Home<\/span> – Accuei<\/span><\/a>l<\/span><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Syndicaliste \u00e0 Sfax: Rassemblement du 2 janvier 2011 devant le si\u00e8ge du syndicat r\u00e9gional de l’UGTT \u00e0 Sfax RFI: Tunisie : arrestation d\u2019un militant politique en rapport avec les \u00e9v\u00e8nements de Sidi Bouzid <\/font>AP: Desperate act leads to unrest in Tunisia CADTM Afrique:Communiqu\u00e9 –\u00a0 En solidarit\u00e9 avec le peuple tunisien <\/font>Jeune de solidarit\u00e9 avec Fahem Boukaddous El Watan: La situation s\u2019enlise en Tunisie\u00a0 – Les affrontements gagnent d\u2019autres villes <\/font>Rue89: Bochra Beljaj Hamida \u00ab\u00a0Les Tunisiens, fatigu\u00e9s d’un pays tenu par quelques familles\u00a0\u00bb Ahram Online: In Egypt, activism escalates, spurred by Tunisian riots and local violence <\/font>Mideastposts: Tunisia \u2013 Battle moves to Media for Hearts & Minds Omar Khayyam: Dernier r\u00e9veillon \u00e0 Carthage <\/font>Taoufik Ben Brik: \u00ab\u00a0Sidi Bouzid, mon amour\u00a0\u00bb Fausto Giudice : De Sidi Ifni \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid : la r\u00e9volte logique des Bac + contre la dictature des Bac \u2013 <\/font>Fatma et Khemais Ksila: Dec\u00e8s du militant M.Abdelkader DARDOURI – Condol\u00e9ances<\/font><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/div>\n <\/font><\/p>\n <\/font><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/strong><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/div>\n <\/font><\/div>\n <\/font><\/div>\n Associated Press Bouazza Ben Bouazza, Associated Press \u2013 Sun Jan 2, 9:15 am ET It started with a young man who set himself on fire, acting out of desperation after police confiscated the fruits and vegetables he sold without a permit. Mohamed Bouazizi was a 26-year-old university graduate without a steady job, trying to support his family. His self-immolation \u2014 which left him in intensive care, wrapped head to toe in white bandages \u2014 shocked the North African nation and sparked protests over unemployment that have led to at least three deaths. For decades, Tunisia has promoted itself as an Arab world success story, a place where the economy is stronger than in neighboring countries, women’s rights are respected, unrest is rare and European tourists can take stress-free vacations at beach resorts. But the recent protests have exposed a side of Tunisia that the country has long tried to hide: the poverty of the countryside, poor job prospects for youths and seething resentment at the government of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has ruled Tunisia with an iron fist since 1987. Groups including the International Monetary Fund have praised Tunisia for holding up relatively well during the global economic crisis, and the country had growth of 3.1 percent in 2010, according to government figures. Unemployment is the weak spot, at nearly 14 percent last year. The situation is worse outside the capital and tourist zones, in regions like Sidi Bouzid in the center-west, where Bouazizi lived. It’s also worse for educated youths. In a country where schooling has been emphasized for decades, 80,000 educated graduates enter the job market every year, and there isn’t enough work for them. Frederic Volpi, a North Africa scholar, says Tunisia has been \u00ab\u00a0an overachiever in terms of promoting itself\u00a0\u00bb despite its problems of political and civil rights and the economic imbalance between the successful regions and the countryside. \u00ab\u00a0What is surprising is not so much that we now discover that there are problems in Tunisia,\u00a0\u00bb said Volpi, a senior lecturer at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. \u00ab\u00a0The surprise for people who actually analyze the region is, how come the international community, the media and observers could be fooled previously by the rhetoric of the Tunisian success story?