Tunisia: for democracy, freedom and workers’ rights!
On 17 December a young Tunisian man set himself on fire in protest at poverty, lack of jobs and police harassment. The act of this desperate man struck a chord. Mass protests followed. By the end of December the popular mobilisations had spread to the capital, Tunis. The nasty, brutal dictatorship of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali – in power for the previous 23 years – struck back, killing dozens and arresting and torturing many more. The state shut universities and schools in an attempt to stop students organising. At the same time Ben Ali attempted to offer economic and political concessions aiming...