Discontent over an animated movie stirs violent clashes between Islamists and Freedom Fighters

“I was in front of the courthouse. A man ripped off the sign on which I wrote ”In the Quran, even Satan have the right to speak.” Other men called me a “disbeliever”… Another man came next to me and threatened me: “get away from here or we’ll make you disappear”… Other bearded men with black flags treat freedom expression defenders with ‘disbelievers’ and other slogans that I cannot remember now…”

It’s with these words Lilia Weslaty, human rights activist and journalist, describes her today’s participation to the support gathering for the Tunisian television channel, Nessma TV and to freedom of expression.

On the other side, numerous Salafists chanted slogans such “hey Coward Media; Muslim people don’t get insulted ”and” the people want the fall of the channel.”

They also chanted a slogan inspired from one of Gadhafi’s speeches “street, street, house, house, we’re after you disbelievers”. A slogan interpreted as a shaming being inspired from the speech of a bloody dictator and for categorizing Tunisians into two camps.

Today’s trial is the result of the broadcast of award-winning film ‘Persepolis’ on the 1979 Iranian Revolution, told from the perspective of a little girl. The French animated movie aired in late October provoked angry reactions and is alleged to be blasphemous because it includes a scene showing a representation of God.

Criminal proceedings against the owner of a Tunisian television channel, that screened the film ‘Persepolis’ is an affront to freedom of expression - declared Amnesty International before the trial, scheduled for today, January 23^rd.

Nabil Karoui, owner of Nessma TV, is being judged for violation of “sacred values” and “disturbing public order”. A complaint was filed against the owner and two employees of Nessma TV by 144 people, including lawyers. If convicted, he might be sentenced up to 3 years in prison.

Nabil Karoui’s house was set on fire on October 14^th following a demonstration outside the offices of Nessma TV, in the center of Tunis. A group of Salafists is suspected to be after the incident.

“It is very disturbing to see Nabil Karoui prosecuted only because he released a film showing scenes conceived of God, said Philip Luther, Acting Director of the program in North Africa and Middle East at Amnesty International.

The trial got postponed to April 19^th – couple of lawyers explained today that their position is to defend the Spirit of God harmed by the cartoon representation. They claim respecting the freedom expression by carrying their discontent to court. “Every society has it’s own sacred beliefs to be respected and that’s the limit of freedom of expression”, says one of the lawyers.

Nabil Karoui announced today his discontent with the ban on the media to film the trial unlike the first time. He mentioned this is not a good sign.

This is the first opinion case in new Tunisia. Today they are not judging Nabil Karoui, yet they are judging ten million Tunisians and their dreams of democracy, freedoms and progress.

“I’m optimist but also feeling sorry. We’re being judged here. They burnt my house and tried to kill few of the people they work with me and my family. Those who did this are still free out there. I hope Tunisia won’t turn into a Freedoms’ Guantanamo”.

A Salafist guy is caught on tape today calling not to use violence against those who support Nessma TV’s case.

Nevertheless, a number of well-known journalists and public figures have been subject to verbal and physical violence today. Zied Krichen and Hamadi Redissi a law professor at Tunis University were subject to moral and physical attacks by Slafists gathering in front of the courthouse.

“I had to go out for a coffee before returning to the courtroom. And that’s where some individuals, targeted me personally and assaulted me. The academic Hamadi, who tried to protect me was also verbally abused and received the same punches and kicks”, says Zied Krichen.

Hamadi J’bali, Prime Minister of the newly elected government denounced the attacks in a word aired later in the day.

Abd Halim Masoodi, journalist and TV presenter at Nessma TV got equally assaulted today. Reasons might be linked to one of his late debates where he interrupted his guest Kamel Chihawi, a university professor claiming the broadcast of French-Iranian animated movie being part of a bigger agenda. A plan aiming at influencing the people and scare them from the Islamists.

Or how else you explain the broadcast of such a movie only 2 weeks prior the elections, he said.

Questioned later, the TV presenter mentioned being present today to support the TV channel not as a journalist but a regular citizen who supports freedom of expression.

A group of people gathered around me in a scary way acting as they hold the sole truth and the sole answer. They treated me of Atheist and non-believer and they hit me. He adds.

Tunisian journalists have been the target of multiple attacks in recent months, led by members of the security forces and others, according to reports.

“Tunisia is progressing in some areas of human rights, but it clearly has much work to be done to respect freedom of expression,” said Philip Luther.