\u00a0\u00bb Ben Ali’s government tolerates little public dissent and has been caught off guard by the discontent. A U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks called Tunisia a \u00ab\u00a0police state\u00a0\u00bb and says Ben Ali has lost touch with his people. Ben Ali said the protest violence was manipulated by foreign media and hurt the country’s image. He replaced the communications minister in a government reshuffle, but retained the interior minister despite opposition calls to oust him. He also ordered the prime minister to mobilize authorities nationwide for a 6.5 billion dinar ($4.5 billion) plan to create jobs for Tunisians with university diplomas \u2014 a substantial sum for a country of only 10 million people. But the opposition says the government’s response has been inadequate and that the protests are fueled not only by unemployment but by the lack of human rights. The protests \u00ab\u00a0show a profound crisis and illustrate a pressing need for change that would bring a return of confidence to citizens so they can lead lives that are free and dignified in their homeland,\u00a0\u00bb said Nejib Chebbi, founder of the Progressive Democratic Party The protests started in Sidi Bouzid soon after Bouazizi’s Dec. 17 suicide attempt. Police confiscated his goods, and an officer slapped him in front of passers-by, his supporters say. He tried to lodge a complaint, but authorities refused to accept it. Desperate, he doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire in public. The self-immolation touched off demonstrations in neighboring towns, and later, in other regions. Police opened fire at one protest, killing an 18-year-old. Another 44-year-old who was wounded by a bullet at the same protest died of his injuries Friday in the hospital, the man’s family said. At another protest, a 24-year-old jobless protester was electrocuted after announcing he wanted to end his life and mounting a high-voltage electricity pole. Demonstrators have set police cars ablaze and threw firebombs at official buildings. Lawyers marched in several cities Friday in solidarity with demonstrators. Opposition politicians say dozens have been arrested. The unrest has gone with little mention in Tunisia’s media, which is heavily controlled by the state. But there was one surprising and potentially encouraging sign. Private station Nessma TV broadcast a program Thursday about the protest movement \u2014 a show without precedent in Tunisian history for its treatment of a politically sensitive subject. In it, Sidi Bouzid’s residents spoke of their suffering and complained of corruption, nepotism and impunity of those in power. Mounir Souissi, local reporter for the German news agency DPA, called the program \u00ab\u00a0a true turning point \u2014 if it lasts.\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/div>\n <\/p>\n La situation semble se corser en Tunisie. Les \u00e9meutes se sont poursuivies ce week-end dans plusieurs villages de la r\u00e9gion de Sidi Bouzid. \u00a0Le d\u00e9c\u00e8s d\u2019un manifestant, Chawki Hidri, 43 ans, vendredi matin, des suites de blessures par balle re\u00e7ue au cours des affrontements violents du 24 d\u00e9cembre \u00e0 Menzel\u00a0 Bouzayane, une localit\u00e9 \u00e0 60 km de Sidi Bouzid, a provoqu\u00e9 une nouvelle onde de choc et attis\u00e9 la col\u00e8re de la population qui a r\u00e9investi la rue pour protester contre la r\u00e9pression. Des manifestations de soutien \u00e0 la population de cette r\u00e9gion ont \u00e9galement \u00e9t\u00e9 organis\u00e9es durant le week-end \u00e0 Tunis et dans d\u2019autres villes du pays. Des manifestations violemment r\u00e9prim\u00e9es, notamment \u00e0 Grombalia, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Gafsa