of CWI reporters from Tunis (www.socialistworld.net)
fact that the former dictator Ben Ali on Friday 21 January in Tunisia did not flee is the end of the uprising in Tunisia, but the beginning of a whole period of revolution and counterrevolution in this country.
The population has shaken the political landscape like never before, has proved an unparalleled will to fight and turned the streets and cafes in some political discussions.
thousands of workers have set up social demands in various industries to improve their work situation and adopted in a number of areas of the administration, replacing the state power. long
For a while the unpopular transitional government of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi go because of the massive social struggles in the air.
The absence of a clear political alternative in the form of a bold revolutionary leadership, which presses represents the working class and impoverished masses and is willing to change the balance of power fundamentally from the current situation.
The support of the bureaucratic leadership of the UGTT trade union for the current government has led to a weight loss of movement and Ghannouchi allowed to keep his position. The pause, which has entered the social movement, could prove to be very entertaining, because the situation is still very inconsistent and could still break The present prove to be short-lived, and the discontent of the masses is still always great.
only a renewal of the previous government: the names have changed, the regime remains the same
The label set up by two weeks, "government of national unity" is chronic instability. The government is facing massive opposition and the continued translated into nationwide protests last week. There was regional general strike in six of the "provinces". For five days, thousands of people, mainly from the poorer regions of the country, camped outside the government building to protest against the current government, which still so connected with the old Ben Ali's dictatorship is. First imperative is to remove all remnants of the old regime. But more and more are lined up one next to the political and social demands.
Last week Thursday mentioned Ghannouchi new government formation. It took some time before he moved out after intense negotiations so that the ongoing problems and the division of the ruling class expresses form a government that can establish the authority of the bourgeois state again.
is bad that the new government got the support of the majority of UGTT leadership. The mood that Abdessalem Jrad - the Secretary-General and other members of the Board UGTT their posts should be removed increases, (often hear is the slogan, "Jrad dégagé," so "way with with Jrad!"). The decision to support the government Ghannouchi drives the conflict in the trade union at the top. That a new union leadership that represents the interests of the membership voted by a democratically organized special congress of the UGTT will is stronger than ever.
The Trojan Horse of the counterrevolution
all key cabinet positions, including the interior, defense and foreign ministries, have changed hands, and went to the so-called "independents" in the government. Although the constant changes are within the transitional government is a direct expression of their weakness and the huge pressure of the street, this newly constituted Ghannouchi government is not fundamentally different from their predecessors.
All positions of power, whether nationally or locally, will continue by henchmen of the Ben Ali's party, the RCD occupies.
would mind a renaming of the party from RCD to PSD (Parti Socialiste Destourien, the old name of the party from the time of former President Habib Bourguiba) as suggested by some elders in the party to the party brings a more "innocent" look, not change anything.
Most of the twelve new ministers in the cabinet are neo-liberal "Golden Boys", former entrepreneur, former directors and managers of banks or private companies.
The real character of the new "democracy"
The RCD is still sitting in the leadership positions of the entire state apparatus. The basic demand of the masses for the resolution , this party was not enforced, the government will continue. Directed people of the old regime, who have united behind the scenes agreements with American and European representatives. There are still many political prisoners.
The current government has its true colors recently in the violent eviction of hundreds of people outside the government building in the Kasbah camped shown. After all sorts of experiments, to isolate these people and bring them to give up (by attempting not to allow the food supply of the camp by supporters, people buy with money, alcohol and drugs, etc.), then had police forces together with units for the brutal counterinsurgency vacated the place and destroyed the camp of camping. They chased demonstrators through the streets, used tear gas and injured at least 15 people .
course, this repression is not comparable to the killings of demonstrators that occurred before Ben Ali's escape. A similar bloody suppression of the second would lead to a conflagration of the uprising by themselves. A rash move on the part of Ghannouchi administration might provoke a resurgence of the movement and the demise of the transitional government . lead
This government continues isteht behind the actions of the militia of the old regime. Last week, several local trade union building in Monastir, Gafsa, Beja and Sousse were physically attacked. On Sunday morning, trying a group of "unknowns" in Le Kef local office to set fire to the UGTT.
on attacks against individual union activists and leftists have also been reported. A member of the Patriotic Democratic Workers' Party of Tunisia, "which a distribution of leaflets on Avenue Bourguiba in Tunis on 26 Organized in January, was just arrested by the police, taken to the police station and beaten up there. On Saturday, 28 January was a 300-strong demonstration for the rights of women a group of armed thugs attacked them with batons.
Although the reactionary militias could not trust currently open to occur, then a downturn in the mass movement nonetheless accompanied by violent reprisals.
The preservation and strengthening of the armed committees of self-defense is important to the neighborhood, the workplace and the Union buildings to protect.
A growing social anger
The Tunisian capitalist class and the imperialist forces (primarily U.S. and France), the greater economic and strategic interests of the country , never had anything left for the introduction of democracy in Tunisia. The current precarious "democracy" and won Freedoms, there are only due to pressure from the mass movement.
