Zine el Abidine Ben Ali |
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