Revolution in Tunisia?

Zine el Abidine Ben Ali

The President of Tunisia, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, has been driven from office. Following up on a previous article here at World Headlines Review about civil unrest in Tunisia, demonstrations only intensified in the face of the lethal force applied by police and military in attempts to quell the protests.  Security forces have killed 30 people amidst the protests according to confirmed official counts, with sources on the ground reporting the death toll as higher than 60, after several instances of security forces firing into crowds.  The CBC is reporting (Jan. 14) that Zine el Abidine Ben Ali has fled the country, putting an end to his 23 year reign as President.  Reports say Saudi Arabian authorities have confirmed that Ben Ali and his family have arrived there, after being denied entry to France.

Earlier this week there were many last-minute promises by Ben Ali; to step down in 2014; to allow greater freedom of movement and freedom of internet access; that security forces would stop using lethal force against protestors after two dozen had been killed; that rising milk, bread and sugar prices be brought down and capped by law; that opposition parties may legally be formed; but protests continued.  Demonstrators did not see Ben Ali's concessions as enough or genuine.

The popular uprising, sparked on December 17 by the suicide protest of university graduate Mohammed Bouazizi continues, even after the president's abdication; with riots and looting occuring in spite of attempts by police and military to protect property and restore order.  This could be expected as the uprising began as a protest against broader social and economic conditions in Tunisia, not specifically against the former President, who was a symbol of elitism and corruption.  The speaker of Parliament, Fouad Mebazaa, has been sworn in as interim president, and an interim government is being formed with the intent of holding Presidential elections within 60 days, in accordance with the Tunisian constitution.

It remains unclear whether the popular uprising which ousted the president will actually result in real and tangible political change in Tunisia.  However, an entire young generation of Tunisians is now experiencing freedom unlike at any time in their lives under the Ben Ali era, they suddenly have freedom of speech and movement, freedom to form political organisations, freedom of press, and freedom from internet censorship and bans on internet websites.

The following video is an ITN report posted to Youtube just after the President's whereabouts became unknown.  Pictures and video that are now pouring out of Tunisia in the absence of censorship authorities can be seen on the internet especially at youtube and AJE:

Read and watch World Headlines Review's recent coverage of Tunisia here:
http://worldheadlinesreview.blogspot.com/2011/01/tunisia-and-algeria-north-african.html

Watch More Videos:
Al-Jazeera  video report
Dec. 14th CBC video report