NRG Battle World Edition here we come!

As I will be blogging for the NRG Battle World Edition taking place in Kuala Lumpur from the 4th of June to the 8th, I will be sharing some of my posts in my Blog so that a wider audience accesses them.

For more info on the event, check: http://www.nrgbattle.com/

The NRG Battle World Edition, as described by its organisors:

"NRG Battle – World edition

The NRG Battle – World Edition is a competition organized during the World Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur where 100 global top talents work, for four days in multidisciplinary teams of five, on challenging cases provided by companies. At the end of the four days, each team presents their idea in a 3-minute pitch to an expert jury, consisting of CEO’s and Directors from the energy sector. The jury nominates three teams that will pitch their idea once more to 5000 delegates at the World Gas Conference, who will then choose the winner of the NRG Battle - World edition. 

Top Talents

Companies are constantly looking for talents, one of the main reasons why companies participate in the NRG Battle is to find and recruit new top talent. Therefore this is your chance to get in touch with these companies and present yourself. What better start can you imagine!?

Since 2009 we have successfully organized the NRG Battle – Europe Edition each year, over 1000 participants and 53 nationalities have joined the battle so far.  We recruit students from the bestuniversities all over the world through ambassadors, these are participants from previous years who act as ambassadors (promoters) for the NRG Battle and promote the battle in their country. In addition, a global promotion campaign via Internet and social media is launched in order to attract new top talent for the NRG Battle – World Edition.

Students who sign up for the NRG Battle – World Edition enter an online Global Talent Pool. Only participating companies have access to this pool, they will select their teams based on the talents they need for the case. That is why you will take a personality test (Big Five), we can test what added value you have for companies. The big five personality test shows the five broad domains or dimensions of personality that are used to describe human personality.

Multidisciplinary Teams

Twenty teams will meet, compete and innovate during the NRG Battle at the World Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur. Every team consists out of five talents that will be selected by the companies according to their needs and skills for solving the case. During the battle each team is allowed to use whatever they feel like is necessary to win the battle. Be creative!

At the World Conference twitter can be used to find experts that can help you to crack your case! There will also be case instructors of the companies to help you."

This being said, follows a quick and short introductory post before I tackle this new task which, hopefully, will keep me busy for the next couple of weeks!

KONY 2012: When institutionalizing an idea leads to its demise

KONY 2012: When institutionalizing an idea leads to its demise

When you get your Facebook and email flooded with the KONY2012 videos and articles, you realize shit has just got serious. Massive posts and sharing of the KONY2012 short documentary has indeed stirred countless responses, mostly favorable, yet a frantic minority has been calling out for a conspiracy.

Follows the video widely widespread on the net and massively shared on Facebook:

The message is clear, concise and appealing, making full use of the influence and persuasion technics of any media campaign. Yet, any propaganda opts for the same mechanisms of propagation and massive distribution, making more than one raise an eyebrow as to what are the real incentives behind the KONY2012 organizational and promotional group.

Why questioning? Well, the numbers speak for themselves! Millions of dollars channeled throughout the globe through donations and purchases of different solidarity kits and gadgets, ranging from bracelets, to shirts and posters.  These millions of dollars are fueling the efforts which made the KONY2012 such a successful social media offensive, yet the virtual nature of the campaigns main feature brings to the spotlight several critics concerning the budget allocation and spending.

I will quote here the website http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/:

“Last year, the organization spent $8,676,614. Only 32% went to direct services (page 6), with much of the rest going to staff salaries, travel and transport, and film production. This is far from ideal for an issue which arguably needs action and aid, not awareness, and Charity Navigator rates their accountability 2/4 stars because they lack an external audit committee. But it goes way deeper than that.”

The budgetary management is far from being a regulated financial source and the lack of transparency and audit further advances the theory of mal practice and financial frauds.

Yet, financial opacity is not the key concern raised about the KONY2012 campaign. The political implications are far outweighing any financial considerations indeed. A US military intervention, be it through logistical support, military advisory personnel or through actual ground intervention with American troops, stirs enormous concerns on the incentive behind a military participation and the potential implications of such acts on the US interests.

The Political profile of the supporters of the KONY2012 campaign inside the corridors of the congress can easily be drawn. The video displays the 12 political figures the campaign intends to motivate towards a military intervention, and not surprisingly, the republicans are at the forefront of the little congress battalion ready to fight for a humanitarian intervention, as they did in Iraq and elsewhere.

Did IAM step back?

After the last media campaign which stirred countless responses over the VoIP problems apparently initiated by the telecommunication firm IAM, and the many blog posts, tweets, articles and letters from Skype, Viber and other software using the VoIP feature, the calm may have come back to the Internet community after many users reported an increase in Skype calls quality.

Source: http://wirelessfederation.com/news/91499-skype-blocked-in-morocco-morocco/

The speculations flying around assert that IAM may have pulled off and let the VoIP services re-operate fully without interference as a mean to cool down the public discontent which already shattered the companies reputation.

Some go as far as referring to a potential process of installing spying devices by IAM to control and monitor the information flow, cause of the potential interference with the VoIP feature... everything is plausibe!

