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7 IPRIS Maghreb Review DECEMBER 2010/JANUARY 2011 Tunisia was the first Arab and Muslim was the hunger strike carried on by What are country to adopt a Bill of Rights in 1857 journalist Taoufik Ben Brik who was and a constitution in 1861. Besides, deprived of his passport for criticizing democracy’s since 1956 Tunisia has been the sole the regime. This strike received great Arab country to abolish polygamy and media attention, mainly among the prospects for the ban traditional marriage and divorce. French media and Al-Jazeera. It also To focus exclusively on the recent encouraged more and more people to Tunisian revolt? events in Tunisia, we can say that start resisting the regime. Since then, serious challenges to Ben Ali’s hunger strikes had become widely regime had been occurring since used as a technique of civil resistance AMOR BOUBAKRI 1998. Indeed, during his entire rule, by activists. Ben Ali’s regime became University of Sousse, Tunisia Ben Ali only benefited from a short subject to increasingly more open respite, mainly the period between criticism by sections of the Tunisian 1992 and 1996. During this period, elite, human rights activists and The popular revolt in Tunisia has the dictatorship had reached critical political opponents. The big pressure raised several questions among levels of oppression, and there were on Ben Ali from 1999 to 2001 had observers concerning the prospects few who had the courage to defy the showed the weakness of the for democracy and whether Tunisia dangerous regime’s authoritarian drift. Tunisian regime and the limits of would be able to achieve a transition Civil society and political opposition the dictatorship before the new into a real and sustainable democratic were mercilessly oppressed. A huge mass media and internet and the regime. As this revolt, or its actual number of activists of all sensibilities role of NGOs. Ben Ali himself success, was not anticipated by the were jailed after unfair trials and publicly admitted to the widespread majority of the Tunisian elite, the indiscriminate use of torture. All these presence of corruption and human answer to this question remains violations have been regularly reported rights violations within the regime. challenging. For some observers, by Amnesty International and other However, the events of September the long-lasting one party rule under human rights NGOs. The year 1998 11th 2001 were an opportunity that Ben Ali’s regime, and the vertiginous marked the first break of silence when reinvigorated the autocratic regime. rhythm through which one of the most a group of activists decided to create The “war against terrorism” offered rigid dictatorships has fallen, may not the National Council for Liberties an opportunity that Ben Ali seized help to reach such goal. However, this (NCL), a national NGO which was perfectly to return to his violent opinion reflects the lack of information never recognized by the regime. Some methods of repression without risking about the Tunisian scene that has led significant reports issued by it on the any criticism from the international to inaccurate conclusions. There is human rights situation in Tunisia had arena, especially since the latter no need to go back to the 19th century a great impact among activists and became absorbed by the wars in and remind ourselves of the origins opened the way to more direct actions Afghanistan and Iraq. of political reformism in Tunisia, against the dictatorship. In the meantime, the regime’s tyrannical inspired by constitutionalism. It is One of the most important and repression worsened. Corruption was a worth mentioning in this respect, that courageous acts of civil resistance widespread practice, mainly among IPRIS Maghreb Review | 2 Ben Ali’s own family. Human rights heavy pressure from international were in the street, demonstrating violations and political and social human rights NGOs. The positions alongside ordinary people. repression reached unprecedented of many Tunisian activists within It is worth mentioning that the Tunisian levels. Ben Ali’s approach to dominating these international NGOs were very revolt had clear precursor signs. The society consisted in manipulating beneficial to this resistance. Worth events in the Mineral Basin region national and international opinion via mentioning here are figures such as (Southwest of Tunisia) in June 2008 a fake commitment to democracy. He Souhyl Belhacen, president of the specifically pointed towards it. During created de façade political opposition International Federation of League these events Ben Ali was defied, for the which supported him, while the real of Human Rights (IFIDH) who used to first time, by a population that openly opposition was ruthlessly oppressed. be the vice-president of the Tunisian protested against corruption and At the beginning of his era (1987- League for Defense of Human Rights, social injustice. Since then, Ben Ali’s 1992), Ben Ali attempted to divide and Kamel Jendoubi, the coordinator regime