third night of unrest in tunisia as hundreds arrested
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

after arresting 237 the previous day.

Third night of unrest in Tunisia as hundreds arrested

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleThird night of unrest in Tunisia as hundreds arrested

A member of the Tunisian security forces
Tunis - Muslimchronicle

A third night of unrest has shaken Tunisia where authorities said Thursday more than 600 people have been arrested this week as anger at austerity measures boils over on the streets.

Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring uprisings that began in the North African country in 2011 and spread across the region, toppling autocrats.

But the authorities have failed to resolve the issues of poverty and unemployment.

Police detained 328 people on Wednesday for theft, looting, arson and blocking roads, the interior ministry said, after arresting more than 280 people over the previous two days.

The latest unrest saw a provincial police station torched, Molotov cocktails hurled at police and tear gas fired, but ministry spokesman Khalifa Chibani said the "violence" was less intense than in previous days.

Twenty-one members of the security forces were injured, according to Chibani, who said no civilians were hurt.

AFP correspondents said most areas were calm late Thursday, and the presidency said the main political parties, unions and business organisations will meet on Saturday to discuss the situation.

Tunisia is often seen as having had a relatively smooth transition since the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

But Tunisians have expressed frustration since the start of the year over austerity measures expected to further increase prices in a struggling economy.

The country introduced hikes in value-added tax and social contributions as part of a tough new budget.

Political scientist Olfa Lamloum called the measures "the straw that breaks the camel's back".

"Young people are disappointed with the revolution, especially because of the high cost of living," she said.

- 'Nostalgia spreading' -

Lamloum pointed to "deepening social inequalities" highlighted by official figures showing rising poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, particularly among young people.

Conflict analysts International Crisis Group (ICG) warned the country's political class Thursday against succumbing to "authoritarian temptation".

While politicians had so far resisted the urge to backtrack on reforms, the ICG said "in the context of an economic slump, the nostalgia for a strong state, like the one that the former regime claimed to defend, is spreading".

The recent unrest started with peaceful protests last week, but escalated into clashes with police overnight Monday to Tuesday.

In a third night of clashes, unrest hit several areas including the central city of Kasserine, and the northern towns of Siliana, Tebourba and Thala.

In Siliana, youths threw stones and Molotov cocktails at security forces. Police responded with tear gas, an AFP correspondent said.

Scuffles also broke out in some Tunis neighbourhoods.

On Thursday, a few dozen unemployed people protested in the central town of Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the protests that sparked the 2011 uprisings.

In Kasserine, youths tried to block roads with burning tyres and hurled stones at police, another AFP correspondent said.

The main police station in the northern town of Thala was torched, Chibani said.

In Tebourba, where a man died during unrest overnight Monday-Tuesday, police fired tear gas at dozens of protesters, a resident said.

At a Tebourba cafe on Thursday, 41-year-old Sami shared a coffee and a cigarette with a friend.

"There's no work and no future here," he told AFP. "I don't have a dinar on me."

- Protest calls -

One protester recalled what had happened to him.

"I wanted to express my anger about being poor, and they responded with tear gas at my head," said Mohamed Rahmani, 21, his head in bandages because of 10 stitches.

Rail services were cancelled in some areas after a train was attacked in southern Tunis on Wednesday, local media reported.

Activists campaigning against the austerity measures have called for a huge protest on Friday.

The opposition Popular Front party, accused by the authorities of supporting the rioters, urged the government to "find solutions for young Tunisians".

"Peaceful demonstrations are part of the democratic equation, but damaging public property and harming citizens is illegal," said Hamma Hammami, spokesman for the leftist party.

Protests are common in Tunisia in January, when people mark the anniversary of the 2011 revolution.

The uprising began in December 2010 after street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire and later died in a protest over unemployment and police harassment.

In Tebourba on Thursday, the mood was grim.

"The political class is responsible for all this," said teacher Fatma Ben Rezayel. "The region is totally marginalised."

She deplored the fact that "unemployed young people fed up with their poor lives" were being branded criminals by the authorities.

source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

third night of unrest in tunisia as hundreds arrested third night of unrest in tunisia as hundreds arrested

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 04:05 2016 Saturday ,14 May

EU to provide €55mln for Burundi's people

GMT 08:20 2016 Friday ,22 April

Microsoft profit down 25 percent to $3.8bn

GMT 20:34 2017 Monday ,30 October

Ethiopian 'Red Terror' trial opens in Dutch court

GMT 08:01 2017 Monday ,24 July

A look at major issues Duterte is confronting

GMT 19:41 2017 Wednesday ,23 August

Chad to shutter Qatar embassy, expel diplomats

GMT 01:25 2016 Monday ,26 December

PM congratulates Christians on Christmas

GMT 11:45 2017 Thursday ,02 November

Guantanamo judge finds US general in contempt of court

GMT 01:46 2015 Wednesday ,29 April

VCUQatar names dean for school of Arts

GMT 11:26 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Dutch corporate takeover defences tough to breach

GMT 21:03 2017 Friday ,07 April

Landmine Kills 20 Civilians in Somalia

GMT 09:17 2018 Monday ,22 January

Syria army says captured key military airport

GMT 10:23 2018 Thursday ,18 January

65 Israeli laws that discriminate against non-Jews

GMT 13:47 2017 Wednesday ,02 August

Tillerson sends senior envoys to handle Qatar crisis

GMT 07:13 2017 Friday ,21 April

Noha Abdeen in 2 drama shows in Ramadan

GMT 05:02 2017 Wednesday ,25 January

European stocks brush off Brexit court ruling
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle