Ms. Meryam Demnati is not an unknown and is certainly not anyone. Far from there. She rolled his hump for years in the field of Amazigh activism. It can even be considered one of its first female figures. As the situation of the Amazigh and their culture becomes more and more desperate, we have approached to it gives us his point of view. Let’s read what she said!
1. What do you think of the recommendations of the Higher Education Council where the Amazigh are not represented at all on their language, Tamazight? Forget the teaching of the Amazigh language in Morocco?
Not only Amazigh are not represented, but their enemies are out in force in this council. In 2010, the Amazigh movement had campaigned against the Board of Governors which was headed Mezian Belfqih. It proposed to use the Amazigh to facilitate the learning of the Arabic language; ignoring the achievements of the era: the agreement signed between IRCAM and the MEN which included the following 4 principles: horizontal and vertical spread of the teaching of Amazigh, mandatory to all Moroccans without exception, transcription alphabet Tifinagh, gradual standardization of the Amazigh language. The CSE had declined at the time and even had frozen its activities after the death of Belfqih. Today, the council returned to the charge and proposes that Tamazight is taught only in primary school. In fact, the participatory approach in which the government touts, is only masquerade and this in all areas. The Amazigh associations and other civil society are absent from any decision making. Lately we have just started a campaign against the CSE, the Amazigh movement has still not understood that education is VITAL for the survival of our language and it would take more pressure. We must be aware that the most effective formula to eradicate Amazigh is that of the compulsory teaching of state language for all its hype and this can give serious and incredibly fast results one generation to another.
2.Faut he also do the prayer of the absent on the formalization of the Amazigh language? Do not you think that organic laws were ultimately a trap?
Prior to 2011, we thought that the formalization of the Amazigh language in the Moroccan Constitution would take much more time. It took 20 February that this slogan is found in the street by waving youth and the majority of Moroccans. Everything happened so quickly thereafter. The enemies of Amazigh in the palace and the Arabist and Islamist political parties have put the package to prevent this. They managed to change the wording in order to later play with technicalities and play with time. Organic laws or not, the government would have done anything to block and return everything, indefinitely. We have seen worse than this in the past and had not made the prayer of the absent anyway. We always knew that our enemies were not going to spread out a red carpet. Instead, they will continue to implement “their linguicide” programmed using all possible means. The struggle must continue, and at each step strategy. We would have liked the Amazigh movement more visible, more aggressive, and a lot more united.
3.What do you think the media field completely closed? To date, it is impossible for the private sector to open televisions or radios 100% Amazigh? For public media, the story is known, it is the absolute disregard the fact Amazigh that prevails …
All this discrimination are part of the policy of excluding the Arabists and Islamists broadcast in all areas. They are present in all administrative spheres and at all levels. For these ideologies, all languages other than Arabic and other religions than Islam, are a danger to their “Umma”. Diversity, “living together” and tolerance, they do not know. They have as a program, the homogenization of society, and thus to ensure that their language and their only language, culture and only culture, their religion and their religion alone or those of all citizens.
4.What do you think of the issue of Amazigh names that are regularly being completely arbitrary prohibitions?
Concerning Amazigh first names after the IRCAM (time Chafik) and the Amazigh movement have questioned the Interior Ministry, things have improved gradually. Human Rights Watch that we contacted, also played an important role with the Moroccan government. Today, a circular from the Ministry abolished discrimination of Amazigh first names. If there are still prohibitions, it is either due to ignorance of the agent or to his racism, but we remain vigilant.
5.Ne do you think that the Moroccan regime sees the Amazigh as an enemy that must be to eradicate or eliminate?
The Moroccan regime (monarchy) has always played on maintaining balance, taking into account the power relations involved, at national and international level. If the objective of Arabist movements and national and international Islamists is the eradication of Amazigh language and culture through educational and media for total uniformity, this is not always true the monarchy that still weighs the pros and cons and is concerned that its own security. So far, we have acquired only after our demand struggles, are from royal decisions (IRCAM: integration in school and research and TV Tamazight) and not the so-called governments that have succeeded. Property acquired precarious course, but the Arabists and Islamists have still not digested and they always undermine much as they can.
6.D’après you must Amazigh? Should they sit idle before such contempt and disdain on the part of the regime?
Amazigh should:
1-Have a strategy in which priorities will be targeted.
Education and media are priorities because at stake is the survival of our language;
2-To be open to other human rights bodies;
3-Lobbying policies;
4-Organize large common stock when the context requires,
5 Make-outreach work for greater awareness,
6-Demonstrate innovations as to the actions and means,
7 Become a must-force proposal,
8-Strengthening contacts and exchanges with the Amazigh Tamazgha and the Diaspora.
Maintenance Lahsen Oulhadj with Meryam Demnati. April 18, 2015.
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Meryam Demnati “The Amazigh movement must be more visible, more aggressive, and above all more united. “
