The Arab world is in shock as the dictator of Tunisia has fallen in the blink of an eye. There was no sign of impending doom for President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who was in power for 23 years. Yet, an attempted suicide by one 26-year-old sparked riots that led to his downfall, showing every Arab dictator how fragile their rule really is.
The first popular uprising to overthrow an Arab leader began on December 18, one day after 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi tried to end his life. He was unemployed despite having a college degree, forced to take care of his family by selling fruits and vegetables from a cart without a license. Government officers seized his cart and slapped him, compelling him to go to the governor’s office, pour gasoline on himself and set a fire.
Anti-government riots followed and a scared President Ben Ali visited Bouazizi in the hospital. He died on January 4, likely unaware that he had become Tunisia’s equivalent of Neda Soltan in Iran. Attendees to his funeral chanted, “Farewell, Mohamed, we will avenge you. We weep for you today, we will make those who caused your death weep.” The riots spread into Tunis and Ben Ali set a curfew and outlawed gatherings of more than three people.
The Chief of Staff of the military refused to order his troops to fire upon the protesters and was fired. The military forces tried to put down the rebellion, resulting in at least 60 deaths, but then the military turned against Ben Ali as the capital became a battleground. At the same time, Bouazizi tried to appease his citizens by saying he’d step down in 2014, allow freedom of the press, firing his government and even agreeing to hold elections in six months. Nothing worked. The Tunisian people would settle for nothing less than his departure.
Ben Ali fled Tunisia for Saudi Arabia after France refused to grant him entry. Former Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced that he was acting president and would hold legislative elections within six months, but the protests continued as the Tunisian people demanded that Ben Ali’s inner circle be removed from power. The Constitutional Council ruled that Ghannouchi was forbidden from serving, and the speaker of the parliament, Fouad Mebazza, was sworn in as the interim president.
President Mebazza and Prime Minister Ghannouchi have agreed to form a coalition government with the opposition parties and hold an election within 60 days, which some opposition leaders feel is too early. This proclamation has not stopped the crisis, as a prison riot has killed 42 and drive-by shootings are being carried out by members of the security forces. Family members of Ben Ali and his top security officer have been arrested. Portraits of him are also being ripped down.
Opponents of an aggressive U.S. foreign policy will point out that Ben Ali was overthrown without Western involvement and a neutral stance helps such protesters. In reality, one day before Ben Ali was overthrown, Secretary of State Clinton was in Qatar and expressed her support for the democratic forces in the region. She even pointed out a Tunisian democratic activist in the audience and said, “People have grown tired of corrupt institutions and a stagnant political order.” She continued, “In too many places, in too many ways, the region’s foundations are sinking into the sand.” There is no indication that her remarks played a role in Ben Ali’s downfall, but it certainly didn’t hurt.
Thanks for the concise informative description of what's happening in Tunisia.
It is worth noting here that there are other factors that triggered this revolution. One of them is attributed to the information technology age. Facebook subscribers in Tunisia make around 14% of the estimated 10 million users worldwide. Another equally factor is the flow of news from outside Tunisia. In fact , Al JAzeera and Al Arabiya TV channels closely followed the events in Tunisia. Al Jazeera being banned in Tunisia made the most of the events , which looked like taking revenge from the dictator.
The West did not take what was happening in Tunisia seriously as it was not the first time that Tunisia manages to deal with riots . Most Tunisians benefited a lot from a fifty year period , where Islamist were not welcome in their homeland. I believe , as a Tunisian , that people get it right now :" Any Faith – based religion is meant to manipulate religion and use faith to their own wordly ends".
Typo …" Any faith-based political party…….."
Thank you for the content
Robert Spencer is right, this revolution doesn't bode well for the West. Tunisia was – until now – a close ally in the war against extremism, a secular beacon where the Ramadan fast was routinely broken, where women couldn't cover their heads in public buildings, and where Muslim tourists and visitors from Europe were profiled, getting much more scrutiny than native Europeans.
Yes, it was a corrupt autocracy, but no more so than any other Arab country. Economic problems notwithstanding, Tunisia attracted European businesses and tourists and in spite of having almost no domestic oil sources, it was not considered in any way impoverished like most of the non-oil producing countries of the region.
Now, the most secular regime in the Muslim world is gone. What will replace it? Why do I suspect that – like Turkey – Tunisia's secular experiment is/was anomalous to its essence…and depended upon the suppression of the popular will. Turkey's was overturned via the ballot box. Tunisia's has now been overturned via the street.
My best guess is that the Tunisians will embrace their historical/theological traditions…and – after an initial period of flux – the country's institutions will be re-Islamized. The reverberations will be felt around the region, particularly in Rabat, Algiers and Cairo.
Freedom fighters must start at home – not in schools and cafes of other countries. Finally the brave Jihadists have got it right. Bet those regimes are griping on golden toilets thinking how can they distract to the Zionist entity.
And we will finally get it right when we deport Jew-hating trash like yourself from our shores.