The End of Dictatorship Ben Ali has brought all the accumulated social contradictions to the surface. The working class and the masses have moved quickly, trying the circumstances of their everyday have shown to alter life as the massive movement in the last two weeks and the "traditional" not only in the areas of Working class took place.
Last Wednesday, several dozen foreign leaders gathered at the Tourism Ministry and called for better recognition of their work and the right to have representation gewerkschafltiche. The day after ; have hundreds of deaf people on the Avenue Bourguiba in Tunis gathered and demanded the creation of special schools and special public institutions for deaf-mutes.
There were strikes pupils in primary and secondary education and other areas and there were demonstrations by unemployed young people for decent jobs.
The capitalist class is obviously extremely concerned about these protests. "Ben Ali is gone now," she said. "The revolution is over, we need order and start to social peace and the economy again. "The agitation and chaos represent a situation of conflict with the interests of capital in general. It is absolutely essential that the period of uncertainty will be stopped immediately. "(Jean-Pierre Gallay, a businessman in the French" Le Quotidien ", quoted 26/01).
As in Egypt, the catastrophic economic situation in the suffering of the majority of the Tunisian people are the key factor proved that ultimately led to an explosion of anger against the old regime . The misery wages were not increased, except when employed in militant strikes as in the municipal collection of Tunis for have used. After several days of strikes and demonstrations, they won open-ended contracts and almost a doubling of their wages from 240 to 420 dinars.
The fear of increased fighting has forced the government Ghannouchi some minor concessions to make to calm the situation. These include the provision of an emergency fund ; of 500 million dinars, which some provinces and regions have been assigned, which were "priority", most notably Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine and Gafsa, where a large number of workers involved in the uprising. In addition, financial compensation will be paid to families from which a member was killed by the police given. Cripples company will also pay compensation. A monthly allowance of 150 dinars ( = 78 €) is granted to unemployed graduates who accept part-time jobs in the public sector (which corresponds to jobs that are more likely to be called slave labor).
The two classes that act
the propertied classes to try together with the political heir of the dictator deliberately divert the revolution and try to perfect the movement of the punch of a national ; impose harmony, the only disturbed by a few "trouble makers" and their actions that jeopardize the transition to "democracy."
The reality is that behind the mask of the rescue unit, there are two different classes with opposing interests. Behind the calls of the ruling class of the Revolution " "There is only one motive: the preservation of their capitalist profit system - . That goes for both domestic and foreign capitalists, the paper "Le Quotidien" (25.01) held in front of Ben Ali's departure: "For Washington, the time has come , the dictator used to give up and to organize his successor before the uprising in a real revolution is transforming, in other words, a real danger to the System..
put behind all the appeals, the matter needs to calm down and expose the revolutionary process. You have to wait passively until democracy and social justice fall into their hands. But recent events have clearly shown that the masses can only rely on its own strength and initiative to achieve progress können.Letztendlich the establishment of a workers' party is needed to your rage to turn a fight for political power.
Ultimately, the people can only by the overthrow of capitalism by an organized mass movement and a party of the working class, peasants and poor people taking their destiny into their own hands. The company could then be rebuilt on a socialist basis, which is essential in achieving real political and social emancipation. Recent events have numerous examples of illustrates that such a goal can be achieved.
The newspaper "Le Quotidien" reported on 25 January that take in the city M "sakenis" civilians temporarily in power! ... They have lived for a few days completely independent of government forces. The people of M "Sakenis have taken their destiny into their own hands, and even have their own civilian police formed. It is said that not a single police officer would return to the city after the official police from their building was swept (...) The only goal of these citizens is to take care of the daily tasks and maintain peace and security in the city. (...) All are very , respectfully another rule, helpfulness and solidarity. They did the militia of the old regime, and to displace the looters. "
A few days later, the same newspaper that the city of Beja, "paralyzed by an unprecedented strike. workers, teachers, workers, women, men, young, old undRentner" was. "The whole city was on the streets. (...) The 500 workers of the sugar factory have the manager and his corrupt staff driven and a" salvation committee "was established.
The next day, in Thala. "The mayor has fled the city the rest of those who claim to represent the authorities have to leave their posts leaving City to save their own destiny (...) It must be said, that have taken over since the flight of local authorities, the inhabitants the helm, the administration the affairs of the city in a masterful way to draw (...). The people have gathered in people's committees to the public and private goods to protect. "
What an answer to all the voices that say that the current government, "the only possible" - and prevent the country plunged into chaos, that chaos, a political vacuum and anarchy reign!
The working class and the masses have clearly shown that they themselves can take over. The central problem is that they do not have a party have to organize themselves and to take the necessary steps. A party would be necessary to bring together the different experiences and expand the movement, can sweep away the old regime and creating an alternative government of the workers and masses.
