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Tunisian Actions

Tunisia's government is using conciliation and suppression to quiet the demonstrations:

"Protests over unemployment and other economic demands in Tunisia continued Thursday despite tight security measures the government has implemented in the last two days...

"Other reports on Facebook said that Sidi Bouzid was calm Thursday after local government officials promised to pay electricity and water bills for all residents for the coming three months on the condition that they be filmed by Tunisian TV Channel 7 thanking President Ben Ali.

"The government was successful in banning demonstrations in Kariwan and Qabes. Simultaneously, authorities continued a ban on international media reporting the protests.

"Information circulating on the micro-blogging site Twitter indicated that the government started to take new measures to prevent activists from using social network websites. The measures include cutting mobile internet services during the day, to stop activists from publishing updated information on the demonstrations."

As reported by this article, the government also prevented a demonstration in downtown Tunis.

Tunisian Background from Wikileaks

Al-Jazeera's Tunisian protest story for today noted this Wikileaks cable on corruption from 2008:

"According to Transparency International's annual survey and Embassy contacts' observations, corruption in Tunisia is getting worse. Whether it's cash, services, land, property, or yes, even your yacht, President Ben Ali's family is rumored to covet it and reportedly gets what it wants. Beyond the stories of the First Family's shady dealings, Tunisians report encountering low-level corruption as well in interactions with the police, customs, and a variety of government ministries. The economic impact is clear, with Tunisian investors -- fearing the long-arm of 'the Family' -- forgoing new investments, keeping domestic investment rates low and unemployment high (Refs G, H). These persistent rumors of corruption, coupled with rising inflation and continued unemployment, have helped to fuel frustration with the GOT and have contributed to recent protests in southwestern Tunisia (Ref A). With those at the top believed to be the worst offenders, and likely to remain in power, there are no checks in the system."

The reference to 2008 protests led me to investigate disturbances in southern Tunisia's phosphate mining areas, where communities are dominated by companies owned by or beholden to the Ben Ali family. I don't know if there are any connections between those events and what's happening now, though Sidi Bouzid, where the current riots began following the latest in a series of self-immolations, isn't that far from Gafsa.

A 2009 cable also has interesting information:

"Since independence, Tunisia deserves credit for its economic and social progress. Without the natural resources of its neighbors, Tunisia focused on people and diversified its economy. In a success all too rare, the GOT is effective in delivering services (education, health care, infrastructure and security) to its people. The GOT has sought to build a knowledge economy to attract FDI that will create high value-added jobs. As a result, the country has enjoyed five percent real GDP growth for the past decade. On women's rights, Tunisia is a model. And, Tunisia has a long history of religious tolerance, as demonstrated by its treatment of its Jewish community. While significant challenges remain (above all the country's 14 percent unemployment rate) on balance Tunisia has done better than most in the region...

"The problem is clear: Tunisia has been ruled by the same president for 22 years. He has no successor. And, while President Ben Ali deserves credit for continuing many of the progressive policies of President Bourguiba, he and his regime have lost touch with the Tunisian people. They tolerate no advice or criticism, whether domestic or international. Increasingly, they rely on the police for control and focus on preserving power. And, corruption in the inner circle is growing. Even average Tunisians are now keenly aware of it, and the chorus of complaints is rising. Tunisians intensely dislike, even hate, First Lady Leila Trabelsi and her family. In private, regime opponents mock her; even those close to the government express dismay at her reported behavior. Meanwhile, anger is growing at Tunisia's high unemployment and regional inequities. As a consequence, the risks to the regime's long-term stability are increasing."

(Crossposted to American Footprints)

Tunisian Protests, Cont'd

Al-Jazeera reports the latest from Tunisia:

"Demonstrators in Tunisia are continuing their street protests, ignoring a warning by Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian president, that disturbances will be firmly dealt with.

"Protests continued unabated on Wednesday with demonstrators deploring the lack of employment opportunities in the country.

"Lawyers have joined students and youths on the streets of the capital and trade unions are reportedly lending their support to the movement.

