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20 Feb 2011 16:50

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World: Tunisia doesn’t know if Ben Ali is dead. A little help, Saudis?

  • issue For quite obvious reasons, Tunisia wants to extradite former president  Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from Saudi Arabia to force him to stand trial. Many protesters are out in the streets asking for the same thing.
  • complication Tunisia doesn’t know whether Ben Ali is dead or not, so it had to send a note to Saudi Arabia asking about “the possibility of his death” or possible illness, and for his return if he’s healthy. Odd. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Jan 2011 21:00

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World: Democracy in Tunisia doesn’t come without understandable fears

  • freedom In the wake of the ouster of Ben Ali, certain ousted groups have come out of the woodwork in Tunisia, including long-exiled Islamist sheik Rachid Ghannouchi.
  • worry Some are wary of what might come in the new democracy from the Islamists, some sects of which want to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, on the country. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Jan 2011 12:11

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World: Exiled Tunisian opposition leader Rachid Ghannouchi comes home

  • Here’s how quickly things in Tunisia have changed: This guy, Rachid Ghannouchi, a leader in the country’s Islamist Ennahda movement, has returned to the country he was exiled from 22 years ago. His party, which did well in the 1989 elections, was banned by Zine al-Abdine Ben Ali, who was likely nervous about the party’s popularity. While the party plans to take part in the upcoming parliamentary (but not presidential) elections, Ghannouchi is done with public office, saying that there are younger generations that would do a better job. But he’s back in the country which pushed him aside two decades ago – an even bigger victory. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Jan 2011 10:14

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World: Ousted Tunisian leader Ben Ali now a marked man

Why so glum, Ben Ali? Is it because you know the Tunisian government just sicced INTERPOL’s dogs after you? If so, we completely understand. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Jan 2011 10:33

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World: Tunisia violence: Two differing death toll estimates

  • 100+ the United Nations estimate of the death toll in Tunisia in the wake of the extended protests
  • 78 the estimate from the country’s interior minister, Ahmed Friaa … so which estimate is right? source
  • » Currently under house arrest (reportedly): Two of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s strongest confidantes, Abdelaziz Ben Dhia and Abdallah Kallel, are in custody of the new government. Meanwhile, a third adviser, Abdelwaheb Abdallah, is on the run. The info comes from the country’s state-run Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, which didn’t reveal a source. Oh yeah, in case you’re wondering, those police officers from yesterday want to make it clear they weren’t responsible for the death toll above.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 10:52

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World: Some more quick numbers from Tunisia’s volatile situation

  • eight ministers loyal to Ben Ali are out, and a powerful central committee that included them has disbanded
  • 33 members of Ben Ali’s family, have been charged with “crimes against Tunisia” for their gaudy lives
  • 1,800 political prisoners have been released from jail, and those with short sentences should be released, too source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Jan 2011 11:10

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World: Tunisians finally getting full grasp of Ben Ali’s opulence

  • It makes me sad because [Ben Ali and his family] stole all the money to build this house from the people of Tunisia. He lives in luxury and the people do not have money for food.
  • Tunisian citizen Priska Nufar • Expressing anger while looking through the former Tunisian president’s luxurious home recently. The level of wealth and riches that Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali are only becoming fully clear as the country goes completely into turmoil, with images of these riches getting shown on TV and in other mediums. Some of his family’s properties have been destroyed and looted in the wake of the unrest, while many wait for the next step Tunisia takes as a country. Hopefully their next leader will be willing to share. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

16 Jan 2011 17:32

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World: Update: Three things you should know about Tunisia’s unrest

  • one Protesters are wary of trusting the police; the situation remains volatile. Two major gun battles took place on Sunday, one of them near the presidential palace.
  • two Tunisia’s prime minister is promising a new government on Monday, and at least one ousted party plans to return to the country after the unrest dies down.
  • three High-profile members of former president Ben Ali’s staff have been arrested, and some of his family members have been attacked and killed by angry citizens. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jan 2011 22:02

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World: New Tunisia leader’s first act: Opening up the Interwebs

As a follow-up to our last Tunisia post, it’s good to note that new leader Fouad Mebazaa has unblocked the Interwebs in the country. Good news for everyone who likes freedom. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jan 2011 21:06

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World: Tunisians: Ousted leader Ben Ali just as bad as “Big Brother”

  • I saw the RCD and the government and saw that it’s exactly like this book, with the big pictures of Ben Ali everywhere and people listening in to phone calls and informing on each other. Joining them is like selling your soul to the devil.
  • Former Tunisian citizen Ahmad Chebil • Explaining his experience with Zine el Abidine Ben Ali’s government, which wanted him to become a “citizen watcher” – essentially, someone who would spy on others and inform the government. But he never went for it – wanna know why? Well, he read a french translation of “1984” and could see the evil behind the basic idea. Also worth noting: This Ars Technica article explaining how the country ratcheted up its Internet censorship efforts in recent weeks – and how the Internet fought back. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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