Today’s trial is echoing hard in different corners of the Tunisian web and also traditional media.

The recent Amnesty International report entitled “A year of rebellion. The human rights situation in the Middle East and North Africa” shows that the provisional government of Tunisia has not yet developed the comprehensive reform of human rights demanded by the demonstrators since a year ago.

One year after the ouster of former President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali over a series of street demonstrations ignited by the self-immolation of a young man from the semi-rural city of Sidi Bouzid on December 17^th, the authorities have taken some initial positive steps, including the adoption of important treaties on human rights and giving, in general, more freedom to the media and organizations defending human rights.

In most cases, however, the country’s security forces are still not brought to account for their actions and victims of human rights violations continue to wait for justice – conducted Amnesty International in a recent press communique.

What have the Arab League Observers actually seen in Homs…

Translated from French – France 24

 

Screenshot showing an Arab League observer filming the bullet marks on the shops windows in Baba Amr.

The Arab League Observers began on Tuesday, December 27^th their mission in Syria starting with the city of Homs, the epicenter of the anti-Assad popular protest that began mid-March. Since then, the reassuring statements from the League’s Committee seem to contradict what the city habitants’ experience. Activists filmed the movements of the observers. Their videos allow showing what the pan-Arab organization’s delegation saw.

The Arab League’s envoys had declared on their arrival Monday’s evening, December 26^th that the Syrian regime was “very cooperative.” After a first day in Homs, the head of the commission even said that there was “nothing to worry about in Homs“

However, upon arrival at Homs on Tuesday, observers were detained by the inhabitants despite the presence of Syrian officials on their side. On one video, some people urged a Syrian official not to hide the truth; members of the Arab League refused to answer questions. Then we hear shots.

After the shooting, the head of the observers visited a street in the district of Baba Amr which had been shelled the day before, Dec 26^th, by the army, causing several casualties.

None of the observer went that day to Khaldiyeh. Yet more than 20 000 demonstrators gathered in the area. Observers have not seen then the intervention of the security forces, which killed eight people.

Demonstration on Tuesday in Khaldiyeh. The message written on the paper: “Protection for the remaining inhabitants of Homs.”

Wednesday 28^th, observers went again to Baba Amr.

This time, they were not supervised by Syrian officials. The residents were able to tell them in detail the repression they suffered, as these two women whose sons got imprisoned.

The observers toured the streets later on where shops’ fronts have been completely ravaged by the machine guns.

 

They saw the remains of one victim, Ahmed Arra’i, a 5 year old child shot in the back. These are people who stopped their car. They accused them of fleeing the day before not to see the bodies of their martyrs. The observers explain not being able to stay because they had to write reports. Inflexible, people ordered them to accompany them almost to see the remains of the child.

The observers accompany then the people inside the mosque where the remains of the child. They recite few verses and film the body.

Besides the remains of the victims, the delegation of the Arab League also had the opportunity to see the presence of tanks in Homs, which contradicts the commitments made by the Syrian regime.

When they are not escorted by Syrian officials, the observers share more readily with the people. Their words seem so at odds with the official statements of the head of the commission. In this video, an observer is talking to a resident that speaking of ”chabbihas” (the regime’s militias). He said, “You do not even imagine that we could come. Trust us. We know that there are dead, we filmed everything. We only ask you to be cooperative.”

All these images filmed by the people of Homs show that observers of the Arab League are aware of the extent of repression perpetrated by the regime. While the Syrian authorities argue likely, as usual, they are fighting armed terrorists, not protesters. Remains to be seen what will be the content of the report of the Committee. A critical report.

 

 

 

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?

The Arab Spring’s First Elected President – Almost

By Kacem Jlidi

Moncef Marzouki

January 14^th, Ben Ali fled the country bringing an end to 55 years of dictatorship since the French occupation. Today, December 12^th, Tunisia is having a new president: Moncef Marzouki , a Human Rights activist and leader of the secular center-left Congress for the Republic (CPR) party; making him the third President in the history of the Tunisian Republic, and the first president democratically elected in the post-revolution era.

The Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, a body elected on October 23^rd to govern the country and draft a new constitution, elected Marzouki as the President of the Tunisian Republic, with 155 votes for, 3 against, and 42 blank votes. Blank votes were the result of a boycott from the opposition parties, who considered the new mini constitution of the country as an undemocratic one.

His appointment follows a week of animated debate within the Constituent Assembly focused on the formation of Tunisia’s provisional constitution.

