A victory for Morocco’s children

Following on from my post yesterday about #danielgate, in an unprecedented move, Mohammed IV, King of Morocco, has revoked his pardon of the Spanish pedophile Daniel Galvan.

This Agence France-Presse alert, translated to English reads:

ALERT – The King of Morocco cancels pardon the Spanish pedophile

RABAT – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has decided to withdraw the pardon granted to Spanish recidivist pedophile whose recent release led to protests in the kingdom, said Sunday evening the Royal Palace in a statement.

The king decided to withdraw from grace previously granted to certain Daniel Galvan Fina said the statement published by the official news agency MAP, citing a decision of an exceptional nature. While according to several media former inmate has left Morocco, it is stated that the Department of Justice should investigate with the Madrid-up to the withdrawal of this grace.

(© AFP / August 4, 2013 9:54 p.m.)

As Moroccan writer Laila Lalami (@LailaLalami) put it on Twitter: “Lessons of #DanielGate: 1. sustained popular pressure works. 2. the king fears embarrassment and doesn’t want to lose his political capital”… “The focus should be how to get this predator behind bars again. That is the only way to repair the damage done to his victims.”…”What happened in Morocco today is similar to what happened in March 2011—the king makes a quick concession to stop the momentum of protests”.

Whatever King Mohammed’s motives, it is a win-win for everyone.

And now the world also knows a little bit more about the exploitation of the children of Morocco, so the king has some work to do in protecting his most vulnerable subjects. But first he needs to successfully prove the legal validity of cancelling the royal pardon.

Update: Daniel Galvan has been arrested in Spain, and it is now understood it will be referred to the Spanish HIgh Court.

(Cover photo taken near Midelt, Morocco, in December 2009 — words on side of hill say ‘God, country, king’ — what you must respect to call yourself Moroccan).

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Start as they mean to go on

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has visited the Governor-General and sought permission, and then called, a Federal Election for Saturday 7 September 2013.

As PM, Rudd holds the position of being able to make the first campaign speech as part of the announcement. The opposition leader, and other parties, are then able to make theirs.

Here is a very quick look (in the order the speeches happened) at what the leaders of the three most-prominent parties said in their first delivery. Based on the ‘start as you mean to go on’ philosophy, the have set the scene for what we might hear and see more of in the coming 30 or so days.

Kevin Rudd, Australian Labor Party — from courtyard of Parliament House

  • Leads with: There are positive, great things about Australia, including economy — should avoid negative.
  • Followed by: Industry, education, NDIS.
  • Sound byte: This is about who Australians trust
  • Debatable contradiction: ‘Three word slogans won’t solve complex problems’. (Launched campaign slogan ‘A new way’ immediately after conclusion of speech)
  • What you get if you vote us: Someone who knows how to steer the (economic) ship in ‘choppy waters’
  • Interesting/unbelievable quote: ‘We need each and every one of you to volunteer your time, your effort, your enthusiasm and maybe even send us a $10 donation.’ (ex-Obama campaign team that has been recruited by ALP at work here, a bit tacky in circumstances — should have been done on social media), and ‘You the Australian people over the years have seen me at my highest highs, and some of my lowest lows. You have witnessed some of those moments right here, in the place we are standing now in Parliament House in Canberra.’ (best avoided reminding everyone; everyone already thinking it, and added no strength to speech, just created awkwardness).
  • Uniform of choice (for fun): ‘Magenta’ tie. As someone said, keeping as far away from a blue tie as possible.

Christine Milne, The Greens — from Hobart (full transcript could not be found)

  • Leads with: Let’s build a society that cares about people,
  • Followed by: We offer compassion, true environmental protection, we are positive
  • Sound byte: ‘The choice is between the Greens… and the old parties’, and ‘“We live in a society, not an economy.”
  • Debatable contradiction: “The Greens have always campaigned in a very positive way” (I’m not sure this 2010 campaign video was positive)
  • What you get if you vote us: We’re different; we aren’t like the old parties
  • Interesting/unbelievable quote: “Australians will have the choice between the compassion offered by the Greens and the cruelty of the old parties,” and “I think the Greens are going to build support both in rural seats and in inner city seats across the country,”
  • Uniform of choice (for fun): Dark, patterned jacket that reminded me of Indigenous art.

Tony Abbott, Liberal Party — from Parliament House

  • Leads with: Economy, surplus, taxes.
  • Followed by: Scrapping carbon tax, building infrastructure, stopping the boats.
  • Sound byte: Not about trust, about who is ‘fair dinkum’
  • Debatable contradiction: Says won’t rely on another country to deal with border protection (they do seem to like and need Nauru)
  • What you get if you vote us: Liberal Party is about unity and stability
  • Interesting/unbelievable quote: “You’ll never find this kind of divisiveness from me. I am proud of Australia as an immigrant society. I am proud of the fact that people from all over the world have come here not to change us but to join us and that social solidarity will increase under a Coalition government.” (just don’t be a refugee in a boat) And, “there will not be a minority government led by me” (difficult to think he would happily let Rudd lead a minority government and give up chance to be PM).
  • Uniform of choice (for fun): Blue tie. Julia would be amused.

