The first French-speaking Belgian public television channel RTBF proved that its investigative program Investigation, that was scheduled to broadcast on Wednesday, and focused on an imaginary Belgium under Moroccan influence, was just another instance of journalistic sentimentality by spoiling itself with three lengthy articles on its info site.
The RTBF investigators are terribly misrepresenting themselves by conflating or purposefully attempting to confound legitimate diplomatic efforts and « occult operations » that are flat out nonexistent, based on « open source » documents that are accessible to all. Articles claim that the inquiry unearths fictitious information regarding “intimidation and threats of electoral fallout” against certain elected politicians in Belgium who expressed criticism towards Morocco. A claim made by « investigators » who fail to specify the means by which Rabat, three thousand kilometers away from Brussels, might influence the outcome of the Belgian elections.
The investigation unit of RTBF accuses Moroccan diplomacy and the ambassador of the kingdom in Belgium of vigorously and actively protecting the national interests of their respective countries. Regarding Morocco, what the chancelleries of many other nations, including France, Israel, and China, undertake on a daily basis is depicted as « intrusion » into Belgian internal matters.
As reported by RTBF, some Belgian lawmakers were persuaded to support Morocco’s theses rather than the Polisario’s positions. Even worse. Belgian public television is against the removal of the term « Western, » according to the Belgian Committee to Support the Moroccan COBESA Sahara Autonomy Plan. COBESA might be removed from RTBF’s « Moroccan conspiracy » list if it were included.
Furthermore, the investigation claims that the Moroccan embassy covered the cost of renting the space where a joint activity was held. The 620 euros are unquestionable evidence, according to Belgian television, that the Kingdom of Morocco is annexing the Kingdom of Belgium.
In order to bolster its portrayal of a Moroccan « Machiavellian plot » to exert influence in Brussels, RTBF summons attorney Alexis Deswaef, a former president of the Human Rights League, to testify. He claims that the ambassador called him to give the Moroccan side of the argument following one of his stances on the Western Sahara issue.
Alexis Deswaef launches a real scoop on Moroccan muscle-building techniques. When the royal ambassador saw him in his office, he « was poli, but very firm, very donnerur de leçon. » The witness, Alexis Deswaef, concluded, « It was a form of pressure. » A diplomat who firmly and diplomatically defends his country’s beliefs is a part of what is known as a Moroccan « malveillante » strategy, according to the story on Belgian public television.
And it doesn’t end there for the prosecution witness that RTBF called to the media stand. Says Alexis Deswaef: « I received an invitation to visit the Moroccan embassy. I was reminded by the ambassador of Western Sahara’s Moroccan past. It was obviously meant to make me feel uneasy. Making a public statement about it might make it impossible for me to go to Morocco for work.” The Belgian nickel-plated feet of the investigation accentuated rants fit for a very bad spy novel.
The latter’s investigation seems to have caught Rabat red-handed by emphasizing that during these conferences and symposiums “the themes seem to be chosen with care, as do the guests. Politicians, diplomats, lawyers, business leaders, media bosses. These events take place in prestigious locations: the Brussels City Hall, the Palais des Académies or the very select Cercle Gaulois.” The investigators would perhaps have preferred poorly attended raves in disreputable parks or rave parties at the Rogier Open Air.
But icing on the cake…
For RTBF, the organization « Les Amis du Maroc » acts as a kind of Moroccan Embassy-backed communication tool by planning social events and promoting a positive image of King Mohamed VI’s nation among Belgian elites, especially political ones. According to Belgian television investigative journalists, « everything is legal and seems to correspond to the classic missions of an embassy. » All of this is intended to belittle Moroccan diplomacy for carrying out its duty effectively.