Tunisia is boiling | Second day of protest over economic crisis
Demonstrations have become prevalent in Tunisia in January, the anniversary of the 2011 uprising, which was sparked by the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor who thrown himself into flames and later died in a demonstration over unemployment and police harassment.
While Tunisia is widely seen as the only democratic success story among the nations where Arab Spring uprisings took place, it has since had nine governments but none has been able to tackle growing economic crisis.
The year 2018, started with the global headlines of a person’s death, injury to 50 policemen and detaining more than 200 people in two nights of extensive and violent protests in Tunisia, provoked by anger over steep price rises following the belt-tightening measures.
Forces, both police & army were deployed in several towns during the night, including in Tebourba, 20 miles (30km) west of the capital, Tunis, where masses forming a wave took to the streets after the funeral of a 45-year-old man who died in the unrest on Monday night.
Chaos was also witnessed in the town of Gafsa and in Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the protests that led to the ousting of the autocrat Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 and sparked the regional Arab Spring revolution. Youths obstructed roads and hurled stones, causing the police to counter with tear gas, according to an AFP reporter on the ground.
The demonstrations broke out after activists and politicians denounced increases in VAT and the introduction of social contributions at the start of the year as a tough new budget was executed.
PM #Chahed directly accuses the Popular Front (#Jabha), a leftist coalition, of being behind the violence, smashing and looting that accompanied the fresh anti-austerity protests in several Tunisian towns.
A year ago, the government granted to a four-year loan programme with the IMF- International Monetary Fund worth about $2.8billion in return for economic amelioration.
According to protestors
“This uprising is about the finance bill, which has benefited the wealthy,”
Alledging the government on of demonstrator said
“It’s made the rich richer and the poor, poorer. By increasing taxes and the cost of such basic items as flour, telephone bills and Internet access, they’ve risked families’ food security. Prices have increased, but incomes have remained at the very lowest level.”
Reactions around the globe against the austerity measures
The situation in Tunisia is heartbreaking. Can u sustain your family on $200 USD per month? Over half the population there does. They're struggling. Youth are frustrated. Political parties can change the course. Change is possible. #Tunisie #Tunisia
— Chris Yonke (@yonke) January 10, 2018
#Tunisie un pays actuellement a feu et sous couvre feu… pic.twitter.com/yKsuh7z18h
— Lin Moussa DIALLO (@lindiallo) January 10, 2018
Few joined hands to hail the protest terming it natural for the democracy like Tunisia
Its normal for a developed democracy with a highly educated & patriotic population like #Tunisia to have protests. Some seditionist Gulf based media mercenaries call for a 2nd revolution. Tunisian people are not blind or stupid and see right through you. #Tunisie
— Rami EL OBEIDI (@ramielobeidi) January 10, 2018
While few of the protestors were found updating on chilly weather in the month of Arab springs
It's very cold outside, I'm already frozen. It is very quiet and there is the police and the army for security, it's great! #Kasserine #Tunisia
— soleil444 (@soleil444) January 10, 2018
However, it will only time reflects that the protests are turning a good measure against the Tunisian democracy or the turmoil going to catch fire again through the Mediterranean.
This report is presented by The Kootneeti Team. As the uprising is yet in its current phase, so this report might get edited/updated
