Jasmine Revolution: needs no leader by Abdul Rasheed
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Ben Ali was only the second ruler the Tunisians had known in 53 years of independence from France.
The word Tunisia is derived from Tunis, known to the Ancient Greeks as Tynes, the capital city of modern-day Tunisia. The name Tunis can be attributed to different origins. It may be associated with the Phoenician goddess Tanith, or to the Berber rootens [which means "to lie down"].
The Tunisian flag features the crescent moon and five- pointed star, traditional symbols of Islam. It originated in about 1835 AD when the country was still officially under Turkish rule and was adopted after independence from France in 1956.
The smallest of the three Maghreb countries that comprise north-west Africa, Tunisia has a long and rich history. It was the first of the region to be conquered by the Phoenicians, Romans (Car-thage is now a suburb of Tunis) and later the Arabs and Turks, and each successive civilisation has left a marked impression on the country.
Consequently, Tunisia has acquired a distinct national identity, with a long tradition of urban life. Close contacts with Europe have always existed. France established a protectorate in 1881 and the majority of today’s 3.2 million tourists a year are European.
The Tunisian flag features the crescent moon and five- pointed star, traditional symbols of Islam. It originated in about 1835 AD when the country was still officially under Turkish rule and was adopted after independence from France in 1956.
The smallest of the three Maghreb countries that comprise north-west Africa, Tunisia has a long and rich history. It was the first of the region to be conquered by the Phoenicians, Romans (Car-thage is now a suburb of Tunis) and later the Arabs and Turks, and each successive civilisation has left a marked impression on the country.
Consequently, Tunisia has acquired a distinct national identity, with a long tradition of urban life. Close contacts with Europe have always existed. France established a protectorate in 1881 and the majority of today’s 3.2 million tourists a year are European.
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Tunsia consists of the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains together with the central steppelands to the south, which are separated from the country’s Saharan sector by the vast low-lying salt pans of Choti Dejrid. In the north the lower Medjerda Valley and the low-lying plains of Bizerte and Tunis were densely colonised. Major irrigation schemes have been carried out in recent years and these low-lands, which produce cereals, vines, citrus fruits, olives and vegetables, represent the country’s most important agricultural area.
One of the first things Ben Ali did in order to consolidate his hold on power was to hound out the intellectuals who couldn’t be bought over to his side.
Tunsia consists of the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains together with the central steppelands to the south, which are separated from the country’s Saharan sector by the vast low-lying salt pans of Choti Dejrid. In the north the lower Medjerda Valley and the low-lying plains of Bizerte and Tunis were densely colonised. Major irrigation schemes have been carried out in recent years and these low-lands, which produce cereals, vines, citrus fruits, olives and vegetables, represent the country’s most important agricultural area.
New industries, coupled with tourism, have transformed a number of coastal towns, including Sfax, Monastir and Sousse. By comparison the interior has been neglected.
After the removal of Habib Bourguiba in 1887, Tunsia remained effectively a one-party Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) dictatorship. However, presidential and parliamentary elections were held in March 1994 and were won by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali-the sole candidate and the Constitutional Democratic Assembly, which won all seats.
The sudden fall from absolute power of the Tunisian tyrant, Zein El Abidine Ben Ali, is the latest example of the absolute veracity of this maxim.
Ben Ali, the pro-West secularist turned his beautiful country into a play ground for western tourists. They descended on Tunisia in droves, cavorted freely on its sun-drenched beaches.
Ben Ali was only the second ruler the Tunisians had known in 53 years of independence from France. The genial Habib Bourguiba, father of independent Tunisia, had brought him in as his Prime Minister. However, in a typical example of an ambitious subaltern pulling the rug from under the feet of his mentor, Ben Ali engineered a bloodless coup against Bourguiba, in 1987, to entrench himself in power.
One of the first things Ben Ali did in order to consolidate his hold on power was to hound out the intellectuals who couldn’t be bought over to his side. One of the finest brains among Arab intellectuals of the day was Rashid Al-Ghannouchi, a liberal Islamic thinker in the mould of Iran’s Ali Shariati murdered by the Shah’s goons in the notorious Savak. This scribe had the pleasure of interacting regularly with Rashid Al-Ghannouchi during his diplomatic stint in Algiers, where he had sought refuge in exile, during 1988-91.
