A Celebration, is it really the time. Tunisian Revolution

And it’s December 17^th. On this same day last year, a young fruit-seller named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after claims of being humiliated by a female police officer who slapped him and confiscated his vegetable’s cart – according to local witnesses’ stories.

Furious with the humiliation he been subject to and the local governor’s closed doors he attempted to set himself a light. A gesture that mobilized the locals for a protest, soon confronted with violent police clashes.

Protesters voices never made it to the local state media but found their way to neighboring cities through social media.

And there the Jasmine Revolution was born, a nickname so many disagree with; too much of a touristic and make-upped name for a bloody and violent uprising.

Ever since, Bouazizi’s name was picked in the media and got illustrated as a hero! Others were content to nickname him only the spark of the revolution.

Today, all over the media a commemoration of the Tunisian revolution is being broadcasted.

Zaynoun Nabulsi, a Palestinian-Russian young man posted:

“I don’t agree on calling Bouazizi a Hero with all due respect! Or his act as heroism! He was not a leader who led a revolution like many great men… He was just a man who unfortunately reached a dead end and chose to give up! So he committed suicide and left behind him a whole family to feed! Honestly I think he chose the easy way to escape! Instead of fighting for his right! And it is a shame that it took a man setting himself on fire to move the people to demand their rights and not their own conscious!”

Hana Trabelsi, a Tunisian blogger posted:

[Ar] لم أذهب إلى “مزار” سيدي بوزيد والثورة لم تكتمل أهدافها حتى نحتفل بها

Translation: I did not go to the “shrine” SidiBouzid and the revolution’s goals are not achieved for us to celebrate it.

On the other side, Zeined Turki, a founding member of Tunisie Tolerance Association and Amnesty International member tweeted:

[Fr] Peu importe ce que l’on pense, le 17 Déc représente le jour où la peur a changé de camps, le jour où l’espoir a commencé à naître #SidiBouzid

Translation: No matter what one thinks, December 17 is the day when fear has changed sides, the days when hope began to rise #SidiBouzid

Mona Eltahawy an Egyptian Columnist and public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues said:

“The revolution continues. Eternal gratitude to #Bouazizi who in setting fire to his body a yr ago set our imaginations on fire. #sidibouzid”

Dima Khatib added:

“One year ago nobody referred to us, Arabs, as revolutionaries. We were still the “terrorists” ! #sidibouzid”

At this level it is important to remind that the Tunisian did not wait for Mohamed Bouaziz’s immolation. The tragic suicide was only the drop that enlarged the cup. Tunisian resistance against corruption and dictatorship has old roots. Perhaps the most recent are the heavily sabotages mining protests in Gafsa city in 2008 and the Ben Guerdane protests near the Libyan borders earlier in 2010.

Walid Kamoun, a Tunisian cancer researcher living abroad mentioned:

[Fr] « j’espere qu’on va aussi se rappeler des martyrs de la revolte du bassin minier de 2008 #sidibouzid”

Translation: I hope we will also remember the martyrs of the revolt of the mining area of 2008 # sidibouzid

I raise the question, is it really time to celebrate today. Tunisia has indeed come a long way since December 17^th 2010 but is it over yet? We’re just getting started.

People have died today; it’s thanks to their blood that we’re enjoying today’s relative freedom. Is it really an opportunity to celebrate and rejoice their death? May be yes and May be not. Opinions vary but haven’t the Arab world got enough sadness or we’re just too used to black and blood that we question our parties?

Wouldn’t it be nice to give a thought to those who died and those who got injured to free this country? We can grieve their lives by living life they died for not burry ourselves in sadness. Isn’t it?

Tunisia: New Country of Freedoms, Deprives Palestinian Bloggers the Freedom of a Visit

December 17^th 2010, an unpredicted social movement broke out from the ashes in the most ignored cities of Tunisia. Almost one month later, on January 14^th 2011, Tunisia’s 23 years dictator term was ousted and what so called Arab Spring got spread all over the MENA region.

Tunisia, a country whose people are rewriting the history and re-enforcing freedoms is hosting the 3^rd Arab bloggers meeting from 3 to 6 October 2011. It’s needless to emphasize on the importance of the pseudo-healthy atmosphere in Tunisia in post revolution; we’re witnessing a baby democracy crawling up – a democracy that was partly brought up with cyber activism through the use of social networks and blogs.