While we are waiting for some of the technicians inside the company's corridors to leak a confirmation or a denial of the backing off from the usage of the newly deployed Cisco hardware, we can only speculate on a probable victory of the internet community to get the firm on its knee, asserting furthermore the immense power of the internet users in influencing policy making and companies behavior.

We hope to hear back from more people on the re-establishment of the good quality calls in Skype and other software using the VoIP feature, and until then, I will keep you updated on the news and development concerning the matter.

Mohamed Amine Belarbi

Occupy IAM!

A lot of tumult has been raised concerning the outraging initiative Itisalat Al Maghrib, the leading telecomunication company, undertook in the last period.
The provider of internet decided to cut the VoIP services and thus thousands if not million of Moroccans are unable to use softwares using this service such as Skype and others.

Steming from a protectionist policy meant to safeguard the earnings of the company against any competition, IAM has shown a coward attitude towards its consumers and towards the worlwide softwares using the VoIP technology, and thus lost respect and allegiance from a wide array of local consumers ranging from the old grandma who used to talk to her grandson in Europe, to the businessman holding his meeting through Skype conferences with international partners, passing by the usual student who needs to pass a Skype interview with the admission offices of the US universities.

What makes the problem doomed to persist is the probable interference of the government in such matters, knowing that our lovely intelligence officers have a hard time tracking and monitoring our conversations which bypass the conventional phone lines.
The intelligence networks spread out accross the country have all to win from such measures prompted by IAM, and the lack of a governmental initiative to tackle the problem and restaure the citizen's right to enjoy the internet services wouldn't come with much surprise.

Whether it is to blame on IAM or on the old grumpy intelligence officers, the necessity to act is more than pressing in a society where the citizen strives to show that he is aware of his rights and is ready to fight for them.

Let us boycott IAM, shame it publicly through a staunch media campaign against it, and let us write petitions to Skype and other companies using the VoIP services prompting them to remind the government of its responsibility to assure a free internet where no company nor government can interefere and imped the rights of its users.

Let us Occupy IAM offices around Morocco!

Follows a video post concerning the matter:

IAM response: Deny everything as expected!

Viber Response to the consumer complaints about the VoIP problem: Source: 

http://www.demainonline.com/2012/02/23/voip-maroc-teh-lecom-dement-la-censure-mais/

Mohamed Amine Belarbi

The New Gulf Vision for International Education

An NYUAD future undergrad insight 

On the request of a friend, I'll be writing this post on a subject loosely related to politics, specifically on the New York University of Abu Dhabi, with a modest approach to the Gulf politics, just so to keep the writing line of the blog present...

It is quite unique to observe a new trend in Education, sourcing in the Gulf countries, namely Qatar and the UAE... students around the world have noticed the fierce advertising of a new "kind" of Universities who, strange enough, bear US brands while being located in the middle of the oily arabian deserts.
Quite an explosive cocktail one would say, especially that the Middle East was never recognized for being the harbor of US Universities with great caliber. (Some even still think of the Middle East as an empty desert populated by bedouins...)

After the invasion with tanks, Fighter jets and ground troops, the Arabian peninsula is now living the era of intellectual incursion, and incursion one would argue which benefits the locals more than it offers a fruitful ground for brainwashing and Westrn conditionning for propsective Arab leaders.

As I am heading to the New York University of Abu Dhabi to be part of the 2016 class, I believe an insight on the new educational fashion promoted by the wealthy Emirates from my part would be highly appreciated, as some of my countreparts evoked.

The first impression that most of us would have is the stereotype of the wealthy fat sheiks and how a University planted in the Gulf would ultimately enjoy the many financial benefits of the area...and indeed it turns out to be true!
The logistics, infrastructure and budget of the US Universities out there, or at leat the ones I know (NYUAD and Georgetown University in Qatar) are virtually limitless! Ranging from Luxurious dorms to 3D TVs, passing by scholarship packages which include countless benefits and Filipino servants clearing your plates, this new Gulf/US branded universities have the primary weapon to drag the brightest students who are more than willing to study for free and get pocket money over it.

Another prominent feature of these Gulf branches of imminent US Universities is the outstanding faculty they manage to gather in their campus corridors. Draging top professors from Yale, Harvard, Oxford and numerous prestigious institutions, the head hunters don't go easy in selecting a stunning panel of teachers to make the University stand out internationnally, with of course fat paycheques being thrown left and right.
More impressive, the University I am attending in a couple of months welcomes the NYU president John Sexton bi-weekly so that he can teach his famous course (Government and Religion) to both the NYUAD students and an Emirati selected group, raising concerns about the costs of such journeys without mentionning the fury it starts among the environementalists who would get pissed off when it comes to the presidents' carbon footprint...

From personal experience, I can totally confirm the luxury these Universities afford to their students, especially after a journey I undertook to Abu Dhabi as part of a candidate weekend (part of the selection process).
Bringing 70 students from around the world to the UAE and bearing all the costs of travel, stay in a luxury hotel with on the top fancy activities in the desert and in the 7 stars hotel Emirates Palace(fancy dinner in Emirates Palace. pic down), this is what one would call hardcore advertisement!

And indeed it is one of the most powerful tools to expand the influence of the University, making the students go crazy over how fancy the trip to AD was and spread the word about the institution among their fellow coyears...(Bear in mind that not all the students got admitted at the end, though they were brought from the end of the globe to take part in sample courses and undertake a campus tour among others...)

It is indeed impressive that the Arab Gulf countries are heading in this new educational road where new perspectives and revolutionary vision are being drawn alongside the tall skycrapers which burst in the deserts of Arabia!
John Sexton  didn't spare words when describing the vision he sees taking place in NYUAD, a vision which reflected the eagerness of the UAE to take over the global leadership in the domains of Education, Business and Technology.

The UAE is a country which is still building and shaping itself, and the efforts of nation-building undergone in the oil rich emirates are to be met with an equivalent effort by the international community in order to foster peace and prosperity in times where wars are waged, ignorance is spread and hunger is a valuable currency in world marketing.

Coupled with the limitless financial capabilities made possible by the oil revenues, the new world vision taking place in the Gulf is to be taken on serious grounds, especially that the economic uncertainties in the West and the shifting of geopolitical centers to the East makes the emergence of centers of power in the Gulf a certain outcome. A clear display of such ground breaking changes is the shining of the star of Qatar in the last Arab Uprising where the tiny country unblocked huge funding ans tactical moves which threw it on the front line of those benefiting from the advantages of regime removals.

From organized protests in Qatari studios to political and logistical support to rebels, without forgetting the highly trained media staff which organized the unfolding of the revolutions in Aljazeera corridors, Qatar has shown that the determination of the Gulf countries to enclench its fist and grab the torch of leadership is not an ephemer fantasy, but a true vision for a New World Order where the rules of the global gameplay are drawn differently.

Heavy International investments are no more than a small fraction of what the Gulf has to offer, yet, the era of subordination and passive politics is now gone. Turning from the receiver to the active player, the Sheiks of Arabia have learned the lesson and are ready to make drastic changes (relatively ;) in order to channel the power of oil into palpable holdings in politics, business and education.

The conventional is not welcome in the Gulf of the 21st century, and so is the idea behind hosting US campuses while boosting their capabilities to make them outsmart their mother institutions back home. Give them money, give them logistics, give them buildings, internships, stunning faculty, countless research opportunities, study abroad programs, trips, conferences, evenings with top world personalities, luxury in its most mindblowing forms, and collect the results!

It is still an experimental process which found many supporters and critics, yet the fact that there is a genuine willingness to move the Gulf forward and make it a new hub for intellectual, political and economic leaps brings hope and faith in the Middle East as a whole, especially that it doesn't lack capabilities to bring real change to the ground, provided the West allows such re-emergence and sees it as a collaborative advance rather than a potential threat to the US and EU predominance in the global scene.

Mohamed Amine Belarbi

Europe: What future in the light of the crisis? (1/2)

Europe as meant to be

Europe has been struggling for centuries to come up with a unifying trend which could gather all Europeans around common values and ideals. Be it through wars, diplomatic approaches or economic alliances, Europe is still thriving with a single goal in vision: A unified Europe for a true European citizen. This approach didn’t encompass only the European geographic and demographic extension but expanded itself into a universal idea of union and prosperity which would serve the humanity as a whole.

The geographic expansion of Europe towards Eastern European nations has proven not only the success of the European unity which appealed even to former soviet countries, but also displayed to the international community that even though different as we are, we are still sharing a lot in common, and the basics of the European principals proved to cover these common ideals we are looking up for.

But what are these European values and what makes them so unique? A quick glance at the many aspects on which lies the European union will reveal these ideals on a practical basis and not only as a set of theoretical and utopian precepts.

Good governance

What set apart the West and the European Union in general from the rest of the world are the good governance and the intelligent affair’s administration. Europe now is one if not the most democratic political body which sets the standards to follow for the rest of the world. This achievement should be regarded not as a regional achievement but as a multicultural and global movement’s success in bringing politically, socially, economic and demographically different nations to agree to a set of regulations and policies which take into account the respect for the national sovereignty of the member states while at the same time building a comprehensive network which knits a unified European strategy for the whole members community.

As an article in the guardian expressed the concerns over the divers body forming the European Union and the threat of such diaspora to the unification efforts:

“…the union now contains countries that are geographically distant from one another, and which have experienced very different histories. To some extent geography determines interests. Historical experience also shapes perceptions of national self-interest. Thus in a broader union it may become harder for the member-states forge common policies and approaches.”[1]

Cultural understanding

It is in indeed amazing how the cultural values Europe stands for shaped the mutual understanding which allows so diverse communities and nations to live side by side in a tightly knit union. In a world which is torn apart by the many differences our religions, cultures, social mixture and political systems experience, the struggle for global peace and understanding is becoming more pressing than ever. But looking at the successful integrative policy Europe led throughout the past, we can easily notice how well the immigrants, Romas, Gipsies, Muslims, Africans and Asians managed to coexist in total respect and consideration. The providing of institutions, political and social bodies as well as comprehensive policies is an example of how the bridges of understanding can be built if the political wiliness is present.  

