In Tunisia and Egypt the revolutions are underway

Statement by the Bureau of the Fourth International
Fourth International
International Viewpoint
January 2011

“The most indubitable feature of a revolution is the direct interference of the masses in historical events. In ordinary times the state, be it monarchical or democratic, elevates itself above the nation, and history is made by specialists in that line of business - kings, ministers, bureaucrats, parliamentarians, journalists. But at those crucial moments when the old order becomes no longer endurable to the masses, they break over the barriers excluding them from the political arena,(...). The history of a revolution is for us first of all a history of the forcible entrance of the masses into the realm of rulership over their own destiny.”

Leon Trotsky, Preface to History of the Russian Revolution

The situation as with any revolution is changing from hour to hour. Any evaluation will undoubtedly be overtaken by events within a few hours or days. But already we can say that the Tunisia and Egyptian people are writing the first pages of the revolutions of the 21st century. They are sending shock waves throughout the Arab world, from Algiers to Ramallah, from Amman to Sana’a in Yemen. These revolutions result, within the particular historical conditions of this society, from the crisis that is shaking the world capitalist system. The “poverty riots” are combined with an immense mobilisation for democracy. The effects of the world economic crisis combined with the oppressive dictatorships, are making these countries the weak links in imperialist domination in the current situation. They are creating the conditions for the opening of processes of social and democratic revolution.

Demonstrations, strikes, mass meetings, self-defence committees, mobilisations by trade unions and civil associations, mobilisation of all the popular classes, “those below” and “those in the middle” who are swinging over into insurrection, “those above who can no longer rule as before”, convergence between parties from the radical opposition against the system, these are all the ingredients of a pre-revolutionary or revolutionary situation that is today ready to explode.

It is today the turn of Egypt to see hundreds of thousands of workers, young people and unemployed stand up against the dictatorship of Mubarak.

In Tunisia, a bloody dictatorship was cut down. It was the focus of the hatred of a whole society; the popular classes and especially of youth. The Ben Ali regime, its repression, its corruption, a system supported by all the imperialist powers, France, the USA, the European Union, had to be thrown out.

It is this same movement that is sweeping through Egypt today.

There are, of course, historical differences between the two countries. Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world. It has a decisive geostrategic place in the Middle East. The structures of the State, the institutions, and the role of the Army are different there. But it is the same basic movement that is affecting the two countries.

The Tunisian masses could longer stand an economic system - “a good pupil of the world economy” according to Mr. Strauss-Kahn - which starved them. The explosion of the prices of basic foodstuffs, unemployment of almost 30%, and hundreds of thousands of trained and qualified young people without jobs constituted fertile ground for the growth of a social revolt that, combined with a political crisis, led to a revolution.

There were dramatic price rises for all essential products, including rice, wheat and corn, between 2006 and 2008. The price of rice tripled in five years, passing from approximately $600 per ton in 2003 to more than $1800 per ton in May 2008.

The recent increase in the price of the grain is illustrated by a jump of 32% recorded during second half of 2010 in the compound index of food prices.

The big rise in prices of sugar, cereals and oilseed products took world food prices to record levels in December, exceeding those of 2008, which had started riots throughout the world.

At the same time, the IMF and the WTO are demanding the lifting of all tariff barriers and an end to all food subsidies.

The recent speculative rise in food prices encouraged a worldwide development of famine on an unprecedented scale, which is hitting a series of countries in Africa and the Arab world.

Egypt has also experienced the effects of this explosion of food prices. The economy does not create enough jobs to provide for the population’s needs. The neoliberal policies implemented since 2000 have caused an explosion of inequalities and the impoverishment of millions of families. Nearly 40% of the 80 million Egyptians continue to live on less than two dollars per day. And 90% of the unemployed are young people under 30.

The other remarkable thing is that the Egyptian national trade-union federation – led by members of the government – has partly withdrawn its support for the government in the two weeks since the Tunisian insurrection. They wanted price controls, wage rises and a system of subsidised distribution of foodstuffs; the people not being able to obtain basic necessities such as tea or oil. That the union leaders should demand this is unprecedented because they have been convinced neo-liberal supporters. That is the impact of the Tunisian events.

In Tunisia, this revolution has deep roots. The current social movement is the result of a cycle of mobilisations and movements which draw their strength from the history of the struggles of the Tunisian people and its organisations, in particular, many associations for human rights and democratic freedoms and trade unions like many sectors of the UGTT (General Union of the Tunisian Workers):

- the fight of certain personalities for freedom of expression and to travel in 1999,

- the high-school students’ movement in 2000,

- the mobilisations against the war in Iraq in 2001,

- the second Intifadah in 2002-2003,

- strikes and demonstrations in Gafsa in 2008,

- Ben Guerdane in June 2010,

- Sidi Bouzid, which at the end of 2010 opened up the way for the revolution.

It is a historical movement that started with this combination of social revolt and overthrowing a dictatorship but which today seeks to go further. It is a radical democratic revolution that has anticapitalist social demands.

Ben Ali had to flee, but the essence of his gangster system stayed in place. The force of the mobilisation has constrained the former Ben Ali supporters to leave the government gradually but, as we are writing this statement, the Prime Minister is still the Ben Ali supporter Ghannouchi.

The revolution wants to go further: “RCD out! ”, “Ghannouchi out! ”, behind these demands, it is the whole of the political system, all the institutions, all the repressive apparatus that should be eradicated. It is necessary to finish with the whole Ben Ali system, and to establish all democratic rights and freedoms: right of free expression, right to strike, right to demonstrate, pluralism of associations, trade unions and parties; abolish the presidency and install a provisional revolutionary government!

Getting rid of the dictatorship and of all operations that want to protect the power of the ruling classes means today opening a process of free elections for a constituent Assembly. This process must be based on the organisation of committees, councils, coordination and popular councils that have emerged from the process if it is not to be confiscated by a new oligarchic regime.

In this process, the anticapitalists will defend the key demands of a programme breaking with imperialism and capitalist logic: satisfaction of the vital needs of the popular classes - bread, wages, jobs; reorganization of the economy on the basis of fundamental social needs - free and adequate public services, schools, health, women’s rights, radical land reform, socialization of the banks and key sectors of the economy, broadening social protection for unemployment, health and retirement, cancellation of the debt, national and popular sovereignty. This is the programme of a democratic government that would be at the service of the workers and the population.

