GOT RELEASES MORE THAN 1600 PRISONERS, INCLUDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000425

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/MAG FOR LAWRENCE
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO TS
SUBJECT: GOT RELEASES MORE THAN 1600 PRISONERS, INCLUDING
SOME POLITICALS

REF: TUNIS 387

Classified By: Ambassador William Hudson for Reasons 1.4 b & d


1. (C) Summary: On February 26, all daily newspapers carried
an official GOT press release stating that President Ben Ali
freed 1,298 prisoners and granted "conditional freedom" to
359 others. Notable among those released were approximately
70 members of banned Tunisian Islamist party an-Nahdha,
including Hamadi Jebali, the former editor of an-Nahdha's now
defunct newspaper al-Fajr. Also notable was the release of
six detainees, known as the Zarzis group, who had been
arrested in 2003 for allegedly preparing to commit terrorist
attacks. International and domestic human rights NGOs, who
have long called for the release of political prisoners in
Tunisia, had been particularly vocal about Jebali and the
Zarzis group. This prisoner release stands out both because
of the large number of prisoners released, and because it
departed from the usual practice of amnesties or pardons
coinciding with significant national holidays. This has led
to much speculation as to the reason for the release, which
is most likely due to increasing pressure from domestic and
international NGOs and activists, and USG and other
diplomatic pressure on improving human rights. For suggested
press guidance on the political prisoner release see para 6.
End Summary.


2. (C) On February 26, all Tunisian daily newspapers carried
an official GOT press release stating that President Ben Ali
freed 1,298 prisoners and granted "conditional freedom" to
359 others. (NB: "Conditional freedom", or administrative
detention, refers to a GOT procedure similar to parole
conditions wherein former prisoners are subjected to controls
such as checking in at police stations, restrictions on
travel and place of residence, etc.) According to the
article, the decision was taken during a presidential meeting
with Minister of Interior Rafik Belhaj Kacem and Minister of
Justice and Human Rights Bechir Tekkari. Ben Ali reportedly
emphasized the necessity of following up with the newly freed
detainees to facilitate their reintegration into society and
to limit the potential recurrence of crimes.


3. (C) According to multiple sources, including
international press reports and the website of banned
Tunisian Islamist party an-Nahdha, approximately 70 of those
released had been in prison for ties to an-Nahdha, including
Hamadi Jebali, the former editor of an-Nahdha's now defunct
newspaper al-Fajr. Jebali's case had received widespread
attention, with international press freedom and human rights
groups calling for his release. Also notable among those
released were six detainees, known as the Zarzis group, who
had been charged and sentenced for allegedly preparing to
commit terrorist attacks, and who, according to the GOT, had
sought logistical support from al-Qaeda. Domestic and
international human rights organizations alleged that the
Zarzis detainees had been arrested only for visiting
suspicious Internet websites. These same NGOs have demanded
their release since their initial arrest in 2003.


4. (C) The announcement was met with appreciation by the
human rights community in Tunisia. The Tunisian NGO
International Association for the Support of Political
Prisoners (AISPP) maintains a database of those it considers
to be political prisoners, which before the recent pardon
listed 410 "prisoners of opinion". This list included 155
prisoners sentenced under the 2003 anti-terrorism law. (NB:
Human Rights groups allege that many detainees arrested under
this law have not been given fair trial.) Minus the
anti-terrorism law detainees, and with the recent liberation
of 70 an-Nahdha prisoners, according to the AISPP list there
are likely approximately 200 "prisoners of opinion" still
imprisoned, most of whom are presumed an-Nahdha members.


5. (C) Comment: Prisoner releases, including the release of
political prisoners, have been common on national holidays in
recent years. This most recent release stands out both
because of the large number of prisoners released, and
because it does not coincide with any significant national
holiday. This has led to much speculation as to the reason
behind the presidential announcement. Some believe that the
release is tied to the 50th anniversary of Tunisian
independence from France on March 20. Other potential
motives for the timing of the release given by international
press commentators and local interlocutors include the 1st
birthday of Ben Ali's infant son.



6. (C) Comment (cont'd): However, some in the activist
community see the release as Ben Ali bowing ever so slightly
to pressure from human rights groups, such at the 18 October
Committee (18OC) (reftel),which has demanded a general
amnesty for all political prisoners. Two days before the
announcement, 18OC organized a demonstration in downtown
Tunis calling for free expression and association and the
release of political prisoners, specifically mentioning,
among others, the Zarzis group. While the demonstration was
predictably prevented by police, it was covered by
al-Jazeera, which many Tunisians now watch to obtain
independent news on Tunisia not available domestically. Most
likely, the release is in response to a combination of
pressure from both domestic and international human rights
NGOs and USG and other diplomatic pressure on improving human
rights.

Suggested press guidance text:

We understand that the Government of Tunisia released Sunday,
February 26, a number of prisoners, some of whom have been
described by independent observers as political prisoners.

We welcome this development and encourage the government of
Tunisia to continue to undertake actions consistent with its
declared intentions to engage in greater democratic reform.

End suggested press guidance text.
HUDSON