Showing posts with label Tunisia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tunisia. Show all posts
2011-05-17
North African Migrants Risk Lives to Reach Italian Island of Lampedusa
N. African Migrants Risk Lives to Reach Italian Island
More than 30,000 migrants have arrived from north Africa on the tiny southern Italian island of Lampedusa, so far, this year. Most of the migrants leave the coasts of Tunisia and Libya onboard rickety fishing boats. Thousands of people have died making the journey. Despite the dangers, the ongoing violence in Libya is forcing many more people to set sail for European shores.
2011-02-21
Anti-Government Protests in North Africa Spread
Anti-Government Protests Spread in North Africa
Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Morocco and Tunisia Sunday, while there are reports of 173 people killed during clashes with security forces in eastern Libya.
Morocco was the latest Arab country with anti-government protests. Journalists report at least 2,000 people marched in the capital, Rabat, and other cities, calling for a new constitution, more economic opportunities, a crackdown on corruption, and for King Mohammed to cede some of his powers.
The protest sounds in Rabat, captured in a YouTube video, could not be independently verified. But news services report that unlike Saturday's anti-government protests in neighboring Algeria, Moroccan police kept a low profile.
By contrast, Libyan forces have reportedly cracked down brutally against anti-government protesters in Benghazi and other parts of eastern Libya. Human Rights Watch estimates more than 170 people have been killed. Others like Benghazi doctor Soheil Al Atrach, who was interviewed by Radio France Internationale, say about 200 people were killed in the area.
Dr. Al Atrach says about 100 bodies have been brought into the Benghazi hospital where he works. He estimates the crackdown by Libyan authorities have left another 100 dead in surrounding towns and about 600 to 700 people injured. He describes the scene at his hospital as a 'real butchery.'
But journalists have had a hard time independently verifying the events and casualty toll in Libya, because of controls on information.
The protests are part of larger calls for democracy and regime change that have resonated across the Arab world, starting with mass protests in Tunisia and Egypt that toppled the leaders of both countries.
Thousands of demonstrators also poured into the streets of Tunisia's capital, demanding the resignation of the interim government, which has been criticized for being slow to address economic and security concerns - and for its ties to the former regime of strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The caretaker government has promised elections within six months, but has yet to set a date.
In Yemen, anti-government protests continued for the 11th straight day, with university students demonstrating in the capital, Sanaa.
Morocco was the latest Arab country with anti-government protests. Journalists report at least 2,000 people marched in the capital, Rabat, and other cities, calling for a new constitution, more economic opportunities, a crackdown on corruption, and for King Mohammed to cede some of his powers.
The protest sounds in Rabat, captured in a YouTube video, could not be independently verified. But news services report that unlike Saturday's anti-government protests in neighboring Algeria, Moroccan police kept a low profile.
By contrast, Libyan forces have reportedly cracked down brutally against anti-government protesters in Benghazi and other parts of eastern Libya. Human Rights Watch estimates more than 170 people have been killed. Others like Benghazi doctor Soheil Al Atrach, who was interviewed by Radio France Internationale, say about 200 people were killed in the area.
Dr. Al Atrach says about 100 bodies have been brought into the Benghazi hospital where he works. He estimates the crackdown by Libyan authorities have left another 100 dead in surrounding towns and about 600 to 700 people injured. He describes the scene at his hospital as a 'real butchery.'
But journalists have had a hard time independently verifying the events and casualty toll in Libya, because of controls on information.
The protests are part of larger calls for democracy and regime change that have resonated across the Arab world, starting with mass protests in Tunisia and Egypt that toppled the leaders of both countries.
Thousands of demonstrators also poured into the streets of Tunisia's capital, demanding the resignation of the interim government, which has been criticized for being slow to address economic and security concerns - and for its ties to the former regime of strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The caretaker government has promised elections within six months, but has yet to set a date.
In Yemen, anti-government protests continued for the 11th straight day, with university students demonstrating in the capital, Sanaa.
Anti-Government Protests Spread in North Africa
Article from VOA
2011-02-12
Mr. Dictator, tear down this wall! - Protests for Freedom in 2011
"Mr. Dictator, tear down this wall!"
As the walls of dictators around the world collapse in 2011 from protests for freedom, we can look back at an important quote in history. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" was the challenge from U.S. President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan spoke these historic words in West Berlin at the base of the Brandenburg Gate, near the Berlin wall.
