Video of New York RallyVideo of Ottawa Rally2 Comments An article by Ann Marlowe, published in the World Affairs Journal http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/ann-marlowe/will-us-respond-amazigh-rights-libya Three gatherings took place on Saturday: Ottawa, Canada, in front of the Canadian Parliament. New York City, NY, USA, in Central Park Boston, MA, USA at Boston Common Today: Montreal, Canada, in front of Radio-Television Canada New York City RallyBoston RallyOttawa RallyMontreal RallyIt was a cold day at all three places but many people braved the December weather and showed up. They came to lend a hand to the Amazigh Libyans who are fighting to have a say in the new political landscape that is shaping up in their country. The new National Transitional Council has already shown anti-Amazigh tendencies. This is nothing more than a political game that uses fear (fear of the Amazigh) to cement the new Arabo-Islamist groups that are trying to grab power. The Libyan nationaly unity will be built on the ashes of the Amazigh. This would be nothing but a continuation of the same old policy of anihilation of the Amazigh, as a people, a culture and a language that the longest reigning dictator (Gaddafi) has practiced. As for fighting against the tyrant, the Libyan Amazighs did plenty of. They did so in the indifference of the rest of the country. When the entire country finally united to oust the mad man, the Amazighs did no hesitate a second. They fought valliantly and if it weren't for them Gaddafi would not fall. The Amazighs of Libya want to live in dignity. They want their identity and culture to be recognized ad they want to above all to participate in a new democratic Libya. So they want to be fairly represented and have a say in what happens to them and to the country. The North American Support Committee to The Amazighs of Libya, the Amazigh Cultural Association in America and the Berber American Community all joined hands to gather Saturday and Sunday to tell the world that the work in Libya is not done. Discrimination is still at work. Most of all to tell the Amazighs of Libya that we are with them and support their fight for dignity and justice.  Protest locations: Ottawa, Canada Location: Parliament Hill Date & time: Saturday 12/17/11 at 2:00 PM Montreal, Canada Location: In front of Radio-Television Canada Date & time: Sunday 12/18/11 at 11 AM New York City, USA Location Central Park (59th St & 5th Ave) Date & time: Saturday 12/17/11 at 1:00 PM Boston, USA Location: Boston Common Date & time: Saturday 12/17/11 at 12:00 AM Below this text are fliers for each location and a press release by BAC. The Amazigh people of Libya played a leading role in the fall of the Gaddafi dictatorship. They brought the Amazigh culture and language to the forefront by making it an important part of their struggle. They fought as Imazighen [Free People] and insisted that all Libyans and the rest of the world know this critical fact. Nobody can ignore the crucial role they played in freeing Libya from the claws of a mad dictator. The NTC [National Transitional Council] took over the reins of government from him. This junta did not waste any time in unveiling their real face vis-à-vis Imazighen. They did not only exclude the Amazigh component from the new interim government. No. They actually granted a ministerial position to an individual who made racist statements against Imazighen at an August meeting of the NTC. The Imazighen say they are not prepared to negotiate the status the Amazigh language and culture will have in Libya. They rejected the new government and withdrew their representatives from the NTC. They made their demands clear. Since November 23, they have been out in the streets of Tripoli and throughout the Amazigh region to denounce the new Libyan government and the NTC, which they describe as racist. Imazighen played a crucial role in the overthrow of Gaddafi. So, they have earned the right to sit at the Libyan table. How can any government claim legitimacy without them? Their fight will continue until justice is done. The Amazigh people of Libya are giving us the best example of determination in the fight to preserve the Amazigh culture. The world must show its support and not forget the struggle of and the discrimination against this courageous people. In particular, we are calling on the Amazigh associations, organizations, and activists worldwide to mobilize and show their support for this noble cause. It is crucial that we stand beside the Amazigh people of Libya. We want them to know they are not alone. We must be together in any issue that concerns our identity. December 17 has been designated as the international day of solidarity with the Amazigh people of Libya and to denounce any attempt by the NTC to bury the aspirations of this brave people. No more dictatorship in Libya. We also take this opportunity to denounce all the past government attempts throughout North Africa to bury the Amazigh people's dreams for freedom and justice. Join us on December 17. Let us fly the flag of peace, true democracy, and justice and show our Amazigh brothers and sisters in Libya that we are with them. No more racist dictatorship in Libya. Signed The North American Support Committee for the Amazigh of Libya The Amazigh Cultural Association in America The Berber American Community 