International peace promotion

Not only the European values and ideals are meant for local consumption, they are also a product exported all over the world which tries to give others the taste of global success and peace Europe world hard to implement. The many events where European intervention proved to be crucial in order to draw the world attention to conflicts, suffering and oppression attest of the significant place humanitarian efforts are granted in Europe’s foreign policy. A successful nation or Union cannot be judged solely on its internal achievements, but should be taken accountable for a greater role outside geographic borders. Europe proved to be an active fighter and promoter of international peace and global well-being, and this genuine interest in the world rather than the selfish self-centered policy several political entities promote reveals much about the nature and essence of European values which are truly universal ideals.

Economic prosperity

Another striking power of the European values is the way the economic prosperity is fostered through caring mechanisms which allow a certain financial flourishing of businesses and individual richness. Creating a common market and allowing the flow of goods and merchandises freely in the European geographic spot not only served as a driving force for the Economic financial status, but rooted the principles of joint cooperation and mutual help in order to boost peace and unity through economic cooperation. As one of the major pillars for self-satisfaction, economic needs of the European are tightly observed and secured, as a mean to fight the social diseases which find their roots in poverty and social disadvantage.

 These aforementioned values –which are the same values I see as indispensable for well-being and prosperity-, are to be considered in whatever endeavor started and which tries to promote and incorporate a productive union which works equally on the financial prosperity as on the immaterial flourishing of societies. Peace promotion, cultural understanding, economic prosperity, social care and the sense of global citizenship are true core values of the European well-being system, values which are to be secured and protected for a better Europe and a better world.

---

[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/mar/25/whyvaluesmatterinawidere 19:10 on the 29/10/11 

What future for the polisario in light of the Arab Uprising?

Polisario : Victim of its own alliances

The future of the Front Polisario has been brought again on agenda after the Arab springs’ impact on the geopolitics and foreign policies of the North African and Middle Eastern states. The recent fall of the Colonel Muammar Kaddafi’s regime was the most significant turn-point which stirred suspicions as well as opportunities for the neighboring countries (Morocco and Algeria) and the Polisario front.

Worth reminding is the important role the Libyan regime played in the creation as well as the sustainability of the Polisario regime, since Kaddafi was renowned for his unconditional support to the Saharawi fighters and his long lasting animosity toward the Moroccan crown.

Be it through logistical, political or financial support, Kaddafi not only saw in supporting the Polisario an opportunity to seize in harassing the Moroccan regime, but also a duty to accomplish in the cadre of the philosophy he believed in, a mix of communism, liberating movements theory and anti-imperialistic views.

Now that Kaddafi is gone, a new approach imposes itself when dealing with the determination of the future of the Polisario and its political survival in a new diplomatically shaped area.

Since the beginning of the turmoil, the Polisario, still confused about what position to adopt toward the ongoing clashes in Libya, got hit with a major blow: Polisario mercenaries were captured fighting alongside Kaddafi’s forces!

The statement came out from NTC officials who seemed rather suspicious about any future relations with the Polisario front, a move which would deprive the group from a main ally and thus doom it to more political isolation in the Arab World and hence in the international stage.

More than it has to do with financial or military needs, the Polisario have more to fear from a deteriorating reputation which has so far monitored its foreign policy and world alliances.

This reminds me of an encounter I had in Spain with Mostapha Jarmouni, a Moroccan University professor exiled in Spain because of his political opinion on the Sahara dossier. We were discussing the future of the Western Sahara conflict in the light of the Arab uprisings, and the conclusions we draw were pretty doubtful: A future Polisario front which lacks the support of the Libyan regime will ultimately lead the Western Sahara dossier into a much more stagnating waters with no International political will to stir it up things, especially with a Front which lacks credibility and willingness to approve new democratic regimes, and which struggles alongside tyrants to shut down revolutionary waves.

Follows a good BBC Arabic show “Open Agenda” which discusses the future of the Polisario in light of the Arab Uprising:

 Mohamed Amine Belarbi

Moroccan foreign policy: when political failure becomes a guideline

Foreign policy is a key feature in a state success or failure. The economic as well as the
military power of a nation not only shapes the foreign policy of the country, but makes use
of it in order to enhance furthermore its agenda and interests in World forums and Global
platforms.

Some would argue that the foreign policy is not a result of the country’s importance and
power, but rather a choice to adopt when writing the guidelines for the nations’ political
orientation. Although relevant to some extent, nobody should omit to notice that in case you
are presented with one option, though you choose that forced choice, you are still having the
last word and making the decision, hence, the foreign policy orientation of some countries
is not a matter of choice but a clear case of fatality due to several factors: Geopolitics, social
mixture, economic interest and aspiration as well as diplomatic strategizing.

The foreign policy, in most cases, is seen by policy makers as the fertile lands where interests
are cultivated, politics are shaped and economies are being attributed fruitful markets. It is
a strong branch of the country’s’ mechanisms to expand and influence international affairs,
as well as a non-military weapon to enforce decisions and model satellite countries’ internal
policy making. Yet, few states resign in making use of the power of foreign policy, and opt
for a centralized political focus while neglecting their stance in world affairs. While it might
appear to be a neutral approach to world issues, it is in fact a state weakness and a lack of
prioritizing the nations’ vital interests in the fast growing free political interests market we
live in today.

Morocco, for example, is a case where foreign policy is not regarded as a tool to induce
change but as a compass to find out where are the directions the country has been asked to
follow.