The Constituent Assembly had opened the floor last week for presidential candidacy according to the conditions of interim law related to the powers’ division which indicates that the Tunisian President must fulfill the following conditions: “To be a Tunisian Muslim, non-carrier of a foreign nationality, born to a Tunisian Father and Mother and to be an adult of 35 years old at least”.

The adopted constitution, containing 26 articles, is being called the “mini-constitution,” and it delineates the roles and entitlements of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the interim government. The document will expire following the administration of general elections, potentially within the year.

It should be highlighted here that the Congress for the Republic, has came second in the October 23^rd votes, collecting 29 seats out of 217 seats at the Constituent Assembly had made a coalition with the first comer Ennahda Islamist Party and the 3^rd comer Ettakatol led by Mustfa Ben Jaafer, currently the head of the Constituent Assembly.

What makes the presidential appointment not such a happy news for the Tunisians, even though many claims that he has a clean past is that the coalition in the constituent assembly’s majorities: Ennahda with 89 seats, CPR with 29 seats and Ettakatol with 20 seats had agreed already to appoint Moncef Marzouki as a president.

The voting requires a 50%+1 results while the coalition enjoys a fair majority not be annoyed with that rule.

With the Constituent Assembly led by Ettakatol’s leader Musfa Ben Jaafer and the country presidential gone for the CPR’s leader Moncef Marzouki; it’s now presumed that he will appoint Hamadi Jebali from the Ennahda Islamist movement tomorrow. The late will be in charge of announcing the composition of the cabinet.

Myriam, a Tunisian student studying Political Sciences in Paris summed up the discontent of MArzouki’s appointment in the following tweet which translates to: “interim government is limited by no frame of time, the executive board is not elected and the constitution isn’t proposed for a referendum. Welcome to democracy”.

Tweet by @MyriamAT

Moncef Marzouki:

He was born 7 July 1945, 66 years old. He studied medicine at the University of Strasbourg (France). Returning to Tunisia in 1979, he founded the Center for Community Medicine in Sousse and the African Network for Prevention of Child Abuse, also joining Tunisian League for Human Rights.

When the government cracked down violently on the Islamist Ennahda Movement in 1991, Marzouki confronted Tunisian President Ben Ali calling on him to adhere to the law.

In 1993, Marzouki was a founding member of the National Committee for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience, but he resigned after it was taken over by supporters of the government. He was arrested on several occasions on charges relating to the propagation of false news and working with banned Islamist groups.

He subsequently founded the National Committee for Liberties. He became President of the Arab Commission for Human Rights and as of 17 January 2011continues as a member of its Executive Board.

In 2001, he founded the Congress for the Republic party. This was banned in 2002, but Marzouki moved to France and continued running it. (Wikipedia).

Occupy Bardo

On October 23, Tunisians voted. A majority of the Constitutional Assembly seats were secured by the Moderate Islamist Party, Ennahda. Some argue that despite the glorious number of 90% of voters’ turnout – still they represent only 51.7% of the total number of potential voters, using this to criticise the legitimacy of Ennahda’s representation of the average Tunisian. Others – including Sofiane Chourabi, founder of the Political Consciousness Association in Tunisia, for example -  go so far as to say that the revolution was spearheaded by jobless and ‘leftist’ people calling for an end to unemployment and social injustices, before the Islamists jumped on the bandwagon.

It all started on November 22, as the freshly elected deputies met for their first parliamentary assembly, when families of the martyrs of the revolution gathered with some citizens outside the parliament carrying signs to remind people about the objectives of the revolution. By November 30, what was perfectly evident on the Tunisian street was the emergence of a remarkable ideological split in ranks that had remained united throughout all the trauma of the overthrow of the Ben Ali regime. It started with a call for a general mobilization launched by the Doustourna network, a political organization led by Jawhar Ben Mbarek, a professor of constitutional law.

The call, so far signed by twenty civil organizations, comes from many representatives of the unemployed in the mining regions of Tunisia (Gafsa and elsewhere); activists of the General Union of Tunisian Students(UGET); political parties and independent citizens. It states:

“Given the nature of the public powers’ provisional rule and the National Constitutional Assembly’s ground rules which threaten the country’s democratic processes and open the way to the installation of a new dictatorship… we call upon all political powers, civil societies and all citizens to join our movement of protest…”

The protest, which has taken the form of a six-day sit-in and counting, aims at putting pressure on members of the national constituent assembly to accomplish the goals of the revolution, through the achievement of eleven measures.

