After a period of calm, attacks on Moroccan tomato trucks were again reported in France last week. In a press release, the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development - a network of professional associations - "strongly condemned these incomprehensible acts' and denounced 'the lack of rigor shown by the competent authorities in the face of the worrying increase in attacks on agricultural products of Moroccan origin".
Since January, trucks carrying Moroccan fresh produce have been raided in France and Spain. COMADER then expressed its "deep concern at the repeated and unfounded attacks on Moroccan products, as well as misinformation in the media". On 4 March, the organization filed a complaint against X with the provincial prosecutor's office in Girona, Spain.
Rachid Benali, President of COMADER, says: "Since the complaint was filed in Spain, we have seen a halt to attacks on Moroccan trucks. The message has got through, and that in itself is a success of our legal action. We wanted to put an end to these acts, and we didn't even expect to be reimbursed for the products damaged. Legal action has proved effective in preventing attacks on Moroccan trucks "
"Now the case is still taking its course and is being followed by our lawyers. We are not dropping the case." adds Benali.
The Confederation took a different approach to the attacks in France. Benali says: 'We took account of the assurances we had received from the French officials, including at the last SIAM fair when we received a delegation of the French government. Unfortunately, the attacks resumed last week."
"We hope that our last appeal will be heard in France, and will be understood as an ultimatum. Otherwise, we will be forced to bring the perpetuators to justice. We try to take account of the good relationships between our countries and to be as indulgent as possible, but the recurrence of these attacks compels us to seek legal recourse." concludes Benali.
In a message addressed directly to the French trade organizations involved in the raids, COMADER's latest press release delivers an ultimatum: "Rest assured that neither COMADER nor its members will remain idle in the face of any other form of unacceptable behavior".
For more information:
Rachid Benali
Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER)
Tel: +212 537.77.69.14
Email: [email protected]