The Moroccan presence in the international scene is almost unseen if not made fun of. The
political and geostrategic weight of the kingdom, though important to an extent of having
superpowers backing its political deviations in so many cases, be it in the Western Sahara
dossier or be it through the closed eyes policy regarding the many human rights violations
reports submitted by international organisms.

But if Morocco has so much importance in the West agenda, why doesn’t it play a major role
in international issues and in world policy shaping?
Why morocco has to play the role of the appealing market everyone have a share in while the
country can easily be the one asking for its stakes in the global scene?

Having so many options to deal with and negotiate over puts Morocco in a position where it
can influence and even interfere in other nations national affairs, but the fact that the western
world have already taken the initiative of pushing Morocco to kneel in front of its demands
through several means, be it educational, military or economic dependency they imposed over
the country in its early independence stage.

Empty chair policy and reliance on western committed support:

Morocco has long been known for its empty chair policy, a policy enhanced by the lack of
qualified personnel to support and defend Moroccan positions on the international scene.

Be it in Arab or Muslim summits, or middle-eastern crisis, let along world forums, the
Moroccan presence is conveyed through shy interventions and stances argued for through
incoherent and prescribes speeches by foreign administrations.

In the 21st century world politics, the importance of a nation is proportional to the amount of
influence it exerts outside its boundaries, and the complexity of its diplomatic planning which
allows it to extract its political strength and influence from other means than natural resources
and prescribed alliances.

Morocco, primary relying on financial as well as political support from France/EU and the
USA to some extent, usually overlooks the basis on which such a western support has been
drawn. Of a geostrategic importance to the US in its war on terrorism, and of an economic
significance to the EU through the fisheries agreements ad phosphate exports, Morocco tends
to forget that these trading cards it uses to maintain western support are limited resources
relying entirely on the global market orientation and the world pressing issues priorities,
hence making the versatile and speculative world affairs a standpoint on which the whole
Moroccan political integrity relies.

The only way sustain the current advantageous economic and political conditions for
Morocco is to make a paradigm shift in its approach toward foreign affairs, as the flows in
Global trends, if not monitored to serve Moroccan national interests, soon will turn into a
threat to the National security of the kingdom which will have no way to fight back since it
lacks the appropriate tools to induce an adjustment to the world politics and economics.

Next Post: The need for a new active foreign policy approach led by youth consulting agencies and students produced studies of world politics:

Refugee Camps quick insight

 Here is a quick résumé of the headlines of my trip to the Saharwai Refugee Camps. I tried to give concise impressions on each of the activities in order to get you close to what it felt like going through them in the desert.

I didn't mention all what I went through since this might take endless time to write, and my decion to point out the major activities only was moved by my attempt to convey a short, well packed and enriching program for the many people I talked to and who consider sailing for a similar experience in the camps.

I am now preparing for a similar trip, but this time it will be in Western Sahara, specifically in Laayoun, the capital of the South. I will publish how things went as soon as I get back, and it will be an opportunity to have an insight on the pro-Moroccan version of the conflict and to ponder the similarities and differences between the two versions of a conflict we fooly think is a clear black and white issue.

The date of the trip to Western Sahara is still unknown, but it will probably happen this winter or soon after Winter break. I'll keep updating as things are sorted out.

You can find the full experience of my journey in the camps in my older post:

http://aminebelarbi.blogspot.com/p/camps-diary.html

Day 1: Women congress

The first day in the camps was one of the most enriching experiences I ever had since I was lucky enough to attend the women congress held by Saharawi Women in the 27^th February Camp.

During that day-long congress, much of my concepts about women, their capabilities and potential changed, and having the opportunity to assist to several workshops broadened my views on how women in the camps managed their life and contributed to the national cause, both in its social and political extent.

The workshops covered a wide range of aspects, ranging from journalism, women activism, media and foreign policy shaping, all discussed in its full feminine extent.

Day 2: Chats and discussions with people, veterans and Youth

The second day didn’t comport formal events, and it was aimed at studying and discovering the daily life of Saharawi people, as a way of attributing a human figure to the conflict we usually associate with mere numbers and geopolitical data.

I divided the day into two phases:

First I met with the veterans and fighters who served in the front lines during the armed conflict. I had the chance to chat with elders who still remembered the first days of the war, describing accurately the strategies pursued by the Polisario fighters, as well as the faces of the Moroccan POW and the sounds of explosions of land mines deep in the desert. One veteran, who constantly refilled his pipe as he was talking, spent quite a long time describing the horrors of the bombings led by French Aircrafts ‘Jaguar’ and how he managed to survive long days without access to food or supplies.

I also talked to youth who joined recently the army, and asked them about their motivation in raising the guns in the front lines, and why they chose to lead the military path instead of the academic one. Frustration but also deep passion to move the stagnant waters of the conflict popped out during my conversation with people my age but already enrolled in the military institution.

Day 3: Visit to the administrative camps, infrastructure and government bodies & political prisoners

One of the key aspects of the program was the evaluation of the Saharawi governmental work and political auto sufficiency, as it is frequently referred to the poor administrative capacities of the Polisario in the conflict overview.

I visited the administrative camp of Rabouni, where the ministries headquarters and the administrative compounds laid. At first glance, the infrastructure was obviously one of the poorest I ever saw, but the work performed behind those modest buildings was far more reaching than highly equipped administrative organs in decent states.