et Jendouba. Vendredi, des avocats ont \u00e9t\u00e9 malmen\u00e9s par la police \u00e0 Tunis et dans d\u2019autres villes, alors qu\u2019ils tentaient d\u2019exprimer leur appui \u00e0 la population de Sidi Bouzid. Les avocats r\u00e9pondaient \u00e0 l\u2019appel du conseil de l\u2019Ordre d\u2019appuyer le mouvement de protestation sociale de Sidi Bouzid en portant des brassards rouges devant tous les tribunaux de Tunisie. Selon un communiqu\u00e9 sign\u00e9 par le b\u00e2tonnier Abderrazak Kilani, de \u00abnombreux avocats ont \u00e9t\u00e9 frapp\u00e9s, pourchass\u00e9s et insult\u00e9s\u00bb par des policiers. \u00abCertains d\u2019entre eux ont vu leurs robes d\u00e9chir\u00e9es et leurs brassards arrach\u00e9s par des policiers d\u00e9ploy\u00e9s en tr\u00e8s grand nombre autour des tribunaux et jusque dans les salles d\u2019audience\u00bb, ajoute-on dans le m\u00eame communiqu\u00e9. Le conseil de l\u2019Ordre d\u00e9nonce ainsi \u00abun usage sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent\u00bb de la force et une sauvage agression visant \u00e0 faire taire les avocats. Contact\u00e9 hier par nos soins, Jalal Zoghlami, militant des droits de l\u2019Homme, pr\u00e9dit le pire pour les jours \u00e0 venir : \u00abLa situation risque de s\u2019aggraver. La protestation sociale prend de plus en plus de l\u2019ampleur. Les gens en ont marre et ne semblent plus avoir peur de la machine r\u00e9pressive d\u00e9ploy\u00e9e par le r\u00e9gime de Ben Ali. Le mouvement de contestation va continuer tant qu\u2019il n\u2019y a pas d\u2019actions concr\u00e8tes et palpables au profit des populations d\u00e9sh\u00e9rit\u00e9es.\u00bb Pour M. Zoghlami, le r\u00e9am\u00e9nagement du gouvernement qui s\u2019est produit dans la foul\u00e9e des troubles sociaux ne change rien \u00e0 la donne sociale des plus explosives, avec un ch\u00f4mage end\u00e9mique et un sentiment d\u2019abandon g\u00e9n\u00e9ralis\u00e9. Pas de r\u00e9ponse concr\u00e8te \u00abLe discours du pr\u00e9sident Ben Ali, tr\u00e8s attendu, n\u2019a rien apport\u00e9 de concret. La population n\u2019a plus peur et ne compte plus se laisser faire\u00bb, ajoute-t-il. Ce militant des droits de l\u2019Homme estime que \u00able point fort de ce mouvement de contestation, c\u2019est qu\u2019il est port\u00e9 essentiellement par les jeunes issus des r\u00e9gions d\u00e9favoris\u00e9es\u00bb. Ces jeunes, rong\u00e9s par le ch\u00f4mage et la mis\u00e8re sociale, n\u2019ont rien \u00e0 perdre. Au contraire, ils sont en train d\u2019\u00e9branler le r\u00e9gime de Ben Ali, au pouvoir depuis 23 ans. M. Zoghlami estime que le r\u00e9gime tunisien a toujours v\u00e9cu dans la peur. Selon lui, \u00abc\u2019est un pouvoir policier qui gouverne par la r\u00e9pression et la corruption\u00bb. Ce vent de contestation a commenc\u00e9 de la r\u00e9gion de Sidi Bouzid le 17 d\u00e9cembre 2010, avant de s\u2019\u00e9tendre \u00e0 d\u2019autres r\u00e9gions. \u00c0 l\u2019origine de ce soul\u00e8vement populaire d\u2019ordre social, une tentative de suicide d\u2019un jeune dipl\u00f4m\u00e9 de 26 ans, vendeur ambulant de fruits et l\u00e9gumes, qui s\u2019\u00e9tait fait confisquer sa marchandise et humilier par la police municipale. Le climat reste ainsi tendu, comme le confirme M. Zoghlami, \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid comme \u00e0 Tunis, qui risque d\u2019\u00eatre le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019affrontements dans les prochains jours. <\/font> Mokrane Ait Ouarabi (Source: \u00ab\u00a0El Watan\u00a0\u00bb (Quotidien – Algerie) le 2 janvier 2010)<\/strong><\/font><\/div>\n <\/font><\/font><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/font><\/div>\n <\/font><\/div>\n L’avocate engag\u00e9e Bochra Beljaj Hamida d\u00e9taille pour Rue89 les caract\u00e9ristiques de cette mobilisation \u00ab\u00a0sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent\u00a0\u00bb.