The following information was given to the DIRB via telephone on 2 May 1997 by a specialist on North Africa at the Centre d'études arabes pour le développement (CEAD) in Montréal. The UNFP was founded in 1959. There was a schism within the party in 1972 that resulted in the creation of the Union socialiste des forces populaires. Since the schism, the UNFP has been a small, legal party, functioning openly and based mainly in the Union marocaine du travail, one of the country's largest trade unions. Before the schism there were certain clandestine tendencies in the UNFP, and it is possible that some people who were associated with those tendencies are still considered traitors by the government. However, they are not formally associated with the UNFP. The UNFP is not singled out for harassment by the government, and it has a good chance of participating in the government after the next elections.

UNFP members were arrested in 1963 for allegedly plotting against the government, and eleven were sentenced to death. All were amnestied in 1965, except for those who were sentenced in absentia (Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 197; Political Parties of the World 1988, 371). UNFP leader Mehdi Ben Barka disappeared while visiting France in 1965 (Political Handbook 1995, 591).

Houcine El-Manouzi, a resident of Belgium who had been an active member of the UNFP before he left Morocco, was sentenced to death in absentia in 1971 for allegedly conspiring against state security (Amnesty International 1993, 2). In 1972 he disappeared in Tunisia and in 1993 was believed by Amnesty International to be in secret detention in Morocco (ibid; see attachment).

The UNFP boycotted the 1992 elections (Agence France Presse 15 Oct. 1992), and according to the Political Handbook of the World: 1994-1995 it "won no seats in 1993" (1995, 591).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below a list of sources consulted in preparing this Response.

Agence France Presse. 15 October 1992. Ignace Dalle. "Les Marocains aux urnes vendredi pour élire leurs représentants aux communes." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 1993. "Morocco: The 'Disappeared' in Morocco: Case Studies." London: Amnesty International International Secretariat.

Political Handbook of the World: 1994-1995. 1995. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.

Political Parties of the World. 1988. 3rd ed. Edited by Alan J. Day. Chicago: St. James Press.

Specialist on North Africa at the Centre d'études arabes pour le développement (CEAD), Montréal. 2 May 1997. Telephone interview.

Agence France Presse. 15 October 1992. Ignace Dalle. "Les Marocains aux urnes vendredi pour élire leurs représentants aux communes." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 1993. "Morocco: The 'Disappeared' in Morocco: Case Studies." London: Amnesty International International Secretariat, pp. 2-3.

Amnesty International Report 1996.

Country Rights on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997. United States Department of State.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1996.

Middle East Watch. Human Rights in Morocco. 1995.

Computerized data bases: Global NewsBank, Indexed Media Review, NEXIS, World News Connection.