My disappointment in current decision makers in the interim government isn’t new since aspects of the old regime are still faced every day, though my disappointment is coupled now with anger and shortage in breath of the hypocrisy we live; the other day, a huge debate was carried regarding Tunisia’s position concerning the Palestinian case and the form of the relationship between Tunisia and the States and today we deny Palestinian bloggers from entering the country.

The situation is hard to digest especially that this have never been an issue before and on top of that Jews and Israelis easily access Tunisia to visit Djerba for their religious rituals.

I can’t think of any logical reason why Palestinian bloggers would be denied entry to my country – I’m convinced it has nothing to do with missing papers and it shouldn’t also have to do with the hosting organization – nawaat- a long banned NGO in Tunisia, otherwise, none of the 100 Arab bloggers should’ve made it to the conference.

The Palestinian bloggers are so missed in this conference, they had a lot to contribute and a lot to learn and take away from such a unique gathering.

I personally know 2 of the 12 Palestinian bloggers that were supposed to attend the 3^rd Arab Bloggers Meeting and these 2 are extraordinarily active with a strong sense of civic engagement and lots of experience and ideas to share.

I was deeply touched by the words of my friend Saleh Dawabsheh who’s one of the Palestinian bloggers denied entry: “Tunisia, where Freedom was born; where My Freedom was denied”; “It’s a very sad feeling when you dream of visiting the country of freedom and then this country takes away your freedom of visiting it”.

The issue of denying entry to the Palestinian Bloggers to attend the meeting is absolutely insulting and is a non tolerated racist approach, that shouldn’t pass without a meaningful explanation. Here is a petition that few bloggers have developed demanding the Tunisian Authorities to issue an explanation toward this situation. Click here.

Saed Karzoun, the only Palestinian Blogger who made it to the meeting mentioned to me: “I’m very said for what happened. I was the first to apply for the visa and my application was processed directly. A few days later Heinrich Boll Stiftung, one of the organizing organizations has sent in the visa applications of all the participating bloggers and that could be the reason why they were rejected, but Saleh had also applied independently and was denied the visa”.

Few bloggers called for boycotting the meeting for the non-representation of Palestine and I personally think that’s not a good idea. First thing first, we’re lucky enough to have at least one person there representing Palestine and speaking of the issue. Bloggers and cyber activists have started a campaign to urge the Tunisian Authorities to give an explanation.

Second, it would be like Arab Bloggers boycotting their own meeting which doesn’t make much sense since this gathering is a quite important giving the state of the Arab world these days!

Few accusations have risen yesterday for the non-existence of any Bloggers from Yemen, and that also is due to an unjustified racist treatment even though Yemen had witnessed a revolution. But the reason came as no Yemeni bloggers managed to attend the meeting and many haven’t responded to the invitation as declared by Sami Ben Gharbia, one of the founders of Nawaat and organizers of the meeting.

What the heck is going on in Tunisia while Camera lenses watch Egypt?

Since January 25^th, all media channels lifted the coverage on the Tunisian Revolution’s events depriving numerous people in and out of the country from correct trusted information, especially those that has no access to social media tools.

Not to mention that the Tunisian media is still  controled by the goverment and freedom of speech isn’t totally granted yet!

Censorship of facebook pages is still!

Since December 17th, the world’s eyes and almost all media channels, bloggers, activists have been busy watching what’s so called the Tunisian Miracle; hundreds if not thousands of articles and notes have been published on daily basis, and during all this time, my pen didn’t seem my most suitable weapon -for me- to support my country!

Yet, now, I’m using it as a try to make up for the gap left by the cam lenses which are directed towards Egypt at the moment!

Egypt which is geographically a North African country but a Middle Eastern critical player; on which so many hopes, expectations and aspirations are being laid. (!)

Like many Tunisians I endorse the Egyptian people’s choice, we have Egyptian and Palestinian flags raised during our demonstrations. We’re impatiently waiting to hear that Hosni Mubarak had finally left his chair, since such a change will have major impact on the situation in Middle East, namely the Palestinian case.

We’re also waiting for the rest of the Arab leaders to preserve what’s left of their dignity –if any- to get the lesson and smoothly leave their chairs; enough blood and enough harm to innocent civilians.