<\/font><\/p>\n (De Tunis)<\/strong> Me Bochra Beljaj Hamida \u00e9tait dans le cort\u00e8ge d’avocats malmen\u00e9s par la police le 30 d\u00e9cembre devant le tribunal de Tunis. La veille, elle faisait sa premi\u00e8re apparition t\u00e9l\u00e9vis\u00e9e sur la cha\u00eene tunisienne priv\u00e9e Nessma TV, qui<\/font>a bris\u00e9 le verrouillage m\u00e9diatique<\/font><\/a>[1]<\/span> en diffusant une \u00e9mission sp\u00e9ciale sur le mouvement de protestation.<\/font> \u00a0<\/p>\n Mais surtout, Bochra Beljaj Hamida est une figure des revendications d\u00e9mocratiques, du fait d’avoir obtenu la gr\u00e2ce de plusieurs condamn\u00e9s \u00e0 mort du temps de <\/font>Habib Bourguiba<\/font><\/a>[2]<\/span>. Elle consid\u00e8re le mouvement <\/font>n\u00e9 \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid<\/font><\/a>[3]<\/span> comme sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent et d\u00e9fend plus que jamais un processus d\u00e9mocratique pour la Tunisie. <\/font><\/p>\n Je suis entr\u00e9 en contact avec elle la veille de notre entretien. Des policiers en civils avaient cependant \u00e9t\u00e9 tenus au courant de ma visite chez elle \u00e0 Tunis. Ils m’ont suivi quelques heures, sans intervenir.<\/font><\/p>\n Rue89\u00a0: Le mouvement social continue \u00e0 prendre de l’ampleur avec des manifestations dans l’ensemble du pays. Va-t-il se poursuivre\u00a0? <\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Bochra Beljaj Hamida<\/strong>\u00a0: Sans aucun doute\u00a0! C’est un mouvement sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent en Tunisie. Les gens se retrouvent dans les revendications sociales port\u00e9es \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid. Ils en ont assez de la corruption, de la pr\u00e9carit\u00e9 et de ce pouvoir qui n’est pas \u00e9lu d\u00e9mocratiquement. <\/font><\/p>\n Dans les cort\u00e8ges, certains manifestants traitent le Pr\u00e9sident de \u00ab\u00a0l\u00e2che\u00a0\u00bb, de \u00ab\u00a0voleur\u00a0\u00bb, comme un d\u00e9linquant de droit commun en somme. Cela ne s’\u00e9tait jamais produit auparavant. Car l’Etat ne parvient pas \u00e0 aborder les Tunisiens comme des citoyens, nous sommes infantilis\u00e9s par des technocrates qui sont loin de la vraie soci\u00e9t\u00e9. <\/font><\/p>\n Revenons au <\/font>cas des jeunes dipl\u00f4m\u00e9s, en Tunisie<\/font><\/a>[4]<\/span>. Il n’est pas possible de valider un certificat d’aptitude au travail sans soudoyer un fonctionnaire. Aussi, il ne faut pas confondre\u00a0: les manifestants ne demandent pas \u00e0 l’Etat de leur trouver un travail mais d\u00e9noncent le fait que, sur le march\u00e9 de l’emploi, les choses ne se font jamais dans la transparence et avec justice. <\/font><\/p>\n On ne peut pas reprocher au gouvernement de n’avoir rien fait en mati\u00e8re d’emploi, des programmes ont \u00e9t\u00e9 lanc\u00e9s depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es, mais \u00e0 cause d’une corruption syst\u00e9matique, on perd tout ce qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 fait. Le blocage \u00e9conomique est l\u00e0\u00a0! <\/font><\/p>\n Nous voulons un dialogue avec les citoyens, que les gens puissent investir et travailler librement et que cela soit une r\u00e9elle volont\u00e9 politique.