At the same time, whether it is to organize the defence of the districts, to drive out RCD leaders of state administration or big companies, to reorganize the distribution of the food substances, workers and young people are organising their own assemblies and committees. The most combative sectors and most radical must support, stimulate, organize and coordinate all these self-organisation structures. They are something to build on to establish a democratic power of the popular classes.

In Egypt, at the time we are writing this statement, the country is in a state of insurrection. In spite of bloody repression, the waves of mobilisation of the people develop. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators are in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. The party office of the ruling NDP and symbols of the regime have been attacked. The hatred for the Mubarak system, the total rejection of corruption, and the demand for satisfaction of vital social demands against price rises have provoked and stimulated the mobilisation of all the popular classes. The regime is vacillating. The Army leadership supported by the USA has tried a "self-managed coup" putting Omar Suleiman, head of the secret services and pillar of the current regime, alongside Mubrak as vice-president. The army is strained. There have been scenes of fraternisation between the people and the soldiers but faced with the determination of the Egyptians the Army leadership could also choose confrontation and harsh repression. The demand of the millions in the streets is crystal clear: Mubarak must go, but it is the whole dictatorship, the whole repressive apparatus that must be brought down and a democratic process with all rights and freedoms set in place. The call for a day of mobilisation on 1st February is the next step.

In Egypt too, it is necessary to finish with dictatorship and to found a democratic process with all the rights and fundamental democratic liberties.

The current movement is the most important since the 1977 bread riots but here again it has deep roots.

For the last 30 years Mubarak has maintained a dictatorial regime, imprisoning and murdering his opponents, suppressing any independent expression of the social movement and political opposition. The electoral masquerade of November 2010, entirely controlled by the NDP which won more than 80% of the seats, is the latest example. In the last few years there have been important strike movements particularly of the textile workers of El-Mahalla, general strikes and demonstrations and protests by different social categories, big anti-imperialist mobilisations against the military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004, marking the disavowal and isolation of a regime that is held up only by support of the USA and the European Union.

Egypt is, with Israel and Saudi Arabia, one of the three pillars of imperialist policy in the region. The USA, Israel and Europe will do everything they can to prevent Egypt escaping from their zone of influence and will do everything they can to oppose a revolutionary development of the protests.

The Tunisian revolution set the Arab world ablaze. It is also for a whole generation their first revolution. Everything can change today with the rising of the Egyptian people. The mobilisation will undoubtedly have repercussions through the region, in particular encouraging the Palestinians despite the shameful statement of Mahmoud Abbas.

We have to build a solidarity wall around the revolutionary processes which developing in Tunisia and Egypt, supported by active solidarity with the mobilisations throughout the Arab world. We cannot ignore the possibility of bad blows from the repressive apparatus of Ben Ali, or the threats of his friend Gaddafi. Also, if the regime decides on confrontation the Army leaders could unleash bloody repression.

Faced with the deepening of the revolutionary process, the western powers and the ruling classes will try to take back control by breaking this immense hope.

The Tunisian and Egyptian people must be able to count on the whole of the international labour movement, on all the global justice movement. In the trade unions, associations, the left parties, we must support the fights of these peoples and the revolt thundering through the Arab world.

Live the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions!

Solidarity with the fights in the Arab world!

Bureau of the Fourth International

8pm in Paris

30th of January 2011

-The Fourth International - an international organisation struggling for the socialist revolution - is composed of sections, of militants who accept and apply its principles and programme. Organised in separate national sections, they are united in a single worldwide organisation acting together on the main political questions, and discussing freely while respecting the rules of democracy.

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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)

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Tunisia: The social and democratic revolution is on the march!

Fathi Chamkhi
International Viewpoint
January 2011

The Tunisian popular masses have just made erupted onto the political scene in a spectacular fashion! They have succeeded, after 29 days of a social and democratic revolution, in driving out the dictator Ben Ali! This is a great victory!

It is a great day for us all, which we share with all those who are fighting against the world capitalist order! Above all, we have re-conquered our dignity and our pride, which for a long time had been ridiculed and dragged through the mud by the dictatorship. Now, we have a new Tunisia to build: free, democratic and social.


But right now the counter- revolution is on the march! Ben Ali has fallen from power but his regime, although destabilized and weakened, is trying to maintain itself in place. The Destourian party/state is still there, and so are its liberal capitalist economic and social policies.

This regime, which is presented as an example of a “star pupil” by the international financial institutions, this regime which bled the Tunisian popular masses for 23 years, for the benefit o f an international capital that is greedy for profits, while enriching a minority of families, grouped around the government and organized in gangster clans, must go. That is what we want!

We refuse the attempt that is under way aimed at confiscating our revolution. This operation is being presented under the formula of a “government of national unity”, with which this illegitimate regime is trying to hang on to power.

At the same time, the defeated regime has unleashed its over-armed militias, including the personal guard of Ben Ali, which are sowing terror in the big cities of the country, in particular in Tunis and its suburbs. Groups coming from the disinherited and famished masses are also taking advantage of the current chaos to help themselves in the supermarkets: in particular Carrefour and Geant. Bands of looters are positioning themselves along the principal roads of the country, making it dangerous to travel! Basic products are starting to be in short supply or are non-existent: bread, milk, medicine…

The regime, which has demobilized the police force in the cities and the National Guard in the countryside, is letting all this happen, taking advantage of the chaos to impose its own solutions. The introduction of the curfew and the deployment of the army – which lacks manpower and which has never had to face this kind of situation before - do nothing but worsen the fear, since it is during the night that the armed militias act! Everywhere, citizens are trying to organize their own defence, often in coordination with the army. Thousands of “popular citizens’ defence committees” are being set up to defend the population.

Only the establishment of a provisional government, without any representative of the Destourian regime, which will have the responsibility of preparing free and democratic elections, regulated by a new electoral code, for a constituent assembly, will be able to allow Tunisians take control of their destiny again, and to establish, in their country, an order that is just and beneficial to the mass of the population.

If the people aspire one day to live, destiny can only yield to their will!

Tunis, January 15, 2011

----------------------------------------------------------------------
-Fathi Chamkhi organizes RAID (Assembly for Alternative International Development)-ATTAC and the Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt (CADTM) in Tunisia

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Tunisia a Revolution in Progress

Below is rough translation of a briefing paper on Tunisia issued by the International Commission of the militant trade union Solidaires.

