Ben Ali regime comes under scrutiny

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, MAY 5. International pressure on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, appears to have pushed the regime of the Tunisian President, Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, into dropping charges against a journalist, Mr. Taoufik Ben Brik, who entered the second month of his hunger strike on Wednesday.

The much-publicised plight of the journalist who was accused of ``publishing false information which could lead to public disturbances'' and defamation of the country's `institutions' has severely damaged Tunisia's reputation in the west and has made European nations take another look, colder and harder, at the authoritarian regime of Mr. Ben Ali.

Mr. Ben Brik (39), who writes for France's progressive Catholic daily La Croix and for two press agencies in the West, has been on a hunger strike for the past month calling for the respect of his rights to freedom of expression and movement. He has been barred from writing in the local media and has suffered telephone taps and cuts. He has been summoned by the Interior Ministry, received threats against him and his family and suffered harassment at the hands of the police and secret services.

Not one word about his hunger strike in protest against censorship and unnecessary restrictive methods has been reported by Tunisia's electronic or print media.

Initially, Mr. Ben Brik went on hunger strike to protest against the confiscation of his passport by Tunisian authorities. He has lost over 18 kg and last week lost consciousness for a prolonged period. His brother, who was arrested last week, has been condemned to three months in prison on charges of having ``assaulted police forces''.

Mr. Djellel Ben Brik took exception to the unusually strong police presence around his brother's house when a group of international journalists visited the latter last week. Though Mr. Ben Brik's passport has now been returned to him, he says he will not end his hunger strike unless his brother is released.

The French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, had a 45-minute conversation with Mr. Ben Ali on Monday during which he evoked the case of Mr. Ben Brik. Tunisia has been held up to the world as a mini economic miracle but the regime of Mr. Ben Ali is authoritarian and press freedom is almost totally absent.

When he seized power 13 years ago in what was described as a ``medical coup'' against independent Tunisia's founder President, Habib Bourguiba, Mr. Ben Ali was encouraged by most European nations. Bourgiba was plagued by senility and was being manipulated by a small band of corrupt courtiers.

Mr. Ben Ali has encouraged the private sector, developed tourism and has brought prosperity to his country. But many now criticise the increasing personality cult being built around the President and the lack of transparency in his Government. Once again, commentators say, Tunisia is being ruled by a small coterie of people close to the President.

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Section  : International
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