<\/font><\/p>\n Finalement, le mouvement social est n\u00e9 \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid mais il aurait tr\u00e8s bien pu voir le jour ailleurs\u2026 \u00a0<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Ce n’\u00e9tait pas le premier suicide d’un jeune dans une situation de pr\u00e9carit\u00e9 sociale comparable. Sidi Bouzid a \u00e9t\u00e9 l’\u00e9tincelle et la contestation s’est propag\u00e9e dans tout le pays. <\/font><\/p>\n Paradoxalement, le calme est actuellement revenu \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid car la pr\u00e9sence polici\u00e8re y est tr\u00e8s forte, mais aussi parce que le gouvernement a achet\u00e9 les bonnes personnes, tout en donnant l’illusion d’une \u00e9coute en limogeant les responsables locaux. <\/font><\/p>\n Sauf que la grogne n’est pas propre \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid et que c’est tout une masse de Tunisiens qui souhaitent exprimer leur ras-le-bol de la politique men\u00e9e par le gouvernement. Ils sont fatigu\u00e9s de la propagande, de la corruption et du fait que le pays soit tenu par quelques familles. <\/font><\/p>\n Vous remarquerez que je parle du gouvernement, je ne veux pas personnaliser la lutte car, plus qu’une personne, nous voulons changer tout un syst\u00e8me.<\/font><\/p>\n Pourquoi les avocats sont-ils si mobilis\u00e9s\u00a0? <\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Nous nous sommes sentis solidaires. L’Ordre des avocats est engag\u00e9 pour les droits humains. Mais, surtout en Tunisie, nous sommes l’un des rares corps \u00e9lus, et de mani\u00e8re libre et d\u00e9mocratique. <\/font><\/p>\n Le b\u00e2tonnier n’est pas nomm\u00e9 par le gouvernement, nos d\u00e9cisions sont pr\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9es de d\u00e9bats et de campagnes libres.<\/font><\/p>\n Le mouvement des avocats suit-il l’arrestation brutale de Me Abderraouf Ayali et Me Equit\u00e9 et Choukri Bela\u00efd\u00a0? <\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Oui, certains avocats avaient manifest\u00e9 spontan\u00e9ment, en d\u00e9but de semaine, en soutien au mouvement social de Sidi Bouzid. Me Ayali et Me Bela\u00efd ont pris la parole et la police les a consid\u00e9r\u00e9s comme les chefs de file du mouvement des avocats. <\/font><\/p>\n Le lendemain, la police politique, directement command\u00e9e par le palais pr\u00e9sidentiel, a enlev\u00e9 brutalement Me Ayali et Me Bela\u00efd. Abderraouf Ayali a \u00e9t\u00e9 menac\u00e9 et gravement maltrait\u00e9. Puis, le lendemain, il a \u00e9t\u00e9 rel\u00e2ch\u00e9. <\/font><\/p>\n Deux cents avocats ont alors d\u00e9cid\u00e9 collectivement de d\u00e9noncer cette r\u00e9pression devant le palais de justice, avec le port du foulard rouge en signe de ralliement. Vous connaissez la suite\u00a0: nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 sauvagement r\u00e9prim\u00e9s, les avocats comme les avocates\u00a0! <\/font><\/p>\n Ce qui m’a choqu\u00e9e, c’est que ce sont des policiers en civil qui sont intervenus et que tout a \u00e9t\u00e9 fait pour que les choses ne se passent pas dans le calme, pour que cela d\u00e9g\u00e9n\u00e8re. (Voir cette vid\u00e9o agit\u00e9e post\u00e9e sur YouTube par un participant \u00e0 la manifestation)<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lors de son intervention t\u00e9l\u00e9vis\u00e9e vendredi, le pr\u00e9sidentBen Ali<\/font><\/a> paraissait mis en difficult\u00e9\u2026 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Je crois que le gouvernement r\u00e9agit brutalement car il est fragile. Contrairement au discours officiel, le mouvement de contestation n’est pas manipul\u00e9 \u00e0 la base, il s’agit de manifestations quasi spontan\u00e9es de gens qui appellent \u00e0 en finir avec ce syst\u00e8me politique. C’est un signal d’alarme fort pour le gouvernement\u00a0! <\/p>\n Le Pr\u00e9sident est d\u00e9sormais devant un choix. Si sa r\u00e9ponse est un simple remaniement minist\u00e9riel, il n’a rien compris aux attentes des Tunisiens. On a chang\u00e9 de ministre de la Communication, mais moi je dis \u00ab\u00a0libert\u00e9, pas de minist\u00e8re de la Communication\u00a0\u00bb tout court\u00a0! <\/p>\n Nous sommes dans un mouvement important, d\u00e9cisif, le gouvernement doit faire le choix d’un processus d\u00e9mocratique et non celui de la r\u00e9pression.