Sunday, February 6, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of late United States President Ronald Reagan, who served two terms in the White House during the 1980's. America's 40th president is remembered by many as the Great Communicator - and as the man who helped end the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had a single-party political system dominated by the Communist Party until 1990.
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
"Mr. Dictator, tear down this wall!" is a quote inspired by the late United States President Ronald Reagan and the brave people of the world protesting for freedom. Dictators have fallen in Tunisia and Egypt. Who will be next?
Copyright 2011
2/12/2011 - "Mr. Dictator, tear down this wall!" Copyright © 2011 - All rights reserved.
As the walls of dictators around the world collapse in 2011 from protests for freedom, we can look back at an important quote in history. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" was the challenge from U.S. President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan spoke these historic words in West Berlin at the base of the Brandenburg Gate, near the Berlin wall.
Sunday, February 6, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of late United States President Ronald Reagan, who served two terms in the White House during the 1980's. America's 40th president is remembered by many as the Great Communicator - and as the man who helped end the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had a single-party political system dominated by the Communist Party until 1990.
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
"Mr. Dictator, tear down this wall!" is a quote inspired by the late United States President Ronald Reagan and the brave people of the world protesting for freedom. Dictators have fallen in Tunisia and Egypt. Who will be next?
Copyright 2011
2/12/2011 - "Mr. Dictator, tear down this wall!" Copyright © 2011 - All rights reserved.
2011-01-26
Tiananmen Square Moment in Egypt - Bravery for Freedom and Democracy
Tiananmen Square Moment in Egypt January 25, 2011
1989 Tiananmen Square Protests in China
Protests in Egypt, Tunisia Spark Turmoil
Edward Yeranian | Cairo January 26, 2011 - VOA
Egyptian security forces have deployed en masse across the capital, Cairo, Wednesday amid calls by protest leaders to continue demonstrating despite a ban.
In central Cairo, Egyptian activists clashed with security forces stationed nearby as thousands of Interior Ministry troops stood watch along key roads and bridges to keep passersby from congregating.
The Egyptian Interior Ministry warned on its website that public demonstrations would not be tolerated. Protest organizers reported scattered mobile phone outages and a blockage of the social websites Twitter and Facebook to prevent them from mobilizing supporters.
Top opposition activist Abdul Jalil Mustapha called on President Hosni Mubarak not to seek re-election.
He said the opposition is asking President Mubarak to announce that he will not run for re-election and that his son, Gamal, will not run in his place. Mustapha also insisted that both houses of parliament be dissolved and transparent elections be held.
The Egyptian stock market also reportedly dropped 4 percent as investors worried about the implications of a rise in turmoil.
In nearby Tunisia, security forces fired tear gas at protesters close to the prime minister’s office, as groups of young men threw stones and tried to break through a barricade. Protesters are demanding that interim Prime Minister Mohammed Gannouchi step down.
The prime minister is due to announce a reshuffle of his cabinet. Meanwhile, Education Minister Ahmad Ibrahim urged Tunisians not to get carried away by demonstrations.
He said it's normal for people to have a certain civic-awareness and to be concerned about protecting the gains of the revolution and keeping it from spinning out of control. But, he adds, it is imperative that protests be organized and peaceful and not stop the country from functioning.
An active discussion continues in the Arab press about the possibility of popular protests spreading from one Arab country to the next. However Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris III, insists that each Arab country has its own internal logic.
He said that despite what people say, the idea of contagion from one Arab country to another is not a foregone conclusion and that the situation does not resemble that of eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He stressed that each country has its own context and that government structures vary widely. Tunisia, he noted, has a tradition of separation between religion and state, and a vibrant middle class which led the recent revolt. The army, he added, also joined the revolt.
Conditions differ in Egypt, concludes Abou Diab, because the government, the army and the security forces have a "symbiotic relationship", and the state has a Pharoanic tradition of strong leaders. But, he urged President Mubarak to work slowly to democratize the system to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran from taking advantage of a political vacuum.
Video footage of Egypt protests:
Video footage of Tunisia protests:
Protests in Egypt, Tunisia Spark Turmoil article came from VOA
1989 Tiananmen Square Protests in China
Protests in Egypt, Tunisia Spark Turmoil
Edward Yeranian | Cairo January 26, 2011 - VOA
Egyptian security forces have deployed en masse across the capital, Cairo, Wednesday amid calls by protest leaders to continue demonstrating despite a ban.
In central Cairo, Egyptian activists clashed with security forces stationed nearby as thousands of Interior Ministry troops stood watch along key roads and bridges to keep passersby from congregating.
