People should not be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people
Tunisia’s president has stepped down after 23 years in power amid unprecedented protests on the streets of the capital Tunis.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said he would be taking over from President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
A state of emergency has been declared amid protests over corruption, unemployment and rising prices.
BBC sources say Mr Ben Ali has flown to the Mediterranean island of Malta, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
Notice how this is getting far less press, in the US, than Iran was getting in 2009 despite both situations being very similar (authorities cracking down on social networking, violently suppressing demonstrations)? I guess being pro west/US will grant you those privileges even if you're a corrupt dictator.
Good for Tunisia though, corrupt dictators, like Ben Ali, deserve to be humiliated and kicked out. Now the same thing needs to happen in Saudi and Egypt.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
First despot to be toppled in the Arab world in this century. I hope this a domino effect & all despots are thrown out of Middle East. Kudos to people of Tunisia.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
American government may not be willing to make it a big revolution. Because popular revolts in Arab worlds is their worst nightmare. They have their dictators sitting in almost all major Arab countries, and these dictators are terrified of popular uprisings.
Tunisia’s ‘Jasmine Revolution’ jolts Arab world
The removal of Tunisian President Ben Ali could be a catalyst that galvanises the greater Arab populace into action
The ousting of Tunisia’s president after violent protests is a stark warning to authoritarian regimes across the Arab world, whose people have long voiced similar grievances, analysts said on Saturday.
Tunisia’s “Jasmine Revolution,” as it has been dubbed, “is the first popular uprising to succeed in removing a president in the Arab world,” said Amr Hamzawy of the Carnegie Middle East Centre based in Beirut.
“It could be quite inspiring for the rest of the Arab world.”
“Some ingredients in Tunisia are relevant elsewhere,” from** Morocco to Algeria and Egypt to Jordan**, he said, citing unemployment, heavy handedness of police and human rights violations.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
This revolt getting poor coverage shouldn't really come as a surprise. Its a historical trend and of course this is bound to continue. Those who want to realise will do and those who prefer to stay ignorant will continue to do so. That's how the world works.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
Power in Tunisia changes hands again … Prime Minister steps down..and speaker of the Parliament took charge as defined by the constitution.
I think — along with the Tunisia educated, secular population — makes Tunisia a plausible candidate to host the first democratic government in the region. Long may the march continue :k:
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
We should learn something from Tunisia. Hoping Zardari and his gang will leave Pakistan forever.
However, it is interesting to note that if we have a revolution in pakistan, it would be a step back as all of the idiots would want to have a saudi style religously backwards sunni state. the tunisians want a democracy.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
The reason it is not getting press in the US is because it does not reflect the agenda of the government. While Al Jazeera and BBC are covering this day in and day out, CNN is busy talking about the 13th Zodiac sign.
The Government in Tunisia is very similar to that of Algeria. Extremely repressive, involved in violations of human rights in the name of the war on terror and regularly tortures its individuals. That is why Algeria is afraid it will be the next to fall. Oh yes....I forgot. The Tunisian government was actively funded by the EU.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
The reason it is not getting press in the US is because it does not reflect the agenda of the government. While Al Jazeera and BBC are covering this day in and day out, CNN is busy talking about the 13th Zodiac sign.
**The Government in Tunisia is very similar to that of Algeria. Extremely repressive, involved in violations of human rights in the name of the war on terror and regularly tortures its individuals. **That is why Algeria is afraid it will be the next to fall. Oh yes....I forgot. The Tunisian government was actively funded by the EU.
Yeh under the dictator - which is not their anymore. The revolution started by educated & secular middle class of Tunisia is eye-opener for rest of the mumbo-jumbo so-called Muslim Leaders.
Hopefully civil society of Pakistan gain some momentum and vigilantly adopt & defend secularism as a way of doing government, it will take time - maybe decades but that is one dream which will be reached hopefully in our lifetimes.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
Yes. The Dictator of course did not place men who were loyal to him and men who committed these attroticies. No no. Once he leaves, its all punch and pie for everybody under rainbows and unicorns
Yes the revolution happened, but as with Russia and Iraq the old guard remains in power. That is why the Prime Minister could not retain power for longer than 24 hours. That is why the Chief of the Constitutional Council is now in charge.
The only difference now and then is that the people have shown they are a force to be reckoned with.
And just a question: Where is stated that the revolution was started by the secular and educated middle class? This revolution has been going on for more than a month now. It was caused by a young male college student who set himself on fire because he couldn’t get a job and the small fruit and vegitable stall he had set up was confiscated by the police.
What does this have to do with secularism or the middle class?
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
Majority of the population is Muslim, well educated & westernized. By doing all the halla-gulla they didn’t want Shariaah - they just want the western style democracy which itself is based on the concept of secularism.
Nearly all of the protesters are students, professors, doctors, engineers - all of them are representing middle class.
I agree a power vacuum is created but the system is functioning, first President is gone and Prime Minister took over.. now as per the constitution the speaker of the Parliament took over. So where is the breakage?
I can’t compare Tunisia with Russia or Iraq, both have different strategic goals & strategic importance. Tunisia colonial history is must different then compare to rest of the Muslim countries. But either way it’s a step in good direction. Hopefully one day all the foreigners in Saudia, Qatar & UAE walk towards monarchies and kick their asses toward Arabian sea.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
Again you are basing this on what actual facts? The majority of the population of Tunisia is literate but that by no means they are secular. Their literacy rate is between 60 and 75% depending on the source one chooses. But that does not mean in anyway they wanted a western style democracy or a secular government. The reason this revolt occurred was due to a lack of economic stability, limited jobs and gross violations of freedom of speech and basic human rights.
Again where do you get this assessment that nearly all the protesters were/are middle class? Essentially you are saying the poor and the rich in Tunis didn't bother to show up for the protests?
That is my point exactly. There is no breakage at all. That is the problem. Clinton equated Tunisia to Saudi Arabia and China when it came to internet freedom and freedom of speech. Amnesty International states that Tunisia has a horrible human rights record. There is no breakage in the system. The old Guard is still there. They need to be removed.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
News so far on the plus side:
Former head of security service has been arrested
Some political prisoners have been freed
head of Islamist opposition returning from exile
Temporary Prime Minister seeking to form unity government including opposition parties
News on the minus side:
Complete breakdown of law and order. Gangs going around rioting and looting; people having to defend themselves as the state is overwhelmed.
Re: Revolution in Tunisia; President flees country
None of the Tunisians I know have anything bad to say about this. They all are in favour and are pretty much hoping for the best. All the ingredients of a revolt were present. So good luck to the Tunisians! Although a couple of Tunisians I know are pretty much going to be in exile now. Eitherway, InshaAllah Kheir!
