CASABLANCA REFORMERS FOCUS ON EDUCATION, PARLIAMENT,

UNCLAS CASABLANCA 000281 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/PI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV ECON SOCI MO SUBJECT: CASABLANCA REFORMERS FOCUS ON EDUCATION, PARLIAMENT, CONSTITUTION This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: At a reform advocates' luncheon for visiting DAS Kent Patton and Tunis MEPI Director Peter Mulrean on January 16, 2008 in Casablanca, discussion focused on three types of reform: educational, parliamentary and constitutional. The discussion preceded a letter calling for the defense of civil liberties, signed by elite Moroccans to solicit support for tolerance and an end to hatred and violence. The letter reflects the mood of Morocco's reformers and therefore adds texture to the conversation at the luncheon, where participants called for reform of Morocco's sub-par educational system, as well as of Parliament, which suffers from numerous problems, including a lack of qualified MPs. In addition, the group held that there would be no significant progress without constitutional reform, though the political will for this is lacking. Optimistic about Morocco's prospects in spite of the challenges, participants encouraged USG support for resolving the Western Sahara conflict and reforming Morocco's political system. End Summary. -------------- CALL FOR DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES -------------- ¶2. (U) On January 16, a reform advocates' lunch held for visiting NEA DAS Kent Patton and Tunis-based Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Director Peter Mulrean generated dynamic conversation about the way forward for a democratic Morocco. A few days later, a letter entitled "Call for the Defense of Civil Liberties" appeared in the January 19-25 issue of the French-language weekly Telquel. The letter, signed by 128 artists, journalists, academics, businessmen and civil society actors, laments a disturbing rise in intolerance against so-called "deviants," often in the name of religion and virtue. It outlines seven points vital to the protection of civil liberties, including guarding against hate-mongers and respecting the preferences, beliefs, opinions and life choices of others. The letter, which was signed by one of our lunch guests, indicates the degree to which elite Moroccans are concerned about their country's capacity to embrace democratic ideals. Lunch guests suggested several reforms they deem necessary to move Morocco forward. -------------- SUB-PAR EDUCATION -------------- 
 ¶3. (SBU) The need to reform Morocco's educational system was one point on which all reform advocates agreed, for numerous reasons. First, Moroccan schools are considered sub-par. To illustrate this point, Ali Belhaj, a political activist, Member of Parliament (MP) and President of the NGO Maroc 2020, cited a study showing that while 95 percent of Moroccans send their children to public school, the same percentage would opt for private school, given the choice. Second, the drop-out rate for students is extremely high. Though primary school is compulsory, many students fall by the wayside by the time they reach high school. One lunch guest estimated that as many as 25 percent drop out before their first year of high school. Another projected that as many as four million children are not in school. In a country where about 50 percent of the population is under the age of 20, this is a significant problem. ¶4. (SBU) In addition to widespread dissatisfaction and a high drop-out rate, the educational system also suffers from a lack of foresight or planning. Professor Mohamed El Amine Moumine, Director of American Studies at Hassan II University, explained the disconnect he sees between the skills students are taught and the demands of Morocco's growing economy. He believes the former should be designed with the latter in mind. Another participant added that teachers are not properly trained. As an example, she recalled that teachers received no education in how to teach using classical Arabic when it replaced French as the language of instruction in public schools. ¶5. (SBU) While the Moroccan educational system's problems are formidable, Belhaj advised that the country does not need money to reform it. Education is already a high priority and there are funds to support it - 25 percent of Morocco's budget currently goes to education. Instead, he said, "We need your help for political reform." -------------- PROBLEMS WITH PARLIAMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Reform advocates talked in depth about what they view as problems in the 325-seat Parliament. Several guests agreed that while some MPs are qualified and competent, many are not. Those who would be qualified to serve often are not interested in doing so since they are well-off and content with the status quo. The lack of enough willing and able participants in political life contributes to another problem: MPs often hold multiple offices, preventing them from giving their full attention to their work in Parliament. Mohamed Sajid came up as a prime example, as he is not only the