Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT432
2006-03-08 18:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
PRESS FREEDOM: MOROCCO NEEDS TO AVOID A BLACK EYE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0055 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0432 0671833 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081833Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3041 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 3799 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2818 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 5381 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 3028 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4046 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 1365 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000432
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/PPD, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009
TAGS: MO PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM: MOROCCO NEEDS TO AVOID A BLACK EYE
REF: A. RABAT 406
B. RABAT 498
C. CASABLANCA 346
D. CASABLANCA 230
Classified By: POL/C Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000432
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/PPD, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009
TAGS: MO PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM: MOROCCO NEEDS TO AVOID A BLACK EYE
REF: A. RABAT 406
B. RABAT 498
C. CASABLANCA 346
D. CASABLANCA 230
Classified By: POL/C Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a March 2 meeting with MFA Director of
Bilateral Affairs Youssef Amrani, DCM raised freedom of the
press in Morocco, noting that recent actions against
journalists in Morocco (reftels) appeared at odds with the
country's increasing democratization. It appeared the GOM
was taking a different but no less damaging approach of
levying heavy fines against offending journalists and
periodicals rather than jailing journalists. This is seen as
another way to punish journalists, and it gives Morocco a
"black eye" in the view of the US and international community.
2. (C) DCM noted also that criteria for continuing
eligibility in the Millennium Challenge Account demand that
countries continue to promote reforms in political rights.
Freedom of the press fell into that category.
3. (C) Amrani did not disagree with DCM's demarche but noted
that all things are relative and the situation, while not
perfect, is better than it was five years ago. Journalists
were openly criticizing some of the King's actions, adopting
an almost "le roi c'est moi" mentality; such things could not
have been done in the past. That said, there had to be rules
in addition to rights. Journalists needed to use their
expanded freedoms in a positive way and go forward step by
step. Instead, certain journalists (undoubtedly referring to
the editors of Le Journal and TelQuel) continue to push the
limits too forcefully.
4. (C) DCM agreed there had been progress in Morocco in the
area of press freedom, and the US understood that. But
progress generally did not make the headlines in press
circles; government curbs on journalists did. This is the
story that many outsiders take when the GOM moves against
journalists.
5. (C) Amrani said it was the judicial system that decided
how to respond to offending journalists. He relayed that
when Le Journal attacked FM Benaissa for alleged corruption
in Washington during his time as Morocco's Ambassador,
Benaissa complained to the King. The King told Benaissa to
let the courts handle the issue -- and the courts in Morocco
ruled in Benaissa's favor in his suit against the magazine.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/PPD, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009
TAGS: MO PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM: MOROCCO NEEDS TO AVOID A BLACK EYE
REF: A. RABAT 406
B. RABAT 498
C. CASABLANCA 346
D. CASABLANCA 230
Classified By: POL/C Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a March 2 meeting with MFA Director of
Bilateral Affairs Youssef Amrani, DCM raised freedom of the
press in Morocco, noting that recent actions against
journalists in Morocco (reftels) appeared at odds with the
country's increasing democratization. It appeared the GOM
was taking a different but no less damaging approach of
levying heavy fines against offending journalists and
periodicals rather than jailing journalists. This is seen as
another way to punish journalists, and it gives Morocco a
"black eye" in the view of the US and international community.
2. (C) DCM noted also that criteria for continuing
eligibility in the Millennium Challenge Account demand that
countries continue to promote reforms in political rights.
Freedom of the press fell into that category.
3. (C) Amrani did not disagree with DCM's demarche but noted
that all things are relative and the situation, while not
perfect, is better than it was five years ago. Journalists
were openly criticizing some of the King's actions, adopting
an almost "le roi c'est moi" mentality; such things could not
have been done in the past. That said, there had to be rules
in addition to rights. Journalists needed to use their
expanded freedoms in a positive way and go forward step by
step. Instead, certain journalists (undoubtedly referring to
the editors of Le Journal and TelQuel) continue to push the
limits too forcefully.
4. (C) DCM agreed there had been progress in Morocco in the
area of press freedom, and the US understood that. But
progress generally did not make the headlines in press
circles; government curbs on journalists did. This is the
story that many outsiders take when the GOM moves against
journalists.
5. (C) Amrani said it was the judicial system that decided
how to respond to offending journalists. He relayed that
when Le Journal attacked FM Benaissa for alleged corruption
in Washington during his time as Morocco's Ambassador,
Benaissa complained to the King. The King told Benaissa to
let the courts handle the issue -- and the courts in Morocco
ruled in Benaissa's favor in his suit against the magazine.
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley