Tunisians celebrate, clamour for jobs
RAUF Denktash, the founding leader of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus (TRNC), has died after a long illness, his son announced. He was 87.
“Our grief is great. My father lost three children, he is now with them,” Serdar Denktash said from a clinic in northern Cyprus where his father was admitted on Tuesday.
Last May he suffered a cerebral embolism that left him partially paralysed and in July received treatment in a military hospital in Ankara, but his condition failed to improve.
A British-educated lawyer, Denktash represented the Turkish Cypriot community for more than 40 years, half of it as head of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which was recognised only by Ankara. — AFP TUNIS — Thousands of Tunisians yesterday turned out in central Tunis to demand jobs and dignity as the North African country marked a year to the day since its despot Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled into exile.
“Work, freedom and dignity”, “Work is a right”, and “We will continue the fight”, were among the slogans chanted by demonstrators brandishing banners on the avenue which was the epicentre of the popular uprising that gave birth to the Arab Spring.
“We made this revolution against the dictatorship to impose our right to a dignified life and not to help certain opportunists realise their political ambitions,” 33-year-old Salem Zitouni said.
Other demonstrators, wearing the red and white of the national flag, called for recognition of the “martyrs” killed during the weeks of unrest before Ben Ali was toppled.
“We are faithful to the blood of the martyrs,” and “We will never forget our martyrs,” their banners read.
Some also chanted the now famous “Get lost” and “Good riddance” that had accompanied calls for Ben Ali’s resignation in the weeks leading up to his ouster on January 14, 2011.
Several people who were wounded in the revolution began a sit-in outside the government headquarters in the old town Kasbah.
Pride of place was given to the memory of Mohamed Bouazizi, the 26-year-old vegetable seller from the central town of Sidi Bouzid, whose desperate act in setting fire to himself was the trigger of the revolt.
Tunisia’s revolution, which culminated in a peaceful election in October, has inspired reform movements throughout the Middle East, including the downfall of longstanding autocrats Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.
Among the problems that remain to be solved by the new authorities are soaring unemployment of 19 per cent nationally — up to 50 per cent in certain inland areas overlooked for investment in the past — and widespread social discontent.
Also to mark the anniversary, Tunisia granted an amnesty or conditional release from prison to 9,000 detainees. The amnesty on what is now a public holiday in Tunisia had been expected and includes Tunisian and foreign prisoners.
Capital punishment of another 122 detainees was converted to life imprisonment.
The death penalty remains on the books in the north African country but is no longer applied. — AFP