Posts Tagged by English

[Labouratorio 55] Gotta Catch’em All

sabato 29 Gennaio 2011

Scritto da Redazione - 5.166 letture

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It started in the unknown and remote village of Sidi Bouzid. Right after it expanded across the whole Tunisia. It brought down one of Mediterranean oldest regimes. But it did not stop there. It crossed borders towards West (Algeria) and East (Egypt) and moved swiftly to even more distant countries (Yemen, Siria).

A spectre is haunting the Medirettanean – the spectre of democracy.

It is indeed a democratic wave, spreading across the whole area. Breaking long standing, seemingly strong and stable equilibria. Frightening dictatorships. Alarming their pavid European and Arabic friends. A democratic wave that knows no borders nor repression. That is giving birth to a new geopolitical era.

Labouratorio switches to English in order to talk about the biggest youth movement since 1968, the most widespread battle against dictatorships since the War World Two, the most incredible rally for freedom and democracy since 1848.

We are trying to figure out the dimension of what’s going on in these hours and we will try to keep on going with analysis and interviews. Our story has obviously started from the Tunisian revolution. This took western diplomacies completely by surprise.

To be honest, it took almost everybody by surprise.

Borrowing the words of our Tunisian friend Haithem: “How come? Is this really happening?” Is there a reason for all this happening right now? We try to answer this simple question.

We strongly believe that the quick rises of these diverse democratic national movements share common causes, relying on both political and economical forces acting on a global scale.

We analyse the weaknesses of the regimes involved, the effects of the global crisis on the economy. We investigate the role of Europe and the shadows projected by the Chinese giant rising power.

European leadership has been unable to predict, influence or understand what was going on. It is now clear that Western Countries’ egemony over the world is just a souvenir of the past, even where its force and influence seemed to persist.

Still in the very last days, European diplomacies and even corporates were backing Hoshni Mubarak as they did two weeks earlier with Ben Ali. We think that this lack of strategy is unfair and blind, as well as losing.

We are aware of the concerns spreading from the role that Islamic parties are bounded to play in almost all Arabic countries, especially in a stage of turmoil and contended power.

Nevertheless, we strongly believe that the best way to fight intolerance and fanatism is an injection of democracy, freedom and independence. That’s why Labouratorio is backing all of the democratic movements in the world, fighting against dictators. That’s why we gotta catch’em all.

SUMMARY LABOURATORIO 55

[Labouratorio interviews Marco Perduca] “The desperation of the young students lighted the fire”

sabato 29 Gennaio 2011

Scritto da Redazione - 1.276 letture

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Labouratorio became internationalist with a double interwiev in English. We made the same questions to a young emigrated Tunisian guy and an Italian politician who knows a lot about foreing politics.

Marco Perduca is an Italian senator with Radicali Italiani party. Well, he is actually much more than this. Since summer 1996, he represents the Transnational Radical Party to the United Nations and has been involved in the No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) campaign. Here are his answers.

Did you expect that outcome after the first demonstration?

The economic arguments of the riots are only the tip of an huge iceberg of illiberal policies that have characterised the Ben Ali regime. Many of those who have been to Tunisia felt that the situation was particularly volatile and ready to “explode”. What was less predictable was the brutality with which the police and the army reacted.

Why do you think the regime fell down now and not before?
I believe that the situation had been ready for quite some time now, what was missing was the trigger, the desperation of the young students lighted the fire. One needs to keep in mind that in late December demonstrations were taking place in Algeria as well and the Egyptian elections had, once again, demonstrated the discontent that Arab people have vis-à-vis with gtheir governments.

What kind of people were in the street demostrating against the government?
All sorts of people, and therefore also those not in good faith. I believe that students and some fringes of the trade unions led the movement. At the same time, for once, legal and illegal opposition groups had the courage to raise.

How was Tunisia under Ben Ali?
I have always considered Tunisa as a modern version of a Soviet Republic, only more attached to the interests of the Ben Ali clan that to real socialism.

Do you trust the trade union UGTT?
I am afraid that all those that were recognized as legal and legitimate under the regime may not necessarily be “clean”

Do you think there will be a ruling class able to take over the regime and lead the country towards a stable democracy?
I would rather take a bit more time to prepare for the elections, possibly with the involvement of international organizations such as OSCE or the UN itself, than rush to vote for the new Tunisian parliament and government. Tunisians are educated, have always had an intellectual community inside and outside that was trying to participate in the debate concerning reforms. There are dozens of people willing and able to govern, the problem is that after 23 years of regime it may prove problematic to detach those close to the previous government from their positions within the State. Tunisia was, at the end of the day, a “socialist” country where work was only granted by the public sector…

What do you think of the islamic parties?Are you afraid of them?
Of all north African countries Tunisia has the smallest and weakest “islamist” groups, and, from what I know, among the most secular one. Dialog and fear is not what should guide politics, I hope that after the dark years of Ben Ali common sense will prevail.

Do you think what happened in Tunisi could cause analogous democratic movements in other Northern Africa coutries?
I am not too sure, or rather, it may happen if European countries change their attitudes towards those governments. But if one were to judge from the way in which Rome treats Tripole there is nothing to be optimistic…

Did you know and what do you think of Mr.Marzouki, who has announced his nomination to the next presidential election?Is he popular?has he some chanches to win?
I don not know him personally, I believe that, so far, he has chosen the right approach. He does not consider himself the saviour of Tunisia and has been very critic of European complacency with Ben Ali. Now we will have to see how he is able to practice democratic principles in a chaotic situation.

What do you think could be the role of the Tunisian comunity in Europe and of Europe itself?
That they should take the courage to put difference aside, go to Tunisia and contribute to the wellbeing to all. Easier said than done…

What is the role of the youth in the Tunisian Revolution?
Crucial, let’s only hope that they do not limit their role to the one of the rioters or protesters. They are educated, know Internet and are known as stern critics of illiberal policies, now they have a chance to make a change but with that chance come responsibilities… I hope that all those that in the past have expressed their solidarity to the Tunisian youth will continue to do so and not only from “socialist” networks. There is a great need to make freedom become the law of the land of the new Tunisia, that it the greatest challange for the future.

Posts Tagged by English

[Labouratorio 55] Gotta Catch’em All

[Labouratorio interviews Marco Perduca] “The desperation of the young students lighted the fire”

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