Rabat – In response to the violent dispersal of their protest on Wednesday in Rabat, health professionals in Morocco have announced a two-week strike, escalating their confrontation with the government over unmet demands.
The National Coordination of the Health Sector released a statement condemning the “violent” actions taken by security forces and detailing their plan for continued protests.
“Instead of implementing the agreement signed with the unions representing health workers to ensure their rights—an agreement that required numerous negotiation meetings with an inter-ministerial committee—the head of the government asserts his dominance by striking at the freedom to protest and violently suppressing health professionals,” reads the statement.
The demonstration saw medical professionals marching from Bab El Had in Rabat towards the parliament to express their dissatisfaction with what they termed as the government’s failure to honor a previously signed agreement.
Protestors were met with severe force from security personnel who used water cannons to disperse the crowd, resulting in numerous injuries and arrests among the demonstrators. Videos of the incident, showing protesters being forcefully drenched and scattered, have circulated widely on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation of the authorities’ actions.
The National Coordination’s statement highlighted the excessive use of force against demonstrators who protested in a “calm, peaceful, and civilized manner.” They cited the use of batons, water cannons, and the physical assault of health workers.
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The statement described scenes of chaos and brutality, saying that many professionals suffered from “multiple injuries, fainting spells, and psychological trauma,” which necessitated hospital treatment for some.
In light of these events, the National Coordination announced an extensive strike schedule, affecting all healthcare institutions nationwide, except for emergency and intensive care units.
The coordination said it will carry on with its scheduled strike on Thursday and Friday, with a planned five-day strike from July 15 to 19. Health professionals will then participate in another five-day strike from July 22 to 26.
The statement noted that regional and local protest marches and sit-ins will be organized according to the circumstance of each area.
The statement emphasized that the government’s failure to honor the agreement and the subsequent violent crackdown on peaceful protesters would not deter their efforts. Instead, they pledged to intensify their efforts, holding the head of the government responsible for the deteriorating situation in the health sector and the broader impact on public health.
The Coordination’s demands include the full implementation of the signed agreement, encompassing both financial, legal, and ethical aspects. They have called for the release of all detained health professionals and an end to any legal reprecussions against them.