1. The immediate waiver of the proposed laws concerning the organization of the temporary public powers in the Constituent Assembly, which represents a basis for a new dictatorship  concentrated around a single party which will dominate proceedings without collaboration  with others and control all the state’s assets and its powers: legislative, executive, judicial, administrative and media.

2. Immediate change to the proposed laws for the internal workings of the National Constituent Assembly, imposing a 2/3 majority on all its decisions and the obligation to submit the text of the draft constitution to a national referendum for the establishment of a real democracy through the participation of the voters.

3. Adoption of a majority (50% +1) to give a vote of confidence to the government and the same majority (50% +1) for withdrawing confidence.

4. Live broadcasting of the National Constituent Assembly and its committees, publishing texts /minutes from the meetings to all citizens.

5. Immediate and fair trial of the killers of the Tunisian martyrs and the rehabilitation of everyone injured during the revolutionary process (financially and morally).

6. Establish mechanisms to ensure regional development and the equitable distribution of wealth.

7. An immediate response to all requests for legitimate employment in all the regions of the country and a review of the results of the recruitment examination for the Gafsa phosphate company (CPG).

8. Purge the judiciary system of the symbols of corruption as an essential condition for the independence of the judiciary.

9. Immediate measures to deal comprehensively with administrative, financial and political corruption, which is still endemic at all levels of the state apparatus.

10. Suspension of foreign debt payments.

11. Commitment of the National Constituent Assembly to include in the next constitution a ban on any normalization of relations with the Zionist government of Israel.

Even though the claims have nothing to do with religion or any kind of personal beliefs; the sit-in taking place next to the Constituent Assembly in the Bardo area is annoying to the Ennahda supporters. Almost every night these protesters have been subject to aggressive acts of one kind or another. Counter-protesters threw rocks and attempted to destroy protesters’ tents, reported Monji Bhouri, a blogger from Tunis.

’Bardo 1’ demonstrators face off with Islamist counter-demo

On December 3, the street where the sit-in is taking place became packed full of people demonstrating in what might yet become a historic reckoning. On one side of the street, there are the Ennahda and Ettahrir (a Salafist party) supporters and also many teenagers from the local neighbourhood, all raising slogans in favour of their parties and such Islamic customs as the adoption of the Niqab. These slogans are a rewrite of soccer chants. Monji Bhouri said, “Those participants who call themselves pro-Islam haven’t shown much behaviour worthy of the name – they do nothing but  taunt, insult and even physically attack the real democracy activists”.

On the other side of the road, slightly fewer pro-democracy activists chose not to engage in a fight with their provokers. Instead they turned their backs, facing the constituent assembly’s building and refused to move despite the injuries caused by the stone-throwing. The Tunisian media have congratulated the Tunisian security forces for maintaining a neutral role and ensuring the protection of these protesters later on in the proceedings.

A woman bleeding from a Salafist attack

“We’re here to express our opinion. If the other side has something to say, they too are free to do so, but the fear is that they are here to stop us from expressing our opinion” says Jawhar Ben Mbarek. “We’re protesting peacefully to demand transparency and prevent the birth of a new dictatorship. The violent attacks are the same methods used by the Ben Ali regime. We resisted them before and we shall continue to resist them,” added Ben Mbarek.

Ennahda leaders issued a statement asking their supporters not to join the sit-in.

This violent uprising of Ennahda supporters might be influenced by the late ban of a college girl wearing a Niqab from sitting for her exam. The university dean was made the victim of verbal insults and physical attack. Ennahda expressed its support for the right of the Educational Institution’ to make its own decisions, but called for universities to steer clear of ideological and political debates.

I join many fellow-Tunisians in a sense of frustration at the quality of the international media coverage of this Bardo sit-in. These reports tend to reduce the protest to a confrontation between Islamists and Secularists, ignoring the true demands of those who have taken the decision to sit-in.

By Kacem Jlidi. Appeared on Open Democracy and EMAJ Magazine

Free Razan #FreeRazan !

Free Razan. Credit Salim Al-Lawzi

The human rights activist Razan Ghazzawi got detained today December 4^th by Syrian security at the Syria- Jordan borders as she was on her way to participate in a workshop in Amman for defenders of freedom of the press in the Arab world.

