In the wake of Martyrs' Day confrontations, Tunisia's interior ministry is reversing course.
Tunisia on Wednesday (April 11th) lifted a ban on rallies along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, just two days after police violently dispersed a Martyrs' Day protest on the capital's main thoroughfare.
"The avenue is reopened to all Tunisians, those who want to demonstrate, to walk or to work," Interior Minister Ali Laayaredh said following a cabinet meeting.
The move followed a large demonstration Monday by unemployed university graduates that was broken up by police using batons and tear gas. At least fifteen protestors were injured, along with eight police officers.
The Ennahda-led government faced sharp criticism from opposition groups and rights activists for the March 28th protest ban and subsequent crackdown.
"We were only carrying flags and banners and they attacked us with tear gas. When we escaped to a side street, they followed us," rights activist Raja Slama said. "We understand repression, but why the insistence and determination?"
Monia, an unemployed 33-year-old, told Magharebia she thought the protest ban was "foolish" given "the historical symbolism associated with Habib Bourguiba Avenue, which witnessed the famous march on January 14th, 2011 that toppled the ousted president."
Rights activist Saida Garrache called the Martyrs' Day clashes "an official declaration of the confiscation of the Tunisian people's rights to celebrate their history, past and present".
Others, however, questioned the ongoing spate of protests.
"Is it logical to have these rallies of this size, number and diversity every day without a permit?" Hatem Soltan asked. "The arrangements of demonstrations must be taken into consideration. It's true that freedom is a right, but it's not a haphazard right without any conditions or restrictions."
"Why didn't most of the demonstrators go to Séjoumi cemetery to pray for mercy for the souls of martyrs and demonstrate there?" Boubaker Azzouz asked. "Why didn't they demonstrate April 9th last year, when Essebsi was in office, and chose to demonstrate today? The political goals are crystal clear, and we don't want anyone to exploit the blood of Tunisia's martyrs for political, electoral and partisan purposes," he added.
For its part, the interior ministry issued a communiqué on Monday's events, condemning the "deliberate and premeditated violation of law and some people's attempts to sow chaos and destabilise the country rather than respect the law and freedoms".
Meanwhile, Lotfi Azzouz, director of Amnesty International Tunisia, said that that it was "disturbing to see the Tunisian authorities resorting to the same laws that were prevailing under former President Ben Ali. These same laws have always been condemned by the same people who are trying today to use them to repress and muzzle journalists."
"All of this sends alarming signs, namely when we see attempts to return to the same old methods rather than show a commitment to protect free and open debate, which characterises a society that respects human rights and rule of law," he added.
The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) reacted strongly, issuing a statement that called on civil society groups and political parties to "stand by them in their battle against the new dictatorship".
The SNJT also claimed a lack of action by prosecutors on complaints filed against attackers of journalists, adding that it would resort to international courts and launch a campaign to defend free expression.
© Magharebia.com 2012
