LET'S hope and pray the new government is able to work with the people for real democratic reforms that honor the sacrifices of this man and the others killed in the revolution by the former government.
Tunisian authorities renamed the main square in the capital Tunis after a vegetable seller whose suicide sparked the protests that toppled the regime.
The newly named Mohammad Bouazizi Square had previously been November 7 Square, marking the date in 1987 when former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali took power.
Bouazizi set himself on fire in December when police confiscated his goods and scales -- a desperate act that launched a wave of protests that led Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia in January and inspired the uprising in Egypt that led President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
The renaming was announced on Thursday by Tunis municipality.
BUCKNACKT'S SORDID TAWDRY BLOG We should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive & well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate, bier or wein in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO-HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!!!!"
Showing posts with label Jasmine Revolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jasmine Revolution. Show all posts
17 February 2011
29 January 2011
In Tunisia, Women Play Equal Role In Revolution 27JAN11
I hope and pray the women of Tunisia's faith in the men of their country is correct and they don't have to worry about loosing their rights but will remain vital, active participants in the new democratic government both men and women fought for. From NPR...
Female voices rang out loud and clear during massive protests that brought down the authoritarian rule of Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.
Women in Tunisia are unique in the Arab world for enjoying near equality with men. And they are anxious to maintain their status.
In Tunis, old ladies, young girls and women in black judges robes marched down the streets demanding that the dictator leave.
Hardly anyone wears the Muslim headscarf in the capital, and women seem to be everywhere, taking part in everything, alongside men.
'Free And More Civilized'
Irgui Najet, 36, argues with a group of men on the sidewalk, defending the country's provisional leaders. She does more than hold her own. The men are so impressed with her knowledge, they tell her she should run for president. No one seems to think being a woman is a hindrance.
Najet, a criminal lawyer, explains the difference between Tunisian women and their sisters in the rest of the Arab world.
"We feel more free and more civilized than other Arab women," she says. "And especially since our revolution, we pity the women in neighboring countries. Look at Libya where they have to wear headscarves and can't even talk with men. This is a catastrophe."
Soon Najet meets up with her lawyer colleagues and everyone is absorbed in heady conversation about Tunisia's revolution. One-third of the country's judges are said to be female.
Tunisian women have the same rights to divorce as men, and polygamy is illegal. Women here have had access to birth control since 1962 and have had access to abortion since 1965 — eight years before Roe v. Wade gave American women the same right.
Many Tunisian women now say they are concerned about the potential return of Islamist parties banned under Ben Ali. But Asma Belkassem, a 31-year-old lawyer, says she's not scared.
"What is sure is that we women have rights in Tunisia," she says. "And no one can take them away now. Not the Islamists or anybody else."
Tunisian women credit a 1956 civil rights code for their many freedoms and equality, as well as an excellent education system that is open to all.
They also thank former President Habib Bourguiba, their founding father who led the independence struggle from France and wanted women to play a full role in Tunisian society. No one gives an ounce of credit to Ben Ali.
'Women Will Remain Vigilant'
Khadija Cherif, a long-time feminist activist, says Ben Ali pretended to support women's rights to please the West. The return of Islamist parties to Tunisian politics could pose a threat, she says, but women will remain vigilant.
"The force of the Tunisian feminist movement is that we've never separated it from the fight for democracy and a secular society," she says. "We will continue our combat, which is to make sure that religion remains completely separate from politics."
Back at the courthouse, lawyer Bilel Larbi has joined his female colleagues. He says the best way to measure relations between the sexes in Tunisia is to look at the demonstrations over the last month.
"Just look at how Tunisian women stood side-by-side with Tunisian men," he says. "They came out to the streets to protest in headscarves. They came out in miniskirts. It doesn't matter. They were there."
Larbi says after rising up to overthrow the dictator together, Tunisian men aren't about to let anyone take away the freedoms of Tunisian women.
Martin Bureau /AFP/Getty Images A woman participates in a demonstration in Tunis on January 22, 2011.
Women in Tunisia are unique in the Arab world for enjoying near equality with men. And they are anxious to maintain their status.
