Morocco promises to close all abandoned mines in Jerada
Oujda (Morocco) — Moroccan authorities have promised to close all abandoned mines in Jerada after months of social unrest in the former mining town in the country’s northeast.
“There are more than 3,200 wells in Jerada, but only 200 to 300 are active. The others, which are abandoned and present a clear danger, will all be closed,” said Abderrazzak El Gourji, secretary general of the region’s police headquarters, said in an interview.
Jerada has seen waves of demonstrations since the deaths in December of two brothers trapped in an abandoned mine shaft, as they tried to illegally mine coal.
Two additional deaths under similar circumstances sparked anger and indignation among residents in the economically devastated town, which official statistics rank among the poorest in the kingdom. Protesters have demanded “economic alternatives” to “death mines”, from which hundreds of miners have struggled to make a living despite their closure in the late 1990s.
Protesters have also lambasted the “coal barons”, local notables who are mostly elected officials and have permits to resell coal taken from closed mines.
Gourgi said protesters all the sales permits had been withdrawn from the so-called “barons”, although they have not been investigated. He said a development programme for the region would see 3,000 hectares of land set aside for agricultural projects as well as the construction of a new industrial zone.
“All promises are realistic and achievable, and what was not achievable was rejected... it’s easy to calm people with promises, but tomorrow you have to implement it,” said Gourgi.
According to him, the development measures announced by the government in February were “welcomed” by political parties, local representatives, local and protest leaders.
“But there were people among the (protesters) who never sought a solution, who never tried to sit around a table... nihilists who reject all proposals,” he added. —
There are more than 3,200 wells in Jerada, but only 200 to 300 are active. The others, which are abandoned and present a clear danger, will all be closed Abderrazzak El Gourji Secretary general of police