<\/p>\n Vous avez particip\u00e9 \u00e0 l’\u00e9mission de Nessma TV consacr\u00e9e \u00e0 la situation \u00e0 Sidi Bouzid, qui n’a pas \u00e9t\u00e9 censur\u00e9e. C’est un autre pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent porteur d’espoir\u00a0? <\/strong><\/p>\n Peut-\u00eatre un pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent sans suite\u00a0? L’\u00e9mission n’a pas \u00e9t\u00e9 rediffus\u00e9e. <\/p>\n Disons qu’il ne faut pas voir le gouvernement comme un seul bloc. Il y a une complexit\u00e9 interne, certains tirent vers l’avant alors que d’autres maintiennent une position qui d\u00e9fend une logique de contre-information et de r\u00e9pression. Le gouvernement est bouscul\u00e9 en son sein. Ben Ali est tiraill\u00e9 entre plusieurs tendances, voire plusieurs clans.<\/p>\n En Europe, nous restons prudents face \u00e0 ce type d’\u00e9v\u00e8nements, en raison de la r\u00e9cup\u00e9ration \u00e9ventuelle des islamistes. Qu’en pensez-vous\u00a0? <\/strong><\/p>\n C’est le statu quo qui renforce les extr\u00e9mistes. Plus on avance, plus il y a un processus d\u00e9mocratique fort, plus il y a des forces de dialogue et moins la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 s’islamise. C’est une bataille culturelle, une question de soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Mais il faut bien rappeler que les islamistes n’aiment pas la d\u00e9mocratie. <\/p>\n Les Europ\u00e9ens se trompent compl\u00e8tement\u00a0: en Tunisie, ce sont les syndicats et les militants des droits de l’homme qui portent le mouvement, pas les religieux. <\/p>\n En France l’UMP agite aussi la menace islamiste. Pourquoi\u00a0? Parce que Chirac et Sarkozy n’ont jamais consid\u00e9r\u00e9 les Tunisiens sur un pied d’\u00e9galit\u00e9. Ils nous ont toujours per\u00e7us comme des colonis\u00e9s.<\/p>\n Internet est-il une interface majeure dans la construction du mouvement social\u00a0? <\/strong><\/p>\n Le mouvement rev\u00eat un autre caract\u00e8re sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent\u00a0: il y a de plus en plus de jeunes cherchant \u00e0 s’engager. On a pu penser qu’un certain confort pourrait dissuader les nouvelles g\u00e9n\u00e9rations mais les gens qui ne sont pas n\u00e9s avec Bourguiba se mobilisent fortement. <\/p>\n Un dynamisme d’autant plus fort que tous les nouveaux r\u00e9seaux sociaux typeFacebook<\/font><\/strong><\/a>, Twitter\u2026 sont des moyens tr\u00e8s efficaces d’organisation contournant la censure.<\/p>\n En Tunisie, tous le monde conna\u00eet ce qu’est un proxy [syst\u00e8me de contournement de la censure sur le Web, ndlr]. La plupart sont t\u00e9l\u00e9charg\u00e9s depuis la Chine o\u00f9 la technologie a \u00e9t\u00e9 tr\u00e8s d\u00e9velopp\u00e9e. <\/p>\n Pour les mobilisations \u00e0 venir, Facebook est la premi\u00e8re source d’information.<\/p>\n <\/font><\/p>\n (Source: Rue89 le 2 janvier 2010)<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n Lien: <\/font><\/strong>http:\/\/www.rue89.com\/2011\/01\/02\/les-tunisiens-fatigues-dun-pays-tenu-par-quelques-familles-183378<\/font><\/strong><\/a><\/font><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/font><\/p>\n <\/font><\/div>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n Egypt\u2019s youth activist population is itching to revolt. Typically locally-focused, their activities — which range from demonstrations and protests to ardent pledges, statements, and calls for Egyptians to unite — have recently taken an interesting turn: in solidarity with insurrection-afflicted Tunisia. Rioting in Tunisia, a North African coastal Republic that lies 2000 kms from Egypt, erupted two weeks ago, when a 26-year-old Tunisian man, driven to depression by unemployment, attempted suicide