In Tunis, old ladies, young girls and women in black judges robes marched down the streets demanding that the dictator leave.
Hardly anyone wears the Muslim headscarf in the capital, and women seem to be everywhere, taking part in everything, alongside men.
'Free And More Civilized'
Irgui Najet, 36, argues with a group of men on the sidewalk, defending the country's provisional leaders. She does more than hold her own. The men are so impressed with her knowledge, they tell her she should run for president. No one seems to think being a woman is a hindrance.
Najet, a criminal lawyer, explains the difference between Tunisian women and their sisters in the rest of the Arab world.
"We feel more free and more civilized than other Arab women," she says. "And especially since our revolution, we pity the women in neighboring countries. Look at Libya where they have to wear headscarves and can't even talk with men. This is a catastrophe."
Soon Najet meets up with her lawyer colleagues and everyone is absorbed in heady conversation about Tunisia's revolution. One-third of the country's judges are said to be female.
Just look at how Tunisian women stood side-by-side with Tunisian men. They came out to the streets to protest in headscarves. They came out in miniskirts. It doesn't matter. They were there.
Many Tunisian women now say they are concerned about the potential return of Islamist parties banned under Ben Ali. But Asma Belkassem, a 31-year-old lawyer, says she's not scared.
"What is sure is that we women have rights in Tunisia," she says. "And no one can take them away now. Not the Islamists or anybody else."
Tunisian women credit a 1956 civil rights code for their many freedoms and equality, as well as an excellent education system that is open to all.
They also thank former President Habib Bourguiba, their founding father who led the independence struggle from France and wanted women to play a full role in Tunisian society. No one gives an ounce of credit to Ben Ali.
'Women Will Remain Vigilant'
Khadija Cherif, a long-time feminist activist, says Ben Ali pretended to support women's rights to please the West. The return of Islamist parties to Tunisian politics could pose a threat, she says, but women will remain vigilant.
Eleanor Beardsley/NPR Irgui Najet stands in front of the Bar Association. Women in Tunisia are unique in the Arab world for enjoying near equality with men. And they are anxious to maintain their status.
Back at the courthouse, lawyer Bilel Larbi has joined his female colleagues. He says the best way to measure relations between the sexes in Tunisia is to look at the demonstrations over the last month.
"Just look at how Tunisian women stood side-by-side with Tunisian men," he says. "They came out to the streets to protest in headscarves. They came out in miniskirts. It doesn't matter. They were there."
Larbi says after rising up to overthrow the dictator together, Tunisian men aren't about to let anyone take away the freedoms of Tunisian women.
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20 January 2011
Tunisia's Leaders Resign From Ruling Party 20JAN11
IT is thrilling to see the Tunisian people maintaining the pressure on the acting government to guarantee the revolution was for nothing. Democracy first in Tunisia, will freedom spread to Algeria, Egypt, Libya.....and farther? AMERICANS need to pay attention to the events in Tunisia if for no other reason than to remind us that we need to appreciate our freedom and that DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT! From NPR.....
All of Tunisia's government ministers who belonged to the longtime ruling party quit their memberships Thursday in a bid to distance themselves from the country's ousted president and quell unrest in the capital, where the army fired warning shots to break up protests.
Demonstrators converged on the RCD party headquarters in central Tunis, dismantling the sign bearing its name and carrying off pieces of its letters. Outside the gates, the army fired about 10 rounds into the air, scattering some protesters in the noisy but peaceful crowd.
While police repeatedly shot at protesters in the weeks leading up to Ben Ali's ouster, killing several, the army has been playing more of a peacekeeping role since it was brought in to try to restore order last week.
Thursday's crowd of protesters swelled to about 2,000 people, many chanting "The people want the government down!" Others waved baguettes to symbolize the need to end food shortages.
One father, Ahmad al-Ouni, brought his children ages 8 and 4 to the demonstration with a backpack of snacks and juice. "I want them to smell their free country and to see the new Tunis without fear," al-Ouni said while his children used colored pens to draw Tunisian flags on paper.
