Tunisians rally in Sousse to condemn attack on tourists

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/28/tunisia-attack-rally-sousse-condemn-tourists

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Small clusters of European tourists watched from hotel entrances and applauded as the procession of Tunisians passed down the main boulevard of the Port el Kantaoui resort, just north of Sousse.

Local families, some with small children, hurried to join the “march against terrorism” late on Saturday night as it headed for the Imperial Marhaba hotel, where 38 people were gunned down on the beach on Friday.

At the hotel’s entrance, about 300 people sang the national anthem and shouted slogans denouncing terrorism. On the other side of its closed gates, policemen armed with automatic weapons watched intently. Hotel staff said only about 50 guests remained in the hotel.

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“We are staying on to support Tunisia,” said one British woman, clearly moved as she exchanged waves and greetings with passing motorists honking their support on the main boulevard. This was her third holiday in Sousse, she said, and she had decided to remain despite the massacre on Friday.

“Tunisia needs our support, that’s all you need to say,” she said, declining to give her name.

The rally at the hotel was a breakway from the main anti-terrorism rally held at about 9pm in Sousse city centre. That was a more official affair, with support from the main political parties, including the parliamentary Islamist party Ennahda.

Tourism is crucial to the economy of Sousse and other towns along Tunisia’s Mediterranean coast. It provides jobs for many Tunisians who rent rooms in outlying suburbs and make up the bulk of the often modestly paid hotel and restaurant staff, taxi-drivers and guides. .

There is concern that Friday’s attacks will make an already difficult economic situation worse, and the march was intended to counter the terrible publicity brought to the town by the killings. It was heavily promoted on the local radio station and national private television channels.

Local people joining the march were also clearly deeply upset that foreigners visiting their country had been seen as a soft target. There is also concern, including among the younger generation that spearheaded the 2011 revolt that brought down the country’s long-standing president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali , about the country’s direction, as conflict continues in neighbouring Libya.

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“Now is the time for all of us to come together. It’s not the time for arguments,” said a student originally from the inland town of Kasserine as he headed for the Imperial Marhaba hotel.

Two young European women were hurrying to catch up with the march, having read about it on an official Facebook page detailing Sousse events for visitors. One was from Liverpool and was on the beach at the time of Friday’s attack. “This march is great!” she said, holding a handmade placard that read “I [Heart] Sousse, Peace”.

Sousse is a party city, and as the night wore on excited young people drove through the streets honking their horns in scenes difficult to distinguish from celebrations following a football match.

At a hotel opposite the Oliviers clinic, to which many of those injured on Friday were rushed for treatment, the receptionist shook his head disapprovingly, suggesting that a more sombre mood would show proper respect. “This is not quite the right way to go about it,” he said.

Tunisia’s tourism minister, Selma Elloumi, is to meet ambassadors of the countries that are home to many of the tourists who visit Tunisia, including Britain, France and Germany. Some hard talk is expected about security, and how best to protect holidaymakers on the hundreds of beaches along Tunisia’s long Mediterranean coast.