TUNIS – In a bid to quell angry protests, Tunisia declared an overnight curfew in and around the capital starting from Saturday, May 7, stirring protesters anger who accused the interim administration of suppressing their freedoms.
The curfew, announced by a statement of Defense and interior ministries, runs nightly from 9 p.m to 5 a.m. in the greater Tunis district until further notice.
The district under curfew comprises Ariana, Ben Arous and Manouba, as well as the capital city of Tunis, according to official news agency.
The new measure was taken following a week of anti-government protests that spread on the outskirts of Tunis calling for the resignation of the interior minister.
Demonstrations renewed on Thursday after former interior minister, Farhat Rajhi, warned that Ben Ali loyalists might seize power in a coup if Islamists won elections scheduled in July.
Protesters threw stones at police and set cars ablaze in streets near the center of Tunis to which security forces responded with shots in the air and teargas.
Accusing protests of looting and assaults on public and private property, the statement said curfew was declared “in order to ensure the safety of citizens and property.”
The unrest is the latest development in the North African country, where the Arab world’s tide of revolutions began, after the ousting of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January.
Angry protesters complained of police tactics in suppressing protesters, reminding them of pre-revolution era.
They also repeated fears that the interim administration might renege on its commitment to democracy.
“You see. The police are the same as before,” Jalouli said.
“There is no change.”
Trying to quell anger, the government fired Rajhi from his post as head of the state-sponsored High Commission on Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties.
Election Fears
Rajhi’s anti-Islamists comments found listening ears among Tunisians, proud of their secular constitution.
“Our constitution does not allow religious parties and Ennahda is outside the law,” Haifa ben Adballah, told Reuters at an anti-Islamist demonstration by a few dozen people a few blocks from the confrontations in the city center.
Under Ben Ali’s 23-year rule, several political and Islamic groups were banned, including Ennahddha movement of exiled leader Rached Ghannouchi.
The movement was legalized last March for the first time in the 30 years of its existence following a decision by the interim government that replaced the toppled Ben Ali regime.
The caretaker government decision agreed to legalize all banned political groups.
Ennahddha said it will contest the elections and does not fear a coup.
It is expected to do well in some parts of the country of 10 million people, especially in the south in coming elections scheduled in July to draw up a new constitution.
Meanwhile, biting economic conditions accompanied by deep frustration over poverty and unemployment were infuriating Tunisians.
Following the revolutions, the turmoil is set to trim growth of Tunisian economy to only 1-1.5 percent this year.
Such conditions were coupled with tough police tactics that failed to calm protesters.
“Things are far from returning to normal,” said cafe owner Hassan Ali.
Source: OnIslam
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