Critics say the country's new government is too stacked with Cabinet officials who were allied with autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was forced out last week after 23 years in power. One demonstrator said the street protests will continue until all ministers and members of parliament with links to the RCD are removed from power.
"This revolution cannot be stolen from us and we will not tire from demonstrating, and we will come out every day if we have to," said Mohsen Kaabi, 55, a former military officer.
All eight Cabinet ministers who belonged to the party relinquished their affiliations Thursday, the official TAP news agency said. The attempts to pacify public anger come a day after similar moves by Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and interim President Fouad Mebazaa.
The interim government also has released all of the country's political prisoners to ease the tensions.
Even so, it remained unclear whether the latest concessions could assuage the popular anger that deposed Ben Ali and is now directed at the caretaker government.
"We're in a critical period now, but we're going to come through it," protester Bessim Zitouni, 28, told NPR. "Tunisians have great solidarity. And that will see us through. I know we're going to have a great future."
State media reported that at least 33 members of Ben Ali's family have been taken into custody as they tried to flee the country for alleged "crimes against Tunisia."
"Investigations will be carried out in order for them to face justice," according to a statement read on national television.
Prosecutors have also said they are investigating overseas bank accounts, real estate and other assets held by Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Trabelsi, along with other relatives.
Swiss officials froze all assets tied to Ben Ali's family on Wednesday, estimating that Tunisian officials have put about $620 million into Swiss banks. In Paris, the watchdog group Transparency International France and two other associations filed a lawsuit alleging corruption by Ben Ali and Trabelsi, who fled to Saudi Arabia after his ouster.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has set conditions for Ben Ali to remain in exile there.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal said no political activity of any kind will be allowed and affirmed the kingdom's support for the Tunisian people. The Tunisian revolt has wide support in the Arab world, especially with Saudi Arabia's young blogging community — which was highly critical of the government's decision to offer safe haven to Ben Ali.
U.N. human rights chief Navanethem Pillay said Thursday that she planned to send a team to Tunisia to assess the human rights situation. She said at least 100 people have been killed in the unrest.
"Human rights abuses were at the heart of Tunisia's problems," Pillay said. "Therefore human rights must be right at the forefront of the solutions to those problems."
With reporting from Lisa Schlein in Geneva and NPR's Eleanor Beardsley in Tunis and Deborah Amos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Material from The Associated Press was used in this report
Enlarge Martin Bureau/Getty Images A protester holds a placard reading "RCD Out" during a demonstration outside the headquarters of ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally party in central Tunis.
Martin Bureau/Getty Images
A protester holds a placard reading "RCD Out" during a demonstration outside the headquarters of ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally party in central Tunis.
Demonstrators converged on the RCD party headquarters in central Tunis, dismantling the sign bearing its name and carrying off pieces of its letters. Outside the gates, the army fired about 10 rounds into the air, scattering some protesters in the noisy but peaceful crowd.
While police repeatedly shot at protesters in the weeks leading up to Ben Ali's ouster, killing several, the army has been playing more of a peacekeeping role since it was brought in to try to restore order last week.
Thursday's crowd of protesters swelled to about 2,000 people, many chanting "The people want the government down!" Others waved baguettes to symbolize the need to end food shortages.
One father, Ahmad al-Ouni, brought his children ages 8 and 4 to the demonstration with a backpack of snacks and juice. "I want them to smell their free country and to see the new Tunis without fear," al-Ouni said while his children used colored pens to draw Tunisian flags on paper.
Critics say the country's new government is too stacked with Cabinet officials who were allied with autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was forced out last week after 23 years in power. One demonstrator said the street protests will continue until all ministers and members of parliament with links to the RCD are removed from power.
"This revolution cannot be stolen from us and we will not tire from demonstrating, and we will come out every day if we have to," said Mohsen Kaabi, 55, a former military officer.
All eight Cabinet ministers who belonged to the party relinquished their affiliations Thursday, the official TAP news agency said. The attempts to pacify public anger come a day after similar moves by Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and interim President Fouad Mebazaa.
The interim government also has released all of the country's political prisoners to ease the tensions.
