Friends of Tunisia
(An Affiliate of the National Peace Corps Assoc.)
P.O. Box 25245  Washington, DC 20007
Tel. (202) 526-0897

September 1999

Some days it's easy be a friend of Tunisia; other days it's not so easy. Over the past few months the Tunisian government has once again dismayed some of its best friends by prosecuting individuals and small groups for exercising free speech or basic political rights. Security agents have also harassed the families and relatives of these people.

The most public incident occurred in July. Seventeen people --14 men and three women -- with ties to what is left of the old Tunisian communist party were convicted of "maintaining an association which advocates hate" and "the diffusion of tracts that disturb the public order." Sentences ran from a suspended six months to more than nine years in prison for those tried in absentia.

Perhaps the communist view of class warfare amounts to advocacy of hate, but the judges' treatment of the defense attorneys and the police's treatment of the accused turned the case into a human rights abuse similar to others that have occurred in the 1990s. Indeed, the United Nations' Working Group on Human Rights recently declared the 1997 conviction of Khemais Ksila, vice-president of the Tunisian Human Rights League, to be an "arbitrary detention." Ksila is still serving a three-year sentence -- and must pay a fine -- for merely issuing a communique critical of the human rights situation in Tunisia.

Such actions are, of course, not as harsh as measures taken in some bloodier countries. Yet they still tarnish Tunisia's reputation. Among other recent incidents: journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, a member of the Conseil national pour les libertes en Tunisie (CNLT) was attacked in May by three men armed with chains. Also in May, Nizar Chaari, a doctoral student in France, was arrested during a trip back to Tunisia for "associating with a criminal gang" because of personal contacts in France over ten years earlier. Recently the human rights advocate Dr. Moncef Marzouki has been, once again, arrested, detained, and interrogated, as was Omar Mestiri, secretary-general of the CNLT.

Other Tunisians pay dearly for their relatives' political or human rights activities. Abderraouf Chamari, the owner of a small marina, was convicted in August for "defamation of authorities and diffusion of false news." Chamari has not yet been sentenced, but observers of the trial believe he is guilty of little more than having an older brother who fled to France after being critical of the Tunisian regime. Another case: three women, denied passports by the government, were arrested trying to leave the country to join spouses or fiancees who are forced to live abroad because they are critical of the government. These women were finally released after months of incarceration yet are still under restrictions.

Fortunately, there are encouraging signs the government is taking steps to rein in the security forces (see "Tunisian News"). Moreover, the upcoming October 24 election will be monitored by international observers and, for the first time, will include candidates for president other than the ruling party's choice. Yet there is still widespread concern about political repression and human rights abuse in Tunisia.

Among the concerned is FOT member Bob Prince (Tunis '66-68). Currently an anthropology professor at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, Bob has an interest in human rights throughout the Middle East and writes that "in the spirit of enduring friendship (for Tunisia), it's time to deal with some painful realities." He wants to organize a committee within FOT that would track the human rights situation in Tunisia and, depending on outcomes, develop action plans that could include writing members of Congress to reduce American military assistance to Tunisia. (Recently the US reinstated funding for military assistance and training for Tunisia.) However, Bob points out, he would prefer to find more constructive responses because we all are friends of Tunisia who believe that these human rights abuses are completely counter-productive and unnecessary. Ben Ali's government is doing an excellent job developing the economy and helping the poor. Consequently it remains popular and stable and merely harms itself with these petty prosecutions.

Should FOT set up a human rights committee? A check with NPCA reveals no other RPCV group has. We could be the first. Please read the enclosed arguments pro (Bob Prince) and con (Larry Michalak), then vote by mail to say if: (1) you approve of such a committee within FOT or not, and (2) if you are willing to serve on the committee. All members should vote.

Dane F. Smith, Jr., ambassador to Senegal, is the new president of the National Peace Corps Association. Both Smith and his wife, Judith, were PCVs in Ethiopia in 1963-65. Before working in Senegal, Smith was deputy chief of mission at embassies in Botswana and Sudan, US special envoy to Liberia, and ambassador to Guinea from 1990 to 1993. He speaks French and Arabic. A graduate of Harvard, he attended Union Theological Seminary and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

NEXT FOT MEETING IN WASHINGTON WILL BE OCTOBER 23.

The next meeting of Washington-area FOT members will be 1-4 p.m., October 23 chez Penny White, Apt 32, 1940 Biltmore St. NW in D.C. Dagmar Painter will present her famous "Appreciation of Tunisian Textiles." FOT will supply soft drinks/coffee; please bring a dessert. If you plan to attend, contact Bonny Tyler (202-462-7396) and leave your name, phone number, address, and a fax number (if you have one).

FORMER TUNISIAN PCV IS NOW PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER IN TUNIS

Dave Queen, a volunteer in Gafsa in '66-68, has recently been appointed the US public affairs officer in Tunis. After the Peace Corps, Dave worked for USAID in Vietnam and managed an English program in Algeria. He started at the US Information Agency in 1980 as an editor. Since then he has worked in Pakistan, Niger, South Africa, and Nepal. He and his wife, Mai, have two grown sons. Lucky Dave now gets to live in Gammarth in a house "with a nice view." To contact him telephone (w) 216-1-799-895/(h)216-1-744-727. e-mail: queen.david@planet.tn

Stephanie Lynn Olson, '94-96, and her husband, Sebastian Mahfood, who both attend Webster University in St. Louis, have set up a website for Tunisian RPCVs: www.mudrunner.com/schnuwwa-jdid/

THE ONLY NOVEL ABOUT A TUNISIAN PCV

Thanks to Larry Michalak, FOT recently obtained a copy of the only published novel written by a PC volunteer who served in Tunisia. Eric Sundel, a volunteer in the early 1960s, wrote Lofty Mountain about the life of a PCV English teacher in Beja, his love life, and his return to the US after service. The work was published in 1971 but is no longer in print, so FOT will lend its copy to any member interested in reading it. Be warned, however, that you will learn little about Beja but perhaps more than you want to know about the very self-absorbed central character who calls himself, believe it or not, Lofty Mountain.

The American Institute for Maghrebi Studies wants papers from US-based scholars for the next annual AIMS conference to be held in Sidi Bou Said May 29-June 4, 2000. The theme is "The Role of Education for the Future of the Maghreb." Papers may address virtually any aspect of education in North Africa. A per diem allowance will be provided presenters. If interested, contact Gary Garrison, CIES, 3007 Tilden St. NW, Suite 5-M, Washington, DC 20008. Tel. 202-686-4019, e-mail: ggarrison@iie.org

SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT HAY ETTADHAMEN (CITE DE LA SOLIDARITE)

In the February FOT newsletter, Hay Ettadhamen, a low-income suburb of Tunis, was described as experiencing "rampant" housing, unemployment, and crime problems similar to those in American inner cities. Since then, Essma Ben Hamida, co-director of ENDA Inter-Arabe, a non-governmental organization active in that suburb, wrote FOT to say that "...though the social ills you mention are present, I suspect they are less 'rampant' than in most typical poor communities in the USA." She points out that 75 percent of the inhabitants own their self-built homes and that "the youth and entrepreneurs ENDA assists are fine people, determined to improve their lot through their own effort."

****TUNISIAN NEWS******NEWS FROM TUNISIA******TUNISIAN NEWS****

- President Ben Ali has announced a number of penal code reforms to avoid "possible violations and excesses." Among the changes: the definition of torture is being amended to bring Tunisian law in line with UN standards. Other improvements include laws regulating arrest and detention.

- Tunisian agricultural production has risen an amazing 35 percent in the past ten years. Now the government's goal is to achieve complete agricultural self-sufficiency, which has already occurred in fruit, vegetables, figs, and poultry. The target in 1999 is dairy products, in 2001 red meat. Grain will be more difficult; current wheat production is only 60% of sufficiency.

- In the past year there have been two significant disturbances by students protesting new testing standards. In December, university students demonstrated against a new aptitude test for teacher training. In February, lycee students in several towns held a strike against the latest baccalaureate exam, which determines who can advance to higher education. Arrests were made. A month later a new education minister was appointed.

