized by the state. We must defy everyone who stands in the face of our culture and civilization. We must struggle even with our blood if necessary. My thanks to you for your efforts. God grants success. Jamal.
Noureddine Posted 2008-07-07
We need to ask for the closing down of all the other Moroccan channels instead. The number of channels is "seven" but the quality is "zero" when compared to many foreign and Arab channels.
حبيب كدان Posted 2008-07-11
In the name of God the most gracious the most merciful. Peace and prayer be upon the most honourable prophet. I would like to say that the actions of the state against the Amazigh movement is a crime against us. The Amazigh brother Bassa h.k.
عادل Posted 2008-07-19
Having expectations of and running after the Maghreb governments is unreasonable. It is boring and useless, even.
amdakl Posted 2008-07-29
It is not reasonable that the Amazigh channel remains between the sky and earth without respecting the time fixed for it. So there are hands which try not to make it come out to light. I hope that it will be concrete before others who struggle and has the right to resist including associations and that their voices will be heard. Thank you. I hope that this happens.
alone2008 Posted 2008-08-18
frankly they have to do amazigh channels (RIF TV,ZAYAN TV AND SOUSS TV)....if not it will be discusting in morocco
Lhassan Posted 2008-10-05
I personally don’t blame Abbas or Naciri. I rather blame senior Amazigh officials in the government and Moroccan parliament for their silence and watching this fundamental Amazigh cause.
Anonymous Posted 2009-03-14
What does he think he is?
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