TUNISIAN UNION COMPLAINS OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000299

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE, DRL/IL - DEMARIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2016
TAGS: ELAB PGOV KDEM TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN UNION COMPLAINS OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE

REF: 05 TUNIS 2206

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) AND (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a February 7 meeting with Laboff on
other topics, General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT)
Assistant Secretary General for International Affairs Mohamed
Trabelsi criticized the GOT for restricting press coverage of
the UGTT's 60th anniversary celebrations in January. Trabelsi
alleged the GOT used its control over the local press to
ensure that the UGTT anniversary activities did not receive
coverage in the Tunisian media. He claimed that positive
coverage would have reminded Tunisians of the union's key
role in gaining independence and creating the modern Tunisian
state, an evolution for which the GOT traditionally claims
full credit. Although anniversary events took place around
the country over a weeklong period, local press coverage was
limited to selective stories that mainly highlighted
President Ben Ali's support for the UGTT. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) The UGTT, the only union federation in Tunisia, was
founded on January 20, 1946. The labor movement predates the
Tunisian independence movement, and many labor activists were
among the most important crusaders for independence during
the French colonial period. Today, UGTT membership includes
approximately 25 percent of Tunisian workers from around the
country, arguably making it the largest domestic civil
society organization.


3. (C) Trabelsi told Laboff that the 60th anniversary was
marked by a week's worth of intellectual, cultural and
sporting events throughout Tunisia. Participation was strong,
with attendees coming from regional and international labor
organizations and including thousands of UGTT members across
Tunisia. Events included celebrations around Tunisia, a
forum on labor's role in development and democracy, a
roundtable on the "labor memory" in which the descendants of
Tunisia's most important labor leaders participated, a
stone-laying for a new workers' institute in Tunis, and a
visit to the grave of UGTT founder Farhat Hached. Despite
the success of these events, Trabelsi complained that there
was limited local press coverage, "because the state claims
it alone is responsible for everything good in Tunisia:
independence, workers and women's rights, and economic
development."


4. (C) The UGTT weekly newspaper, ash-Shaab, gave extensive
coverage to the anniversary activities, including more than
ten pages of articles. The ash-Shaab front-page headline
declared, "Ben Ali congratulates laborers," while an article
inside reprinted the text of the President's letter to the
UGTT. Meanwhile, other local papers, which generally give
extensive coverage to President Ben Ali's activities and
personal messages sent to local and international
organizations, were selective in their coverage of the
anniversary. For example, the Tunisian mainstream press
published articles about Ben Ali's donation of land for the
new workers' institute and a UGTT letter thanking the
President for the donation, while the President's letter to
the UGTT praising their role in economic development was
largely ignored.


5. (C) COMMENT: The UGTT is not the first civil society
organization to complain about government interference or
limited press freedoms, but it is the largest and most
politically important. Despite its complaints, the UGTT
leadership maintains a close but cautious relationship with
President Ben Ali. This means the extent of its activism and
independence "ebbs and flows" according to one senior
Tunisian labor activist. END COMMENT.
HUDSON