Tamazgha hails the fighting spirit of Libyan Imazighen Tamazgha Takes note of the formation of the NTC's interim government announced on 22 November by Prime Minister Abd-al-Rahim al-Kib. This government formation clearly indicates the extent of exclusion and marginalization to which the Amazigh people are being subjected by the NTC. For this reason we denounce the NTC and its discriminatory and racist moves and we reject this government which represents only those who appointed it. Tamazgha supports the Libyan Imazighen position which they made public immediately after the formation of this puppet government. We reassure the Libyan Imazighen of our unwavering support. Imazighen are not willing to forfeit their freedom for which they paid a high price, that of their sons' blood. Imazighen are determined to no longer be subjected to Al-Qadhafi-style practices and are vowing to fight to the end in order to lead a free and dignified life doggedly refusing to make any concessions which may jeopardize their hard-won freedom. Tamazgha appeals to the international community to act urgently and to not let Libyans to sink into the dark tunnel of the NTC-concocted discriminatory and racist Arab-Islamist ideology. Rewarding racist, regionalist and abusers of human rights individuals with ministerial jobs is a strong sign sent by the NTC in the direction of the Amazigh people of Libya as well as in the direction of the international community after it had supported the popular uprising against the dictator. Are we going to accept to quickly return to an era against which we have fought with all our force only a few months ago? Through their struggle in order to lead a dignified life, it is the whole Amazigh people whom the Libyan Imazighen want to see regain their normal and legitimate place within the community of modern nations. For this reason we call on all Amazigh people of the world, particularly in North Africa, to express their support and solidarity with Libyan Imazighen. Today, the Amazigh people of Libya provide us with a praiseworthy example of the struggle for freedom and for restoring the historic and legitimate rights of the Amazigh people in their homeland. It is high time for all the Amazigh people in North Africa and in the Sahel region to follow the example of the Imazighen of Libya to liberate themselves form decades of domination to which they have been subjected by the Arab-Islamist colonialism and discriminatory ideology. Tudert i Tmazgha Tudert i Tmazight. Tamazgha, Paris, 4 December 2011 (Reuters, Nov 27 2011) - Several hundred Berbers marched into the courtyard of the Libyan prime minister's office Sunday to express their anger at the country's new cabinet, which does not include anyone from their large ethnic group.
The Amazigh, or Berber, people were stunned when the country's new interim government was announced Tuesday and none of the 26 ministerial posts went to one of their own. They say they make up around 10-15 percent of the population and played an important role in the rebellion that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi. "We do not recognize this government, and all Libyans must know that we are a part, a powerful and effective part of the country," said Mohammed Kaabr, a doctoral student and part of a delegation that spoke to Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib. Protesters chanted "Where is El-Keib?" and "There is no difference between Amazigh and Arab!" on the steps of Keib's office while talks went on inside. Kaabr said the meeting was cut short so Keib could try to calm the boisterous crowd.  A press release by the Amazigh Cultural Movement of Libya Below is pdf version of this text in both Tamazight and English that you can download. It is time to build the new modern Libyan state and free. Intellectual consciousness that aspires to democracy and respect for diversity must come from the universal human values such as recognition and respect for others, dialogue and tolerance so that we can build a national consensus and work for the interest of all. In order to build a future democratic state that respects freedom, dignity and equality, we believe that respect for human rights is essential. To contribute to the debate on this project, we propose our design for the next creation of a new Libyan state democratic, unified and free. 1 - The Amazigh language as a heritage of all Libyans without exception, and Arabic are both official languages of Libya. They have equal rights and equal privileges as to their use at all state institutions. The state will work to protect, to enhance and ensure its use in all areas. The state will also seek to teach foreign languages most commonly used worldwide to access science and modernity, open to other cultures and civilizations. 2 - After the release and stability in Libya, the state symbols must conform to the dimensions of identity, historical, cultural and intellectual Libya. 3 - Libya is a civils democratic and sovereign, with a constitutional and parliamentary-based flexible and balanced separation of powers (legislative, judicial and executive) and decentralization. 4 - It is forbidden to form political parties on religious, regional, ethnic or tribal. And in general, on any basis other discriminatory or contrary to human rights as universally recognized; 5 - To ensure equal freedoms and political rights, civil, economic, social and cultural rights for all Libyan (male and female). The State shall guarantee and protect equal opportunity and the right to life as the first right of every human being. Provide and ensure equal opportunities for individuals, coalitions and political movements to express their ideas and designs through a peaceful dialogue, peaceful, democratic and lawful in terms of both rights obligations. 6 - Ensure freedom of existence in all its forms-intellectual, opinion, expression, through all forms of creation, dissemination and publication. Long live Libya - free Libya Amazigh Cultural Movement, On August 12, 2011.
