BEN ALI CELEBRATES 19 YEARS IN POWER

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 002744

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HARRIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL TS
SUBJECT: BEN ALI CELEBRATES 19 YEARS IN POWER

REF: TUNIS 2639

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES a.i. DAVID BALLARD FOR REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. On November 7, Tunisian President Ben Ali
celebrated the nineteenth anniversary of his assumption of
power with a speech that highlighted his accomplishments and
offered a few minor policy proposals. Typically, the speech
focused on economic achievements and proposals. Although
there was a traditional prisoner pardon, Ben Ali's remarks
regarding the protection of human rights were unsubstantial.
Other events related to the holiday primarily focused on
praising Ben Ali, although he also decorated some prominent
Tunisians with the "November 7th Medal." END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Ben Ali observed the nineteenth anniversary of his
presidency with a speech to the nation on November 7. Local
press headlines on the speech blazed "The Choice of Pluralism
is Irreversible," and Ben Ali stressed that personal and
national rights, including human rights, and freedoms in
Tunisia are at the same level as developed countries. As
evidence of this, Ben Ali announced that the Higher Committee
of Human Rights will now accept petitions and complaints from
citizens and engage in unannounced visits to prison
establishments. While the Committee is also charged with
reporting its confidential findings to Ben Ali, given it is a
part of the Presidency, this step is unlikely, given
Tunisia's prior human rights record, to improve the local
human rights situation. Ironically, Ben Ali also granted the
November 7th medal to Committee President Zakaria Ben
Mustapha and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Bechir
Tekkari (see also para 5.) However, in a positive human
rights development, on November 4 Ben Ali pardoned a number
of prisoners, including members of the banned an-Nahdha party
(septel).


3. (C) Ben Ali also stressed his support for local and
international media, highlighting the role of "fair
criticism." This, only days after the Tunisian embassy in
Qatar was closed (reftel) to protest al-Jazeera's coverage of
Tunisian politics. Ben Ali announced that the national radio
and television entity would be divided into two state-owned
corporations. Ossama Romdhani, Director of the Foreign Press
Agency, later told the Charge that the split would help both
entities become more competitive, noting "everyone knows
they're not doing a good job."


4. (U) The majority of the speech highlighted Tunisia's
economic achievements under Ben Ali's rule, particularly its
"high position at the head of developing countries, as
confirmed by different indicators, reports of most
international associations and world experts." Ben Ali made
several new policy announcements related to economic
development and attracting foreign investment. The gesture
with the most concrete immediate economic impact was that, in
support of the future full liberalization of the Tunisian
Dinar, Ben Ali increased the amount of hard currency
Tunisians can obtain before traveling abroad to TD 4000/year
(USD 3030) and announcing an amnesty for those currently
holding hard currency. Ben Ali also said there would be a
new initiative to provide university graduates with computer
and foreign language training.


5. (C) On the occasion of November 7th, President Ben Ali
also presented national awards to key local figures, but only
after he himself received the "Shield of Jerusalem" award
from the Palestinian Journalists' Union. (COMMENT: Ben Ali
traditionally receives awards -- usually from obscure
foreign entities -- any time he presents them to others.
However, a November 2 editorial in a local paper noted that
Ben Ali refused an RCD attempt to award him, saying
inexplicably that he "was focused on the future of the poor
and youth." END COMMENT.) Ben Ali presented the November
7th Medal to several key figures, including musician Lotfi
Bouchnak; GOT Ombudsman Alifa Farouk; Minister of Development
and International Cooperation Mohamed Nouri Jouini; Prime
Ministry Minister for Civil Service Zouheir M'Dhaffer;
Charfeddine Guellouz, President of the Tunisian Social
Security Union; Mohamed Moncef Zine, President of the Real
Estate Tribunal; and Abderrahman Limam, Director General of
the National Guard. Later in the day, Ben Ali hosted a
reception celebrating the anniversary of the "Blessed
Change." National and international dignitaries, including
Charge, were invited to this low-key event to congratulate
Ben Ali on his nineteen years as President. While many
prominent Tunisians in attendance were past recipients of a
variety of national awards (including the Order of the
Republic and Order of Independence),only November 7th medals
were worn on this occasion.


6. (U) Other anniversary events were equally laudatory of Ben
Ali's achievements, even when Ben Ali did attend. In
addition to cultural and sporting events, his ruling
Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) party hosted a major
conference in celebration of November 7. According to press
reports, Ben Ali also received congratulatory messages from
Libya leader Muammar Qaddafi, Morocco's King Mohammed VI,
Palestinian President Abbas, King Abdullah of Jordan and
Omani Sultan Qaboos.


7. (C) COMMENT. Before each major speech, observers predict
-- perhaps optimistically -- that Ben Ali will announce a
major political reform initiative. This year, it was rumored
he would change the constitution to appoint a vice president
-- with most bets on Minister of Defense Kamel Morjane being
the first incumbent. However, the speech failed to reveal
any policies of interest to the average Tunisian. Stay
tuned, though, because Ben Ali noted next year's celebration
of twenty years of rule would be a "historical date." END
COMMENT.
BALLARD