TIMING IS EVERYTHING: MOROCCANS IRKED BY FRENCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001687 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM MO FR SP SUBJECT: TIMING IS EVERYTHING: MOROCCANS IRKED BY FRENCH AND SPANISH CHARGES Classified by DCM Robert P. Jackson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The timing of two recent judicial actions in Western Europe has irked Morocco. The past ten days have seen a French indictment of senior Moroccan officials in connection with the 1965 disappearance of a political dissident in Paris, and the launch of a Spanish inquest into alleged "genocide" and other crimes in Western Sahara. The French and Spanish announcements happened to coincide with the visits, respectively, of President Sarkozy and Crown Prince Felipe and came within a week of each other. The Spanish inquest may prove to be a particularly sore subject for the GOM, which has been working feverishly to outflank the Polisario (and the Algerians) on the diplomatic battlefield. In any case, both the Moroccan government and opinion leaders find the timing of these developments inopportune and suspicious. End summary. ¶2. (U) On October 23, French judicial sources told media that French prosecutor Judge Patrick Ramael was preparing indictments against five Moroccans, including current Commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, Gen. Housni Benslimane, in connection with the 1965 disappearance in Paris of Moroccan dissident Mehdi Ben Barka. On October 30, Spanish media reported that Judge Balthazar Garzon would open an inquest into alleged attrocities, including genocide, assassination, assault, and torture committed by Moroccans following their 1975 invasion of the former Spanish Sahara colony. ¶3. (SBU) While such developments would inevitably generate considerable attention at any time in Morocco, the timing of each has in this case prompted additional attention, and indignation in official circles and the Moroccan press. The revelation of the French indictments came on the second day of President Sarkozy's state visit to Morocco. The revelation of the new Spanish inquest came as Spanish Crown Prince Felipe conducted an official visit to Morocco. ¶4. (SBU) The French Ben Barka indictments were viewed by Moroccan commentators as an embarassment both for President Sarkozy and for Gen. Benslimane. The mystery of Ben Barka's disappearance and presumed assassination is an obsession for many Moroccans, kept alive by a seemingly endless stream of speculative media articles and by leftist political parties. ¶5. (C) The Spanish inquest touches a particular nerve in Morocco. Reports that "genocide" are among the crimes Garzon is investigating are sure to produce a defensive response from the GOM. A commentator on the semi-private 2M TV channel stated that this was the first time the word "genocide" has been used in the Saharan context. A pro-Moroccan, ostensibly independent NGO, the Moroccan Sahara Association (ASM),claims to have filed in Spain similar genocide charges against the Polisario, with no result. ¶6. (SBU) Speaking on TV on October 31, Minister of Communication Khalid Naciri criticized Garzon's approach, accusing him of open bias toward the Polisario and Algeria. Naciri said Morocco is capable of addressing its human rights record on its own, noting the work of the Independent equity and reconciliation commission, which included compensation for victims of abuses during the Hassan II era. Naciri suggested that Garzon should instead focus his attentions on alleged human rights abuses which persist in the Polisario-controlled refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria. ¶7. (C) Comment: Senior Moroccans are unhappy with Garzon's announcement, which they likely see as judicial manipulation, particularly following so closely on the French announcement, and as a potential propaganda victory for the Polisario and their Algerian sponsors. We would welcome any insight from our colleagues in Madrid and Paris as to the potentially politicized timing of judicial authorities' actions. End comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley