Casablanca – I would have liked to participate in the protests that occurred in Rabat on March 13th. The protests saw thousands of Moroccans take to the streets in response to statements made by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, concerning the Moroccan Sahara.
The magnitude of the march sent a strong message to Ki-moon: don’t play with the emotions of an entire nation. I will be forever grateful for those who posted videos and photos of this national gathering. They filled me with pride and appreciation for my country.
Should the UN Secretary General had done his research before making such an inflammatory statement, he would have learnt that the DNA of this century-old people is combined with pride and patriotism. He would have learned that Morocco is one of the oldest nation-states in the world. It has an old and developed monarchy, some of the oldest universities, mosques and synagogues. He would have learned that this is a country that, despite being colonized, has retained its history and culture. It is the country of Almoravides, Almohades, the Merinides and of the Saadians. The Secretary General would have learned, for instance, that we have all sworn not to abandon any grain of the sand of our southern provinces. Not now, not ever.
You should know, Mr. Secretary General , that Morocco is the Sahara and the Sahara is Morocco, check a map of Africa. Yet, you treat us as mere occupants. By treating us as such, you insult our history and an essential ingredient of our national identity.
The Moroccan people have responded to your personal attack, Mr. Ki-moon. Our protesting has forced you to reveal who you really are. We dragged you out of your gongs, and drove you to manifest your haughty character..
Despite your actions, Moroccan diplomatic forces gave you an undeserved second chance. All you had to say was that you had misunderstood the situation and that the Moroccan people were not, in fact, occupiers. Yet, you refused.
Furthermore, by greeting our minister of foreign affairs the way you did, you insulted the Moroccan people yet again.
Such actions only serve to confirm your stubborn nature. As a result of your foolishness, you have pushed the African country that participates most to the actions of the UN, to turn it’s back on you. You are now being forced to reduce MINURSO. It is your fault.
Your behavior demonstrated a serious lack of education on a topic you claim to know much about. It’s what my grand-mother would have called “qlil trabi.”
Perhaps you should look up what that means, Mr. Ki-moon.
Translated by Abdelbaar Mound Idriss. Edited by Kate Hursh
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