International Commission
Solidarity and Internationalism
January 2011

The tragic death of Mohamed Bouazizi, 17 December last, was the starting point of a wave of struggles unprecedented since fighting for independence. This act symbolized, indeed, all ills Tunisia. He was a young, who like many others, he had no real job prospects and had to settle for a small job to survive.

Millions of Tunisian recognized themselves in him, and especially young people felt this to a greater degree. The event that triggered his action was the seizure of his stock of fruits and vegetables by the police under the pretext he sold them without permission. And perhaps most importantly, the fact that he was publicly humiliated and beaten by authorities when he tried to recover his stock.


Being subjected to such arbitrary practices has been the daily lot of Tunisians for decades. To avoid such practices, it was necessary to take the path of image of the ruling party (the RCD - Constitutional Democratic Rally), to bribe the mafia and conspicuously display the photo of the president.

For years, this system was able to function: the vast majority of the population was terrorized by an organisation whose size exceeded the number of school teachers, informed by a multitude of informers receiving in return a few crumbs. Tens of thousands have had their lives broken by the prison and torture.

The culmination of a cycle of struggle
This single gesture of despair by Mohamed would probably not lead to a revolution if it had not entered in the cycle of struggles begun in the mining area of Gafsa Redeyef in 2008. These symbolise all the flaws of the regime, which could not be seen at the time, present throughout the rest of the country. It finds, however similar ingredients:

Massive unemployment, caused by the frantic mechanisation of the mining of phosphates, for jobless there was no hope of re-entering the workforce in this region with a mono-industry, which once saw workers flowing into it both from Tunisia and neighbouring countries.

Corruption, with competitive examinations to enter mining rigged by the mafia in power of competitive examinations in mining, was the cause of the massive mobilisation of people, especially youth.

In the struggle against repression, Tunisian trade unionists found themselves elbow to elbow with lawyers and human rights activists in refusing to compromise with the authorities. In the years that followed, several local social explosions took place, but they also remained isolated.

In late December 2010, fear has suddenly changed sides
Very quickly after the gesture of the young Sidi Bouzid, mobilizations were held at the site and in other regions. This movement was marked by several characteristics:

1. The slogans of the demonstrations have evolved very rapidly
Dominated the early emotion and anger, then quickly have expressed social demands:
“Work is a right, work is not charity! " They are combined with democratic claims“Freedom!”, “Interior Ministry, Terrorist Ministry!”.

Gradually, the watchwords have taken a more political character, denouncing the mafia in power: “Gang of thieves! Trabelsi! Bandits! (Trabelsi is the surname of the wife of Ali bin) “No President for Life!” “Police, wake up and join the fight”. All of which are synthesised in the slogans such as “Bread, water, yes, but not Ben Ali, Ben Ali, out!”

There were no Islamist slogans to be heard, unlike the scarecrow stirred for previous 23 years by Ben Alito justify his dictatorship.

2. Multiple sectors of the population entered in the action: unemployed, unionists, lawyers, human rights activists, journalists, feminists, artists, high school and university students etc.

3. These mobilizations have affected the entire country, unlike what in 2008 with that of mining area of Gafsa, and then for other local explosions.

4. For once, the mobilizations were known fairly quickly abroad, some media being referring to Ben Ali as the Ceausescu of Tunisia. Their impact is particularly significant in other Arab countries that suffer the brunt of the financial crisis and the policies of the IMF and the World Bank.

5. Part of the international political establishment has begun to make their prudish distance (USA, European Union). The Sarkozy government and part of the Socialists have persisted until the last day in their support for this plan.

Political forces in Tunisia
The dictator gone, it remains as to how power should be exercised and how politics is to be conducted.
Before the time of Ben Ali, during the time of the two presidents following independence, a single political party, the RCD, consisted of local militias and money. The RCD party: it has been for forty years one-party state, combining the features of the former dictatorships of Eastern Europe and neoliberal policies closely linked to the Western world.

This system has enabled a veritable looting of the country by the family and in-laws of the President. He also permitted the maintenance of a large customer is seeking to enrich themselves, or simply survive by accepting in exchange, singing the praises of the regime or participating in the heavy policing of the rest of the population. All this has not prevented the RCD being, for years the official section of the Socialist International!

In this type of mafia system, the space for other political parties has so far been singularly reduced.

a) The small satellite parties of the Ben Ali regime: their main function was to convince foreigners looking for excuses to support the dictatorship, that pluralism existed. They play no role in the current political debate.

b) The legal opposition agreed periodically to "dialogue" with power, in exchange for some parliamentary seats. Most sought until the end to find arrangements with Ben Ali. After his fall, they then accepted, at least momentarily, the Ministerial positions that have been offered. Found in this Category: Ettajdid Ahmed Brahim (former Tunisian Communist Party who followed a pattern similar to that of its Italian counterpartclosely linked to France through the ATF (Association of Tunisians in France);

• the FDTL (Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties) of Ben Jaafar (advisory member of the Socialist International and who will certainly become the official section after the official expulsion of the party of Ben Ali two days after he fled the country);


• Progessive Democratic Party of Maya Jribi and Najib Chebbi.


• You can add the PSG, a short period part of the far left. It was very quickly recognized the "new-old" authorities, and defended the government established after the fall Ben Ali.
  

c) The underground opposition had two main streams:

• The Islamists have suffered a merciless repression under Ben Ali: 30 000 were imprisoned and often do not stay in Tunisia outside prison but in underground, the militants of al-Nahda and a Salafi current, mainly targets the situation in other countries, particularly Iraq.
  
  In the actions, Ennahada denies wanting to use violence, and this trend has pronounced publicly (As at a meeting in Paris on January 15) for equal rights between men and women. Under the dictatorship, Ennahda did not hesitate to work within the 18 October Coalition with the forces of the legal secular-left (PDP FDTL), or even a Marxist like PCOT (Tunisian Workers' Communist Party). This current raises fears especially among youth and women, about sincerity of its evolution on secularism and women’s rights.