MY QUICK THOUGHTS

Rudd seemed awkward, like he had just been given some bad news before he stepped out (as it is unlike him to not be confident — think first day back as leader on the floor of the house); and he talked far too long — too many messages. Abbott was not inspiring. Both seemed like they were overly restrained. Milne monotone, but I remember more of what she said — she communicated much better, and gave more detail. However, the reality is, Milne isn’t going to be prime minister, which is why the policies and performance of Rudd and Abbott, and their parties, deserve the greater scrutiny.

Journalists and politicians love talk of economy and surplus but unless this is discussed in real jobs, employment, cost of living terms, this bores the key audience — the voter.

#danielgate

Let’s start with these three things:

  1. I’m a huge fan of Morocco, and it is one of my favourite countries.
  2. I understand that generally, Moroccans like their king.
  3. Moroccans don’t protest easily.

‘#danielgate’ is the Twitter topic hashtag that has gained momentum in recent days due to a decision involving two kings, 11 children, and a paedophile.

The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, asked the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, to pardon some Spanish citizens in prison in Moroccan jails. King Mohammed agreed, and released 48 Spanish prisoners on 30 July (which is Moroccan Throne Day). Most of those freed had been jailed for drug-trafficking crimes. One of the prisoners was a paedophile.

Daniel Galvan was jailed in 2011, for 30 years, for raping 11 children, aged between 4 and 15. He was convicted after the videos he made of his crimes were used as evidence. A newspaper has published a photograph of Galvan with two Moroccan children that is likely to make your skin crawl (no nudity). He is not allowed to re-enter Morocco, and it is thought he has already left the country.

Hamid Krayri, a lawyer for the families of the victims, filed a complaint against Galvan three years ago when activists showed him discs containing footage of the Spaniard and his victims. Krayri, who is a member of Morocco’s Human Rights Association, said Galvan was convicted by criminal courts in Kenitra, the capital of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region. “He (Galvan) is a retired Spaniard who owns two flats here in Kenitra,” he told Reuters. 

One local political analyst, Khalid Jamai told the news website Febrayer.com (and later reported by English-speaking Morocco World News) that, “I don’t think King Mohammed VI was aware of the crimes committed by the Spanish Daniel, King Mohammed VI is known for his defense of the right of the child and he closely follows the work done by his sister, Princess Lala Meryem, at Observatory of the Child,”. I’m not sure this possible explanation helps the royal. Regardless, of ignorance or intent, this appears to be the 49-year-old king’s most controversial act yet.

There is a lot to this story — monarchy, old colonial hangovers, democracy, judicial systems, child abuse, sex tourism, protesting, social media and international diplomacy (there are also rumours that Galvan was a Spanish spy). But I just want to shed a light on two things connected to this story: the scale of sex tourism in Morocco, and what has happened to some of the #danielgate protestors.

Sex tourism in Morocco

This topic is not new for Moroccans.

Morocco is internationally ranked 2nd after Thailand as far as sexual tourism is concerned. This of course involves Moroccan adults and children but I want to concentrate on the children.

In May this year a Casablanca court jailed at 60-year-old French man for 12 years after convicting him of paedophilia.

On 20 June, police arrested a suspected British paedophile after locals heard screams from a six-year-old girl he allegedly abducted. That same month, thousands marched in Casablanca to condemn paedophilia and violence against children in Morocco.

Consider this from the Moroccan World News website:

The estimated number of child sex tourism victims annually is about 300 million all over the world. In Morocco, sex tourism involving young children in popular tourist destinations does really exist, but it remains always difficult to uncover due to cultural taboos against the open discussion of sex. According to the National Monitoring Center for Child Rights (NMCC) in Rabat, 43 percent of children making distress calls have reported sexual abuse by foreigners (usually tourists) since the center began its monitoring from 1999 to 2003. These abused children are victims of sex tourists, especially those from the Gulf States and European countries.

Sexual tourism is generally a phenomenon which is pervasive worldwide but with varying degrees from society to another. Khalid Semmouni, Coalition Goodwill ambassador, states:  “this problem also exists in other Arab countries, but it is much more severe in Morocco, since this country is open to the West and also due to its geographical position.”

Given how many others may well have gone undetected for their crimes, it is no wonder there is such anger, and sense of humiliation, at this royal pardon.

The protests

A protest was organised for Friday evening in Rabat, which Reuters reports as having hundreds attend, while AFP reported there being ‘thousands’.

The Washington Post reported that the Moroccan Association for Human Rights says that 63 people were injured in the protest, including three children. Many were bleeding from head wounds.

But rather than quell the protests, it appears they have increased momentum. More protests are being planned in Casablanca and the capital Rabat (the seat of the monarchy) on Tuesday and Wednesday, and social media seems to be helping the the coordination (it is worth mentioning, I first heard about the pardon via the Twitter account of Moroccan writer @LailaLalami, though mainstream news is now covering it some more).