This post is meant to highlight certain issues and basically compile the recent updates for the watching world.

After the flee of the ex-Tunisian President, Ben Ali

Protests, sit-ins and hunger strikes are still held demanding the disbanding of the ruling party: “Democratic Constitutional Rally” referred to as RCD and changing it with a new, corruption-free elected representative rally!

The Socialist International had suspended the membership of the RCD. In order to placate protesters and designated coalition participants, the incumbent president Fouad El Mbazaa and Prime Minister Mohamed El Ghanouchi had resigned from their memberships in the RCD on January 18^th and all remaining RCD-aligned ministers resigned their party memberships on the 20^th, the effect of which will leave the RCD with only a parliamentary majority!

On January 27^th Prime Minister Ghannouchi carried out a major reshuffle, removing all former RCD members other than himself from the government. The Central Committee of the party has been dissolved.

Other actions that Prime Minster had taken are the establishment of a selected committee to investigate corruption cases mainly related to stealing money, bribery and nepotism of the ruling family. And another committee that works on fixing the Tunisian law that was clearly designed to fit the ex-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

With all that being said, seems Tunisia is on the right track to establish the first democratic Arab country; well, not really, here is what’s happening behind the scene while we are watching Egypt and it’s the persistent pain in the ass: Mubarak.

Why are Tunisians still protesting, sitting-in and hunger striking?

I join many political experts in declaring that Tunisians are suffering a trust crisis and they’re not willing to let their revolution go to waste.

219 martyrs and 510 wounded and counting since the revolution had started, those lives and blood are the responsibility of the RCD and the ex-ruling family; how come they expect Tunisians to give trust and loyalty to long old members of the RCD in this transitional period to Democracy?

The Prime Minster and the temporary new president, both “ex-members of the RCD” for almost 12 years and are still in position making the changes and fixations, naming and choosing the other ministers and committees members!! Hello but didn’t they were involved with the ex-president in the corruption, stealing, torturing and murdering young and old Tunisians??

How can Tunisians be so sure that the temporary government isn’t preparing for a new rule of the RCD under a new name and a new color?

Even though many claims that inside the RCD there were good people and they were not responsible in supporting any corruption or murders; well, deal with it, Tunisians are totally refusing any promised change by any individual related to the RCD and the ex-ruling family!

The new temporary government is supposed to fix what went wrong, ensure safety of the people, guarantee legal persecution of those that committed crimes and bring back the lost rights of the people!

There is no logic in expecting that individuals whom had stole, tortured and killed in the past would bring justice now!

To answer to the question I asked and to try reporting to you what media is being busy from reporting since January 24^th, I would say:

First:

Dozens of young people started a march called Freedom convoy, from Sidi bouzid,  Miknassi, Kasserine and other suburbs of Sidi bouzid and neighbor cities to Tunis (capital), people committed to walk for over 250 Km not caring about the cold nor the rain nor the long distance to support fellow protestors sitting-in next to El-Kasbah (where the government building is located).

It’s important to report that for the week period sit-in was totally peaceful, no clashes were reported until…

Few people (Militia) provoked fights with police members that turned their tear gas bombs towards the peaceful protestors.

Police also used dogs to frighten the people to unfold their sit-in; they also got their hands dirtier by making a blockade on El-Kasbah area, preventing aids (food, medications and covers) from arriving to the protestors.

Militias and police were responsible for unleashing a number of rumors to provoke clashes among the manifesting people themselves encouraging  regionalism for instance like: “The freedom convoy is nothing but people from left behind cities, coming to Tunis for the food, aids and to steal”.

It’s ironic that in answer to that kind of rumors, we’ve seen signs to guide people that lost their money or cell phones to a tent of “lost and found”!

Attempts to unfold the sit-in didn’t stop there but it gone to hiding drugs and alcohol among the food and covers of the protesters, smoking and drinking in nearby mosques and calling for sex.

According to some lawyers that joined the sit-in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HRG_z7JstE&feature=player_embedded#

A Russian journalist was attacked while reporting the El-Kasbah incidents, he clearly said that people with leather black coats were attacked by few younger people (militias) and then started attacking the protestors and there were others shooting with cell phones!