"Ben Ali, who named a new youth minister on Wednesday in a limited cabinet reshuffle, warned earlier that protesters would be punished if rioting continued in the country.

"In a speech on state television he blamed a minority of 'extremists and mercenaries' for the nationwide unrest.

"He has also accused 'certain foreign television channels of broadcasting false allegations without verification, based on dramatisation, fermentation and deformation by media hostile to Tunisia.'"

The Washington Post reports that the old youth minister replaced the fired communications minister, suggesting that the reshuffle was targeting that body in ways perhaps linked to Ben Ali's criticism of foreign media. I don't know much about Tunisia, but events there seem similar to the workers' strikes in Egypt in recent years. The difference is that whereas Egypt has a history of labor activism, Tunisia does not, and the latter's public sphere is much more restricted.

Tunisian Protests

Economic complaints have given rise to a rare wave of protests in Tunisia:

"As tensions over unemployment and poor living conditions flare in Tunisia, president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has warned in a national television broadcast that protests are unacceptable and will have a negative impact on the economy...

"Earlier on Tuesday, security forces blocked an anti-government rally in the town of Gafsa, sources told Al Jazeera.

"The protest, organised by the Tunisian federation of labour unions, was one of a number of reported public demonstrations across the country. The public defiance marks a rare display of a popular anger against Ben Ali, who has been in power for 23years...

"The latest protest followed the deadly shooting by police of a jobless graduate in Bouziane, south of Tunis, last Friday.

"Clashes broke out earlier this month in the town of Sidi Bouzid after a man committed suicide in an apparent protest against high unemployment."

"A Tunisian Girl" is posting updates.

Mottaki Out

Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad has replaced his foreign minister:

"Iran’s arch-conservative president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, summarily fired his foreign minister on Monday, replacing him with atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi.

"The jilted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was in Senegal on an official visit when Mr. Ahmadinejad thanked him for his 'diligence and services' in a terse statement. He said he hoped Mr. Mottaki’s 'efforts receive praise by God and [that] you will be successful in the rest of your life,' according to the official IRNA news agency...

"The decision to remove Mottaki has long been rumored, especially since Ahmadinejad several months ago appointed a group of regional foreign policy envoys, in parallel – and in apparent competition with – the Foreign Ministry. Mottaki was reported to have offered to resign at the time."

The battle over control of foreign policy involving Mottaki has often been cast as one between the presidency and the leadership represented by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i. Meir Javedanfer, however, portrays Khamene'i as being called into an existing dispute between Ahmadinejad and Mottaki, and indicates Khamene'i probably approved of Mottaki's ouster at this time. The latter point, at least, is probably true, as I don't see Ahmadinejad risking having a decision actually undone by the Leader or the official state media playing the dismissal the way they did.

Qatari Press Freedom

Jennifer Lambert writes about the apparent decline of press freedom in Qatar:

"When Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani came to power in 1995, he took several steps to enhance Qatar’s image and differentiate it from neighboring Saudi Arabia. As part of this strategy, he declared an end to media censorship, closed the Ministry of Information, and helped personally fund the establishment of al-Jazeera in Doha. Al-Jazeera became increasingly popular as the first Arab satellite news channel to air critical coverage of Arab regimes and cover previously taboo topics. Several Arab regimes temporarily withdrew ambassadors from Qatar or shut down al-Jazeera bureaus. The Emir’s refusal to censor coverage, however, won the praise of international groups such as Reporters without Borders (RWB)...

"Several events in 2009, however, cast doubt on Qatar’s actual commitment to freedom of the press. Robert Ménard, then Director of the Doha Center for Media Freedom, became frustrated when the Qatari government refused to issue visas to threatened journalists, citing diplomatic concerns. He issued a public letter on the center’s website accusing members of the Qatari government of being unsupportive of the center’s mission.