The Egyptian Interior Ministry warned on its website that public demonstrations would not be tolerated. Protest organizers reported scattered mobile phone outages and a blockage of the social websites Twitter and Facebook to prevent them from mobilizing supporters.
Top opposition activist Abdul Jalil Mustapha called on President Hosni Mubarak not to seek re-election.
He said the opposition is asking President Mubarak to announce that he will not run for re-election and that his son, Gamal, will not run in his place. Mustapha also insisted that both houses of parliament be dissolved and transparent elections be held.
The Egyptian stock market also reportedly dropped 4 percent as investors worried about the implications of a rise in turmoil.
In nearby Tunisia, security forces fired tear gas at protesters close to the prime minister’s office, as groups of young men threw stones and tried to break through a barricade. Protesters are demanding that interim Prime Minister Mohammed Gannouchi step down.
The prime minister is due to announce a reshuffle of his cabinet. Meanwhile, Education Minister Ahmad Ibrahim urged Tunisians not to get carried away by demonstrations.
He said it's normal for people to have a certain civic-awareness and to be concerned about protecting the gains of the revolution and keeping it from spinning out of control. But, he adds, it is imperative that protests be organized and peaceful and not stop the country from functioning.
An active discussion continues in the Arab press about the possibility of popular protests spreading from one Arab country to the next. However Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris III, insists that each Arab country has its own internal logic.
He said that despite what people say, the idea of contagion from one Arab country to another is not a foregone conclusion and that the situation does not resemble that of eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He stressed that each country has its own context and that government structures vary widely. Tunisia, he noted, has a tradition of separation between religion and state, and a vibrant middle class which led the recent revolt. The army, he added, also joined the revolt.
Conditions differ in Egypt, concludes Abou Diab, because the government, the army and the security forces have a "symbiotic relationship", and the state has a Pharoanic tradition of strong leaders. But, he urged President Mubarak to work slowly to democratize the system to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran from taking advantage of a political vacuum.
Video footage of Egypt protests:
Video footage of Tunisia protests:
Protests in Egypt, Tunisia Spark Turmoil article came from VOA
2011-01-14
Tunisia - Opportunity to Build a Democratic Country
Tunisian President Flees Country Amid Unrest
Tunisia's President has fled the country and the prime minister has announced he is in charge Friday after protests and riots rocked the capital.
Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi went on state television to say he was assuming power amid reports the country's president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had fled the country. The army has sealed off the airport and closed Tunisian airspaced. Earlier President Ben Ali announced a state of emergency and fired the government following the worst unrest to hit this North African country in decades.
Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters demonstrated in Tunis demanding President Ben Ali step down. The main Habib Bourguiba Boulevard was a sea of humanity, as young and old, well-off and poor, chanted for change.
One young man said the message was clear: Tunisians had lost confidence in their government. They want someone who can serve the country, serve its people. Many other protesters voiced similar sentiments.
Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters demonstrated in Tunis demanding President Ben Ali step down. The main Habib Bourguiba Boulevard was a sea of humanity, as young and old, well-off and poor, chanted for change.
One young man said the message was clear: Tunisians had lost confidence in their government. They want someone who can serve the country, serve its people. Many other protesters voiced similar sentiments.
Tunisia Country Profile |
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But the demonstrations took an ugly turn in the afternoon. Riot police came out in force. People scattered. Young men lobbed objects at the police who responded with tear gas.
The government announced a curfew, sealing Tunisians and foreigners in their homes. Tunis hospital officials reported 13 dead late Thursday. There were no immediate reports of a casualty toll Friday.
The unrest began several weeks ago, touched off by the death of a man in southern Tunisia who set himself on fire to protest his inability to sell his produce. It was fanned by the Internet and by Tunisians angry about economic hardship and perceived corruption among top Tunisian politicians. Dozens of people have died in the unrest, although government officials and human rights groups offer vastly different tallies.
The government announced a curfew, sealing Tunisians and foreigners in their homes. Tunis hospital officials reported 13 dead late Thursday. There were no immediate reports of a casualty toll Friday.
The unrest began several weeks ago, touched off by the death of a man in southern Tunisia who set himself on fire to protest his inability to sell his produce. It was fanned by the Internet and by Tunisians angry about economic hardship and perceived corruption among top Tunisian politicians. Dozens of people have died in the unrest, although government officials and human rights groups offer vastly different tallies.
Tunisian President Flees Country Amid Unrest - article came from VOA
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