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Tunisia protests: authorities accused of 'senseless' crackdown Tunisia protests: authorities accused of indiscriminate crackdown
(about 1 hour later)
More than 300 protesters have been arrested and the army deployed in several Tunisian cities after violent demonstrations swept the country for a third night despite the threat of a security crackdown. More than 300 protesters have been arrested and the army deployed in several Tunisian cities after violent demonstrations swept the country for a third night, leading to accusations of indiscriminate retaliation against the demonstrators.
In Thala, near the Algerian border, troops were sent in after protesters burned down the national security building, forcing police to retreat from the town, witnesses said. In Thala, near the Algerian border, troops were sent in after protesters burned down a national security building, forcing police to retreat from the town, witnesses said.
Anti-government protests have raged in towns across Tunisia since Monday, including the tourist resort of Sousse. Anti-government protests have raged in towns across Tunisia since Monday, including in the tourist resort of Sousse, and are expected to intensify on Friday and over the weekend.
The immediate cause of the unrest is government-imposed price and tax rises, which will raise the cost of basic goods but are said to be essential to cut a ballooning deficit and satisfy international lenders. Leaders accused authorities of an indiscriminate crackdown, aimed primarily at law-abiding demonstrators.
Longer-term factors include high levels of poverty and youth unemployment, particularly among graduates. “It’s getting more and more difficult. The police are arresting protesters in every region. They’re not even interested in the looters and the anarchists. They’re seeking our protesters and accusing them of things that just don’t make sense,” said Heythem Guesmi, of the Manich Msamah organisation.
While Tunisia is widely seen as the only democratic success story among Arab spring states, it has had nine governments since the overthrow of the authoritarian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, none of which have resolved the growing economic problems. The immediate causes of the unrest are government-imposed price and tax rises, which will raise the cost of basic goods but are said to be essential to cut a ballooning deficit and satisfy international lenders.
Telephone calls, data, coffee, tea, cooking gas and cars are among hundreds of items which will become more expensive.
Longer-term factors include high levels of poverty, deep inequality and youth unemployment, particularly among graduates. Many of those who have taken to the streets are students.
While Tunisia is widely seen as the only democratic success story among Arab spring states, it has had nine governments since the overthrow of the authoritarian leader, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in 2011.
The revolt was was sparked by the death in 2010 of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street seller who set himself on fire in a protest over unemployment and police harassment.
The ouster of Ben Ali, who ruled for 24 years, raised expectations of rapid improvement and a much fairer distribution of wealth.
Instead, few of the deep structural problems which led to the revolt have been dealt with, and development has favoured areas and elites which had prospered under the former regime.
Though sporadic protests have been growing over recent years, the anniversary of the 2011 revolt has become an occasion for more general demonstrations of discontent.
“Over the last three years, there has been an increasing number of popular protests about socioeconomic questions by people who feel excluded from the democratic transition … Basically, people are saying that demands for major change, particularly an end to corruption and a much more just economic system, haven’t been addressed,” said Rory McCarthy, an expert in Tunisia and Islamism at Magdalen College, Oxford University.
This year’s protests have drawn in hundreds in each town where they have taken place.
“The date of 14 January [when Bouazizi died] is very symbolic. For the first few years after 2011, there were celebrations. Now people are seeing it as an occasion to protest,” Meh Dia Hammami, a Tunis-based analyst, said.
Government officials have minimised the social and economic grievances of demonstrators while emphasising criminal offences committed during the unrest.
“Some 330 people involved in acts of sabotage and robbery were arrested last night,” said the interior ministry spokesman, Khelifa Chibani, bringing the number of detainees since the protests began to about 600.“Some 330 people involved in acts of sabotage and robbery were arrested last night,” said the interior ministry spokesman, Khelifa Chibani, bringing the number of detainees since the protests began to about 600.
The army was also deployed in several other cities, including Sousse, Kebeli and Bizert to protect government buildings that have become a target for protesters. The army was also deployed in several other cities on Wednesday night, including Sousse, Kebeli and Bizert, to protect government buildings that have become a target for protesters.
Protests have become common in Tunisia in January, the anniversary of the 2011 revolt, which was sparked by the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street seller who set himself on fire in a protest over unemployment and police harassment. Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister, Youssef Chahed, accused the opposition of fuelling dissent by calling for more protests.
This year’s protests have drawn in hundreds in each town where they have taken place, though they have been smaller than previous waves of demonstrations since 2011. Food prices in Tunisia have risen by around eight percent each year since 2011, but inflation dropped to less than half that 18 months ago before spiking to a new high last autumn. There has been little increase in incomes for most people.
On Wednesday, the prime minister, Youssef Chahed, accused the opposition of fuelling dissent by calling for more protests.
Chahed, who heads a coalition of secular and Islamist parties, has said that 2018 will be a difficult year for Tunisia but the economy will improve rapidly once the new measures take effect.Chahed, who heads a coalition of secular and Islamist parties, has said that 2018 will be a difficult year for Tunisia but the economy will improve rapidly once the new measures take effect.
International lenders extended a crucial $2.8bn (£2.1bn) loan to Tunisia in 2015, but have demanded cuts to the civil service and a broader austerity programme. International lenders extended a crucial $2.8bn (£2.1bn) loan to Tunisia in 2015, demanding cuts to the civil service and a broader austerity programme.
Overseas analysts will be watching closely. Europe is concerned about stability in Tunisia partly because unemployment there has forced many young Tunisians to go abroad. The number of boats smuggling migrants to Italy has been rising and Tunisia has also produced significant numbers of recruits for Islamic State. Authorities now face a difficult choice between maintaining the price hikes –which would risk further protests and heavy losses at municipal elections later this year – or making concessions which could defuse the crisis but might imperil long-term financial stability.
Among the hundreds arrested on Tuesday were two radical Islamists who had helped storm a police station in Nefza town, the interior ministry spokesman said. In Tunis, a crowd stormed a Carrefour market. “We’re preparing for the weekend and waiting for some kind of positive response from the government. Right now, all they’re talking about is the violence. We just want something from them,” said Guesmi.
On Tuesday, petrol bombs were thrown at a Jewish school on the southern tourist island of Djerba, home to an ancient Jewish community. Dhia Ben Letaife, 43 who recently opened an English-language teaching centre in Tunis, said people have the right to protest, but need to do so without violence.
Tunisia suffered two militant attacks in 2015 which damaged foreign investment and tourism, which accounts for 8% of Tunisia’s economic activity. “We went for democracy seven years ago, we should stick with it … As a business owner, I understand we’re in for a difficult time, probably for the next three years. That’s OK, but we need to get through them without violence,” he said.
A more inclusive political system is the only way to avert continuing cycles of unrest, say analysts.
“The protestors are not trying to topple a regime but it is about deciding what type of democracy emerges in Tunisia,” said McCarthy.
Overseas powers will be watching closely. Europe is concerned about stability in Tunisia, partly because unemployment there has forced many young Tunisians to go abroad. The number of boats smuggling migrants to Italy has been rising and Tunisia has also produced significant numbers of recruits for Islamic State.
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