Tuesday, February 1, 2011

TUNISIA: Concerns about the security situation in the country

The emergence of youth gangs armed prowlers in Tunis and the burning of a synagogue in Gabes reinforce fears of a descent into violence or destabilization attempts in Tunisia.

More than two weeks after the flight of President Zine Ben Ali under pressure from the street, January 14, the army had to intervene on Tuesday for gunmen to flee, as Tunisians suspected of working for the old power.

Large protests have continued in recent days in the country, the reshuffle made on Thursday by Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi who calmed the public.But acts of sabotage or intimidation were reported.

The spokesman of the Jewish community in Tunisia, one of the largest in North Africa, condemned the arson of a synagogue at Gabes in the south, on the night of Monday to Tuesday.

"I think those who have committed are seeking to create divisions between Jews and Muslims from Tunisia who live in peace for decades," said Peres Trabelsi.

Tunisian Jewish community is rarely the target of attacks. The last claimed by Al Qaeda, was in 2002 against the synagogue in Djerba Island.She had killed 21 people, including several German tourists.

Another indication of a deteriorating security, the military has had to fire warning shots to disperse gangs of armed youths who attacked two schools of Carthage, affluent suburb north-east of the capital , terrorizing students.


Monday already, young people with knives and clubs had spread fear through the streets of Kasserine, in the center of the country, burning buildings and harassing people, reports the news agency TAP.

Self-defense committees

Saturday in downtown Tunis, bands of youths had dispersed a gathering of women in Tunisia.They were hunted down on Avenue Habib Bourguiba by merchants organized in self-defense committees, also armed with knives and sticks.

Some traders believe that these bands are formed by former supporters of RCD, a former all-powerful party of President Ben Ali, or by young people paid to create chaos.

"We're here to try to reassure the public. We will protect," said a soldier in an armored vehicle positioned in front of a school in the capital.
Ben Ali, Minister of the Interior before taking power in 1987, had a vast network of police and informants who had not been dismantled since the "jasmine revolution".

Diplomatic sources, it is estimated that his presidential guard has been dispersed or eliminated, but a small number of his armed followers is probably still present in the country.

According to the head of a UN mission sent to the country, 147 people died and 510 others were injured in the uprising in Tunisia.

Bacre Waly Ndiaye said during a news conference that 72 more people died during riots that occurred in Tunisian prisons during these events, which began Dec. 17.

"The primary sector is to reform the security forces, who must work for the people, not against him," said the official Senegalese. "The security system must be central to the reform process. It is necessary to limit the role of the state police."

The interim government has promised to investigate the deaths and injuries occurred during the revolution and the eight members of the UN mission to provide assistance and advice.

The transition cabinet has also promised to recover assets of the family Ben Ali in Tunisia and abroad.

The EU froze the assets in Eastern Europe, former president and family.France has seized on Tuesday at Le Bourget airport a private plane belonging to the family of the deposed head of state.