• Several groups or networks, who played for years a major role in the struggles against the former regime, particularly in the context of UGTT and UGET [1], have recently regrouped under the name “January 14 Front”. The are for the most part currents with origins in Marxist-Leninist (eg Trotskyist or Arab nationalist left. The old Marxist-Leninist, and for a time President of the Tunisian League of Human Rights, did not participate in this front.


• “Green Tunisia” of Zitouni was established in 2004, closely linked to the European Green Parties.
  

A powerful social movement
As often happens in dictatorships is the social movement that has played, in fact, the role of counter power. They included most of those venturing past dozens of years to raise their heads proudly against the dictatorship: unionists, activists of the legal and illegal left, lawyers, students, feminists, artists, Journalists, human rights activists, etc.

A large number had been imprisoned and / or torture, and yet does not renounce the struggle, not hesitating not to openly defy the cops and spies who were following their footsteps. Many knew of long and complex networks which mixed pell-mell political affiliations current or past, family ties, geographic origins, etc..including:

• Associations for the Defence of Human Rights, resulting in a complex mix between lawyers, trade unionists, former political prisoner, intellectua, members of legal and illegal political organisations: LTDH (Ligue tunisienne des droits de l'Homme - Tunisian League of Human Rights); CNLT ( Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie - National Council for Freedoms in Tunisia); AISPP (Association internationale de soutien des prisonniers politiques - International Association for Support of Political Prisoners), Liberté et équité (Freedom and Equality); ALTT (Association de lutte contre la torture en Tunisie - Association of Struggle Against Torture in Tunisia); Amnesty International; etc.


• Feminist associations, such as l'ATFD (Association tunisienne des femmes démocrates - Tunisian Association of Democratic Women) mainly driven by very secular intellectuals opposed to the Islamists.
• Journalists and Internet users working through the media relaying propaganda against the regime.
• Dissident artists, like the famous "Al General", the film associations from the theater world, since 1999 grouped around a platform of cultural action and anti-capitalist alternative.
• Within this social movement, one returns to the central trade union movement whose structures, activist resources and premises, opponents to Ben Ali often used establish a base for the rest of the social movement.
  
  

The Role of Labour
The UGTT, the sole trade union centre, was the origin of the Tunisian national movement time of In Tunisia, everyone claims Hached Ferhat, a founder of Tunisian unionism who was assassinated in 1952 by the far right with the help of colonial French secret service. The UGTT is largely a child of the French CGT (), but a break occurred in the postwar period, following the refusal of the PC and PS to support the claim of independence. The UGTT was then closer to the nationalist movement embodied by Bourguiba, also affiliated with Socialist International. The history is the result of complex interactions between UGTT and the Tunisian State.

Once in power, Bourguiba sought to use the prestige of UGTT to establish its domination, where a perpetual informal struggle occurred over the direction of the UGTT between two great currents:

• A current bidding for power at times ranging up to a quasi-integration within the state apparatus. It followed a series of bribes, such as parliamentary positions. In return, the confederal leadership called for votes in elections for the party in power, and sought to curb the struggles.
• A current of resistance to power, controlling some federations such as the powerful federations education, postal and telecommunications as well as some local and regional structures.The premises of these structures were often used as a base for much of social and/or political opposition. This movement played a decisive role in strikes, rallies and protests that resulted in the fall of the dictatorship.
• In between the two, a range of positions ranging between the two poles.

To give two examples: The secretary of UGTT for the region of Gafsa was simultaneously MP in Ben Ali’s party and boss of companies engaged in subcontracting work for the mining of phosphates. He was personally involved in the shenanigans regarding recruitments in the mines for the benefit of members of his tribe. Faced with popular mobilization against this injustice, it is simply suspended Local trade unionists who were involved in the mobilisation. And to top it all, it was officially supported by the national leadership of the Union Centre, the official in charge of the case was of the same tribe as himself, and presented the popular mobilizations as the work of dangerous extremists! The green light was given and repression against members of his own trade union organization that were imprisoned and some of them tortured. But simultaneously another part of the UGTT, whose unions in Education and Post & Telecommunications [2] took up the cause for Redeyef Gafsa defendants. Finally, the centre was forced to give their positions to the Redeyef unionists n the eve of the trial, including financial support to them and their families.

The Regional Union of Tunis, as it should be, is the main inter-professional structure of the UGTT confederation [3]. Long subservient to power, it had recently switched to being critic, at least part of the regime. It is o wonder that under these circumstances, the 27 December rally in the prestigious square in front of the headquarters of the UGTT earned the Secretary General of the UGTT a public repudiation nominally denouncing the union's general secretary of secondary education union who had spoken at protests and raised hostile slogans against Ben Ali chanted by the demonstrators [4]. A sign of the times was the posting on the Union Centre the December 30 statement by the French Inter-Union clearly denouncing the regime, and supporting the unionists who had protested on December 27 [5].

After a vigorous internal debate, the majority supported the other direction, with a January 4 statement supporting the movement [6]. Then on January 11, made a call giving unions, at the local regional and sectoral level throughout the country to call strikes [7]. Three representatives of the UGTT had been nominated by the General Secretariat to serve in the first government following the fall of Ben Ali. The Administrative Commission of the UGTT on January 18 [8] and on January 21 required the Government’s resignation [9].

The Role of International Solidarity
For many years, exiled Tunisians have patiently participated in construction organizations in solidarity with the struggles for human rights, such as the FTCR or CRDLHT [10]. Refusing to retreat into communalism, resolutely secular, they have tirelessly sought to involve the militants from other countries. Featuring a dual culture, and sometimes a double nationality, and they were indeed aware a part of the fight was played in the former colonial power. Faced the close economic ties, political and financial ties between the haves and politicians from both sides, it was the close economic, political and financial between the haves and politicians from both sides, it was necessary to isolate the regime of Ben Ali with the convergent action of the exploited, oppressed and defenders of human rights in different countries.

In order to circumvent censorship, they have gathered information published documentation, , organized meetings, rallies, demonstrations, etc. They have made many contributions, along with French and Moroccan organisations, the formation of the North African Solidarity Collective which is also involved with Sidi Bouzid Partners. They have helped French unions to get involved in this fight.

French Trade Unionism and Tunisia
The links between French trade unionism and Tunisian trade unionism are old. Given our history recent links of the Trade Union Solidarity are less old. They rely on irregular exchanges some structures as clearly opposed to power since 2002, between of postal and telecommunications and since 2008 with those of education, Redeyef etc. Acceleration occurred recently at the sectoral level. In February 2011, a Tunisian trade unionist working a call centre participates, for example, in a workshop on this during the World Social Forum in Dakar.

