Berbers: The Proud Raiders
They call themselves Amazigh, the proud raiders. But
most people know them as Berbers.
For millennia, the Berbers of North Africa fought
against Roman, Arab and French invaders. And, despite
a history of colonisation, they have managed to
preserve their language and culture, and have defended
their land.
But all this is set to change. Nine months ago, joint
American-Moroccan company Lonestar, began oil
exploration and drilling near the town of Talsinnt.
Nick Pelham reports from Morocco.
Listen to Assignment's report on the Berbers.
On 20 August 2000, Morocco's King Mohammed VI
announced the discovery of large oil fields, estimated
to contain 20 billion barrels in crude, near the town
of Talsinnt, southeastern Morocco. The oil field lies
about 160 km from the Algerian border.
The King described the discovery as 'God's gift to
Morocco.'
Oil: God's Gift To Morocco
Lonestar, a subsidiary of Skidmore Energy Inc, won the
concession to explore the region and has begun to do
so. The oil well is now heavily guarded. To reach the
site requires a military escort. No locals have been
allowed to visit the oil rig since King Mohammed VI
announced the find.
Berbers, who comprise 60% of the Moroccan population,
describe the arrival of the oilmen as the entry of yet
another conquering army.
Mohammed Boulkoumit, a shepherd who tends ten sheep
and a family of five children, said:
'It's our land, not theirs. They grabbed it without
the slightest apology. One day, they arrived on my
land with their diggers, and planted their flags. And
said the land was now theirs.'
But Peter Bradley, operations manager for Lonestar Oil
Company, believes the Berber demands for compensation
are unfounded. His position is clear cut: the Moroccan
government should benefit from the discovery of oil
and gas reserves but the people who live on top of the
underground resources should not.
Advocates for the Berbers say oil fields have been
discovered on the land of Berber tribes and any
revenue collected should benefit them. During French
colonisation, a decree enabled the government to
appropriate communal Berber lands. Independence has
not changed this and the impetus for dispossession
continues.
The discovery of large oil fields could alter
Morocco's agrarian-based economy. Agricultural
production and fishing engages more than 50% of the
population and has made Morocco highly dependent on
this sector.
To allay fears of a decrease in agricultural
production, King Mohammed VI has said oil revenues
would be used for training and agricultural
development.
Experts say the find could improve relations with
industrialised countries. However, it could also
worsen relations with one of Morocco's neighbours:
Algeria. Reserves may lie on both sides of the border
area.
Toll On Berbers
Locals, on the other hand, argue the oil find will be
taking its toll on the environment and the Berber
communities. Roads and markets are being constructed.
Transportation and technology is being introduced. And
people are being displaced.
Hassan Ouzat, a reputed Berber professor at Agadir
University, says the Berber people have no where to
go:
'There is no longer any hinterland in North Africa
where the native culture can retreat. You can now say
for the first time in history, native north African
culture – symbolised by its language – is in grave
danger of disappearing. '
The displacement of the Berber people and culture is
just another symptom of state-sanctioned
marginalisation. The Constitution affirms the legal
equality of all citizens and yet Berbers comprise the
poorest and highest sector of society.
Unofficial Language
Although 60% of the population claim Berber (Amazigh)
heritage, the official language continues to be
Arabic. French is used too – mostly in educational
institutions and the media.
The Berber Manifesto, written by Berber intellectuals
and activists, demands that their national language be
considered official and enshrined in the country's
constitution.
Request Two - Among the strangest things, in Morocco,
is that the Amazighe language is not officially
considered a language. One of the most embittering
things for an Amazighe (Berber), in the 'independence
era', is to hear...'the official or national language
is Arabic…by virtue of the text of the Constitution! '
In 1995 a royal speech by King Hassan II authorised a
change in the school curriculum, which would enable
Berber languages to be taught in schools. These
ammendments are yet to be implemented.
According to a human rights report, the government
refuses to register children who have traditional
Berber names.
Mustafa, a jobless graduate, has been staging rallies
on Morocco's inequality. He says:
'It's not the regime which blessed this land with
petrol, it's God. All our lives we faced deprivation
and marginalisation by the state. This is the poorest
corner of Morocco. We have to benefit. People are
dying of hunger.'
'Lonestar has fifty thousand dollars a day to spend on
its operations, and not a penny to spend on the people
on whose land they're drilling. They think they're in
the Wild West of America, and we are Red Indians to be
pushed form our land.'