In the evening, I spent few hours with former Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan jails. I was given striking confessions and heart breaking testimonies, all accompanied by traces of physical violence endured in Moroccan prisons.

Few of those interviewed were banned from entering Morocco after they managed to join the camps; others were still pursued by Moroccan justice for crimes mostly described the Sahrawis as legitimate acts of free expression and requests for recognition, while the rest was in constant displacement between the camps and Western Sahara, those being activists still operating associations inside the territories.

Day 4: Civil Society groups (Film making/ Youth activism) and Hunger Striker interview

Though the refugee camps are a pile of tents, bricks, cars and sand, the Saharawi society managed quite well to undermine those harsh conditions and build a community with various social bodies, and one of them was the civil society operating through dozens of local associations.

I visited the association of Saharawi Film making amateurs, and I was given detailed interviews from the members who, proudly, presented me their art works, mostly short documentaries made by the youths, where the living conditions, political performances and youth activism in the Saharawi society was depicted with passion and professional skills, regardless of the poor filming equipment the association possessed.

Before my travel to the camps, I heard about the Saharawi Hunger Striker Mohamed Yahdih who had led a strike after the Moroccan authorities rejected his application to take part in UN sponsored family visit. I decided to visit him, and I managed to record a long interview were he explained the motives of his strike, referring to the twisted Moroccan policy in determining those who can be welcomed in their territory.

Day 5: Museum & Polisario Secretariat member

In my last day, I visited the local museum where historical documents and original transcripts were displayed along with the equipment, military vehicles and weapons gained by the Polisario fighters during the armed conflict.

Before heading to the tent and packing my stuff in order to fly back to Norway, I managed to get an interview from a senior official who was the head of the Saharawi syndicate and member of the Polisario secretariat.

He informed me during the interview of the many international events he attended along with Moroccan delegates, and described the process of discussion both parties went through, starting with the rigid ignorance of one another until the serious talks in which the parties evaluated frankly the conflict, its aspects and the ways to overcome the hinders and reach a mutual agreement.

Mohamed Amine Belarbi

Mohamed VI speech: Yet another vague text reading performance

The King Mohamed VI of Morocco has made a speech this 30th of July in the occasion of his 12th year of power as the head of the nation, amid speculations that this speech would mainly focus on the post-constitutional reforms era the country is undergoing.

The King, as usual, did start a long session of  recitation, reading directly from the pile of paper laid in front of him, a scene which contrasts abruptly with the memory of his father, King Hassan II, who used to fascinate the people with his charismatic and hypnotizying appearances and surprising speeches.

The landmark of the speech was the call of the Monarch for a rapid and speeded process to implement the coming elections, a step seen by some as a victory while others more suspiscious look at it as a strategy of the Palace to counter the rapid expansion of the Islamist Party by ensuring minimum damages.

On one hand, the people in favor of the measure to speed the election time, see in this step a confirmation of the constitutional text, partly because of the willingness to cut with all the ancient platforms and corrupted institutions and the installation of a reformed government abiding by the new constitutional reforms, and also, good to be mentionned, these people go far beyond in interpreting the fact that the monarch hasn't determined the date of the elections as a sign that the King has indeed limited his power in interfering with the promulgation of local and national policies and the management of the countries administration. This stance is clearly compiled in Anas ElFilali's post on BigBrother.ma: "Cela signe-il la fin de l'implication directe du monarque dans les décisions politiques ? Le début d'une nouvelle époque de gouvernance ou les politiques ont la responsabilité totale et les libertés qui en découlent ?"
http://www.bigbrother.ma/2011/07/video-discours-du-roi-mohamed-vi-du-30.html

On the other hand, other people comment on the step as a strategy of the Makhzen to act quickly before the total crackdown of the PAM, an alleged Palace monitored party who serves the Makhzen interests in the political scene. As Ali Lmrabet puts is on Facebook: "‎"Sidna" veut des élections rapides pour que "son" PAM de son ami Fouad Ali El Himma puisse avoir des chances d'échapper à al disparition pure et simple."
The point is, the polls show that the imminence of the bankrupcy of the PAM is a matter of time, and the amazing, yet predicted, invasion of the PJD of the political scene is granting the Islamist party an unquestionned victory during the election, its ampleur growing with time as the party structures more its political bodies and boosts the preparations of its regional and national structures in preparation for an outstanding performance. Hence, the best way to minimize the damages and slow the success of the Islamists is ultimately having the elections ASAP, point of view held strongly by some people such as Ali Lmrabet.

Follows the full speech made by the King:

Part I

Part II

Mohamed Amine Belarbi

Institution royale: le chapitre non publié...

Quand il y'a quelque chose qui cloche, quand  le pays est rongé par les maux de la corruption, de l'injustice sociale et de la pauvreté, on trouve toujours un bouc émissaire pour calmer la populace, crucifiant un ou deux représentants ou officiels alors que la tête du serpent est toujours protégée par une barrière opaque, cette barrière étant bâtie par nos mains, par nos peurs, par notre ignorance et par notre abrutissement, par notre choix de rester esclaves  et de se soumettre à la volonté d'un groupe d'individus qui se sont auto proclamés gardiens des clés du pouvoir et garants de le nation, ou plutôt garants de sa faillite et de son naufrage dans les obscénités de la dictature diluée par la pilule de l'ignorance organisée et de l'abrutissement des masses.  

