Tunisian Communists condemn Qutari regime

by Sana Ajmi of Tunisia Live

Hama Hamami, leader of the POCT

Hama Hamami, leader of Communist Workers Party of Tunisia (POCT), claimed yesterday that ”The Qatari regime is an enemy to Tunisia and the Arab World,” referring to Qatar’s alleged involvement in the guiding of democratic uprisings of 2011 in North Africa and the Middle East.

Qatar’s role in the “Arab Spring” has been a source of controversy among politicians and citizens across the Arabic-speaking world.

Many have claimed that the tiny Gulf emirate has been promoting its agenda through its television channel Al Jazeera, while others have claimed that Qatar has broader motives for backing and supporting Islamist parties.

Tunisia: Interview with UGTT Deputy Secretary General Hacine El Abassi

On January 14, 2011, Ben Ali, the Tunisian dictator, was forced to flee the country as a result of the revolutionary mobilizations of an entire people.


No sooner had Ben Ali fled than all the reactionary forces -- both inside Tunisia and on a world scale -- rushed to form a government of national unity structured around Ben Ali's party, the RDC, but also incorporating liberal "opponents" to the old regime. Key to this attempt to put a halt to the revolution under way in Tunisia, and to rescue the old regime, was the effort to co-opt the leadership of the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) trade union federation into joining the government of national unity.


Initially the UGTT accepted this proposal from Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi. But as soon as it was announced that three representatives of the UGTT had joined the government, a revolt took place at all levels of the UGTT federation against this decision. The UGTT had been a backbone of the revolution; its local and regional leaders and activists were central leaders of the revolution, its headquarters had been used widely as the organizing centers and launching pads for the mass mobilizations.


Under huge pressure from the members and officers of the union federation, the National Administrative Council of the UGTT convened an emergency meeting 12 hours after its initial decision and voted a resolution announcing that it was withdrawing its representatives from the national unity government and from all elected positions on a national, regional level and local level.


This opened a new chapter in the unfolding Tunisian Revolution.


We are publishing below an interview with Hacine El Abassi, Deputy Secretary General of the UGTT. it is reprinted from the Jan. 26, 2011, issue of Informations Ouvrières, the weekly newspaper of the Independent Workers Party (POI) of France. The interview was conducted on January 24 by theInformations Ouvrières correspondent in Tunisia. -- Alan Benjamin


* * * * *




INTERVIEW with Hacine El Abassi, Deputy Secretary General of the UGTT:


"If there is no other way to get the Ghannouchi government to step down, we will call a general strike."


Question: What is the position of the UGTT in the current political situation?


Response: I remind you that on January 18, the UGTT adopted a resolution that states:


"Considering that the coalition government does not correspond to our ideas, that it does not express the demands we have put forward and that it does not represent the aspirations of the people and workers, [the UGTT] decides to withdraw our representatives from the coalition government; to have our elected union officials resign from the National Assembly, from the Assembly of the Council, and from the local councils; and to suspend the participation of the UGTT in the Economic and Social Council."


The UGTT also demanded, "[t]he dissolution of the RCD ... and the rejection of any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of our people, as they were the ones who overthrew a president that repress[ed] the people; the people therefore should be the ones to determine their destiny without outside interference."


The trade union federation also called for the "nationalization" of the Ben Ali clan's property, that is, the takeover by the Republic of Tunisia of a large portion of the economy. In this vein, the UGTT called for a "Constituent Assembly through free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people."


It is in this sense that the Secretary General of the UGTT and three members of the National Executive Committee, of which I am one, will meet tomorrow [Tuesday, Jan. 25 -- Ed.] with the political forces that want to end the RCD regime and its government. The goal is to discuss with them the conditions for the formation of a Government of Public Salvation, as per the January 18 resolution adopted by the UGTT's National Administrative Council.


The UGTT will play its role as a catalyst until a solution is found that is consistent with the interests of the people and their revolution. It will help ensure that opposition political parties will become part of the Government of National Public Salvation, constituting thereby a transitional political alternative to the RCD government, which has been rejected by the Tunisian people.

The only goal we pursue is the fulfillment of the goals of our revolution.


The UGTT will play its role to help gather and unite all opposition political forces in this direction. On this basis, we will be an obstacle to all internal and external enemies, who are able to weave their webs only to the extent that they are in our midst and are still willing to collaborate with our enemies.

Question: What are the objectives of the Tunisian revolution?
Response: Economic development, democracy, social justice, and a constitution. The first spark that will indicate that our country has changed course is the development of the interior regions, regions that have been totally abandoned by the RCD regime.


During 2010, we had undertaken an economic study of the Sidi Bouzid region and had warned the government of the risk of social explosion because of the alarming unemployment rate and the total lack of economic projects and job prospects. Development projects were implemented only along the coast.


Numerous studies show that the Ben Ali government's policy of privatization since he came to power has been responsible for the destruction of the economy.


They did not even know how to administer their own privatization policies. Workers in many privatized sectors are now demanding the nationalization of their companies. I cite, as an example, the public transport company, Tunis Air -- and there are many others.


In the face of the failure of the privatization policies, we had demanded a halt to the process to see if the privatized enterprises were functioning or not. We have always demanded a halt to privatization and the conservation of our companies as public enterprises.


Today, we ask that all of our companies are restored to the State because they must serve the objective of development and employment in our country. More specifically, we are calling for the the restoration of all privatized public enterprises into the hands of the State. This is imperative.

The French people have suffered for many years from this damaging privatization policy, dictated by the European Union (unemployment, the dismantling of public enterprises, the blows to social rights, etc.)


We are aware of this situation and know the harmful social effects that privatizations are causing in Europe as well. In each of our union battles against privatization, the government told us: "Even Europe is compelled to privatize."


The union federation in basic education has called today [January 24] for an indefinite strike. The strike has been followed massively, according to the reports we have received. But faced with the deafness of Ghannouchi and the RCD government, what can be done?


For our part, we will use all legal means to ensure that the demands of the Tunisian people are carried out -- for the departure of the Ghannouchi government and the dissolution of the RCD. Strikes are taking place in many sectors, as are marches and demonstrations.


If there is no other way to get the Ghannouchi government to step down, we will call a general strike. But we believe that the pressure of the street and that of workers in their workplaces, schools, etc. is in the process of making the government tremble.

In support of the intifada of the poor!

In support of the intifada of the poor!
YCL-LJC International Commission
February 2011

The Young Communist League of Canada expresses our solidarity with the intifada of the poor of the popular forces in Tunisia, as well as Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan, Jordan, Yemen and other Arab countries. We urge youth to join the mobilizations by youth and students across Canada in support of these uprisings. The strength and will of the people is stronger than ever, and is a testament to what the militant and united struggle of the workers and youth can achieve in the current context the economic crisis and the capitalist offensive against the people.

In Tunisia, where the protests were sparked, demonstrations follow more than two decades of the highest level of political repression, corruption, the illegal privatization of public resources, and blatant theft of public funds. The people of Tunisia have demanded change from the staggering unemployment and crippling poverty caused by imperialism and the dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, his wealthiest allies and his political colleagues, including interim prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, former minister of International Co-operation and Foreign Investment and from Ben Ali's very own oligarchy. We condemn the continued arrests in Tunisia of progressive trade unionists and students and pay homage to all those protestors killed in the violence.

We alert Canadian youth and student organizations of the hypocritical aspect of Prime Minister Harper’s recent statement on supporting democracy, being made in the Kingdom of Morocco, occupier of the last colony in Africa, Western Sahara. The Harper Conservatives, who until a week ago strongly supported these governments, cannot re-write their history. In the context of the debate about extraditing Ben Ali’s family members, we note that this has exposed the contradictory two-tier racist immigration system which spends most time punishing and deporting immigrant and migrant workers yet allows in Canada super-rich human rights violators from US-backed puppet regimes from around the world.

We urge the youth of Canada to oppose any imperialist attempts to interfere with the sovereign people’s of north Africa and the Middle East and their right to make their own future. For the Arab people, these struggles are only the continuation of a long battle for much needed political and economic reform that must go further; we support the demands for the redistribution of wealth and resources, which previously sat in the private hands.

The uprising has been an inspiration to not only to the Arab National Liberation movement but to all political activists and working people across the globe. Regardless of its outcome, it sends a signal that the people make history. We too, can throw off our chains and fight towards a democratic system that represents our interests, rather than those of our elite oppressors.

Keep the momentum going: you will win!

On the developments in Middle East

The recent weeks have witnessed important developments in several countries in the Middle East region, mainly in Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon. Those developments reflect the great will and capability of the peoples of those countries in their struggles for full independence, freedom and economic and social transformation.The first place was Tunisia were people went down into the streets since several weeks against the oppressive regime of the former - running away - president Bin Ali who controlled Tunisia by brute force since 24 years. The people could achieve their demand in ousting Bin Ali who ran away to Saudi Arabia. Now a new government was formed, but the people still refuse it and ask for deeper reforms. In this context WFDY supports the demands of the youth and people of Tunisia in their demands for reforming the constitution on democratic bases and the legalization of the opposition political parties, as well as their demands in suing the symbols of the former regime and forcing them out of the political life completely and to give back the fortunes they stole from the Tunisian people.

In Lebanon, the former government fell down after the resignation of 11 ministers out of it. This step led to the ousting of the US supported government and presented a shock for the imperialist forces trying to manipulate Lebanon. In this context, WFDY supports the rights of the Lebanese people in selecting their own government without foreign interventions. We also support the struggles of the Lebanese youth through the demonstrations that they organized for their economic rights against the high taxation system on the essential food and products and also on fuel.

Egypt today witnesses one of the most important times in its recent history, where hundreds of thousands of people are demonstrating everyday against the regime, heroically overcoming the wave of repression that initially they were the target of, and demanding the resignation of the president Mubarak who rules Egypt since 30 years, and also for the resignation of the symbols of this corrupt regime. WFDY supports the demands of the Egyptian youth in reforming the system through constitutional amendments and reforms and also in their demands for higher wages and less taxes.

Egypt is a main political, economic and military force in the region that lies in the hands of US and Israeli intelligence and any real change will constitute a huge blow for the imperialist forces in the region.

WFDY supports progressive reforms in Egypt and in the region and calls the youth in the Middle East to unify their efforts and struggles through common actions for a better future full of democratic rights and economic and social transformations. WFDY full adopts the demand for the immediate resignation of President Mubarak as a sign of tyranny, oppressions and loyalty to imperialism in the region.

Finally, WFDY considers that these struggles are a proof and an inspiration for all the young people of the world that, even under the harshest conditions and the most brutal repression, it is possible to resist and to win!

For a Constituent Assembly Which Sets the Milestones of a Democratic Republic

The Tunisian people have won a splendid victory over the tyrant who fled the country in search of secure refuge. The Constitutional Council, which is none other than the work of Ben Ali, immediately announced that Fouad Mbazaa, President of the puppet Parliament, would take up the interim presidency pending the holding of new presidential elections within 45 to 60 days.

The Communist Party of the Workers of Tunisia (PCOT) welcomes this victory won by the people thanks to their will, their historic resistance, their sacrifices and the blood of the martyrs.

The PCOT states:

1. The victory won today is only partial; it will only be full with the attainment of the desired democratic change and its realization.

2. Democratic change cannot under any circumstances emanate from the same party, its symbols, institutions, apparatus and legislation, which maintained the dictatorship and deprived people of their basic rights for more than a half century, 23 years under the regime of Ben Ali.

3 Fouad Mbazaa, the interim president, is one of the arms of Ben Ali, the president of an institution imposed by Ben Ali that does not in any way represent the people. To set a period of 45-60 days for presidential elections seeks to ensure the continuity of the dictatorial regime through one of its ancient symbols.

4. The greatest danger today would be to rob the people of their victory, to deprive them of their sacrifice, of their legitimate ambitions for freedom and a dignified life through the maintenance of the Ben Ali regime under a new democratic facade.

5. Democratic change in all its political, economic, social and cultural dimensions demands an effective and immediate break with the tyrannical regime. This demands the formation of a provisional government or some other executive authority that will hold free elections for a constituent assembly, which is the basis for a genuine democratic Republic, where the people enjoy freedom, social justice and dignity.

6. The political, trade union, cultural, human rights forces and all our people must together draw up the future of Tunisia. Nobody can arrogate to themselves the right to negotiate with the regime on behalf of those forces who have played a determining role in bringing down the dictator.

7. It is urgent that the democratic forces involved on the ground form united national organs for a democratic change, whose prerogatives would to ensure the safeguarding of the gains of the people and demand the peaceful transfer of power to the people.

8. The totality of democratic forces throughout the country must organize in committees, commissions or councils at the levels of regions, localities and sectors, to organize the popular movement and confront the reactionary maneuvers, operations of looting and pillage that suspicious groups are carrying out in order to terrorize the citizens and scare them away from democratic change so that they put their fate in the hands of the repressive apparatus.

9. The army, consisting essentially of the children of the people, is called upon to ensure our safety and the security of the country. It must respect the choices of the people and their aspiration for freedom, dignity and social justice; this demands the rapid lifting of the state of emergency so that it cannot be a pretext to prevent the people from pursuing their legitimate struggle and achieving their ambitions.