It is too early to say how the events in Tunisia will unfold, but the bloody revolts will continue, as will the body count, unfortunately! It looks that some sort of police or polices are defending the ancient regime, and are the main reason for the number of casulties( Warning: there is a video circulating over the Youtube-Massacre in the Casserine hospital,I think the title is-somebody with a camera is in the thick of things, and do not watch it if you want to sleep calmly !). It is good that the army has so far refrained from firing on the masses, and has even in some cases helped the protesters. IT was final time that the proverbial president pour eternite has fled the country, and let us hope that peace and better times are ahead.
Another perspective from Robert Fisk ,of The Independent.Take it or leave it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators…
"The fall of Ben Ali will cause all of the Arab leaders to shiver."
Ironically,it may even cause shivers among the Zionists.A strong Arab world that can challenge Israel ,both morally and otherwise,may only be achieved with stable democratic governments that embrace modern economies and more broadly modernity.While a hopeful sigh and development,I won't hold my breath.muchiboy
Yet more genocidal fantasies against Jews are on public display courtesy of our resident little Eichmann, Naziboy. The sliver lining in the blackest of clouds always involves dreams of the next Holocaust for the brickheaded antisemite. Of course, Naziboy is a Jew-hating clown who hates Jews so much that he would sacrifice the whole of humanity just to see (or maybe not see if it means our resident Nazi himself being incinerated) his blackhearted wish of every Jew on the planet being eradicated come true.
"A strong Arab world that can challenge Israel ,both morally and otherwise,…" (emphases mine)
Excuse me, I just have to…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LOLOLOLOLOL! ROTFLMAO-STALIN-LENIN-BAKUNIN! Guff-guffaw-guffaw-guffaw-guffaw! Chortle-chortle-giggle-giggle!
Ooh, my ribs, my ribs! Ooh, it hurts! Stop it, stop it, I just can't stand it any longer! Ow!
Props to unmatched comedy value, Muchiboy. Gotta give it to you on that.
as a follow of Rome both of you are brothers and i hope the GODS Will not allow you to get -together the kingdom of God would not be happy.
the funny thing is jews and arab come from the same human line so why do you blame all the evil things on your own brothers and sisters? the sad fact is most muslims and jews i know i like, its always about money and not God.
In the Islamic world every democracy is like the Weimar Republic. The will of the people is jihad and the subjugation of non-Muslims; the "corruption" they protest is their idea of the state not being Islamic enough.
"Yet more genocidal fantasies against Jews "
In your disturbed mind,Spirit of 1683.I suggest to you that if indeed I promoted such disgusting ideas on this form I would have been shown the door long ago,and rightly so.Your base and baseless accusations are plain name calling and nothing more.They would deserve a bloody nose in the schoolyard or on the corner.Keep up your bulling tactics.They merely serve to amuse your less serious peers as well as avoiding the more difficult arguments.muchiboy
Hope it will not evolved into another Iran
It looks like we are on the way to 10 or more Irans. We know what happens when the more secular Muslim leaders get toppled. These Muslim states go on to become hardcore theocratic Islamic states with Sharia law imposed in every nook and cranny of life, repositories of anti-infidel terrorism, hate-peddlars of hostile rhetoric against infidels, with genocidal leaders whose aim is to get nukes for the ultimate terrorist attack on the infidel. It seems that because of our lack of knowledge of Islam thanks to 50 years of political correctness, we are heading for something far more unpleasant over the next 50 years than what we're currently seeing, bad as it is.
it will not become a Islam state, but it will become a police state I hope not but that part of the world has a long history of blood going back 5000 years
muchi-boy , anyone who quotes the rantings of Fisk …….well that kinda speaks for itself . but I'd be willing to bet , that you just don't see it .
And thats the same Fisk who blamed it all on Bush when he was beaten up by a gang of Afghan men. This must be one of the worst cases of Bush Derangement Syndrome on record.
"You're the disturbed one who wants to see the ovens of Auschwitz put back into use."
Engaging with you is like receiving abusive telephone calls in the middle of the night,Spirit of 1683.The only sensible thing to do is hang up.As with MixMChess and his vile,irrational accusations,I will block all replies from you.Fortunately,most subscribers to FPM, while strong defenders of Israel and Zionism, are not abusive in their comments and defend their positions with both rigor and rational argument.Your approach in dealing with others who have opposing views is unacceptable,here,in the classroom or schoolyard.On a school/university debating team,you would receive a failing grade.You need to grow up and learn manners.You would not last a minute in a prison where you need to watch your mouth and show respect.muchiboy
"the funny thing is jews and arab come from the same human line so why do you blame all the evil things on your own brothers and sisters? the sad fact is most muslims and jews i know i like, its always about money and not God"
True,we all have pretty much the same common human needs.And we all have the same genetic heritage traceable to shared African humanoid ancestors.Truly we are more the same then different.Your observations shame us all.I suppose one could point to the Fundamentalist Muslim or Jew but otherwise your points are valid and worthy of consideration.muchiboy