Hint: The black leather coated people are a special squad of the police and they are under orders to use social media against Tunisians!

Click here for video of American journalist that got shot.

All the above sick attempts of the Militias and police come after a declaration from the new temporary government/ Prime Minister clearly underlying the no use of violence! But just a question, where do those people get their orders and instructions from??

Click here for a proof a the peaceful sit-in at El Kasbah.

Second:

According to chapter 41 of the Tunisian law, the President is granted immunity that allows him to take certain decision that can bypass the law, and with such law, we expect a power to unfold rallies, exemption from execution etc, yet seem that such a law had been used to justify anti-humanity crimes: conspire over the internal national security, murdering, displacement, rape and the list is so long.

click here for results of the ex-president’s immunity.

Third:

The committee which supposed to investigate and bring justice again is doing nothing but waiting for people to come and complain, such a committee has no power to execute actions on its own but they’re better called washing machines as for the last week, a number of courts and bureaus had been burnt to destroy documents and erase any evidence that might convict the people at power now.

Among the files that got distroyed, job applications envelopes and diplomas of graduated young people, some of them never were opened!

Can’t bypass this news: the ex-president and his wife were convicted by: money laundering!! And a private TV owner, Arbi Nasrah, owner of Hannibal TV, was charged with his son for treason! A charge that brings a death sentence!

What on the earth could a newly established TV station owner had done compared to Ben Ali? But it’s obvious they just needed a scapegoat!

Arbi Nasra was freed latter on with his son after a community intervention.

Abdallah Kallal, responsible for torture and murders inside the Tunisian prisons remains still in his house, he is also escaping charges from Switzerland convicting him with violation of human rights.

Tunisia’s streets are no longer safe, a number of kidnaps is bieng reported, civilians attacked by police/ militias for no reasons!

Forth:

Jeffery Feltman, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs had been in a visit to Tunisia meeting with the Prime Minister delivering the recommendations of the US!

Well, soon after he left, a new composition of the government that Tunisians were demanding for almost 2 weeks to change got declared!

There after we discover these:

-          Ahmad Najib Chabi, used to be the head of an opposing rally is now the Minister of development was recruited by the US secret intelligence.

-          An American military base got approved by the Prime Minister to be built; its purpose detecting and destroying El-Qaida movements in the Maghreb regions and as a force point to hit Palestine!

-          A nuclear landfill waste in the Tunisian deserts, such thing releases radiations that VERY BADLY affects people living in the south!

-          Tear gas bombs dosages are higher than the norms!

-          Ghriba ghwich, Abd Fatah Omar, Iyad Ben Achour and Taoufik Bou Derbala, members in the new temporary government that has a dirty back ground!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_Rmag1c-f4&feature=player_embedded

Now, after all this busy week and here we enter a new one, we wonder, where is the army that showed his support before, how come they accept a US military base is built on the Tunisian land?

Revolutions don’t take place every day, we need to keep winning this one and build neither the Tunisia we want not what the US recommends nor the EU!

And lastly, for those who are afraid, worried about the couple of Diems they got in the bank and suffering from the lines to get the bread… keep your comments for yourself and stay away from facebook, it’s now a tool for revolting a demonstrating/spread truth and actions not a place for cowards!

I would be thankful if you share this post, it’s crucial to get some media coverage, not everyone in Tunisia has access to facebook or twitter and we need help to continue what we had started.

RCD OUT.

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I would leave you now with this video that made all Tunisians cry and looking forward to catch up with you in the comments below.

So, kacem4change and…

So here is another word press blog, so what?

Am I here to bother you with some no making sense words? May be!

What would I be writing about? What would be the theme of this blog? I have no idea so far…

It’s labeled Kacem4change, could that be a start?

Who is Kacem? And what change is he talking about?

Kacem is a young activist in the field of HIV/AIDS, advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights through his orange network Y-PEER and dance4life.

He is an activist calling for human rights, dreams of a better world where there are no wars, no suffering, no discrimination, no injustice and so many NOs.

Kacem uses social media to make his voice heard, as social media is social and it’s about building networks, here is a simple try to create a change in this world.

That’s in a quick note to tell who is Kacem, What he’ll be talking about?

Stick around and see, leave a comment and be part of the network!