* For a provisional government

* For a constituent assembly

* For a democratic republic

Communist Party of the Workers of Tunisia

Tunis, January 15, 2011

Stand by the toiling people of Tunisia!

The following statement, "Stand by the toiling people of Tunisia!" was issued this week by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkey.

The Communist Party of Turkey declares its solidarity and support to the ongoing popular revolt against the dictatorship of Zain Al‑Abidin Bin Ali and his regime based on unemployment, poverty, political oppression and state terror.

The Communist Party of Turkey stands by the revolt, which calls itself the "intifada of the poor", and the progressive, revolutionary forces leading the movement, and calls all workers, the poor and the progressive forces of Turkey to support the revolt.

The dictatorial practices of the Bin Ali regime are not unique, neither in the world nor in the Middle East and the Arabic world. Unfortunately, regimes based on lawlessness, police and military terror and plunder of the values created by the toiling people cannot be seen as "singular" cases in our world and our region which has been living under the tyranny of imperialism for decades. The rapid outstretch of the flag unfurled by the toiling people of Tunisia against the Bin Ali regime to other countries in the region marks how common the problems are.

In order to maintain its hegemony in all territories, imperialism gives support to many dictators like Bin Ali. Yet, the same imperialism is also shifting its support rapidly whenever such political figures fail to serve its interests further or become a hindrance to its hegemony. It is evident that such imperialist manipulations have played a role in the events ongoing in Tunisia.

In this respect, the revelation of the former commander of general staff Rashed Ammar, receiving instructions minute by minute from the U.S. embassy after the events broke out, is just an example of such manipulation attempts. Likewise, the intrigues to plant a "new" government that will brag about the so‑called "democratization" of the country while pursuing the same pro‑market and Americanist policies with the Bin Ali regime can be seen in this context as well.

However, the "intifada of the poor" has given this game away. The revolt of the people and the struggle of the progressive forces rendered the temporary government obsolete, which hastily strives to hold an election without taking any significant step towards a genuine change, and in which the officers of Bin Ali actively take part. Moreover, the demands and actions of the progressive forces against looting events that are intentionally organized to undermine the legitimacy of the people's movement circumvented the acts of imperialism and the capitalist rule in Tunisia.

In the heart of the events in Tunisia, there lies the deep exploitation and inequality, unemployment and poverty, lawlessness and corruption, political oppression and terror. The consciousness of large masses is not blurred in the sense that all of these causes are valid in the entire region and especially in our country. The Communist Party of Turkey considers standing by the toiling masses of Tunisia as a requirement of challenging the dictatorship of Justice and Development Party that has been established step by step in Turkey; as a requirement of challenging the imperialist hegemony and capitalist rule. Hence, our party calls our working people to support the revolt of the Tunisian people for this cause as well.

We declare our support to the demands of the progressive forces of Tunisia, which can be fully realized only through a change of the social order. We support the demands to immediately prosecute those responsible for the killing of the protestors, to establish a genuinely new and legitimate government composed of the representatives of the workers and the poor, to remove all barriers before the organization of the people.

Long live the intifada of the poor!

Long live socialism!

Communist Party of Turkey - Central Committee

Rally in Support of Democracy in Tunisia

Rally in Support of Democracy in Tunisia
Saturday Jan 22 @ 1:00p
Vancouver Public Library, Robson Side (Robson @ Homer)

Members of the local Tunisian community will be joined by allies and supporters of democracy in Tunisia at a rally this Saturday, January 22, 1pm outside the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library (Robson Street at Homer).

“We will be joining members of the Tunisian Diaspora and other supporters in rallying to support the movement for democracy in Tunisia which has inspired the whole world,” said Dr. Younes Alila, a UBC Professor.

The dictator Ben Ali fled Tunisia last week after sustained mass protests against his decades-long rule. Ben Ali’s family has Canadian connections and investments. In Montreal, rallies have been held outside his son-in-law’s mansion.

“We demand that the Canadian government support democracy in Tunisia, and we are very disappointed that the Canadian government has remained silent throughout weeks of protest, in which nearly 100 innocent people were killed by the dictatorship’s forces of repression,” said Dr. Younes Alila. “If members of Ben Ali’s regime and family seek refuge in Canada, they must be brought to justice for their crimes against the people of Tunisia,” added Alila.

“We must be vigilant to ensure that the interim government meets its promises implement political democracy and to allow elementary human rights like freedom of expression and assembly,” said Dr. Alila.

Members of the local Tunisian community will be joined at Saturday’s rally by members of local peace and human rights organizations.