This acceleration occurred also between French unions, with the establishment about two years ago, a collective of trade union support for the struggles in Tunisia involving the CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires, which FO recently joined [11]. Organizations run by exiles Tunisians have played a major role in the establishment of the French inter-union collective, organized meticulously our trips to Tunisia, restarting every time when necessary. Overall, French Centres, have made four or five trips to Gafsa, along with exciting exchanges in Tunis with various structures of the UGTT, the LTDH, lawyers etc... The welcome of the management of the UGTT Confederation was generally limited to the “bare minimum”. They once even refused to receive the French inter-union, declaring they considered their presence as a hostile act towards the UGTT.

Build the solidarity movement
Tunisia's fate rests fundamentally on the development of popular mobilization within the country. But the Tunisian activists in Tunisia and France, more than ever are in urgent need of solidarity from the French trade union movement. They expect us to increase pressure on the French authorities, who were compromised, until the last day, with Ben Ali. Minister Alliot-Marie even suggesting the French Police aid Ben Ali! [12].

The French government and employers are now possible to ensure that the former regime can continue to exist without the dictator. They are closely linked to the Mafia who plundered the country for decades thanks to the combined pressure of unemployment and repression, they were able to have a qualified workforce at a low price. For them all this must continue.

If Ben Ali's plane was turned back, it was only because the French government was afraid of
It avoids having to respond with extradition requests in the near future. If measures have been announced against capital tied to the Ben Ali regime, it is for the same reason, we act so these measures are effectively implemented. For activists in Tunisia and France to also ensure that the property of Ben Ali in these two countries be returned to the Tunisian people.

The link between our partners is not always the greatest simplicity. The secular left current
for the first time with Ennhada under the collective Sidi Bouzid. This made it more difficult to link with groups of young Tunisians living in France, including collective of students, anxious for autonomy, involving women, hostile or reluctant to with Ennhada. These contradictions are present in the various initiatives of solidarity and also partially overlapping inter-generational questions.

Some emergency measures
Most Tunisian organizations present in France have agreed to jointly promote a number of immediate demands. Several French organizations, including the Trade Union , have decided to support them in their approach. This platform is based on the following:

• Democratic rights
• General amnesty and the right to return of all exiles.
• Immediate implementation of freedom of the press, freedom of association and availability of means of free expression and the free functioning, immediate implementation of freedom of assembly and demonstration.
• Recognition of all political parties without exception.
  
• Dismantling the party-state
• Restitution of public property abroad captured by the RCD with, for example, the provision of Local Parisian the 36th street in Botzaris Tunisian democratic associations
• Strict separation of state and the RCD, which involves seizing the premises of the RCD, the end entirely the available the resources of state personnel, vehicles and premises, and the dissolution of the RCD cells.
  
• Purging and Repair
• Arrest, indictment of those responsible for abuses against protesters, trade unionists and political activists.
• Truly independent investigative commission on abuses and compensating the families of the martyrs of freedom.
• Freeze the assets of the family and entourage of the dictator Ben Ali, an independent panel on corruption and the implementation procedures for both national and international recovery the stolen property to the Tunisian people
  
• Measures for unemployed
• Implementation of immediate financial measures for the unemployed, particularly unemployed graduates.

• Women's Rights
• Preservation and enlargement of acquired rights and freedoms of women, including the CSP (Code of Personal Status)
  
• Establishing a new regime
• A transparent and democratic constitutional process with the establishment of a broad debate for the development of a new constitution ending the anti-democratic presidential system of 1959, the election of a Constituent Assembly and submission to ratification by referendum of the people of this new Constitution.
  

1 - General Union of Tunisian Students
2 - In 2009, the general union of secondary education had 55 000 members, for a total of 82
000 employees. Rate unionization in post and telecommunications was around 50%.
3 - Greater Tunis has about 3 million inhabitants, for a Tunisian population of 10 million.
4 - Article published in the press on 28 December 2010 and posted on the website of the
Centre www.echaab.info.tn/news.asp?id=9142
5 - Statement of the French inter-union 30 December
http://www.echaab.info.tn/news.asp?
6 - UGTT statement of 4 January 2011 www.ugtt.org.tn/userfiles/statement(1).pdf
7 - UGTT statement of 11 January 2011
www.ugtt.org.tn/userfiles/file/D%C3%A9claration%20CAN%2011-01-2011.pdf
8 - UGTT statement of 18 January www.ugtt.org.tn/fr/actualitees-details.php?id=624
9 - UGTT statement of 21 January www.ugtt.org.tn/fr/actualitees-details.php?id=623
10 - Federation of Tunisian citizens of both banks http://www.citoyensdesdeuxrives.eu/
Committee for the Respect of Human Rights in Tunisia www.crldht.org
Tarek Ben Hiba mailto:t.benhiba%20@%20gmail.com
Mouhieddine Cherbib cherbib@gmail.com
Kamel Jendoubi kjendoubi@wanadoo.fr
11 - See for example the press release dated May 20, 2010
http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article17424
See also the statement of January 13, 2011 www.solidaires.org/article34686.html
12 A selection of statements by French political officials is available on
www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article19844

In addition to this newsletter, you can find materials related to international news and material from the International Committee of Solidaires on our website at the following address: http://www.solidaires.org/article12420.html.

Note rough English translations of the original French statements can be found at
www.revitalisinglabour.blogspot.com/2011/01/more-union-statements-on-crisis-in.html

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Olivier Besancenot: I know now that revolution is possible

Olivier Besancenot gives his impressions on Tunisia
International Viewpoint
January 2011

Olivier Besancenot, spokesperson for the Nouveau Parti Anti-Capitaliste was in Tunisia earlier this week to find out about the revolution happening there. Here are his impressions.

How did this trip to Tunisia come about?

It’s something I’ve never seen before. I’m part of that generation of revolutionaries which has never lived the experience. It’s the first time I’ve been through something like that in real life. I saw it with my own eyes. I love this collective enthusiasm, it’s contagious and intoxicating. As I’m speaking to you there are still thousands of citizens on the streets, in clusters, hundreds of people who are describing the events on Facebook and Twitter, trade unionists who are mobilised to demand the resignation of the “new” government. The revolution is continuing here.

