Cairo August 11, 2012

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information condemns the brutal suppression and excessive violence used by the Tunisian authorities in disperse the peaceful demonstration in “Sidi Bouzid”. On Thursday 9, 2012, the demonstration took place to denounce the government performance dominated by the “Alnnahada Islamic Movement” and called for protect the women achievements, which led to injuries among some demonstrators and the arrest of others.
On Thursday, August 9, 2012 a peaceful demonstration took place in “Sidi Bouzid” called by the “Front of December 17 for progressive forces in Sidi Bouzid,” which is formed from more than a dozen opposition political parties, which was attended by many civil society organizations and political parties, “. It has started from the memorial for “Bouazizi” until they reached the Government Headquarter. It was named “the day of liberation for the release of the detainees immediately and to sweep the Faild Trinity: “the Governor, the Attorney General and head of the Directorate of Guard”, to demand the release of number of the detainees who were arrested in previous demonstrations during their demands for better services in the region as a result of the permanent drop in water and electricity. They chanted anti-government phrases, which accuses some people to disrupt development projects and conspiring against the government, the Alnnahada Party as well as the Ministry of the Interior, including “bread, water Alnnahadah no”, “The Ministry of Interior and is terrorist ministry”, “the people want to overthrow the government”, the achievements of the government: oppression, marginalization and Thirsty “. Then turned to reject the constitution that is being prepared in the country, especially the article that suggested by Alnnahadah Party in the Constituent Assembly provide that the new constitution on the principle of”Integrity of roles “between men and women instead of” equality” They believe that this threatens to undo the achievements of women of Tunisia.The Tunisian police faced the peaceful demonstration by a brutal suppression through firing rubber bullets and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators, which resulted in injuries among the demonstrators, including journalists, as well as the arrest of number of other demonstrators. The security forces, in the evening, disperse a demonstration that denounce the suppressive security forces in dealing with the demonstrators, which led to injuries and arrest of protesters. In a swift reaction to the events civil society organizations announced a general strike on August 14 in response to the arrests.
It is worthy to be noted that Tunisia witnessed during the last weeks many demonstrations against the government and Alnnahadah party, in which all met with the same suppressive style.
ANHRI said “the use of power and violence take Tunisia many steps back, especially, at the era of Bin Ali, which was characterized by the power and excessive violence as well as the restrict the freedom in all of the country. It is the same method that is being adopted now, but under the Alnnahadah Islamic government which started to use violence against its opposition in an attempt to silence the opposition”.
ANHRI calls the Tunisian authorities to immediately release all the detainees and not to use the security solutions to address the social problems. Such solutions proved its failure in all the countries of the Arab spring among it “Tunisia” which is the first spark of the revolutions. Furthermore, the authorities must allow the citizens to exercise their rights to express their opinion and peaceful demonstration which is guaranteed by all of the international covenants and treaties.