Jillian C. York  Director of International Freedom of Expression at Electronic Frontier Foundation mentioned that she spoke to her last week, here is what she posted in this regard

“When I spoke to her this past Wednesday, she told me that she feared arrest and gave me some instructions, including making noise (but to ensure that her name was not used by assholes like cyberdissidents.org, etc). So…make some noise for Razan, who happens to be a US-born citizen.”

Bloggers and activists are joining hands again to free one of our own, join the campaign.

Here are few steps Lissnup, a nickname of an Advocate and News Curator on Human and Civil Rights  have setup already:

1. Write an email or send a fax to your local politician, Foreign Minister, members of parliament of congress. Use the internet to find their contact details or see this list of emails. Razan is an American Citizen – See herefor a list of US Embassies to contact demanding they take urgent action.

2. Use your profile photo to draw attention to Razan’s arrest and the plight of all prisoners in Syria via Twibbonor you can use this image, or make your own.

3. Use the tag #FreeRazan to share links, videos, news from #Syria – keep attention levels UP, don’t let this important news be overpowered by other stories and fade from view

4. Post news and links to FaceBook, blog, forums, and in comments on videos and news posts about Syria. If you write, please write about this issue.

5. Schedule tweets for when you can’t be online – use Dlvr IT for feeds or Buffer for individual tweets

6. Join the new Free Razan FaceBook page and share the page with all your friends

7. If you have more ideas, please share them here!

صفقة “حماس” وإجهاض الانتفاضة

بقلم: سليم اللوزي

عنونت الصحف العربية والعالمية صبيحة اول من أمس، أنه تم الاتفاق بين حركة المقاومة الاسلامية “حماس” وحكومة العدو الاسرائيلي على صفقة تبادل الأسرى، 1027 اسيراً واسيرة فلسطينيين مقابل الجندي الاسرائيلي المأسور جلعاد شاليط.

هاج العشب العربي وماج على أثر المرور فوق هذا المطب العاطفي، وبدأت عمليات التهنئة والمباركة والزغردات. حسناً، الخبر للوهلة الأولى مفرح ويعدّ نوعاً من انواع الانتصارات، ولكن، وعلى الاقل في نظري ورأيي المتواضع، إن صفقات تبادل الأسرى في القضية الفلسطينية نظرية خاسرة.

لماذا خاسرة ؟

فلنناقش موضوع تبادل الأسرى ولنقارن مناطقياً وليس سياسياً. عام 2006 أنجز “حزب الله” صفقة تبادل أسرى بينه وبين العدو الاسرائيلي وخرج على خلفيتها الآلاف من اللبنانيين والفلسطينيين من السجون الاسر

ائيلية مقابل رفات الجنديين الاسرائيليين اللذين أسرا على الاراضي اللبنانية في عملية الرضوان التي خطط ونفّذها الحزب، وهذه الصفقة كانت ناجحة لأسباب مناطقية سنذكرها تباعاً.

في القضية الفلسطينية، الاحتلال الاسرائيلي موجود على الاراضي الفلسطينية على عكس صفقة “حزب الله” وغياب الاحتلال الاسرائيلي عن الاراضي اللبنانية منذ العام 2000، وهنا تكمن القضية، اسرائيل افرجت عن 1027 اسيراً واسيرة، من المتوقع انها ستعاود اعتقال اعداد مماثلة او اكثر ربما، في ما بعد على الحواجز أو إثر عمليات اقتحام المنازل. في حين ان الاسرى اللبنانيين الذين خرجوا في العام 2006 عادوا إلى بيوتهم ولن تستطيع اسرائيل الوصول اليهم والى غيرهم لعدم وجودها على الارض التي خرجت منها مكسورة مهزومة.

يعني باختصار ان تحصل اسرائيل على جندي اسرائيلي فهذه ورقة رابحة في يد حكومة “نتنياهو” ونقطة سلبية في حق حكومة “اولمارت” وجرعة مخدر للشارع الاسرائيلي. وعلى الضفة الأخرى فهي نقطة ايجابية ناصعة البياض تضاف إلى ملف “العفّة” لحركة “حماس” التي تحاول اكتساب ثقة  الغزاويين واستعطافهم من خلال هذه الصفقة وابعاد شبح “فتح” من على الاراضي الفلسطينية واقله عن الطاولة السياسية.