What is your feeling about this popular uprising?

Revolution is a complex process which moves ahead little by little and creates its own path. The revolution is continuing because it has only one goal: to get rid of this charade of a government. At the moment the Tunisian oligarchy still has the country in its grip; the police are also controlled by them as is every sector of the economy and that suits no one here. The opposition wants to convene a constituent assembly to change the institutions and move along a new road.

So, revolution isn’t a crazy dream? Does that give you any ideas?

Yes. I’m absolutely filled with hope (laughter). I know now that revolution is possible, it’s there, under my eyes. No revolution resembles another. There is no model. When people have tried to copy it has often ended badly. I’m here to learn and to understand. I’m noting things about organisation, the structure of the movement and it’s thrilling. We too really need a social-democratic revolution.

You’ve met some of the opposition. Do you think they are ready to take power?

I’m not there to speak in the name of the Tunisian people – it has proved that it does not need anyone for that – but one of the first things they said was “it’s our revolution and we don’t want anyone to steal it from us”. They didn’t expect that it would spread across borders.

And you?

I’d answer by quoting Ken Loach: “revolutions are always contagious.” What happened in Egypt yesterday and has been happening for a few days in Algeria is extremely important.

Do you hope to to go Egypt in the next few days?

I’m not a revolutionary tourist (laughter) and am not on a pilgrimage. I came to Tunisia at the request of my comrades whom I’ve been in touch with since the start of the movement. We had simply agreed that I would visit at an appropriate time. I’m in touch with people in Egypt of course. We’ll see what attitude we should take. However our job in France is to fight against our own government and our own imperialism. It’s obviously not the right that’s going to do that.

And the left?

The Socialist Party won’t do anything anymore. Let me remind you that a few days ago Ben Ali was part of the Socialist International and that it was the present government which covered his regime.

What do people in Tunisia think of France’s attitude?

They are very angry. Sarkozy’s excuses are waffle. No one here believes him. I’ve explained that not everyone in France supported the government and all its actions. I’ve heard the French media criticise the government’s hesitancy but it’s much worse than that – it is active, concrete, economic and financial complicity.

And are they asking anything from France?

They don’t have any intention of living in a dictatorship, that’s for sure. They are not expecting anything from the French government. They have been disappointed and will ask for nothing
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-Olivier Besancenot is the best-known spokesperson of the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), formed in 2009 following a call by the Revolutionary Communist League (Ligue communiste révolutionnaire (LCR), French section of the Fourth International). As candidate for the LCR in the presidential elections in 2002 and 2007, he received 1.2 million votes (4.5%) and 1.5 million votes (4.2%) respectively.

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Tunisia: UGTT Demands Dissolution of Government

The Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT)
Published on MRZine on January 23 2011

1. The General Union of Tunisian Workers is a national organization necessarily interested in political affairs, given its history of struggle during the colonial epoch and the period of the construction of the modern state, considering the dialectical links among economy, society, politics, and culture in the process of development, but out task has become more urgent than ever.

2. The UGTT National Administrative Commission recalls that the withdrawal of UGTT ministers from the government is due to the government's failure to respond to the conditions set by the UGTT Executive Office in its 15 January 2011 statement, a position whose correctness has been proven and which corresponds to the demands of masses of demonstrators and the rest of the civil and political society.

3. In view of massive demonstrations across the country demanding the dissolution of the government and rejecting the participation of RCD representatives in it; also in view of numerous resignations in response to the rejection by various political parties and currents; and because of the urgent need to restore the confidence of all in order to proceed to the effective preparation for the reforms that have been announced; the members of the UGTT National Administrative Commission demand the dissolution of the government and the establishment of a "national salvation" coalition government which responds to the demands of demonstrators, political parties, associations, NGOs, and all the people.

4. The National Administrative Commission decides, with a view to effectively taking part in a commission for political reforms, to create trade union committees composed of experts and specialists to work out UGTT proposals on political, economic, and social reforms necessary for the establishment of democracy, as well as transparent elections to ensure the freedom of choice, to lay the foundations for a parliamentary government, and to permit dissemination of accurate information. Moreover, the UGTT demands that members of its National Administrative Commission be represented in the commission of inquiry on the killings of innocent citizens during demonstrations, to bring those responsible for them to justice, and be also represented in the commission of inquiry on corruption and other crimes.

5. The UGTT calls upon all workers to oppose all attempts to disrupt the normal functioning of institutions and to obstruct their return to normal activity, as well as to be on guard in defense of our achievements and to ensure the continuation of necessary mechanisms for the management and conduct of daily functions, in order to preserve the vital interests of the people and to avoid the vacuum that does lasting damage to workers and citizens.

6. The UGTT reaffirms its commitment to continue to wage the legitimate struggle, whether by striking or demonstrating peacefully, until the government is restructured according to the conditions set by the UGTT, which correspond to the demands of all segments of the political spectrum as well as of the people.

7. The UGTT demands that the 14th of January be proclaimed as national holiday, for the public and private sectors, for civil service, and for all the sectors of people.

8. The UGTT urgently appeals to all trade unionists and workers to preserve the unity of their organization in order to ensure the continuity of the struggle and achieve the workers' demands, in interaction with the demands of protesters and the general public, and to remain vigilant against all attempts to split our ranks and to divide the unity of our decisions at this sensitive stage in the history of our country.

Long live the struggle of our brave people on the path to dignity in Tunisia.

Tunis, 21 January 2011
Secretary General
Abdulsalam Jarad


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The original statement in Arabic was published on the UGTT Web site: . A summary French translation is available at , and a summary Spanish translation at .

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Tunisia: Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the Tunisian General Union of Labor

Statement of the National Administrative Commission
Tunisian General Union of Labor

The members of the National Administrative Commission of the Tunisian General Trade Union held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, 18 January 2011 in Gammarth, headed by the General Secretary comrade Abdessalem Jerad. They analyzed the rapid developments witnessed by the country and assessed the sacrifices made by the trade unionists, the workers, the population and the martyrs in the historical popular uprising to resist injustice, oppression and delinquency. Since the members of the Administrative Commission believe in the national and social role, which has long been played by the labor Organization in the struggle for freedom, justice and human rights, they:

1 - Stand in humility and homage for the martyrs who perished during the uprising of our people against oppression and tyranny, against the protection of the corrupt gang that lived in our country and for the resistance to an oppressive system based on abolishing public and individual freedoms and human rights.

