On the walls of Kasserine, slogans continued to prosper after the departure of Ben Ali, January 14.They tell the mood of the 80,000 inhabitants of this town in central Tunisia.There are cries of victory: "RCD death" - the RCD is the former party of Ben Ali, dissolved in March - with pride: "Lift your head, be proud, you're in Kasserine" , anger: " Where are the media?Where are the demands of young people of the revolution? " .Then there are the incantations: "Our martyrs are not for sale" , claims satisfied: "Employment is paramount political demands", "A job or revolution" .
"Employment", claiming that tag.
Six months after the start of the rebellion, even after Kasserine, and is recovering - slowly - on the road.
First, there is pride.That of having been a driving force of the uprising. "This is the real Tunisia.Not the palm praised by the Ministry of Tourism.Kasserine is beautiful and she gave martyrs to the revolution, " and considers Samir Rabhi, union activist and human rights. 8, 9 and January 10 , violence between police and protesters left at least 20 dead in this city.Kasserine is the city that paid the heaviest price for the revolution.
Brainwashing
These days, all symbols of power and its corruption were attacked.The store Meublatex group where members of the presidential entourage had shares, was ransacked.But a few steps away, the Sacherie center, unique manufacturing pulp, was not affected.Neither the training centers, brand new.The portraits of Ben Ali was taken down, destroyed.The Tunisian Solidarity Bank accused of not lend to unemployed RCD or require exorbitant capital, was burned.Outside the station, the huge circular concrete slab decorated with seven, lucky number of the dictator , git down.
Released from its support, the portrait of Ben Ali has not been replaced.
The sign Meublatex was completely ransacked.
The concrete slab bearing the number seven is lying on the ground.
Targeted for destruction succeeded insecurity, crime and looting after January 14.Several shops were vandalized.A month later, on February 25 , violence broke out because of a rumor: she told a hospital, allegedly promised Kasserine, finally settled in Gafsa, 100 km further south. "It n 'There was never any project.It was a hoax, designed to create tension, " accuses Mohamed, a student of 22 years.Public buildings and businesses were attacked.
Five months later, the fear of robberies, assaults, is still present.The army is still deployed around sensitive institutions and companies: central bank, municipality, agency telecommunications, home of the RCD.The military also supervise the work of a few police officers who have reappeared in public. "People have accepted their return, for their safety," says Mohamed.
Before the Central Bank of Tunisia, Kasserine antenna.
Unless the city el-Zouhour, where residents have refused to allow the police to be rebuilt.It was burned during the revolution, after a bloody battle.Poorest neighborhood in the city, the poorly-named "City of Flowers" ( "25,000 people, 4,000 prisoners, including 1300 children, 600 children homeless, 360 unwed mothers" , recites a social worker) was about twenty people die , according to residents.
It must be known, soon, "city of martyrs."A monument was erected in their honor by the young revolutionaries of the district, who have contributed. "It's the only thing that has changed here" , is launching one of them, sitting with friends at a cafe terrace on the place. "We are very pessimistic.It was better before, at least it was quiet, " complained another.
The monument in honor of the protesters killed in January, the "place of the martyrs" of the city al-Zouhour.
Main disappointment: employment, first claims here, not coming. "There is talk of major projects, large amounts of money on TV, but we did not see it coming , he says. The revolution will be successful when will be the same as Sousse and Hammamet [two most developed coastal cities, ed] . "
According to them, the majority of men are unemployed.The only ones who were working odd jobs, paid or to be incurred.
The policy does not seem to be their solution. "We do not want, and until then, we did not understand" , said one, citing the number of political parties (82) of which must be chosen , at the election of the Constituent Assembly, Oct. 23. "What matters is Kasserine.I would work with the devil, as long as he has plans for this city " , spear, schoolboy, Nizar, 29.
The "elders of the revolution"
For the militant Samir Rabhi, "there is an atmosphere of freedom, but the major causes, which are social, the government fails to meet expectations.Applications are almost all disappointed, and there are many suspicions against the transitional government and politics in general, and fears about the turn that will take the regime. "
Locally, they are novices who hold power.After three months of political vacuum, a council was mounted up for a term of one year.The governor has dug among the "elders of the revolution" , as called Samir Rabhi without animosity. "We did not have the means to hold elections, he had to act quickly" , the mayor pleads Bouazzi Maher, a lawyer 38 years .
Maher Bouazzi, appointed Mayor in April.
The task is enormous but "the coffers are empty" , regrets Ridha Abbasi, teacher and board member. "We first made an inventory of everything we needed: roads, power lines, etc..We ask 106 million dinars [54 million euros, ed] , " he said.
Sunday morning, the mayor organized a cleanup operation.Garbage bags in hand, twenty volunteers, employees of the city, and part of the municipal team, criss-cross the city to collect garbage on the ground.One way to "educate people to do every day," says Maher Bouazzi. "Our equipment was burned, we do not have a truck, a shovel and four tractors for the whole governorate.We try to organize the best with it, " he says.
Spontaneity
Citizen mobilization is not lacking in Kasserine.Dozens of associations were created since January. "Most revolve around the development of citizenship and democracy, issues of regional development.Much interested in the protection of the environment " , explains Samir Rabhi.
A network of association is being created.Many of them are already found around a common project, Radio Kasserine.After three weeks of existence, it already broadcasts thirteen hours a day.With programs dedicated to youth, traditions, economics, political awakening, and so on. "Kasserine Radio is a reaction to the riots of January 25.We wanted to work on awareness, understanding that we should not react like that, " said one of the initiators, Adnan Zorgui.
Two of the eleven leaders Kasserine Radio during a live broadcast of a restaurant in town.