What Is The Jasmine Revolution?
Weeks of protests driven by rising food prices, unemployment and complaints about corruption drove Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country for Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14 — after 23 years in power.
The immediate trigger for the violent protests was the self-immolation on Dec. 17 of Mohamed Bouazizi, a university graduate who had been unable to find work. After being harassed by police for selling vegetables from a cart, Bouazizi set himself ablaze.
Since Ben Ali's departure, Tunisia has cycled through new leaders rapidly, with power changing between two new chiefs of state in the first 24 hours. On Jan. 17, interim Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi formed a unity government that included figures from opposition parties. But four opposition ministers stepped down a day later, bowing to protesters angry that the government still included officials from Democratic Constitutional Rally, Ben Ali's party, which has ruled Tunisia since it gained independence in 1956.
Tunisia's so-called Jasmine Revolution has sparked debate about whether Ben Ali's departure will lead to regime change elsewhere in the Arab world. Thus far, there are no serious signs of calls for change in neighboring countries, although there have been self-immolations in Egypt, Mauritania and Algeria, as well as demonstrations elsewhere.
— Alan Greenblatt
The immediate trigger for the violent protests was the self-immolation on Dec. 17 of Mohamed Bouazizi, a university graduate who had been unable to find work. After being harassed by police for selling vegetables from a cart, Bouazizi set himself ablaze.
Since Ben Ali's departure, Tunisia has cycled through new leaders rapidly, with power changing between two new chiefs of state in the first 24 hours. On Jan. 17, interim Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi formed a unity government that included figures from opposition parties. But four opposition ministers stepped down a day later, bowing to protesters angry that the government still included officials from Democratic Constitutional Rally, Ben Ali's party, which has ruled Tunisia since it gained independence in 1956.
Tunisia's so-called Jasmine Revolution has sparked debate about whether Ben Ali's departure will lead to regime change elsewhere in the Arab world. Thus far, there are no serious signs of calls for change in neighboring countries, although there have been self-immolations in Egypt, Mauritania and Algeria, as well as demonstrations elsewhere.
— Alan Greenblatt
"We're in a critical period now, but we're going to come through it," protester Bessim Zitouni, 28, told NPR. "Tunisians have great solidarity. And that will see us through. I know we're going to have a great future."
State media reported that at least 33 members of Ben Ali's family have been taken into custody as they tried to flee the country for alleged "crimes against Tunisia."
"Investigations will be carried out in order for them to face justice," according to a statement read on national television.
Prosecutors have also said they are investigating overseas bank accounts, real estate and other assets held by Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Trabelsi, along with other relatives.
Swiss officials froze all assets tied to Ben Ali's family on Wednesday, estimating that Tunisian officials have put about $620 million into Swiss banks. In Paris, the watchdog group Transparency International France and two other associations filed a lawsuit alleging corruption by Ben Ali and Trabelsi, who fled to Saudi Arabia after his ouster.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has set conditions for Ben Ali to remain in exile there.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal said no political activity of any kind will be allowed and affirmed the kingdom's support for the Tunisian people. The Tunisian revolt has wide support in the Arab world, especially with Saudi Arabia's young blogging community — which was highly critical of the government's decision to offer safe haven to Ben Ali.
U.N. human rights chief Navanethem Pillay said Thursday that she planned to send a team to Tunisia to assess the human rights situation. She said at least 100 people have been killed in the unrest.
"Human rights abuses were at the heart of Tunisia's problems," Pillay said. "Therefore human rights must be right at the forefront of the solutions to those problems."
With reporting from Lisa Schlein in Geneva and NPR's Eleanor Beardsley in Tunis and Deborah Amos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Material from The Associated Press was used in this report
Related NPR Stories
With Former Leader Out, Tunisians Speak Freely Jan. 20, 2011
Tunisia's Acting President Vows To Break From Past Jan. 19, 2011
Foreign Policy: What Went Wrong In Tunisia Jan. 18, 2011
Tunisia's Days-Old Government Shows Cracks Jan. 18, 2011
Tunisia Forms New Government Amid Protests Jan. 17, 2011
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