The speech of his Majesty the King Mohamed VI

Praise to be God

the Prophet, his Kits and kin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a further illustration of my determination to carry on with my effort to uphold human rights as a culture and as an attitude, I am setting up, today, the Justice and Reconciliation Commission, thus concluding the process of shelving a thorny issue once and for all. As soon as I acceded to the throne, I decided that this process, which was lunched in the early nineties, should be consolidated.

Reflecting on the different international experiences in this particular field, one must acknowledge that morocco, acting with wisdom and courage, has managed to come up with a model of its own. Our country has succeeded in marking significant headway, under the nation’s perennial democratic and constitutional Monarchy, guarantor of the sanctity of the state and its institutions as well as for the citizen’s dignity and freedoms. As a result, political prisoners have been pardoned and their employment-related problems solved ; exiles have returned home ; victims of arbitrary detention and forced disappearance have received compensation ; and cases of missing persons have been investigated.

I should like, in this respect, to hail the architects of these accomplishments, government authorities as well as social actors, and to remember, with humility and reverence, my august Father, his Majesty Kin Hassan II, God bless his soul, who was the driving force behind this process. I also wish to commend all those - public authorities, political parties, trade unions and NGOS - who have contributed to the achievement of this objective.

Similarly, I would like to pay tribute to the Independent Arbitration Commission for its commendable work with respect to the provision of compensation for the moral or material damage suffered. This breakthrough is recognized, both at home and abroad, as an outstanding achievement. It will provide a solid basis for the Justice and Reconciliation Commission to build on and complete the mission of its predecessor.

It is my firm determination to see to it issue is resolved once and for all, through further equitable, out-of-court settlements, as well as by healing past wounds and redressing the damage done. To this end, a bold, comprehensive approch, seeking justice, rehabilitation and reintegration, will be adopted to uncover the truth and draw lessons from the past. The aim is for Moroccans to be at peace with themselves and to be reconciled with their history, so that they may channel their energies towards building a modern, democratic society, which provides the best protection to avoid recurrence of past wrongs.

The work done by the previous Commission, and the final report you will be drawing up in an effort to establish the facts within a set time-frame, make us regard your commission as a truth and justice body. Are all aware that the truth uncovered is only relative, and that even historians, however impartial they may be, may not get the whole truth, the more so absolute truth is known only to God. As the Almighty says : "He knoweth the traitor of the eyes, and that which the bosoms hide".

This Commission may count on my support in discharging its challenging tasks. Its chairman, Mr. Driss Benzekri, and all its members are known for their objectivity and high moral standards, their genuine commitment to human rights and their great skills in the Commission’s extensive fields of competence. Seeking broad, diversified representation, I have made sure that the Commission’s membership comes from the Human Rights Advisory Council, and the other half from different background. Nevertheless, all of them are dedicated to a common goal, namely to uphold human rights.

I should like to commend the members of this Commission and express my deep appreciation to them. I was truly delighted that they all readily and enthusiastically joined me in this initiative, willing and determined to ensure the success of this noble mission.

I am confident that the Commission, with such a prominent membership, will, God willing, manage, within the prescribed time, to rehabilitate the victims, bring comfort to their families, and achieve such reconciliation as will allay the wrath of the past, make the best use of past achievement and consolidate them, with a view to reaching a just, equitable, humane, civilised and final settlement of past abuses. I am sure that, in laying down its rules of procedure and in carrying out its mission, the Commission will consistently seek guidance from the decision whereby it was established, from international conventions on human rights, and from Islamic ideals, which advocate tolerance and forgiveness.

This is the path to follow if we are to consolidate the spirit of good citizenship, that make democracy, patriotism and dissemination of the culture of human rights and obligations the most reliable shield to protect our society from any propensity for extremism or terrorism. We are determined to fight such tendencies, to resolutely preserve security and stability, under the rule of law, and to channel all energies in order to make all Moroccans attuned to the aspirations of their nation and fully prepared to meet both domestic and external challenges.

The achievement is the culmination of an exemplary and unique process, in which we were all involved. It was conducted with confidence, audacity and circumspection. Our people, who are dedicated to democracy, neither turn their backs on their past, nor remain prisoners of its shortcomings. Instead, they derive strength and dynamism from it to build a modern, democratic society, wherein all citizens may exercise their rights and carry out their duties freely and responsibly.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.