لو كانت “حماس” تهتم اكثر للقضية الفلسطينية ولا تبغي المساومة على الكثير من المسلّمات في الايام المقبلة، لساومت على حياة شاليط وكسبت المعركة واعلنتها شرارة لانطلاق الانتفاضة الجديدة. فالاحداث الاخيرة في فلسطين مؤاتية، لا سيما من الناحية الفلسطينية والثورة التي اطلقها السجناء منذ اسابيع في معركة الامعاء الخاوية. ففي هذه الخطوى كان الأسرى يسعون الى اطلاق الشرارة الاولى للانتفاضة إلا أن “حماس” اجهضتها اليوم. فلو انها اججت الشارع الاسرائيلي بعدم اتمام الصفقة والمراوغة السياسية لكانت حركة الشارعين الفلسطيني والاسرائيلي، الاسرائيلي عبر استنكار المستوطنين واهالي شاليط لهذا التصرف وتحميل الحكومة الاسرائيلية فشل المفاوضات وعدم الوصول الى حلول، وكانت ستنطلق المواجهات في الشارع بين الحكومة ومستوطنيها لا سيما وأن الكثير من التظاهرات المطلبية قد انطلقت في الآونة الأخيرة في تل ابيب، ولكانت هذه الخطوة هي الخطوى الثانية الداعمة لمعركة الامعاء الخاوية، عندها اسرائيل كانت ستواجه نارين، نار مستوطنيها ونار الشعب المنتفض في فلسطين، عندها كانت “حماس” ستحصد ثمرة هذه الخطوة بشكل ايجابي اكثر، وتساوم على مسلّمات اكبر من مجرد تبادل أسرى، مع انهم يستحقون كل التعب والجهد لإطلاقهم اليوم قبل الغد، من سجون الغطرسة الاسرائيلية، ومن خلال أسر جنود ومستوطنين وصهاينة ليس فقط في اراضينا المقدسة المحتلة، بل فلتكن معركة مفتوحة مع الغاصبين في كل اصقاع الدنيا، يكون شعارها العمل الجماعي والكفاح الاممي من اجل تحرير الارض المقدسة، والحرية للاسرى وللشعب الفلسطيني المقهور الذي أضحى كله، ومنذ زمن، اسير الغطرسة الاسرائيلية، ولا سيما في السجن الكبير في غزة، من الداخل والخارج على حد سواء.

Open letter to the Tunisian Interim Government : When will the Tunisian Ambassador in Damascus be pulled back?

Open letter to the Tunisian Interim Government 

When will the Tunisian Ambassador in Damascus be pulled back?

By Sufian Al-chorabi

Translated by: Kacem Jlidi

Member of the supreme committee to achievement objectives of the revolution, political reforms and democratic transition

For the Sixth month on a row, the political Syrian regime continues to direct its army weapons to the peaceful Syrians chests, dozens of innocent people are killed and injured everyday by bullets and bombs which the Syrian people spent a lot of money to have an acquisition of it, thinking it will be directed to restore their stolen land.
The Syrian Arab Army, which remained stationed in its military bases since 1967 while the occupying Israel continued the integration of the Golan Heights within the scope of its geographical area, decided to get off with all its military equipments to kill people of its own country, fiercely defending a political power which have lost its legitimacy when voices of free Syrians were shut-up through killings, displacements and detentions.
The regime of President Bashar Al-Assad which has long claimed to protect the front of Arab resistance against colonialism and imperialism did not care about the voices of his people demanding to live in freedom and dignity and the eradication of corruption. The first demonstrations that broke-in with slogans claiming “system reform” to claiming “bring down the regime” turned to be faced with harsh and loud response against the defenseless people.
Voices calling for the removal of Bashar al-Assad of the government has become the most overwhelming and wide spread at the moment, a President commented by many high hopes after the death of his father for major political and economic reforms to move Syria from the tyranny era to the democracy era, but its proven now, during the days of the Syrian revolution, that the qualities of the regime of Bashar al-Assad of not less bloody and brutal than that of his father.
And Tunisia, the cradle of Arab revolts and inspirer of rising people against oppression and arrogance, for freedom, pride and dignity cannot fail to consider the crimes committed against the free Syrians. The position of neutrality is unacceptable in a country supposed to have hosted the first victorious revolutions.
If the civil society and political movements in Tunisia has taken courageous positions in solidarity with the struggles of the Syrian people in their battle for democracy, the silence practiced by the Tunisian foreign ministry about the massacres committed against the Syrians, could only be a matter of surprise and disapproval.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia emanating from the victorious revolution can only take positions of advocacy for people craving freedom and dignity, and thus there is no choice for the interim government but to pull back the Tunisian Ambassador in Damascus, and fire the Syrian Ambassador in Tunisia in an expression of protest of Tunisia the revolution against the practices of the Syrian Baath Party against its own people.

