Marrakesh terrorist attack?

On Thursday, April 28th, a bomb killed around 16 people in the busiest tourist attraction in Marrakesh, Morocco. Moroccans and tourists died in this horrible attack. As for now nobody knows who did it and why. Some are already pointing at extremist Islamic groups. It is too early to clearly state who did it and every speculation is only the result, indirect result, of what is happening in the Arab world. In any case, if this was an action aiming at the pro-western Moroccan government in order to reduce foreign influence, it will not succeed. However, the political leaders and mainly the king should meditate about the situation in the country. Once again they have a warning sign demanding a real change for Morocco. The demonstrations that have been happening since February will not stop until the three main demands are met, which in fact could be summarized in only one word: real democracy. The apparent freedom given to Moroccans since the king Mohammed VI took over his father after his death (back in 1999) is not a real one and furthermore not in the main sectors of the country daily life: economy, justice and education. Not to mention the corruption that is probably higher now than ever. To be perfectly honest, the king should fire the whole government and appoint new people who have never been involved in politics to conduct the changes. He should demand to the people who took advantage of the regime to return their wealth, or at least a good part of it, and to stop being involved in the economy and politics. But that is only a pretty nice dream that will not happen. Too much is at stake, and the first hurdle is the people who take advantage of the non democratic regime. But one can always dream? In any case a terrorist attack is in no way an answer to any problem, political or social. Killing people who are just having a nice coffee or tea in a beautiful square (Jamaa Al Fnaa is the famous square where Hitchcock's 1956 movie "The Man Who Knew To Much" with Jimmy Steward and Doris Day was partly shot) where tourists from all over the world and Moroccans gather all day long. The first probable result will be a decrease in tourism in the country. But will this tragedy have an impact in the changes that the people are demanding? I do hope that the answer is YES. But I don't know.

War in Arab countries

April 27th

The uprising started in February in Lybia and as today, April 27th, it is still on. It is a fact that Gaddafi and his supporters are in bad shape since the beginning of the NATO attacks but his army is still holding the capital Tripoli. Then other countries are also boiling and masses march against their rulers and their systems. Syria and Morocco are two other examples, although different, where the people are fed up by their regimes. Syria is indeed a dictatorship. Morocco, one of the few countries in the Arab world with more freedom of speech, is showing its limits. It is true that since the new king took over his father, the late Hassan II in 1999, the situation improved a lot, both economically and politically. But what is happening today, is a proof that changing rulers doesn't necessary mean a new life for the masses. The biggest problem, or to be honest one of the biggest, is corruption. People like to be able to express themselves but if their economical situation doesn't improve it is a dead end for them. Western countries see Morocco as an example amongst Arab nations. But it is either a non impartial view (too much stakes at risk for them) or a misunderstanding of the needs of Moroccans. More freedom yes, but a better life. That is what they want.

The awekening of Arab people

No one ever thought that Arab People would one day wake up and succeed in ousting their corrupted presidents and head of states. No one thought that they would succeed after years of apparent acceptation. After decades of humiliation Arab people marched in the streets of cities where only a few weeks ago political police was feared so much that they would not even talk to each other about their governments. An suddenly they were out in the streets shouting words against their rulers. All of a sudden those dictators were as vulnerable as any citizen in his and her day to day life in those countries. But the most interesting part of it is that Europe and the USA (but much less) have never realized that Arab People were fed up by their "non life" and didn't have anything else to lose. And once a human being feels that he doesn't have anything to lose he or she can do things that are well above the reality. That is what has happened in Arab countries.