"Then in May of 2009, Flemming Rose, the cultural editor who published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in the Danish press, arrived in Doha as part of the UNESCO-sponsored conference. His attendance sparked outrage among some Qataris, and Ménard received most of the blame. A Doha mosque denounced the media center in Friday prayers. The Qatari daily al-Watan accused Ménard of inviting “Satan” to Doha and insulting all Muslims. In June, a member of Qatar’s Advisory Council (a 35-member legislative body appointed by the Emir) called for Ménard’s dismissal, and Ménard resigned...

"The Advisory Council passed a new media law imposing stiff fines and a one-year jail term for any journalist who slandered the ruler or threatened national security, religion, or the Qatari Constitution. Editor-in-Chief Khalid al-Sayed of the Qatari daily The Peninsula issued a front page criticism in June 2009, writing 'We find it strange that the Advisory Council, made up of Qatari nationals, has this kind of opinion when His Highness the Emir has given us the freedom to voice our opinion on issues freely and in a fair manner.' The law was left unsigned by the Emir, and to date, the only official media law in the country is still the 1979 Press and Publications Law."

Lambert's piece looks toward the forthcoming unveiling of Qatar's new media law, which some fear could codify the red lines that currently exist only via self-censorship. What it reminds me of is an article by Mehran Kamrava in the Summer 2009 Middle East Journal entitled "Royal Factionalism and Political Liberalization in Qatar." Kamrava's argument is that Emir Hamad's push for political liberalization has been part of a larger strategy seeking political legitimacy by casting himself as the guarantor of the country's path to modernization, and that as his power within Qatar has become more secure, he has less need of it. As Qatar is the home of trend-setting satellite new network al-Jazeera, this could have repercussions for the broader Arab media environment.

Sir Bani Yas

The National reports on the opening of the ruins of a Christian monastery in Abu Dhabi:

"The remains of a Christian monastery and church on Sir Bani Yas Island, believed to have been settled around 600 AD by a community of 30 to 40 monks, opened for public viewing on Saturday.

The site, unearthed in the early 1990s, is believed to be the only permanent settlement ever established on the island, and researchers said the find has valuable historical and religious significance...

"The monastery complex, a multi-building compound located on the eastern side of the 87-square-kilometre island, is the only pre-Islamic Christian site known in the UAE. Discovered in 1992 during an archaeological survey, the monastery is believed to have been an important destination for pilgrims travelling along a trade route to India."

Our understanding of these remains has recently undergone some revision, but this post from March given an influential contemporary view.

Tbilisi Kitten

A kitten in a ruined building in Tbilisi

Qatar 2022

Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup:

"Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup in a vote by the Fifa executive committee today. It beat competition from the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan.

"The Gulf country presented the most technically ambitious plans for a World Cup, using its 30-minute presentation to underline how the tournament could unify a region ravaged by conflict.

"Qatar brings the World Cup to the smallest host ever but one which has unparalleled financial clout to stage the world's biggest single-sport event. It overcame objections about holding the games in desert heat and asked Fifa to take a 'bold gamble...'

"Qatar will stage a World Cup in and around Doha in a desert summer but promises state-of-the-art technology to cool fans and players alike.

"After the elimination of Australia, Japan and South Korea, it came down to a duel between the United States, promising huge commercial spoils in a key growth market, and the new territory of the Gulf region, still flush with riches despite the global financial crisis."

Hamas Can Accept Israel

Yesterday I mentioned a Wikileaks cable expressing the Emir of Qatar's opinion that Hamas would accept a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. Now, the leader of Hamas in the Occupied Territories has said the same thing:

"The Islamist Hamas movement, whose charter advocates the elimination of Israel, would accept the outcome of a Palestinian referendum on a future peace treaty with Israel, its Gaza leader said on Wednesday.

"Ismail Haniyeh, addressing a rare news conference in the Israeli-blockaded enclave, signaled a softening of Hamas's long-standing position prohibiting the ceding of any part of the land of what was British-mandated Palestine until 1948.

"'We accept a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the resolution of the issue of refugees,' Haniyeh said, referring to the year of Middle East war in which Israel captured East Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.

"'Hamas will respect the results (of a referendum) regardless of whether it differs with its ideology and principles,' he said, provided it included all Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the diaspora."