The Preparatory Committee of the Movement for Wide Autonomy in the Rif (northern Morocco) has called for a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.
In a communiqué, the committee said that the elections are being held under a constitution that does not recognize Morocco's Amazigh (Berber) identity and language or the Rifians' right to broad regional autonomy.
In addition, on September 3 the Amazigh Cultural Movement held a protest in Khenifra, with the participation of ACM activists from southeastern Morocco, during which it too called to boycott the elections.
An unrelated anti-elections protest planned for the same day by the Marxist Al-Nahj Al-Dimoqrati movement was prevented by the authorities.
Source: Al-Sabah, Morocco, September 3, 2007