by setting himself on fire. His act instigated riots by Tunisian youth in the town of Sidi Bouzid, who took to the streets in protest of wide-spread government corruption and unemployment. Much like Egypt, where the government fast clamps down on any dissent, containing protestors and crushing the prospect of dissident revolt, Tunisia is governed by equal tyranny. The regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali operates the popular European tourist destination as a police state, tolerating little in the way of critique. That the Tunisian riots lasted two weeks, spreading to several cities and claiming at least three lives, came as a surprise. The Tunisian youths\u2019 violent revolt, and their evident breaking point at the hand of a dictatorship that led them to take risks with their lives, has ruffled the feathers of neighbouring governments who fear similar prospects at home. It has also stirred the interest and intrigue of equally disenfranchised Egyptian youth, whose discontent has led to small-scale protests and stone-throwing, but never outright revolt. A largely French-speaking country that shares little in common with Egypt save for a colonized past and economic woes, Egyptians have little affinity for Tunisians. That they have been prompted to declare fervent solidarity is revealing of the state of a nation, of pent up frustration, and of a desire to find reason to strike out in their rally for change. If the Tunisians can do it, why not us, Egyptian youth activists have said. The unity with youth rioters in Tunisia mounted online, with bloggers and activists taking to Facebook and twitter to declare solidarity and support. In a search of tweets that are tagged #sidibouzid and #egypt, hundreds of entries come up. The Tunisian struggle is the Egyptian one, activists here are saying. It is also an Arab one. \u201c#tunisia #egypt #sidibouzid we are one. Down with arab dictators\u201d, one Cairo-based tweeter wrote. \u201cRemember that the regimes of #Tunisia #Algeria #Egypt #Syria #Morocco #Yemen #Jordan have this in common: they r THIEVES #sidibouzid\u201d wrote another. In Egypt, a nation governed by Emergency Rule, much political activism and dissent happens online. It is somewhat easy to muster the courage to post 140 characters in support of a fight against authoritarian regimes and the wide-spread unemployment that afflicts youth across Egypt and the Arab world. But to take to the streets in support of a cause that extends beyond national borders, is unusual. The demonstration on Sunday, which will be held in downtown Cairo\u2019s Talaat Harb Square \u2013 named after the leading Egyptian economist and nationalist who established Banque Misr in 1907 \u2013 is being fervently promoted by a variety of youth activist groups. Among them, the 6th April Movement, whose 6th April demonstration in Cairo last year ended in police brutality, is especially active. In a series of declarations released by the group via email, Facebook, and blogs, they expressed empathy with the situation faced by Tunisian youth. Citing it as a regional affliction, they have offered to commit all their resources to helping further publicize the situation and bring media attention to the strife, which activists say government\u2019s have tried to downplay and hush. Or, in the case of the United States \u2013 known to be a source of pressure on regional governments \u2013 has completely ignored. \u201c#sidibouzid : Should Tunisians make #suicidal #attacks to attract local and foreign media immediately ????? #tunisia #egypt #tunisie\u201d one activist wrote following the bombing on an Egyptian church early Saturday that immediately received worldwide attention. \u201cLesson of the day in Middle East: Terrorism= lots of media coverage, democratic revolution: little media coverage. #sidibouzid #Egypt\u201d, another tweeted. This region-wide solidarity may well be the first step in the revival of a different form of activism across the Arab world. For Egypt, the pro-active response to the strife in Tunisia comes on the back of a frustrating few months that revealed simmering dissent and an ominous turning. Egypt\u2019s parliamentary elections, which took place last month, were witness to wide-spread violence, vote-rigging and corruption at the hands of the government\u2019s security apparatus and a bevy of thugs. The opposition was pulverized in the elections, giving the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) a sweeping, corruption-bought win. Several deaths were reported at the hands of state security and NDP thugs \u2013 allegations the government has denied. Opposition groups have since said they will unite to form a parallel parliament and government. In the days before that, clashes broke out between police and activists near the Pyramids in Cairo, following a government moratorium on construction on a Coptic Christian community centre in the area. The demonstrators wielded banners and chanted slogans protesting persecution of Egypt\u2019s minority Christian population and calling for an \u201cEgypt for all\u201d. The protest ended with two people dead and over one hundred detained. The demonstration on Sunday could go one of two ways. It may be halted completely by State Security, or it could turn into a much broader appeal that is indicative of what is to come. Egyptians awoke this Saturday morning to news of 21 deaths at the hands of a terrorist attack and suicide bombing targeting Christian Copts outside a church in Alexandria \u2013 an incident that claimed the lives of Muslims too, and yet another act of persecution that activists have long rallied against. By this afternoon, clashes had already broken out between the police and protesters denouncing the attack. The cumulative and unprecedented peak of discontent – of the elections, the persecution, and the long-standing economic troubles that plague the majority of the nation\u2019s 80 million population – may very well serve to unite disparate groups of activists and politicians, bringing them together in a larger, more forceful movement for change. And the example of Tunisia, and the courage its youth have displayed in risking their lives, may very well be the impetus Egypt\u2019s own youth and activists need to take their activities to a new level of vitality. The question, this time, is how fast the government will react and what measures it will take to crush any imminent threats to its stability and rule. The planned demonstration may very well serve as an indicator and forewarning of what is to come. <\/font> (Source: Ahram Online le 1er janvier 2010) lien:http:\/\/english.ahram.org.eg\/News\/2982.aspx<\/a><\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n <\/p>\nP\u00e9tition demandant la d\u00e9mission de Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali<\/font><\/h2>\n
\u00a0 <\/font>Rassemblement du 2 janvier 2011 devant le si\u00e8ge du syndicat r\u00e9gional de l’UGTT \u00e0 Sfax<\/font><\/h2>\n
Tunisie : arrestation d\u2019un militant politique en rapport avec les \u00e9v\u00e8nements de Sidi Bouzid<\/strong><\/font><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Desperate act leads to unrest in Tunisia<\/strong><\/font><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
JEUNE DE SOLIDARITE AVEC FAHEM BOUKADDOUS<\/font><\/h2>\n
La situation s\u2019enlise en Tunisie Les affrontements gagnent d\u2019autres villes<\/strong><\/font><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Les Tunisiens, fatigu\u00e9s d’un pays tenu par quelques familles\u00a0\u00bb<\/font><\/h2>\n
In Egypt, activism escalates, spurred by Tunisian riots and local violence<\/strong><\/font><\/h2>\n