Tunisia: Continue the Revolution to Achieve Its Objectives

by the 14th of January Front
MRZine

No to the Continuation of Tyranny, No to Foreign Intervention

While the Tunisian masses have been continuing their sit-in in the Qasbah Government Square, and tens of thousands of Tunisians have been marching in Sfax, Tunis, Sidi Bouzid, Jendouba, Nabeul, and other parts of the country, to bring down the "national unity government," a modified government led by Mohamed Ghannouchi has been imposed on us. The imposition bears the hallmarks of the interference by US Assistant Secretary of State Feltman. This government is the continuation of the dictatorship and tyranny, refusing to hear the voice of the people; it obeys the dictates of imperialist forces of America and Europe that have subjected our country to unemployment, impoverishment, and marginalization.

Therefore, the "14th of January Front" declares the following:

1. Rejection of the "national unity government," as amended to circumvent the people's revolution and demands and aspirations.
2. Rejection of any US, European, or other tutelage on the destinies of our people and our country.
3. Call for the formation of a "provisional government" acceptable to the people, which should result from a national congress to defend the revolution, consisting of:
   

• All political parties, associations, trade unions, human rights and cultural organizations, and independent individuals who support the demands of the people's revolution and struggle to achieve them.
• Representatives of the forces created by the revolution in all areas of the country through the councils or committees or associations formed at the initiative of the masses.
• Representatives of the Tunisian associations and organizations abroad who have resisted the dictatorship and supported the revolution in Tunisia.
  

4. The mission of "the National Congress to Defend the Revolution" consists of drafting laws to
create a climate of complete freedom for the Tunisian people by repealing the laws contrary
to freedom and suspending the constitutional articles which negate freedoms and the
principle of popular sovereignty until the enactment of a new constitution.

5. The tasks of the "provisional government" are the following:

• To manage daily affairs.
• To dissolve the appointed representative bodies.
• To dismantle the ruling party and its militia, to expropriate its properties, and to bring to justice those who engaged in economic and political crimes.
• To dismantle the political police.
• To appoint interim officials of the diplomatic corps, governorates, delegations, and sectors of Tunisia to carry out the tasks of the transitional period.
• To prepare the election of a constituent assembly in an atmosphere of freedom. This assembly should represent all the vital forces in the country after agreement on the mode of representation (adopting proportional representation) that avoids exclusion.
• To hold the constituent assembly, which will draft a new civil, modern, and democratic constitution for the Republic of Tunisia that fulfills the Tunisian people's aspirations for freedom, equality, social justice, and dignity.
  

In declaring these positions, the 14th of January Front warns the "national unity government" against pursuing any repressive measure against the sit-in in Qasbah and the protesters all over the country.

The Front calls for the continuation of the mobilization, standing by the masses and uniting with all the democratic political forces of the nation as well as all the organizations, groups, associations, and independent individuals struggling to achieve the objectives of the people's revolution, in honor of the martyrs and in fidelity to their will.

Tunisia, 28 January 2011

The 14th of January Front
The original statement in Arabic is available at the Web site of the Tunisian Communist Workers Party. Cf. "Tunisia: The Founding Statement of the 14th of January Front" (MRZine, 25 January 2011)