Tunisia: the revolution is not over

north africa | community struggles | press release

Thursday January 20, 2011 04:56

by Libertarian communist organizations - Anarkismo

Our organizations affirm their full solidarity with the struggle of the Tunisian people for freedom and social justice and our support for militant anti-capitalist Tunisians. We condemn the attitude of the Western States and more generally their political classes, both right-wing and social democratic, who have always actively supported the authoritarian power of Ben Ali. [Français]

International anarchist communist statement

Tunisia: the revolution is not over

After a month of popular insurrection, the tyrant has fallen. Ben Ali and his gang have chosen the road to exile. It's a huge victory for the Tunisian people, and one that cannot but be welcomed by every freedom-loving person. It is also an example and a great hope for all the peoples of the region living in police States.

But the revolution is not over, the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) still holds power with 161 out of 214 seats in parliament, and interim president Fouad Mebazaa and prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi are pillars of the dictatorship. Rather than real change, the first steps taken in the emergency mostly show the desire of those in power to calm the streets. There will be elections in sixty days but they will be held according to the rules of the current constitution, tailored by the RCD. Consultations for the establishment of a government of national unity have begun, but the RCD is choosing which parties can participate. The aim of the operation is clear: to nullify the victory by the people by channeling the revolt into the political ground. There is a serious risk that the ruling party will co-opt the servile opposition and introduce a sham democracy once the fires of rebellion have died down. Neither can we rule out the possibility of the rise of a new dictator who, like Ben Ali, will have the backing of the Élysée Palace and the White House.

Ordinary Tunisians are aware of the pitfalls that endanger the freedom they have just snatched at the cost of dozens of deaths. Across the country, they are organizing themselves into self-defence committees in order to fight against the militias of the Ben Ali-Trabelsi clan that continue to ravage the country. They are not fooled by the manoeuvres to keep the RCD in power. Defying the state of emergency which is still in force, protesters were again on the streets on 16th January demanding real change, shouting: "We did not revolt so that a new government of unity could be formed with the cardboard opposition parties".

The revolution is not over, because none of the substantial issues have been resolved: poverty, mass unemployment, corruption, cronyism, inequality, and so on. In addition to that of setting up a democratic system, the social question remains the central concern of Tunisians. The problems facing the country can only be solved by an active policy of redistributing wealth, breaking with the dictatorship of the markets.

Our organizations affirm their full solidarity with the struggle of the Tunisian people for freedom and social justice and our support for militant anti-capitalist Tunisians. We condemn the attitude of the Western States and more generally their political classes, both right-wing and social democratic, who have always actively supported the authoritarian power of Ben Ali.

19 January 2011