Following the publication of the draft constitutional revision of the Moroccan monarchy, to be submitted to a referendum on 1 July 2011, the public opinion is divided especially concerning the introduction of Tamazight as an official language. Beyond the lack of clarity on the terms of the "formalization" of Tamazight, the text remains faithful to the constants that are so dear to the Arab-Muslim monarchy. We publish below the reaction of the Amazigh Observatory of Rights and Freedoms (Observatoire amazigh des droits et libértés, OADL), and the editor at Tamazgha.fr will certainly come back on this new trickery ... Editor Regarding the proposed new constitution submitted to referendum The draft of the new constitution examined by OADL (French acronym for Observatoire amazigh des droits et libertés, Amazigh Observatory of Rights and Freedoms) will be submitted on 1 July to a referendum. Based upon its contents and following the royal speech that followed the publication, all supporting bodies of the Amazigh movement and the national and international public opinion must be informed that: 1 - The anti-democratic method used for developing the draft document, written by the committee on the revision of the constitution followed by a team chaired by Mouatassim, resulted in something that was no surprise: a project put together in a sealed atmosphere, characterized by ambiguity, confusion and lack of transparency and visibility. At the end of this process, the relevant forces of the nation have been deliberately excluded. As for the Moroccan political parties, they were simply set aside and placed in a humiliating position of inferiority. The commission, which refused them access to the project during its development, gave them less than 24 hours to make their remarks. The final text of the constitution was drawn up secretly without any real consultation and strictly under the adviser to the king. The ultimate goal of the authorities is to scandalously rush the new constitution to a referendum and at the same time refuse the right to anyone to discuss its final content. Also, OADL strongly condemns the fact that some archaic conservative parties have been mobilized by the authorities, towards the end of the writing of the constitution, to counter the claims of the country’s democratic forces and undermine all new the articles of the constitution. 2 - The final constitutional text submitted to referendum is a revision that seems at first to provide a set of rights, but it is in fact a continuation of the principles that have always been the fertile crucible of the absolutist and arbitrary political traditions, with no change to the nature of the regime and the institutional architecture in which the king reigns and governs forever and gives himself excessive powers; as a result, no "gains" are real, because everything was done to hinder them. No business renewal has been made that could disrupt current practices and impact the governance of the country. As a Consequence, Morocco, while still in a serious situation and tense political climate, is about to miss its chance; a rendezvous with history. Parliamentary monarchy, as claimed, will not see the day. 3 - It goes without saying that the formalization of the Amazigh language is an asset and an important step forward. This is the fruit of the enormous sacrifices made by generations of activists in the Amazigh cause in Morocco, and their allies in civil and political national organizations. However, the configuration used lends itself to many interpretations. In fact, the fact that the formalization of Arabic and Tamazight appears in two separate paragraphs suggests that there is definitely a hierarchical relationship between a first official language, Arabic, and a second one, Tamazight. As a language is closely linked to the identity of its people, the unfortunate results of the new constitution divide Moroccans into two distinct categories: first-class citizens and second class citizens. 4 - The evocation of a constitutional law defining "the process of implementation of our language’s official character and the terms of its integration in the school system and of public daily life priorities" makes us wonder legitimately after decades of violation of our dignity and events of the past and present, which taught us to be careful. Will this new law reconsider everything and start all over from scratch? Or will it take into account the gains made in recent years, particularly in the teaching of Tamazight, despite all the obstacles due to lack of legal protection of this language? How long will the new process take, and with what budget? It seems that an inevitable and even harder struggle still awaits defenders of Amazigh language and culture. 5 - The constitutionality of all consultative bodies set up by the king before, and the exclusion of the official institution dedicated to the Amazigh (IRCAM) from this institutional list draws our attention and makes us question the real intent in the management of Tamazight. 6 - The constitutionality of the Moroccan identity dimensions as stipulated in the constitution, "its unity, forged by the convergence of its Arab-Islamic components, Amazigh and Sahraro-Hassani, was fed by its African, Andalusian, Hebrew and Mediterranean tributaries", has not met the specifics on the Amazigh language nor did it respect the chronological order in the statement, knowing that Tamazight is the first and native component. It also eclipses our African roots, which were mentioned as a mere tributary. 7 - The new constitution totally ignores Morocco‘s land ties to Africa; it reduces the connection with our African continent to the "relations of cooperation and solidarity with the peoples of Africa”. On the other hand, it claims our "belonging to the Arab-Islamic Ummah", thus denying the historical and geographical realities of our country. This makes us lose all ability to take advantage of far greater geographical and civilizational assets than those related to the Middle East. 8 – The removal from the final version of the constitution of the part dealing with the civil character of the State and the freedom of conscience, which are the very bases of any constitution of a democratic society, is in itself a real failure in this new constitution. Especially, the specific "Islamic character" of the State contradicts the commitment to respect and comply with international standards on domestic jurisdictions. No effort is made by the Muslim legal experts to understand and benefit from the important stakes of modern life. 9 - Although the new constitution contains some progress, including a number of rights and freedoms, it falls short of the aspirations of the public as they have been clearly expressed by the movement of 20 February. Our civil society and progressive political parties have a duty to continue their struggle to build a truly democratic and modern society based on the principles of freedom, equality, justice and dignity, and on a contract that is dedicated once and for all to popular sovereignty. Rabat, 17 Juine 2011 For an English traslation of the new constitution, visit the following link: http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/mo00000_.html The original French and Arabic versions can be dowloaded right here, Click on the Adobe Pdf icon below to download it.
