المساهمون: Middle East Moroccan companies hit by boycott as online activists stir anger at disparities HEBA SALEH — CAIRO Angry messages on social media accuse businesses in Morocco of being “thieves” and “blood suckers” as an unprecedented boycott targeting some of the kingdom’s biggest companies rattles the government and begins to bite. Centrale Danone, a subsidiary of French group Danone, this week issued a profit warning and announced that its sales had plummeted by half after itbecame a target of the campaign. The boycott, now in its second month, is part of a growing trend of protests across the Middle East as people vent their anger over economic grievances, while cash-strapped governments push through politically sensitive austerity measures. In Jordan, days of protests over rising prices and subsidy cuts forced King Abdullah to sack his prime minister this week. Egyptian authorities last month arrested 21 protesters angered by increased metro ticket prices in Cairo. In Tunisia, tens of thousands of demon- strators took to the streets this year to demand an end to austerity measures. But in Morocco, activists have taken an alternative approach. Those behind the campaign have remained anony- mous, stayed off the streets and been selective in their targets. The companies being boycotted are in sectors consid- ered to be dominated by oligopolies, some of which are close to the political androyal elite. “Moroccans are very angry and this is a peaceful way of expressing it,” said Omar Hyani, city councillor in Rabat and member of the Democratic Left Federation, an opposition party. “Ithink the mindset of boycotts will now become more common in the country. There are oligopolies controlling sectors of the Employees of Centrale Danone protest against a boycott that has seen a halving of sales since April 20 economy and there is a big problem with the authority regulating competition which has stopped functioning.” One of the three companies targeted by the boycott is the Afriquia petrol sta- tion chain, owned by the Akwa group of Aziz Akhannouch, Morocco’s richest man, according to Forbes. He also serves as agriculture minister, heads a political party and is one of the most powerful pro-palace politicians in the kingdom. Another target is Sidi Ali, the largest bottled-water company in Morocco, which is owned by a prominent business family. Saadeddine Othmani, the prime min- ister, warned last week that the cam- paign would deter investment and cause job losses. In a sign of the boycott’s impact, Centrale Danone has said it will have to reduce milk purchases from farmers by a third and axe workers on short-term contracts. “The company experienced since the start of the campaign on April 20 a con- traction in its activity and a consoli- dated revenue drop estimated at 50 per cent,” said Centrale Danone this week. Mr Hyani said the boycott provided a safe way for Moroccans to voice their anger. Daily protests in the impover- ished northern Rif region last year were met by a government crackdown and the arrest of hundreds of people. Morocco has been praised by interna- tional institutions for its economic reforms, including phasing out energy subsidies three years ago. Under King Mohammed, the state has also invested heavily in infrastructure. But Moroccans complain of yawning disparities between regions, with many rural areas suffering neglect. “There is rage towards an establish- ment in Morocco which has behaved in a selfish way. It is incredibly rich, incredibly arrogant and disconnected from the rest of the country,” said Karim Tazi, a businessman who backed pro- tests calling for political reforms in 2011.

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