Tunisian Revolution: Pressing Play Button Again

“If you’re back, we’re back”, that’s how protesters at the Kasbah 2 suspended their sit-in, referring to the interim government, those against the revolution and pro-Ben Ali’s people.

And now they’re back! Kasbah 3 kicks start on July 15^th. The date has been long called for on social networking sites. Observers may’ve noticed the following hash tags: #Jul8 and #Jul15 and seems like Egypt took the first step this time on July 8^th in having protesters gather in Tahrir square once again.

First day of the long waited (for some) Tunisian sit-in didn’t go as peaceful as it was advocated for; many people judged it: a failure.

The Kasbah square witnessed a massive presence of police and public security forces since the morning. According to protesters, people started to gather around 1:30 pm (around Friday prayer’s time), the couple of hundreds of people there were manifesting peacefully, the shouted slogans were peaceful as well, and there was no need for the violent intervention of the police.

A lot of people used the Kasbah mosque nearby as a shelter to hide from the police, yet the corrupted police continued throwing the tear gas bombs inside causing a state of panic and chock, several older people to pass out. Everyone was so angry at the attack on the holiness of the mosque.

Police violence hasn’t stopped from 1 pm till around 6pm on July 15^th, tear gas bombs still being fired. One of the political party’s leaders Abd Wahab Heni who supported the amendments of Kasbah 3 was spotted and attacked. He declared later his willingness to fill a lawsuit the Minister of Interior after getting a medical checkup.

Several journalists were attacked as well when attempting to cover the sit-in. sarcastically; the general directors of the public security declared that journalists should’ve stayed behind the police lines and cover the events from there since it’s difficult to make the difference in moments of attack.

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists declared that it filed a law suit against the minister of interior and that is taking a number of measures to denounce the attacks on the freedom of press.

Mehrez Harzalli, one of the policemen, joined the protesters’ crowed, dressed in his uniform and lifting a sign saying “Long live the people” got suspended of work and is now waiting for the disciplinary board’s judgment for attacking the image of the Ministry of Interior with his actions as they say!

It should be noted that protesters arrived on July 15^th with almost 3000 roses that they distributed on the present police officers.

The Minister of Interior issued a statement declaring that the police presence aimed at protecting the shops nearby in the Medina (saving the country’s economy) and added that they regret that he was harmed and said it was difficult to distinguish between political leaders and the protesters.

Cherif Masmoudi, a blogger, wrote on a facebook note describing what he witnessed near Kasbah square; a taxi driver giving one of the young people a bag full with rocks! This suggests that old wicked games of the minister of interior haven’t changed at all.

One of the conclusions that I think is the most approved is that the attack on the mosque is made to provoke the people in an attempt to create general disorder that would lead to postponing the Constitutional Assembly elections on October 23^rd.

The next day, police still banning protesters from reaching Kasbah square, local protests in several Tunisian cities took place today; some of them were quite violent causing injuries in both lines. Updates I’ve got on my twitter’s time line indicated burning of some police offices and attacks on policemen.

Helicopter in the sky, curfew is imposed on some districts and live ammunition reported to be used bringing brutal scenes back from before January 14^th.

Demands of the protesters are:

1. Restructuring of the High Commission for the Protection of the Revolution
2. The need to involve young people
3. Dismissal of Minister of Justice and Interior
4. Independence of the judiciary
5. Accounting killers martyrs and symbols of corruption
6. Activation of the general legislative amnesty
7. Stick to the date of election: October 23rd

Noam Chomsky: “The US and it’s Allies Will do Anything That They Can To Prevent Democracy In The Arab World”.

On April 28th, FAIR: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, the media watch group in New York celebrated their 25 years of media bias and censorship reporting.

This might be a so late reported event (2 months later) but I wanted to share the Noam Chmosky’s intervention who analyzes couple of reasons of why the US and it’s allies wouldn’t let democracy happen in the Arab world (A side of the story that can justify the wicked games of the Arab governments and their resistance to answer people demands).

Noam Chomsky is a prolific writer, speaker and path-breaking media critic. Best known for books like Manufacturing Consent, Chomsky is considered to be among the most important public intellectuals in American life.