Electoral campaign marked by a campain of terror and repression against PADS
(Party of Democratic Socialist Vanguard of Morocco)
Arrest of 67 members of PADS in 10 provinces.
The electoral campaign was marked by terror and repression operations aiming at PADS and its members throught the country, because of the party's position calling for the boycott of the local elections to be held on 13th June 1997.
Comrade Abdellah MOUNASSIR, member of party section and Secretary of the Union of Seafarers-Fisherman of Agadir, was kidnapped on the 27th May and assassinated. His corps was found in basin No 1 of the port of Agadir on 1st June with his feet and hands tied with traces of torture.
A vast campaign of arrests was launched and included so far 67 members of PADS in 10 different provinces. They are brought to court, in particular for "calling for abstention from voting" on the basis of Art. 90 of the new electoral law adopted unanimously in the framework of the consensus reached between the public authorities and the parties participating in Parliament.
This campaign of arrests aims at preventing PADS from making its position known, a position that calls for the boycott of local elections because of their lack of transparency and fairness.
Moreover, the political, constitutional and legal conditions for the establishement of real democracy are non-existent.
This campaign of repression aiming at our party through the arrest and sentiencing of its members, the prohibition of the dissemination of its leaflets and the holding of meetings to explain its position constitutes a violation of the freedom of opinion and expression as well as of the civil and political rights of citizens and of a National Party enjoying full legitimacy. It is also a serious precedent which takes us back to the repressive peiriods of the past.
PADS, while stigmatising these illegal acts and arrests notes that the electoral law itself, in the name of which the members of our party have been arrested in the constritution. It can neither deprive our party of its right to express its opinion and political positions. This right cannot be sanctioned by the aforesaid law be it legally, constitutionally or politically.
This champaign of wild repression launched against our party expresses the dismay of the authorities in the face of the influence of our party, the correcthness of its position and the support it enjoys from broader popular masses.
The National Secretariat of PADS greets the resistance and the self control of its members and urges them to continue their struggle for the defence of its positions and noble ideals and to stand up against all challenges whatever the obstacles and sacrifices.
It calls upon all democratic forces to stand in solidarity with PADS and to establish a Patriotic Front of struggle for genuine and comprehensive democracy both political, economic, social and cultural.
Long live the Parti de l' Avant-garde Democratique Socialiste
Long live the Patriotic Front of Struggle for Democracy
Rabat, 6th June 1997
The National Secretariat of PADS