Dawn of the Arab Spring: The Jasmine Revolution
Tunisian folks were a prey to major political and economic issues such as unemployment, fraud, corruption, poverty, lack of freedom etc in 2010. A time when Zine-al-Abidine Ben Ali was ruling Tunisia for the past 23 years. Even though the populace was pretty much aware of the ill regime yet they were being silenced under the Ben Ali dictatorship.
A university graduate had to opt fruit selling as his occupation when he could not find a job even at an age of 26. This 26 years old man named Muhammad Bouazizi was the sole bread bearer of his family. One fine morning of 17th of December 2010, he went out as per his daily schedule to earn a living and soon he ended up conflicting with a policewoman. Some police personnel even confiscated his merchandise along with his cart on account of Bouazizi not being able to bribe them. After a pretty long unarmed fight with the police personnel, Mouhammad Bouazizi set himself ablaze in front of a municipal office. On one hand his act of self immolation reflected the extent of humiliation and harassment that he might have faced and on the other hand, it depicted that he practically protested against the corrupt long standing Ben Ali regime.
Tunisian population was already fed up of their poor living conditions because of their government and this Bouazizi incident added fuel to the fire and hence hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets and started demonstrations against the 23 years long Ben Ali regime. Soon defiance turned into a huge revolution which ultimately triggered the 'Arab Spring' swallowing most of the Middle Eastern countries. Stories of violence in the protests and casualties of civilians catapulted Tunisian revolution into international media which dubbed the revolution as "The Jasmine Revolution". It was reported that clashes broke out between police and agitators at many protest sites which were concluded by the deaths of many poor civilians. First case of police brutality that resulted in the death of a civilian was reported on December 24, 2010 and since then it was the new normal until the revolution came down.
Ben Ali attempted to condense the heat of international criticism and an unrest within the borders, by dismissing his minister of the interior Rafik Belhaj Kacem on January 12, 2011. Also, he appeared on national media and condemned the ongoing police brutalities and violence but either of his tricks didn't work upon those furious demonstrators and hence the protests continued even more strongly than ever. Ben Ali was shaken from head to toe by this sudden upheaval and even though being a hard core dictator, he had to offer some social and political concessions to the public in order to keep the ruling authority within his palms.
On January 13 same year, he proposed that he won't participate in the upcoming elections going to held in 2014 when his current term ends and also he pledged to bring huge social, political and economic reforms but none of his statements could satisfy the public stipulations. The protesters clearly demanded fall of the Ben Ali regime and formation of a democratic form of government.
Clashes became more violent and fierce and hence, Ben Ali on insistence of his wife Leila Ben Ali decided to flee Tunisia and take refuge in Saudi Arabia on January 14, 2011. Intensity of protests and severity of clashes can be comprehended by analyzing the time span within which the Ben Ali regime was toppled.
Soon a Democratic government came into power by offering fair elections and framed a new constitution. The only reform occurred by this revolution is the freedom that moves in the air of Tunisia but apart from this nothing changed for a good so far. Under the banner of Jasmine revolution, the populace was successful enough in acquiring democracy but failed to bring social, political and economic reforms. Unemployment, poverty and other such issues are still persistent proving that democracy alone cannot provide a better living.
Written and edited by Shumaila Naaz Rizvi, currently pursuing West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
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