The #danielgate protests are gaining momentum and this most recent incident might be the final straw for Moroccans who are angry their children are being exploited, abused and disrespected. And so they should.

Update: The king has revoked his pardon, read more here and I appeared in an episode of Al Jazeera’s ‘The Stream’ about this issue.

Angry protesters stage a demonstration on August 2, 2013 in Rabat-Morocco to protest the release of a Spanish paedophile, Daniel Fino Galvan who raped 11 local children was pardoned by the Moroccan King Mohammed VI. AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA
Protesters help an injured person during a demonstration on August 2, 2013 in Rabat-Morocco on the release of a Spanish paedophile, Daniel Fino Galvan who raped 11 local children was pardoned by the Moroccan King Mohammed VI. AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA
Angry protesters stage a demonstration on August 2, 2013 in Rabat-Morocco, to protest the release of a Spanish paedophile, Daniel Fino Galvan who raped 11 local children was pardoned by the Moroccan King Mohammed VI. AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA
Protesters show their anger during a demonstration on August 2, 2013 in Rabat-Morocco to protest the release of a Spanish paedophile, Daniel Fino Galvan who raped 11 local children was pardoned by the Moroccan King Mohammed VI. AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA
A protester injured during a demonstration on August 2, 2013 in Rabat-Morocco on the release of a Spanish paedophile, Daniel Fino Galvan who raped 11 local children was pardoned by the Moroccan King Mohammed VI. AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNA
A riot policeman charges at protesters during a demonstration against a royal pardon for a Spanish paedophile, in Rabat late August 2, 2013. Riot police broke up a protest by hundreds of Moroccan demonstrators late on Friday against the royal pardon for Daniel Vino Galvan, named by a lawyer for families of the victims as the Spanish paedophile serving a 30-year sentence for raping and filming children as young as 4. The convicted paedophile is among 48 jailed Spaniards who were pardoned by King Mohamed VI on Tuesday at the request of Spain’s King Juan Carlos, who visited Morocco last month. REUTERS/Stringer

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Caffeine fix

Book clubs, knitting clubs, Scrabble and craft groups are common sights in cafes, but what about people coming together to repair things?

Originating in the Netherlands in 2009, ‘Repair Cafes’ are places where people can meet to repair broken items together, and they are free. The concept is simple: bring your broken item, meet people with skills and tools to help you fix it — whether a screwdriver or sewing machine. The concept is free, no money changes hands, and everyone involved is local (sometimes unemployed, so there is a social-engagement benefit too). If you don’t have anything that needs repairing, but want to drop in for a coffee, that is ok too.

In a throw-away society where items are seemingly designed to break so we buy more — whether a toy, a button, or a lamp — this is one way to help stop the waste, learn new skills, share skills, and connect with others.

As the story says, it is not just about repairing ‘stuff’, it is about repairing community because people who don’t normally speak to each other, are coming together. And there is a nice environmental spin-off too.

Photo by Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times
Photo by Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times

I learnt about Repair Cafes thanks to a story on AlJazeera.

You can read more about this great idea, and how to start one of your own, at the Repair Cafe website.

The Afghan Children of War

At the time of writing this post, the war in Afghanistan has been going for 11 years, 9 months, 3 weeks and 5 days.

Imagine how many children there have grown up only knowing war?

Below are selected photographs — just some of the brilliant work by photojournalists — from the collection published in The Atlantic this week (warning, many are beautiful, but many are upsetting).

(Blog cover feature photo by Aref Karimi/AFP/Getty Images)

12-year-old Tarana Akbari cries out near dead and injured people after a suicide bomber killed more than 70 civilians during a religious ceremony at the Abul Fazel shrine in the center of Kabul, where Shia Muslims were marking the Day of Ashura, on December 6, 2011. Agence France-Presse photographer Massoud Hossaini won the agency’s first Pulitzer Prize for the picture on April 16, 2012 in the breaking news photography category “for his heartbreaking image of a girl crying in fear after a suicide bomber’s attack at a crowded shrine in Kabul.” (Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images)
An Afghan boy wearing a t-shirt depicting U.S. President Barack Obama peeks from the doorway of his home in an old neighborhood of Kabul, on July 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Ahmad Jamshid)
A young boy sleeps on a woman’s shoulder in the Old City on November 7, 2012 in Kabul. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
Mahfouz Bahbah, 12, stands on a roadside hoping to sell his balloons during sunset in Kabul, on October 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Afghan children run to school on September 24, 2012, in a village on the road to Naghlu, near the French army base. (Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images)
Two young girls play house, mimicking their mothers in burqas cut to their size, on the outskirts of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, on March 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Afghan children play in a street in Herat, on January 14, 2013. (Aref Karimi/AFP/Getty Images)
Afghan children, near the town of Kunjak in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, on October 24, 2010. (Reuters/Finbarr O’Reilly)