The small team is already dreaming and FM recording studio.For now, it is with the means at hand: a computer, a headset, a USB 3G.None of them had the experience of the microphone.For one of the leaders , "it is the continuity of the spontaneity of our revolution.This is its strength. "
"Employment", claiming that tag.
Six months after the start of the rebellion, even after Kasserine, and is recovering - slowly - on the road.
First, there is pride.That of having been a driving force of the uprising. "This is the real Tunisia.Not the palm praised by the Ministry of Tourism.Kasserine is beautiful and she gave martyrs to the revolution, " and considers Samir Rabhi, union activist and human rights. 8, 9 and January 10 , violence between police and protesters left at least 20 dead in this city.Kasserine is the city that paid the heaviest price for the revolution.
Brainwashing
These days, all symbols of power and its corruption were attacked.The store Meublatex group where members of the presidential entourage had shares, was ransacked.But a few steps away, the Sacherie center, unique manufacturing pulp, was not affected.Neither the training centers, brand new.The portraits of Ben Ali was taken down, destroyed.The Tunisian Solidarity Bank accused of not lend to unemployed RCD or require exorbitant capital, was burned.Outside the station, the huge circular concrete slab decorated with seven, lucky number of the dictator , git down.
Released from its support, the portrait of Ben Ali has not been replaced.
The sign Meublatex was completely ransacked.
The concrete slab bearing the number seven is lying on the ground.
Targeted for destruction succeeded insecurity, crime and looting after January 14.Several shops were vandalized.A month later, on February 25 , violence broke out because of a rumor: she told a hospital, allegedly promised Kasserine, finally settled in Gafsa, 100 km further south. "It n 'There was never any project.It was a hoax, designed to create tension, " accuses Mohamed, a student of 22 years.Public buildings and businesses were attacked.
Five months later, the fear of robberies, assaults, is still present.The army is still deployed around sensitive institutions and companies: central bank, municipality, agency telecommunications, home of the RCD.The military also supervise the work of a few police officers who have reappeared in public. "People have accepted their return, for their safety," says Mohamed.
Before the Central Bank of Tunisia, Kasserine antenna.
Unless the city el-Zouhour, where residents have refused to allow the police to be rebuilt.It was burned during the revolution, after a bloody battle.Poorest neighborhood in the city, the poorly-named "City of Flowers" ( "25,000 people, 4,000 prisoners, including 1300 children, 600 children homeless, 360 unwed mothers" , recites a social worker) was about twenty people die , according to residents.
It must be known, soon, "city of martyrs."A monument was erected in their honor by the young revolutionaries of the district, who have contributed. "It's the only thing that has changed here" , is launching one of them, sitting with friends at a cafe terrace on the place. "We are very pessimistic.It was better before, at least it was quiet, " complained another.
The monument in honor of the protesters killed in January, the "place of the martyrs" of the city al-Zouhour.
Main disappointment: employment, first claims here, not coming. "There is talk of major projects, large amounts of money on TV, but we did not see it coming , he says. The revolution will be successful when will be the same as Sousse and Hammamet [two most developed coastal cities, ed] . "
According to them, the majority of men are unemployed.The only ones who were working odd jobs, paid or to be incurred.
The policy does not seem to be their solution. "We do not want, and until then, we did not understand" , said one, citing the number of political parties (82) of which must be chosen , at the election of the Constituent Assembly, Oct. 23. "What matters is Kasserine.I would work with the devil, as long as he has plans for this city " , spear, schoolboy, Nizar, 29.
The "elders of the revolution"
For the militant Samir Rabhi, "there is an atmosphere of freedom, but the major causes, which are social, the government fails to meet expectations.Applications are almost all disappointed, and there are many suspicions against the transitional government and politics in general, and fears about the turn that will take the regime. "
Locally, they are novices who hold power.After three months of political vacuum, a council was mounted up for a term of one year.The governor has dug among the "elders of the revolution" , as called Samir Rabhi without animosity. "We did not have the means to hold elections, he had to act quickly" , the mayor pleads Bouazzi Maher, a lawyer 38 years .
Maher Bouazzi, appointed Mayor in April.
The task is enormous but "the coffers are empty" , regrets Ridha Abbasi, teacher and board member. "We first made an inventory of everything we needed: roads, power lines, etc..We ask 106 million dinars [54 million euros, ed] , " he said.
Sunday morning, the mayor organized a cleanup operation.Garbage bags in hand, twenty volunteers, employees of the city, and part of the municipal team, criss-cross the city to collect garbage on the ground.One way to "educate people to do every day," says Maher Bouazzi. "Our equipment was burned, we do not have a truck, a shovel and four tractors for the whole governorate.We try to organize the best with it, " he says.
Spontaneity
Citizen mobilization is not lacking in Kasserine.Dozens of associations were created since January. "Most revolve around the development of citizenship and democracy, issues of regional development.Much interested in the protection of the environment " , explains Samir Rabhi.
A network of association is being created.Many of them are already found around a common project, Radio Kasserine.After three weeks of existence, it already broadcasts thirteen hours a day.With programs dedicated to youth, traditions, economics, political awakening, and so on. "Kasserine Radio is a reaction to the riots of January 25.We wanted to work on awareness, understanding that we should not react like that, " said one of the initiators, Adnan Zorgui.
Two of the eleven leaders Kasserine Radio during a live broadcast of a restaurant in town.
The small team is already dreaming and FM recording studio.For now, it is with the means at hand: a computer, a headset, a USB 3G.None of them had the experience of the microphone.For one of the leaders , "it is the continuity of the spontaneity of our revolution.This is its strength. "
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