20 February: Joining, boycotting, joining, boycotting…
Considered as one of the main events of the year, the expected demonstrations of the 20th February scheduled to flood the streets of Morocco, once again rises the controversial issue of rights against national security.
One of the main points the advocators of the protests advance are the respect of humanity, the extermination of corruption and the right to employment among other claims. These calls are totally legitimate under the circumstances the Moroccan scene is witnessing, yet the timing and the consequences are inappropriate for the welfare of the country.
The constant threat Polisario and Algerian officials constitute to our territorial integrity is an important factor to take in account whenever planning for events of major concern and impact. The last protests in Lâayoun give us a clear and concise idea about the potential repercussions a deviated national demonstrations might have.
Legitimate calls for social reforms and human rights respect in Gdim Izik camps turned into a wave of destruction and anarchy, twisting a pure innocent rally into an awful perverted mobilization against one’s country and interests.
If history is an eternal resource of experiences and lessons, we have definitely the duty to seek knowledge from it and learn wisely how to initiate, control and predict events of national concern.