Mayor of Casablanca, but also an MP from southern Morocco's Taroudant region. Lunch guests were quick to defend Sajid's good reputation and noted that his administrative experience as mayor may well improve his abilities in Parliament. Nonetheless, the feeling remained that Morocco would do well to follow France's model and prohibit politicians from holding multiple offices simultaneously. ¶7. (SBU) Compounding the problem of ill-qualified representatives and those who wear multiple hats is the fact that Parliamentarians have no staff. Belhaj recounted a conversation with a French MP who expressed shock at Morocco's system and swore he could get nothing done without his staff. In Morocco, some MPs use the resources of their personal businesses to attend to parliamentary matters, but not everyone has this option. Lunch guests agreed that a budget is needed for MPs to staff bona-fide offices. ¶8. (SBU) The group discussed not only Parliament's personnel issues, but also the inefficient way in which the body conducts business. Bouthayna Iraqui-Houssaini, President of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Morocco (AFEM) and a newly-elected Parliamentarian, described with incredulity the scenario at parliamentary meetings. Not only is there no agenda and no notion of limiting the time spent discussing various topics, but her colleagues sit idle for hours, doing little more than reading the paper. Coming from a private sector background, Iraqui-Houssaini is dumbfounded by the lack of an organized and professional ethic in Parliament. -------------- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM NEEDED -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Without exception, every guest agreed that with no constitutional reform, significant advances in Morocco are not possible. However, according to Abdelmalek Kettani, a local businessman and President of the NGO Alternatives, some MPs may not be ready for such change. All concurred that political will remains an issue when it comes to constitutional reform. According to Iraqui-Houssaini, the old guard clings to the old ways and is not eager to see the status quo upset. In addition, the constitution is currently written to make it impossible for one party to win a clear majority in Parliament. "When you have a mosaic of parties in the government, they will never be able to reach the kind of consensus needed to make real change," Kettani said. ¶10. (SBU) The group also agreed that without buy-in from the palace, constitutional reform would never be achieved. When asked if the palace was ready for such reform, Kettani answered with an authoritative 'yes.' Others confirmed Kettani's assessment and claimed that the King wants reform but understands that it will take time. "The King is a good listener," claimed Belhaj. Other guests backed him up, saying that ideas and proposals percolate up to the King, where they often get repackaged as royal initiatives. For the moment, they accept this system, since at least it means that some reforms go through. ¶11. (SBU) Without a doubt, the guests agreed that constitutional reform was high on everyone's agenda and that a transparent system of power sharing was an essential element for Morocco's future growth. Kettani, however, was adamant in his belief that until the Western Sahara issue is resolved, there will be no constitutional reform in Morocco. He claimed that the Sahara issue will always take precedence and urged the USG to continue its help on this front. -------------- WHO'S AFRAID OF THE PJD? -------------- ¶12. (SBU) When discussion turned to the subject of Morocco's widely popular Islamic Party of Justice and Development (PJD),the reaction of the reformers was unified. All agreed that the party was organized, dedicated and well-run. One guest stated that since the PJD garnered the most popular votes in the 2007 parliamentary elections, its chance of winning numerous offices throughout the country in the 2009 municipal elections was great. "Give them a chance," Belhaj stated, "let's see what they can do." Kettani followed up by citing the case of Islamic Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as an example of what could happen if the PJD does well in 2009. "Erdogan," he said "was elected Mayor of Istanbul, did a great job, and is now an extremely popular Islamic Prime Minister in a secular country." None of the guests registered concern about the PJD's popularity and indeed seemed to welcome the party as part of the truly democratic system all would like to see in Morocco. ¶13. (SBU) Comment: This group of elite and farsighted reform advocates spoke with feeling about Morocco's shortcomings and the need for change. Iraqui-Houssaini explained that she began to get involved in politics when she realized that her children might leave and never return if Morocco remained the same. As this comment and the lunch debate indicated, a cadre of smart, engaged individuals is committed to institutional and constitutional reform. They are optimistic that it can happen, but only as part of a long-term process that requires broader buy-in from their countrymen. End Comment. GREENE