Source: Amazigh-net.
They call themselves Amazigh, the proud raiders. But
most people know them as Berbers.
For millennia, the Berbers of North Africa fought
against Roman, Arab and French invaders. And, despite
a history of colonisation, they have managed to
preserve their language and culture, and have defended
their land.
But all this is set to change. Nine months ago, joint
American-Moroccan company Lonestar, began oil
exploration and drilling near the town of Talsinnt.
Nick Pelham reports from Morocco.
Listen to Assignment's report on the Berbers.
On 20 August 2000, Morocco's King Mohammed VI
announced the discovery of large oil fields, estimated
to contain 20 billion barrels in crude, near the town
of Talsinnt, southeastern Morocco. The oil field lies
about 160 km from the Algerian border.
The King described the discovery as 'God's gift to
Morocco.'
Oil: God's Gift To Morocco
Lonestar, a subsidiary of Skidmore Energy Inc, won the
concession to explore the region and has begun to do
so. The oil well is now heavily guarded. To reach the
site requires a military escort. No locals have been
allowed to visit the oil rig since King Mohammed VI
announced the find.
Berbers, who comprise 60% of the Moroccan population,
describe the arrival of the oilmen as the entry of yet
another conquering army.
Mohammed Boulkoumit, a shepherd who tends ten sheep
and a family of five children, said:
'It's our land, not theirs. They grabbed it without
the slightest apology. One day, they arrived on my
land with their diggers, and planted their flags. And
said the land was now theirs.'
But Peter Bradley, operations manager for Lonestar Oil
Company, believes the Berber demands for compensation
are unfounded. His position is clear cut: the Moroccan
government should benefit from the discovery of oil
and gas reserves but the people who live on top of the
underground resources should not.
Advocates for the Berbers say oil fields have been
discovered on the land of Berber tribes and any
revenue collected should benefit them. During French
colonisation, a decree enabled the government to
appropriate communal Berber lands. Independence has
not changed this and the impetus for dispossession
continues.
The discovery of large oil fields could alter
Morocco's agrarian-based economy. Agricultural
production and fishing engages more than 50% of the
population and has made Morocco highly dependent on
this sector.
To allay fears of a decrease in agricultural
production, King Mohammed VI has said oil revenues
would be used for training and agricultural
development.
Experts say the find could improve relations with
industrialised countries. However, it could also
worsen relations with one of Morocco's neighbours:
Algeria. Reserves may lie on both sides of the border
area.
Toll On Berbers
Locals, on the other hand, argue the oil find will be
taking its toll on the environment and the Berber
communities. Roads and markets are being constructed.
Transportation and technology is being introduced. And
people are being displaced.
Hassan Ouzat, a reputed Berber professor at Agadir
University, says the Berber people have no where to
go:
'There is no longer any hinterland in North Africa
where the native culture can retreat. You can now say
for the first time in history, native north African
culture – symbolised by its language – is in grave
danger of disappearing. '
The displacement of the Berber people and culture is
just another symptom of state-sanctioned
marginalisation. The Constitution affirms the legal
equality of all citizens and yet Berbers comprise the
poorest and highest sector of society.
Unofficial Language
Although 60% of the population claim Berber (Amazigh)
heritage, the official language continues to be
Arabic. French is used too – mostly in educational
institutions and the media.
The Berber Manifesto, written by Berber intellectuals
and activists, demands that their national language be
considered official and enshrined in the country's
constitution.
Request Two - Among the strangest things, in Morocco,
is that the Amazighe language is not officially
considered a language. One of the most embittering
things for an Amazighe (Berber), in the 'independence
era', is to hear...'the official or national language
is Arabic…by virtue of the text of the Constitution! '
In 1995 a royal speech by King Hassan II authorised a
change in the school curriculum, which would enable
Berber languages to be taught in schools. These
ammendments are yet to be implemented.
According to a human rights report, the government
refuses to register children who have traditional
Berber names.
Mustafa, a jobless graduate, has been staging rallies
on Morocco's inequality. He says:
'It's not the regime which blessed this land with
petrol, it's God. All our lives we faced deprivation
and marginalisation by the state. This is the poorest
corner of Morocco. We have to benefit. People are
dying of hunger.'
'Lonestar has fifty thousand dollars a day to spend on
its operations, and not a penny to spend on the people
on whose land they're drilling. They think they're in
the Wild West of America, and we are Red Indians to be
pushed form our land.'
Source: Amazigh-net.
