Tunisia hits the headlines
As Tunisia’s president sacks the government, Jillian C York reports on the “revolution” the western media almost missed and argues it will take a global spotlight to hold Ben Ali to account (more…)
Tunisian unrest plays out in cyberspace
It’s no surprise that the Western media was a little slow to catch up to the unrest in Tunisia. The tiny country sandwiched between Libya and Algeria has always been notoriously opaque to outsiders.
Known as one of the world’s most quietly repressive regimes, Tunisia seems to actively discourage outside coverage. Several foreign correspondents have told me of reporting trips to Tunisia where any attempt they made to hold an actual conversation with a normal citizen was immediately broken up by heavy-handed security forces.
So it took a little while for the international community to grasp the significance of the current spasm of civil unrest that continues to rock the country. When 26 year old street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi publicly set himself on fire in mid-December to protest his inability to earn a living wage, it touched a nerve throughout the country and set off a wave of protests that has already spread to Algeria and is being closely watched by governments and civilians throughout the region.
The government’s reaction has been to clamp down hard on the flow of information. At least two Tunisian bloggers have been arrested, as well as one young rapper who dared to record a song critical of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. One of the arrested bloggers, Slim Amamou, cleverly managed to get word of his arrest out by using electronic ingenuity. Amamou posted his wherabouts on the Foursquare social network, which allows for geolocation of his phone. The network revealed his location to be inside the Tunisian Ministry of Interior.
The struggle is already playing out online, with both sides engaging in cyber-attacks. A group of international “hacktivists” operating under the collective name Anonymous has been targeting government websites with denial-of-service attacks. The government has apparently responded by hacking into the email accounts and Facebook pages of known activists, bloggers and journalists.
Despite the government moves to control the online information flow, cyberspace continues to be fertile ground for information and images documenting the unrest. The group blog Nawaat has become a thriving online clearing house for new information and videos—some of them graphically depicting the bloodshed in the streets.
Tunisia: Protesters killed in continuing unrest
At least 14 protesters have been killed in violent demonstrations in the cities of Tala, Kasserine and Rgeb since Saturday amidst continuing anti-government protests. In Tala the Tunisian security force allegedly started firing at protesters who were setting fire to a government building. The Tunisian government has arrested bloggers, lawyers and activists since anti-government demonstrations began in December.
Iran’s students prepare for 16 Azar
Reading The Economist’s Bagehot blog, earlier this week its writer’s dismissal of Britain’s student protests with “The revolution will be along later” was resonant of the final analysis many made of Iran’s “Green” movement: despite the unforgettable mass post-election uprising — in which Iran’s students were central to the movement, upholding the historic role of Iran’s universities as the hub of political thought and activity— there has been little change in Iran, let alone a revolution.
Bagehot’s commentary also called to my mind that Iran’s Student Day is nearly here. Naturally 16 Azar (7 December) presents a platform for the students’ voices. Last year the day exuded added fervour as students used 16 Azar to resume their previously silenced protest at the “stolen” election. One year on, Iranian students at universities in Iran and worldwide prepare in solidarity with the movement, with slogans of “Ma Amadeim”, “We are Ready” and “The University is Alive”.
16 Azar was named after the killing of three Tehran University students on that day in 1953. The police opened fire on students demonstrating against US vice president Richard Nixon’s visit following a US-sponsored coup earlier that year. A good synopsis of this day’s history can be read here.
The last 12 months have seen a mass exodus of Iran’s intelligentsia and student leaders to safer lands, and many others languish in Iran’s prisons. “Revolution” it may not be, but expect to hear Iran’s students reciting Yar-e Dabestani (My Soul/Classmate) the freedom poem written by Mansour Tehrani
Ma Zendeh Be Aaneem Ke Aaraam Nageereem
We are alive by virtue of our restlessness
Mojeem Ke Asoodegi-y-e-Ma Adam-e-Maast
We are like waves that die through calm
Yar-e-Dabestani-y-e-man
My old school mate
Ba Man-o-Hamrah-e-Manee
You are with me and by my side
Choob-e-Alefe Barsar-e-Ma
When the cane is wielded over our heads
Boghz-e-Man-o-Aah-e-Manee
You share my pain and anguish
Hak Shodeh Esm’e Man-o-To
Engraved are the names of you and I
Rooy-e-Een Takhte Siyah
On this blackboard
Tark-e-y-e-Beedaad-e-Setam
Scars of the lashes of tyranny
Maandeh Hanooz Roo Tan-e-Ma
Have stayed on our bodies
Dasht-e-Bi-Farhang-e-Ma
Our culturally desolate wilderness
Harz-e Tamaam-e-Alafhaayash
All but weeds.
Khoob Age Khoob Bad Age Bad
Be it good or bad
Dast-e-Man-o To Baayad Een Pardeh Raa Paareh Konad
My hands and your hands have to tear down this curtain
Kee Be Joz Man-o-To Dard-e-Maaro Chaare Konad
Who other than you or I will find the cure to our ills
Yar-e-Dabestani-y-e-Man.