faced increasing resistance in the opposition mainly by isolating the of the Euro-Mediterranean Human several regions with a similar motive: Islamist movement (Ennahda). After his Rights Network. Other influential end corruption and social injustice. crushing of Ennahda, Ben Ali continued Tunisian Diaspora figures have also As a conclusion, it can be argued that to oppress the secular parties. played an important role mainly in the Tunisian revolt came about as Ben Ali’s brutally repressive regime Europe and North America via mass a result of an increasing dynamism forced Islamists and secular militants media and NGOs. within Tunisian society during the last to cooperate and unify in the struggle The important role of professional few years. Political parties, NGOs and against dictatorship. Consequently, organizations in Tunisia also needs other actors have played a decisive the different political groups and to be taken into account. On the first role to make the end of Ben Ali’s movements learned to work together line of the resistance is the General dictatorship possible. Innumerous with mutual respect and tolerance. It Tunisian Union of Labor (UGTT), a social categories, regions and political is rare to see secular political parties unique workers’ union created in movements contributed to this revolt. accept Islamist movements and 1945 representing all professional The Tunisian revolt succeeded in a see them fighting together against categories except liberal professions. moment when the Tunisian people dictatorship in the Arab region. The It fought for social justice and defended and its elite decided to heroically germs of a genuine democratic and the material and moral interests of stand up to Ben Ali’s tyranny. At the peaceful coexistence between the all workers without exception. The roots of this revolt lies the tragic self- future democracy’s actors were thus most important role assumed by the immolation of a young unemployed created by Ben Ali himself. In other UGTT has been the promotion and graduate. Yet the martyrs include words, the suitable ingredients for a protection of the middle class which also activists from worker unions constructive political life already exist constitutes the real motor of political and other social organizations, in Tunisian society. Ben Ali aimed to change and reform in modern Tunisia. including one professor from a create a total political vacuum in this Additionally to its social role, the UGTT Tunisian university. The struggle society to avoid any alternative rule has influenced the political scene. On against dictatorship has caused except his own one. Due to the many one hand, sometimes it had a direct unification among all these actors, sacrifices made by Tunisia’s political political role in the elections. On the thus, democracy would not be a factor and social activists, this plan has failed. other hand, the UGTT has, throughout contributing to chaos and conflict in Tunisia’s dynamic opposition became its history, been a refuge for political such a society. Indeed, consensus more consistent in challenging activists from the opposition. During among all actors to go forward and the dictatorship after the events of the last few years before Ben Ali’s fall, build the democratic regime exists September 11th 2001. Civil society also the UGTT witnessed significant and and has solid foundations. became more audacious. The right of dynamic political protest reflecting The way that the transition has been association was won against fierce a deep crisis in Tunisian society and carried out until now shows that resistance from the regime. A large genuine anger with Ben Ali’s regime. a sustainable and real democracy number of local human rights NGOs Additionally to the UGTT, the role of in Tunisia has genuine prospects. were created and began to operate some other professional categories The cabinet of national unity was without obtaining legal status. during the last years, such as composed only two days after Ben Furthermore, these NGOs operated journalists and judges, are also worth Ali’s fall between parties that had with enthusiasm and energy despite mentioning. Lawyers especially have never worked together. The fact that strict control and indiscriminate political had a decisive role in the resistance some parties refused to join the oppression. The revival of civil society against the regime. The Tunisian Bar cabinet has not led to chaos. People and the opposition during the last Association has constantly been an are protesting peacefully while the six years could explain why Ben Ali’s open challenger to Ben Ali. During the cabinet works without problems and regime remained constantly under last few days of the dictatorship, lawyers takes revolutionary decisions which IPRIS Maghreb Review | 3 were scarcely imaginable just two old regime and the establishment of Staff to carry out Ben Ali’s orders months ago. of a new political system is highly to shoot at protesters, the Tunisian Democracy seems likely, is possible critical and much can go wrong.