Will Marrakesh attack dash hopes for reform in Morocco?

By MUSTAPHA AJBAILI


Al Arabiya

Following an attack in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh on Thursday that left 17 people killed and 23 wounded, Moroccans fear their hopes for freedom could be dashed by a likely increase in security around the country.



While the interior ministry and its security organs were busy searching for the traces of the perpetrators, political observers and independent media were busy trying to answer two main questions: Who might benefit from the attack? And what are the implications of the bombing on the process of political reform?



The questions were raised after the interior ministry announced that the attack was “criminal,” and were repeated when the bombing was termed “terrorist” by the authorities.



Initially the reports suggested the explosion that happened in Argana café in Marrakesh’s Jamaa el-Fna Square was an accident caused by the explosion of several gas canisters. But the authorities quickly changed the cause of the explosion. An “explosion” of gas canisters simply doesn’t sound as terrifying as “criminal act,” or “act of terrorism.” If the authorities wanted to deter more street demonstrations, then the episode—however tragic in terms of loss of lives—played into their hands.



Abdelilah Benkiran, the secretary general of the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party, has condemned the attack but warned it should not turn Moroccan’s eyes on the need for political reform. He said the event would likely not have an effect on the growing popular demands for political reform and the fight against corruption.



Mustapha Al-Khalfi, an expert in the affairs of Islamist groups, said the bombing happened at a sensitive time marked by intense political activity for democratic reforms. Mr. al-Khalfi added that the timing of the attack justifies the fears about its implications on the democratic reforms.



“Whatever the party that stands behind this terror act and its goals, the state should carry further deep the process of political and democratic reforms and overcome the effect of the shock,” he said.



Morocco’s pro-democracy “February 20” movement has condemned the attacks and announced on a statement posted on its Facebook page plans to hold a “national rally” on Sunday, May 8, in Marrakesh to denounce terrorism and to renew its demands for democracy.



The movement has recently organized mass demonstrations in 80 cities and towns across the kingdom—of 32 million people, a GDP of $153 billion and a GDP per capita of about $5,000. Demonstrators called for putting an end of corruption.



Just how much would-be demonstrators fear public “explosions” such as the sad one in Marrakesh remains to be seen.



(Published in english.alarabiya.net on April 29)