Et oui, la manie du Makhzen que les marocains ont redouté depuis bien longtemps et que tout le monde a cru morte avec le décès de Hassan II (Heureusement, les marocains commençaient à croire que même la mort ne pourrai pas faire lâcher au monarque son pouvoir absolu!), a refait surface d’une manière assez provocante, spécialement après la chaîne d’évènements qui ont fait trembler les poutres du pouvoir suprême, anciennement calme et serein grâce au silence du peuple abrutit par les maintes stratégies sociales, éducatives et politiques que déploie ingénieusement l’élite politique au pays et en dehors.

Cette manie, et qui n’est point étrangère aux citoyens car ils en sont les victimes quotidiennement sans s’en rendre compte, c’est la fameuse stratégie du Makhzen d’attribuer l’immunité sainte au monarque ainsi que de le portraire sous forme d’une entité détachée de la réalité politique, innocente de tout pêché et clamée pour toute réalisation et succès, quoique minime fussent-ils.

Et cet endoctrinement, que j’inclurai dans ce plan d’abrutissement des masses lancé en plein poupe par les élites mondiales dans le but d’accumuler richesses et pouvoirs au détriment des peuples, fait état d’un support sans limites de la part des différents organes gouvernementaux, commençant par les médias, en passant par les structures éducatives et manuels scolaires, sans parler des partis politique qui n’ont pour mission depuis l’indépendance que de supporter et maintenir le régime dans son élan discret de transformer le Maroc en une entreprise familiale, avec seul aspect étatique dévoilé à travers le logo de cette compagnie, à noter l’emblème du Maroc et son slogan ALLAH ALWATAN ALMALIK.

Les marocains, depuis l’installation des premières antennes par la société nationale de radiodiffusion et de télévision SNRT, se sont plaints des constantes références positives au monarque, des heures passées à retransmettre ses discours et les 90% des infos relatives aux chantiers lancés par le souverain (comme si il nous donnait l’aumône et payait ces chantiers de son argent de poche !), alors que les faillites du Roi, ses fautes et son empire économique n’ont jamais était mis en question, sous faute de ternir l’image idéaliste de cet homme et demi qui sauve les Maroc et son peuple à chaque heure de journée. Et quand ce n’est pas question des prouesses chevaleresque de CHRIF, c’est encore plus d’abrutissement à travers les ‘cancers’  musicaux, les séries mexicaines et les sitcoms de merde…allez savoir comment disséminer les conflits internationaux et les décisions de la communauté politique mondiale à travers le soulèvement des popotins des Shikhates ou en analysant les courbures des chanteuses libanaises sur SHRAN M3AK LILA !

L’école, c’est une toute autre histoire !  À part le fait de savoir que les rois du Maroc ont battus les forces coloniales et que les souverains ont depuis institué une révolution progressiste pour développer le Maroc, et qu’ils sont les garants de l’unité nationale et bal bla bla, on n’a jamais été informé de leur autre figure en dehors du portrait illuminant dessiné par la monarchie elle-même. Si le Maroc est au plus bas du classement quand il s’agit IDH, éducation, pauvreté, corruption et tout le train de mauvaises choses qu’on n’aime pas dévoilé et discuté, c’est à cause des officiels sans principes et sans idéaux, c’est en partie due à la mentalité d’un peuple qui ne veut point évolué et s’auto-éduquer, et c’est à cause des ingérences impérialistes dans les affaires internes du royaume. Et alors, à quoi sert ce commandant ultime de l’armée, de l’institution religieuse, de l’institution juridique et président du gouvernement ? Juste à s’approprier les réussites rares du pays et s’accaparer la légion du sauveteur de la nation !

Jusqu’à quand cette idolâtrie et cet esclavage intellectuel qui nous pousse à considérer le roi comme une limite rouge à ne pas trépasser ? Faut-il laisser cette mascarade continuer infiniment alors que la moitié du peuple crève sous le seuil de la pauvreté et de l’analphabétisme ? Est-il logique d’accuser les étages de la pyramide du pouvoir, fustigeant les responsables locaux et les représentants parlementaires, tout en oubliant ou en ignorant le sommet de cette pyramide pourrie jusqu’aux racines, à noter la monarchie ?

La royauté comme institution doit être comprise dans son aspect terrien, et non comme entité indépendante gratifiée de pouvoirs divins. Les Rois, comme les simples citoyens sont sujets aux erreurs et aux tentations, et les caser dans cette catégorie d’intouchables et d’irréprochables est une stupidité et une atteinte grave à l’intelligence humaine.

Mon point doit être clair et non sujet aux interprétations : Je n’ai rien contre les Roi Mohamed VI ou contre ses prédécesseurs en tant que personnes, mais en tant que représentants d’un concept immoral que je trouve non pas seulement offensant envers l’égalité humaine et la justice divine, mais aussi menaçant l’instauration de tout état démocratique et équitable envers ses citoyens.