The absence of such leadership that is able to formulate in any phase of the struggle, the necessary measures to bring the movement forward, has led to skepticism among the people who originally supported the revolution. enter now satisfied that this government is better than the previous one and see no other reasonable alternative. ; Some people from the middle class were mobilized, which is now protesting against the "adventurers" who want to continue the fight to the end.
call slogans such as "We support the transitional government of freedom in Tunisia", "Tunisia to the people: go back to school, go back to work!" They fear that social unrest. populist measures and threatened your economic interests. Other ärmeree layers (shopkeepers, taxi drivers and other self-employed, under the impact of the drastic suffer decline in tourism, a media campaign to go into the trap that takes advantage of their fear of the unknown.
How far can you go forward
revolutions develop never straightforward. An ebbing of the movement and setbacks are inevitable, especially if it is not a party with some anchoring exists that is capable of the working class and the masses behind a clear ; revolutionary to join the program. In such a situation may develop sudden explosions of anger and violence among those who feel robbed of the fruits of the revolution.
is however a broad expansion of the struggle of the masses is likely if they are illusions verflüchtigen.Es in the current government is not excluded that, given the continued opposition of the masses Ghannouchi, the government could fall apart.
The continuing social and political instability can push the ruling class in a more radical position. A military coup with a weak, seems unlikely, especially from existing conscript army. Before especially because of the simple soldiers have important parts in leading the revolution sympathize with the revolution would be a military coup from the perspective of the capitalist Class adventure.
This government could be forced, in an attempt to restore its damaged authority of "left" political parts of the opposition and trade union movement to involve, possibly, representatives from the Islamic Ennahda- party. Their most important leader, Rached Ghannouchi, after 20 years of exile back to Tunisian soil, remained very ambiguous in terms of Occupation of new ministers. His insistence that his party for women's rights and democracy einsteht, and the demonstrations that took place on the day of his return and the "moderate Islam , but not religious extremism "were called were good that the ground for Islamic fundamentalism is not at the moment is very fruitful in Tunisia.
Whatever accessible in the coming days and weeks is done, this "new" government will be a government of the crisis that faces a working class that has not been heard the last word and her fear the past has been overcome. An entirely new period has opened in Tunisia, in the socialist forces have to face the most important and most urgent task. The continuation of the revolution and the need to prepare for future battles, it requires the structures that have emerged from below, through the revolutionary process to expand at all levels and to coordinate together.
A national meeting of all these forces, a national meeting of delegates from the various local, national and work councils, would be a huge step in . This direction, it would be the basis for the choice of a genuine revolutionary government - the best expression of the revolutionary will and the wishes of the great mass of working and poor people .; throughout the country as a demonstrator, said in the streets of Tunis on Friday: "We have made the revolution, so it only logical that we have the right to choose our own ministers. Has to send
The recent refusal by the police of Sfax gain to suppress the protest movement and the occupation in the capital shows how the revolutionary mood and parts of the armed forces has taken. The creation of revolutionary committees in could choose the army and police, which would be organized democratically from the bottom up, their own bosses and deselect all the reactionary elements and drive out from their ranks, the government would quickly weaken their capacity to respond.
demands of the CWI (Committee for a Workers' International)
for the expansion and coordination of people's committees in districts, in the work and the factories, schools and universities. Expansion of the Councils on the armed forces and police to prevent conspiracies reactionary officers.
for local, regional and national meetings of democratically elected representatives of this committee.
Ghannouchi Down with the government! For a government of workers and poor, based on the popular committees and unions.
for free elections to establish the right of political parties and for complete freedom of expression within it. For a revolutionary constituent assembly under the control of the People's Committee, which will decide the future of the country.
for workers' control of production and sales, for the opening of the books to prevent corruption, tax evasion and Mafia business. Judging
tribunals for people and the enemies of the people, murderers and torturers of the old regime. to stop
Selbstverteidigungskommitees for strengthening the working and poor people to the attacks of the counter-revolutionary militia.
For the full recognition of democratic rights: freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and the freedom to choose his religion. For the immediate lifting of the curfew everywhere. For the immediate release of all political Gefangengen.
for an end to the free trade zones, for full recognition of all trade union rights in all sectors. supported
For as soon as possible convening of an extraordinary congress of the UGTT and deselection of all leaders, the government and have a new militant leadership election.
for the confiscation of all assets and undertakings of the Ben Ali and Trabelsi-Mafia by the state and under democratic control by working people. Their wealth could be used lennium Project's social and public to finance facilities to create thousands of jobs.
boycott and non-payment of all debts. For the nationalization of all assets of all foreign companies that are threatening to shift, also under workers' control and management. Stop capital flight by taking direct state control and state monopoly of foreign trade. combat
for a comprehensive plan to end poverty and unemployment: the division of labor to all and an immediate increase the minimum wage. For the creation of emergency funds to social assistance for the unemployed, pensioners, the disabled, the homeless ...
For a new party of the workers and the poor and a program for the nationalization of all large industries and estates and banks.
For a socialist and democratic planning of production, to meet the needs of all people, not the greedy interests a handful of private companies, multinational corporations and banks.
solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Äypten, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan and elsewhere to fight. For a Socialist Federation of the Maghreb, which extends over the whole region stretches.
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