New industries, coupled with tourism, have transformed a number of coastal towns, including Sfax, Monastir and Sousse. By comparison the interior has been neglected.
After the removal of Habib Bourguiba in 1887, Tunsia remained effectively a one-party Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) dictatorship. However, presidential and parliamentary elections were held in March 1994 and were won by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali-the sole candidate and the Constitutional Democratic Assembly, which won all seats.
The sudden fall from absolute power of the Tunisian tyrant, Zein El Abidine Ben Ali, is the latest example of the absolute veracity of this maxim.
Ben Ali, the pro-West secularist turned his beautiful country into a play ground for western tourists. They descended on Tunisia in droves, cavorted freely on its sun-drenched beaches.
Ben Ali was only the second ruler the Tunisians had known in 53 years of independence from France. The genial Habib Bourguiba, father of independent Tunisia, had brought him in as his Prime Minister. However, in a typical example of an ambitious subaltern pulling the rug from under the feet of his mentor, Ben Ali engineered a bloodless coup against Bourguiba, in 1987, to entrench himself in power.
One of the first things Ben Ali did in order to consolidate his hold on power was to hound out the intellectuals who couldn’t be bought over to his side. One of the finest brains among Arab intellectuals of the day was Rashid Al-Ghannouchi, a liberal Islamic thinker in the mould of Iran’s Ali Shariati murdered by the Shah’s goons in the notorious Savak. This scribe had the pleasure of interacting regularly with Rashid Al-Ghannouchi during his diplomatic stint in Algiers, where he had sought refuge in exile, during 1988-91.
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Oil and gas
Oil production of Tunisia is about 97,600 barrels per day (15,520 m3/d). The main field is El bourma. Oil production began in 1966 in Tunisia. Currently there are 12 oil fields.
Jebel Ichkeul National Park
About a 40-minute drive from Bizerte, it is one of only two water-based conservation areas in the world to be designated by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as Wetland World Heritage Sites. It is a stopping point for waterfowl migrating between Europe and Africa.
Tabarka
Situated in northwest Tunisia close to the Algerian border, Tabarka was supposed to be Tunisia's flagship resort on the north coast.
Cap Bon
Known as the Garden of Tunisia, the Cap Bon peninsula combines sleepy villages, rolling green fields and vineyards with the biggest and most cosmopolitan resort in the country.
Hammamet
Situated 64km (40 miles) southeast of Tunis, Hammamet has been attracting package holidaymakers since the 1960s. Known as the Garden Resort for its eucalyptus trees, citrus groves and flowering shrubs.
Nabeul
Although overshadowed by Hammamet 10km (six miles) further south, Nabeul has spent the last decade trying to exploit its own tourism potential and now boasts a string of large beachfront hotels.
Central Tunisia
Includes four of the most popular package-resorts as well as Tunisia's holiest city. Also known as The Sahel, Central Tunisia is a rich agricultural area with hundreds of thousands of olive trees.
Sousse
Sousse, Tunisia's third-largest city, lies eight km (five miles) south of Port El Kantaoui .
Jasmine Revolution
The 2010–2011 Tunisian Revolution is a series of street demonstrations that took place throughout Tunisia since December 2010. The demonstrations and riots were reported to have started over unemployment, food inflation, corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions.
The protests constituted the most dramatic wave of social and political unrest in Tunisia in three decades and have resulted in scores of deaths and injuries. The protests were sparked by a self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi on December 17 and led to the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali days on January 15, 2011, when he officially resigned after fleeing to Saudi Arabia, ending 23 years in power. The protests inspired similar actions throughout the Arab world.
Following Ben Ali's departure, a caretaker coalition government was created, including members of Ben Ali's party, RCD, in key ministries.
Background
President Ben Ali had ruled Tunisia since 1987. His government, which had been criticised in the media and amongst by NGOs, was supported by the United States and France. As a result, the initial reactions to Ben Ali's abuses by the US and France were muted, and most instances of socio-political protest in the country, when they occurred at all, rarely made major news headlines.
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