- Tunisian unemployment is now about 16%. Approximately 60,000 Tunisians have found work in Libya.

- The biggest drug trial in Tunisia's history ended with dozens of sentences ranging from one to 35 years. A total of 139 people were accused of smuggling cocaine, 5eroin, and ecstasy into the country from Europe and South America. The defendants included a member of the former royal family ~halid Bey), members of other prominent families, some of the interior ministry's anti-drug squad, policemen, customs officials, and Tunis Air stewards. The trial was not reported in the Tunisian media.

MEMBERSHIP: For FOT-only, send a $I5 check to FOT (address on page 1). For NPCA/FOT, send $40 to NPCA, Suite 205, 19~0 L St. NW., Washington, DC 20036. Specify FOT affiliation.

1. the group should be more than boosters, cheerleaders for Tunsia. Concerns go deeper, and include human rights concerns. If the State Dept. is concerned about Tunisia's human rights record (and they are and expressed this openly to me in a meeting two years ago) I don't see why FOT can't voice the same or similar concerns

2. the human rights violations in Tunsia have been well documented over the past decade. What has emerged is something approaching a police state where people can not speak out on anything with fear of retribution

3. Although a modest little organization, FOT has people with important ties both with Tunsians and with people of influence in the US government. I think a carefully planned human rights campaign (where it is determined necessary) could make a difference.

1. The human rights committee should consist of anyone from FOT who is interested in working on the issue. We can maintain contact, division of labor by phone or email.

2. We should monitor the human rights situation, through established groups like Amnesty, International, Human Rights Watch plus whatever other serious contacts people in FOT can make.

3. Where and if the abuses are deemed serious enough, we should consider publicizing (i.e articles in the press, editorials) that situation with action - letter writing campaign to Congress.

"Although Tunisia's human rights violations are modest when compared with the tragedy unfolding in Algeria, or the repressive situation in Libya, the5' remain troubling, on-going, and of an increasingly' arbitrary and unwarranted character. There is a dichotomy in the social fabric of Tunsia today. The standard of living has improved considerably over the past three decades. The country has one of the highest GNPs in Africa, and yet for the past decade the country's human rights record has gone consistently' downhill. Under Bourguiba there seemed to be a fluctuation between repression and openness (similar to what happened in Morocco). This has been replaced in the Ben Ali years with a more consistently authoritarian approach out of symc with reality and taking on more and more the characteristics of a police state. Non-existent threats to the state - islamic, communist scares - have been exaggerated all out of proportion and used as excuses for the on-going crack downs which have proceeded apace throughout the 1990s with increasing intensity. Dissent - open democratic discussion - is becoming remote, almost nonexistent. The main targets are Tunsia's human rights advocates, journalists and trade unionists although the sense comes through that anyone who challenges the thinking of the government will be targeted. The judicial proceedings - such as the recent trial of Radhia Nasraoui and 20 co-defendants have become increasingly Kafkaesque. Pleas and criticisms of international human rights organizations such as Amnest3' International, Human Rights Watch and consistently by publications like Le Monde Diplomatique have fallen on deaf ears. Why has repression of democracy become a permanent feature of contemporary Tunisian politics? I'm not sure of the answer, but the trend is clear. Even the conservative British magazine, the Economist, referred recently to 'the iron-fisted government of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali' (8/7/99 p.33-4)."

I intend to be more active on the Tunsian human rights situation. I hope others in Friends of Tunsia will consider joining me in some way. I think we can make a difference, especially if we develop a campaign to influence the US Congress on the matter. As I recall, our government still provides considerable foreign aid to Tunisia. That aid should be tied to the country's human rights record or lack thereof.

ARGUMENT AGAINST A FRIENDS OF TUNISIA COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Should FOT have a committee on human rights? Should we consider sending a letter to the Tunisian government? Or calling upon the U.S. government to suspend military aid to Tunisia? While sharing the human rights concerns of proponents of these ideas~ I respectfully disagree.