2 - Remind that the Tunisian General Trade Union was the first organization that alerted the Government through its studies and memoirs, and its speech to the public, about the situation of tension and anger that has reached our youth and our people as a result of the clumsy development policies which led to unemployment and poverty and created a void in the social and cultural development.

3 - Stand in tribute and appreciation for the solidarity between all the social classes in order to maintain security and public property. They also stress the fact that the acts of vandalism and looting were carried out by groups who were paid by symbols of the presidential security and by spoilers from the family of former president as well as his followers and relatives. They consider that any attempts to divert the public opinion from the real perpetrators of these acts of vandalism and looting represent a kind of deception and obfuscation.

4 - Call for the immediate freezing of the accounts of the former president, his family and in-laws and the nationalization of their properties and to prevent all the suspects from leaving the Tunisian territory waiting for the outcome of the investigations that will be conducted by the committee formed for this purpose.

5 - Stress the need for the announced political reforms to be immediately effective, including the separation between Political Party and State, the passing of a general legislative amnesty, the revision of the Constitution and the Electoral Code and enabling all the political sensitivities of their right to get organized and to exercise their political activities freely, away from all the pressures and constraints.

6 - Call for the creation of representative structures with broad powers to monitor the implementation of the immediate measures that were announced as well as the political, economic and social reforms.

7- In order to reinforce the trade unionist rights, according to the international conventions and the local laws, the members of the Administrative Commission call for the immediate dissolution of the professional divisions and their federations since they are parallel structures that clearly damaged worker relations and the social climate within the institutions of production. They also stress the need to dissolve the structures of the Constitutional Democratic Party, a party that is still
headed by former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

8 - Ask for reviewing the terms of the right to demonstrate peacefully in order to eliminate crippling strictures that limit people’s freedom to protest against the adopted policies that contradict with their interests and aspirations.

9 - Despite the fact that the Tunisian General Trade Union is keen to social and political reforms and to the need to strengthen them, it considers that the composition of the announced coalition government does not respond to the conditions set by the Executive Bureau in the statement issued on Saturday 15 January 2011 and does not correspond to the aspirations of the workers and the population concerning real renewal, breaking off with the old practices, and equilibriums. This is
due to the number of representatives of the previous government and the ruling party in the coalition government as well as the marginalization of the role of the representatives of the Tunisian General Trade Union. The members of the Administrative Commission announce the withdrawal of their representatives from the coalition government, and the resignation of the union members from the House of Representatives, the Council of Advisers and the municipal councils as well as the freezing of the membership of the Tunisian General Trade Union in the Economic
and Social Council as well its membership in the Supreme Councils.

10 - Reject all forms of external intervention to guide our people and to influence them because the population who managed to overthrow a President who suppressed all those who upheld the right to freedom of expression, is qualified to chart their own destiny away from guardianship.

11 - Call for working to form an elected constituent assembly, through free and democratic elections, which reflects the will of our people to build a better future.

12 - Decide to give an amnesty to the trade unionists whose activity was suspended in all sectors and regions.

Tunis 18 January 2011

General Secretary
Abdessalem Jerad

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Union Statements on Tunisia

The following are some statements by unions and international confederations regarding events in Tunisia. The statement by French confederations is a rough translation of the text published on Solidaires website.

1. International Trade Union Conderation Statement on Tunisia - January 12
2. Statement by CGT, CFDT, FO, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires - January 13
3. Statement of the National Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) - January 15
4. Statement of the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union - January 17



1. ITUC Calls on Affiliates to Mobilise against Repression of Demonstrations
12 January 2011: The International Trade Union Confederation has called on its affiliated organisations around the globe to mobilise against the violent repression of demonstrators by the Tunisian security forces. According to trade union sources, over fifty people are thought to have died in clashes between the security forces and protestors, and many more have been injured.

The wave of demonstrations was unleashed when a young street vendor from Sidi Bouzid committed suicide on 17 December 2010 following the confiscation of his merchandise by the authorities. In four weeks, the protest movement has spread beyond Tunisia’s socio-economically disadvantaged central region, reaching the capital, Tunis, and other towns across the country.

On Monday 10 January, President Zine El Abidine pledged to create 300,000 jobs in 2011 and 2012 to curb unemployment, and described the protests as "terrorist acts". The ITUC is calling for concrete measures to fulfil the welcome jobs pledge as well as an immediate halt to the violent repression and the opening of a genuine dialogue with the Tunisian people, to promote more equitable development. The ITUC has joined with its Tunisian affiliate the UGTT in expressing solidarity with the people of Tunisia and supporting the call for a development model guaranteeing equal opportunities, the right to decent work, and job opportunities providing a stable income capable of meeting their needs.

"The opening of a genuine dialogue is urgently needed in Tunisia," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "The demonstrators are desperate young people just looking to make ends meet. It is up to the Tunisian authorities to take every action to help them. It must also ensure that those detained be immediately released. The government must fulfil its obligations under international law to respect trade union rights and fundamental liberties such as freedom of expression."

The ITUC supports the general strike planned in the 3 regions by the UGTT and condemns the police blockades at the UGTT offices in several towns and the use of force to prevent trade unionists from organising peaceful protests.

2. Statement Thursday, January 13, 2011 at a meeting of the Labour Exchange in Paris

With the Tunisian central union UGTT, the French trade unions CGT, CFDT, FO, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires, denounce the repressive policy of the Tunisian government. They condemn the shoot to kill policy in Thala, Kasserine and Ar-Reqab and denounced the raid that destroyed the premises of the UGTT in Kasserine.

The wave of anger triggered three weeks ago in Sidi Bouzid by self-immolation of the youth Mohamed Bouazizi express in Tunisia a vast movement of demands for jobs and a decent life.

The regime responds by force and killing. According to a provisional report, some 50 people in the cities of Kasserine and Thala, died. , we must add those killed and injured in other regions, the exact count of victims is not yet clear.

The army was deployed yesterday to the capital and major cities and a curfew is introduced. Faced with such a policy we fear the worst.

