The collapse of former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s government was a crisis waiting to happen. Those that followed the corruption and ruthlessness of the regime knew that sooner or later the situation would explode. And WikiLeaks may have provided the necessary push.
Already in 1993, in a report on Ben Ali’s first six years in office: “Promise Unfulfilled: Human Rights in Tunisia Since 1987,” Human Rights First (then the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights) stated, “Tunisia has seen the independence of the judiciary undermined by the encroachment of military courts into civilian matters; freedom of expression has been severely constrained and freedom of association tightly reined in; lawyers have been subjected to harassment and intimidation, and discouraged from representing unpopular clients. Thus, safeguards that are the bedrock of any society in which basic human freedoms are upheld and protected have been undermined…”
Since that time, things continued to get worse, repression increased and corruption reached high levels, particularly among those close to the president, particularly his wife and other relatives from the notorious Trabelsi family. They all left Tunisia in a hurry, when they realized that their reign of corruption and terror had come to an end.
Tunisia’ economy went from bad to worse in recent years, with unemployment rates of 14 per cent according to official figures -widely considered lower than reality- and rates of up to 50 per cent in some parts of the interior. While these rates worsened, the government reduced or eliminated subsidies for food and gasoline, probably as a response to pressures form the IMF and the World Bank.
Deteriorating economic conditions for most of the population was manifested by sharp inequality, with 20 percent of the population controlling nearly half of the national income. While the masses went impoverished, the two ruling groups, the Ben Ali and the Trabelsi families attained considerable economic power, mainly through abusive practices, some of them denounced by WikiLeaks.
Since assuming power in 1987, Ben Ali ruled with an iron fist, quelling any intent of criticism to his regime through massive human rights violations. The final straw probably came after an incident between the police and a young vegetable street vendor named Mohammed Bouazizi.
When the young man refused to leave the market because, according to the police, he lacked a street vendor license, the policeman beat him up and slapped him on the face. Afterwards, Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest these actions in the central town Sidi Bouzeid, in central Tunisia.
Bouazizi’s self-immolation spurred public protests all over Tunisia expanding from Sidi Bouzeid to other cities such as Tunis, Qasrain, Qabis, Binzert, Sousa, BinQairowan, Gafza, Qarqena, elKalf, Baga and Qibly. These protests were violently suppressed and increased the anger in the population leading to more popular riots that toppled Ben Ali’s government.
The Arab world is watching with considerable interest what is happening in Tunisia. Already in Jordan there are demonstrations against increased costs of living and government in other countries are fearful that anti government demonstrations similar to those in Tunisia may spread to their countries.
There is already a positive sign in Tunisia. Its acting president, Fouad Mebazza, asked Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi to form a coalition government. Although the future is unpredictable, one thing is certain. Things won’t be the same as before in Tunisia. What form this situation will take will depend on the measures the new government of national unity will take and its commitment to democracy that the Tunisian people fought so hard to see realized in their country.
Dr. Cesar Chelala is an award-winning writer on human rights and foreign policy issues.
That Wikileaks may have provided the necessary push is fascinating on so many levels. Cesar, will there be a future without this level of corruption in governments around the world? Will we see the day when citizens are respected and cared for everywhere? More importantly, is Wikileaks playing the role that will allow us to see that day?
Dear Kate: I would like to think that future governments will be less corrupted than before thanks to WikiLeaks. But only time will tell. So far, WikiLeaks has made some important contributions to foster more transparency in governments. But human beings always find ways to overcome obstacles to their misdeeds…Cesar