Les citoyens ont commencé à réaliser l’importance de questionner le régime comme partenaire primordial dans la corruption généralisée qui ronge le pays, et la nécessité de le rendre sujet à toute enquête qui vise à déterminer les responsables dans ce feuilleton dramatique national qu’on vit depuis bien longtemps. Et cette renaissance morale a été pleinement célébrée à Tanger et à El Hoceima, où les demandes de réformes et les protestations n’ont pas usé des approches timides, mais ont totalement foudroyé les symboles du pouvoir qui sont sans équivoques égaux dans leur implication dans ce crime organisé pour noyer le pays dans l’ignorance et la corruption, à un instant où le déficit du Maroc dépasse chaque année les 10 milliards de dollars dans un pays où abondent les richesses et où les aumônes des pays du Golfe atterrissent sans relâche. Où va cet argent, allez savoir !

Tout aussi important et intriguant, l’empire économique du roi et sa fortune peu si jamais mentionnés dans les rues, moins dans les médias, alors que ça mérite d’être mis sur le table pour questionnement national et populaire. Le 6^ème plus riche monarque au monde selon Forbes, et propriétaire de la plus gourmandes des entreprises nationales, à savoir l’ONA, gouverne une nation où la pauvreté se taille la part du lion dans cette tarte populaire mordue de toute part.

http://www.afrik.com/article17210.html (Sur la richesse de Mohamed VI)

Ce même empire financier régi sous un Blackout médiatique complet par le riche monarque a fait la une de Wikileaks, documents que nous marocains ne verront jamais dévoilé car la personne du roi, et par induction ses actions et propriétés, ne sont pas sujettes au questionnement et à la critique, autant moins à la criminalisation.

Un des câbles diplomatiques US dévoilés ont accusé le régime de corruption financière, cette corruption se manifestant à travers les actions tordues de la compagnie royale dans le domaine de l’investissement et de l’attribution des marchés. Ici le câble repris par le journal britannique the Guardian :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/06/wikileaks-cables-morocco-royals-corruption

http://fr.globalvoicesonline.org/2010/12/11/50974/ (article en français sur la corruption de la cour)

Même histoire sur le plan politique, spécialement les élections, où apparemment le Roi, innocent disent les gens, joue de ses mains magiques pour influencer les résultats électoraux dans une tentative acharnée pour couper la route aux islamistes dont l’influence grandissante est un constant mal de tête pour le régime.

Ici l’article citant le document dévoilé par Wikileaks et repris par Elpais et City DZ :

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Mohamed/VI/intervient/rudement/politique/pour/contrer/les/islamistes/elpepuint/20101211elpepuint_34/Tes

http://www.city-dz.com/wikileaks-maroc-mohammed-vi-intervient-directement-dans-les-elections/

Les conclusions a tiré de cet article, quoique modestement écris par un étudiant qui en a plus que marre de la situation stagnante dans ce pays pourri par la corruption et le clientélisme, sont claires et nettes :

L’institution royale devrait faire l’objet de critiques, enquêtes et questionnement au même titre que les institutions politiques et gouvernementales.

La sacralité du Roi devrait être sujette à un compromis : Si la personne du Roi doit rester intouchable, alors le Roi devrait renier à poursuivre ses ambitions financière et à réfréner de tout acte qui, pour un simple citoyen, constitue un objet d’enquête et de questionnement : investissements, entreprises et autres, sinon, le Roi devrait être traité comme Monsieur tout le monde, ses comptes et propriétés passés à la loupe et ses dépassement de loi sujets aux procédures juridiques en vigueurs.     

Faire tomber cette tendance de relier toute demande au Roi et à la Royauté, surtout dans le contexte actuel où il n’est plus question de qui veux la démocratie et qui prône la corruption, mais de qui est avec et qui est contre le Roi. Ceci est un dilemme sournois qui menace la légalité des demandes réformistes, de la même façon dont a user l’administration Bush après les évènement du 11 septembre où il n’était plus question de questionner les évènement où de plaider les droits civiques et humains des individus, mais de qui était avec les USA et qui était avec les terroristes. 

Fini avec cette perverse approche aux demandes de changement, fini avec les arguments sourds des soi-disant royalistes qui répondent à chaque question, à chaque demande par : MALKONA WAHID, Mohamed 6…Notre Roi est un, Mohamed 6 ! Vous demandez des réformes, vous protestez, donc vous êtes contre le Roi. Ceci est une solution efficace pour le régime afin de ‘pacifier’ les protestants d’une manière qui ne répond point à leurs attentes ou à leurs demandes constitutionnelles.

Ce n’est pas un QCM avec deux choix : Nationaliste royaliste ou Réformateur antimonarchiste comme ils veulent nous faire croire, c’est une liste un peu plus longue où on a le droit de choisir, sans nulle contrainte soit d’être :

Monarchiste et Protestants dans les démonstrations

Monarchiste et fier de la situation actuelle sans nul besoin de changement

Antimonarchiste et Protestants dans les démonstrations

Antimonarchiste et contre le soulèvement populaire actuel

D’ici là, je vous dis à très bientôt en vue de préparer un article sur le sujet du Sahara qui résume mes modestes recherches sur le sujet, un article qui se penchera sur l’aspect légal du conflit sous l’ombre des lois internationales et de la Realpolitik qui régi le monde comme on le connait aujourd’hui.

Mohamed Amine Belarbi