With the UGTT, French unions call for immediate withdrawal of the military from towns, the end of the state of emergency affecting some areas and the release of all prisoners.

The six French organizations demand, with the Tunisian trade unionists that those who opened fire on demonstrators are prosecuted and punished. They support the request of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the UN for a transparent and credible inquiry.

The current announcements of the regime are not credible. The Tunisian Government declares the freeing of all detained since the start of movement and proceeds at the same time to more arrests. Without significant action and concrete commitments, promises of job creation, vague recognition of corruption or changes of ministers are just manifestations of a helpless regime that this crisis has called into question.

French trade union organisations declare solidarity with the Tunisian central union in claiming that a country's development model should meet the basic needs of the population, based on regional balance and for which the state and the public sector must ensure their investment function.

Tunisian workers claim a right to a decent job providing a steady income allowing everyone to meet their needs and providing guarantees in the event of loss of employment. We therefore support the request of the Tunisian central union to create an unemployment fund.

The French unions say they are also supportive of the claims of unionists and the Tunisian people who aspire to democracy, respect for civil liberties, the press and media, independence of the judiciary and respect for union rights to demonstrate and strike. Many rights violated by a regime that takes breath, year after year has reinforced repression and authoritarianism.

The six French organizations also wish to express their indignation at the statements of some members of the French government supporting President Ben Ali denying the authoritarian nature of the Tunisian regime or opting for cooperation with the Tunisian authorities to maintain order.

Also, they ask the government to cease its support for the police regime of Ben Ali, who is now unable to receive the explicit or implicit guarantee of democratic governments.

They also call upon the EU to demand that the Tunisian government respects the clause on respect for democracy and human rights and fundamental freedoms of association in the Accord with Tunisia. It must be the same in the negotiations leading to a partnership of the European Union with this country.

They finally call on the French and European authorities to demand the release and amnesty of prisoners and those convicted following the social movements, including those of 2008 in the mining area of Gafsa.

3. Statement of the National Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union

The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union held a meeting on Saturday, January 15, 2011, after examining the outcome of the social and political conditions in the country and the resulting struggles of workers, trade unionists and the general public, in addition to the confirmed ability of our comrades of the Tunisian General Labor Union to regulate the movement of strike and to make it succeed. The Executive Bureau:

1 - Greets the general public, for its struggle to oppose injustice, oppression, persecution and all forms of corruption and misconduct. It renews the condemnation of the great campaigns of genocide and assassination that have targeted innocent and defenseless people who were demonstrating for the right to decent work in a society characterized by freedom, democracy and human rights and the fundamental rights of workers represent an integral part of these characteristics.

2 - Praises the role played by the Tunisian General Labor Union in embracing the workers, led by trade unionist and sectoral structures, and in its success in embracing the rest of the segments of the population, protecting and defending them and their social interests.

3 - Calls for the need to apply the Constitution, respect the chapters relating to the mechanisms to get out of the crisis and the formation of a national coalition government composed of intellectual, political and social figures and which should not include persons from the dissolved government. The task of this government is to work to protect the citizens and families of all forms of robbery and assault and to ensure their safety.

4 - Emphasizes the need for the immediate formation of the following committees:
A) A fact-finding commission to prosecute all the people involved in the assassination of citizens either by shooting or by giving orders to do so.
B) A follow-up Committee to capture the corrupt, the manipulators of people's money and those who caused corruption in whatever form. The commission should include independent figures and jurists selected through consultation with the components of civil society.
C) A national committee to review the Constitution and the Electoral Code and all the laws relating to political reform in order to ensure the preparation for democratic elections that reflect the aspirations of our people and respond to the demands of the strikers in order to give the possibility for the parliamentary government to establish the rule of law and institutions.

5 - Calls for a real freedom of the media through the dissolution of the High Council for Communication and the Tunisian Agency for External Communication and the formation of an independent commission to direct the media in our country.

6 - Calls for the immediate dissolution of the professional divisions and the professional federations that they created, because they represented one of the causes of tension within the institutions of production and work sites.

7 - Stresses the need to uphold the enactment of a general legislative amnesty.
8 - Calls for the separation between the political parties and the state structures and to an in-depth review of the concept of security and its structures and functions.

9 - Affirms the right to peaceful demonstration and emphasizes the freedom of association away from any pressures or restrictions.

10 - Draws the attention to the need to preserve the public and private properties and the peaceful and free expression and invites business owners and retail stores to return to their economic activity and to open their shops to meet the needs of citizens in order to reduce some aspects of looting and robbery carried out by groups of suspicious identity.

11 - Calls the regional and local trade union structures to form committees to protect the headquarters of the unions, the public properties and institutions and to protect families and citizens and the general public from all the forms of robbery and assault.

The General Secretary

Abdessalem Jerad

4. Statement of the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union

The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union held a meeting on Sunday, 16 January 2011 under the chairmanship of the General Secretary comrade Abdessalem Jerad to follow the latest developments in our country asthe existence of a gang whose relationship with some symbols of the former regime was confirmed. This gang attempted to instill fear and chaos among the population. The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor union:

1 - Calls for an immediate freeze on all assets of the former President and all the bank accounts of his family and in-laws and to prevent any attempt to leave the Tunisian territory until the outcome of the investigation that will be led by an appointed commission entrusted with revealing all financial excesses, all forms of corruption and the attacks on people's property.

2 - Calls the officials and the responsible charged with forming a coalition government to provide people with minute information about what is happening in our country like organized sabotage, the attempts to spread terror among the citizens and the rapid and urgent actions to be taken to preserve the safety of all families.

3 - Addresses all the trade union structures, the workers and the entire population:

Dear trade unionists
Dear workers
Dear citizens

Our country is witnessing a situation that includes attempts of some people, whose relationship with the former regime was confirmed, to spread terror, fear and chaos among the population. In order to face the crimes committed against our people and their properties, against the gains achieved over the long process of national and the social struggle and to stop doubting in the path that we want to build with all the components of civil society and all the national forces in addition to opposing the revitalization of black market, the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union calls all the workers to resume working and all tradesmen to open their shops starting from Monday, 17 January 2011

Let us have another date with history,
Let us be united in defending the interests of our people, our institutions and our work

Let us be a strong unit in confronting all attempts of spreading confusion and organized terrorism against our people.

The General Secretary

Abdessalem Jerad

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