We, Amazigh (Berber) organizations and associations which work for the protection of human rights in general and for Imazighen's (Berbers) cultural and linguistic rights in particular, are seriously preoccupied by mind-blowing rise of violence and terror of which Libyans keep being the victims. We are outraged by the international community's inertia in front of the tragic situation endured by the Libyan people. A tyrant from a bygone age is turning this country into a butcher's shop, using military weapons against people willing to get rid of a despotic and tyrannical regime which deprives them of any form of freedom. We call for the international community to take its responsibilities and act to limit the damage and put an end to the group massacres the Gadaffi regime is perpetrating against Libyan populations. An intervention is needed to protect civilians from the army of a regime which threatens them with extermination. Therefore, a no-fly zone is the least that could be done in the quickest possible manner to prevent Gadaffi's planes from attacking helpless populations. Nearly a month after the start of the horrors Gadaffi's regime is imposing on the Libyan people, the United Nations Security Council must stop beating around the bush and eventually decide to perform their duty, which is to protect civilians calling for help from the terror and barbarity of a man decided to cling to power whatever its price. Unless an emergency reaction happens very soon, History will remember that Libyan people were left defenseless to face the cruelty of a tyrant and the world ignored their numerous calls for help. March the 15, 2011. Signatory associations and organizations: - AFAFA – Roubaix - Amyaway Imazighen – Rabat - Association Mohamed Elkamel des Bidonvilles - Tiddas (Khemissat) - AZETTA – Rabat - Internationale Touarègue – Bordeaux - Libyan Working Group - Amsterdam - OADL - Rabat - Tamazgha – Paris - Tamunt n Imazighen n Libya – London - Tilelli - Goulmima - ZARI - Marseille We, Amazigh (Berber) organizations and associations which work for the protection of human rights in general and for Imazighen's (Berbers) cultural and linguistic rights in particular, are seriously preoccupied by mind-blowing rise of violence and terror of which Libyans keep being the victims. We are outraged by the international community's inertia in front of the tragic situation endured by the Libyan people. A tyrant from a bygone age is turning this country into a butcher's shop, using military weapons against people willing to get rid of a despotic and tyrannical regime which deprives them of any form of freedom. We call for the international community to take its responsibilities and act to limit the damage and put an end to the group massacres the Gadaffi regime is perpetrating against Libyan populations. An intervention is needed to protect civilians from the army of a regime which threatens them with extermination. Therefore, a no-fly zone is the least that could be done in the quickest possible manner to prevent Gadaffi's planes from attacking helpless populations. Nearly a month after the start of the horrors Gadaffi's regime is imposing on the Libyan people, the United Nations Security Council must stop beating around the bush and eventually decide to perform their duty, which is to protect civilians calling for help from the terror and barbarity of a man decided to cling to power whatever its price. Unless an emergency reaction happens very soon, History will remember that Libyan people were left defenseless to face the cruelty of a tyrant and the world ignored their numerous calls for help. March the 15, 2011. Signatory associations and organizations: - AFAFA – Roubaix - Amyaway Imazighen – Rabat - Association Mohamed Elkamel des Bidonvilles - Tiddas (Khemissat) - AZETTA – Rabat - Internationale Touarègue – Bordeaux - Libyan Working Group - Amsterdam - OADL - Rabat - Tamazgha – Paris - Tamunt n Imazighen n Libya – London - Tilelli - Goulmima - ZARI - Marseille | 
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efk-ed afus, tɛiwneḍ iman-ik/im *** give us a hand, and help yourself