English.news.cn 2011-01-24 22:38:52
by Huang Yinjiazi, Wang Chu and Kang Xinwen
TUNIS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) — Tunisian ministers and commission leaders went on TV
one by one since the first meeting of the interim government Thursday, to pledge
measures and vow determination to break up with the fallen regime.
However, the bulk of measures and the eloquence of the Tunisian politicians
proved too weak to quell the protests on the streets, where demonstrators and
even the police were calling for a bolder change, saying they want all ministers
who had served ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali out of the government.
The sudden fall of the president brought by popular protests unveiled too wide a
gap between Tunisia’s political elite and the streets, to stabilize the country,
leaders have to race with time to carry out reforms, show good intention and
gain the trust over the excited Tunisian people, analysts say.
TOO WIDE A GAP
Nabil Cherni, a media communication professor with Tunis-based Manouba
University and economic analyst, observed a gap in both economic and political
area in Tunisia, which created deep distrust between the politicians and the
people.
The north African country saw a three percent real GDP growth in 2009, according
to CIA world factbook, not a bad score given the turmoil in world economy, and
it even expected a more ambitious 5.4 percent growth in 2011.
However, few people benefited from the economic achievements, with the extended
family of Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Ben Ali, and other privileged groups
laying its hand on almost everything of the country’s business, Nabil said,
citing such key sectors as real estate, communication, car dealing, imports and
exports.
As one result of the highly unequal distribution of wealth, unemployment hit 14
percent, and a much higher 52 percent among youngsters, according to officials,
and among others, not many people in Tunisia, the country whose leader claimed
is expected to turn into a developed one in 2014, can afford his own house, the
university professor told reporters in his rented home.
Meanwhile, Grami Amel, a book writer and political analyst, portrayed as gloomy
a picture in politics and said she and her husband have never been to a vote,
referring to it as a huge lie.
“For a long time, there’s a big gap between the people and the government, I’ve
never been to a vote, because I know it’s incredible, and many people have never
voted in their life but still their names came out on the list as if they have
voted, because somebody was voting on their place,” Amel said.
The ousted Ben Ali, who came to power in a coup in 1987, was re- elected for a
fifth term in 2009, with an overwhelming 89 percent of the votes, and before
that he threatened his opponents that they would face legal retaliation if they
questioned the fairness of the election, and besides, the ex-president had more
than once amended constitution and sent discontents in jail or exile to
facilitate his stay in power.
RACE AGAINST TIME
Days after Tunisian’s former boss fled to Saudi Arabia in a hurry, Prime
Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi went on state TV on Jan. 17 to unveil a list of an
interim government, with several opposition figures entering the cabinet, while
foreign, interior and defense ministers still kept their jobs.
The new-born national unity cabinet, with the old guards still holding key
positions, was too small a progress for a people that experienced dramatic
change as the 23 years iron-fisted rule of the president ended. Thousands of
Tunisians, joined even by the police, flooded the street everyday to protest
against the government’s make-up and demanding the banning of the ruling RCD,
saying they are not afraid and will not stop until all ministers who had served
Ben Ali out of the line-up.
With a presidential election coming within 60 days and a deteriorating economic
situation, Tunisian leaders must race against time to quell the anger in the
streets, Grami said, advising them to show good will to regain people’s trust
and adopting specific political and economic measures.
Amel noted the prime mintier and the caretaker government had made mistakes in
their first attempts to stabilize the country.
She cited the prime minister had spoken to the fled leader via phone, used a
strong tone when talking about casualties in protests, while failing to mention
they died for the sake of their country, who also allowed the security forces to
engage tear gas to disperse demonstration, which aroused people’s suspicion of
the new government’s breaking up with the past.
However, they have been correcting their mistakes, the book writer said, noting
the interim government has wasted no time to declare an unusual three days of
national morning, a symbol of recognition that those killed in the popular
protests sacrificed their lives for the sake of Tunisia.
Meanwhile, the authorities have been mulling laws for a general amnesty for
political prisoners and the recognition of banned political groups under the
rule of Ben Ali. The moves were described by Grami as a first sign of trying to
reconcile the government with the people, saying the amnesty and the recognition
are the foundation for a free political environment which invites everybody to
participate in the country’s politics.
Still, Amel suggested bolder moves, including amending the constitution, which
has served as a tool for the ex-president’s clinging into power, making more
room for other players in the government to include more ministers from the
opposition and the civil society, stepping up investigations into corruptions
and abuses, and preparing for democratic elections.
These must be done very quickly to prevent further unrest, Grami said.
As for economy, Nabil Cherni stressed the decline in investment rate in Tunisia,
cautioning the further rising of the unemployment rate which contributed to
weeks of violence, in face of less investment and commercial activities.
“We must do something to convince the investors that without the intimation of
the privileged few, Tunisia now is more open, where investors can enjoy more
chances to succeed than in the past, ” Nabil said.
UNCERTAINTIES LOOMS
Facing pressure on the streets, where demonstrators gathered around the RCD
headquarters and removed the large plaque from outside the building, carrying
the party’s name, demanding the banning of the RCD and replacement of all
ministers of the former regime, the cabinet had to make a basket of concessions.
Ministers gave up their positions and all RCD minister quitted the ex-ruling
party described by opposition as synonymous with the ousted president, a move to
placate the people, yet, the demonstrations has never stopped for a day.
There are contradictions between the protesters and the government, as the
former saying they wanted to see new faces in the cabinet, while the latter said
they need experienced technocrats to stay temporarily in their posts to
safeguard people ‘s security and bring the violence-torn country out of chaos,
making unclear the country’s future political landscape.
Moreover, Tunisia, ruled by Ben Ali for 23 years, who constantly exiled and
jailed opponents and banned political groups, lacks a party capable of competing
with the former ruler RCD and mature enough to govern, Nabil said, noting he
expected a future government to consist of all leftist, rightist and moderate
parties, as well as individuals from the civil society.
However, these parties still need time to device strategies and make themselves
known to the pubic, he added.
Back on the streets, Grami said protesting people know very clear what they
don’t want — they don’t want RCD and all Ben Ali ministers, yet, few people are
clear about what they want, given the fact that the country had long been ruled
by dictatorship where people have few chances to take part in politics and
express their opinions freely.
“People still need to be informed of the real meaning of democracy,” Grami said,
adding, nevertheless, the future is promising with political prisoners released,
exiled opponents coming back to the country and TV station broadcasting debates
on political affairs almost everyday.