INDEPENDENCE DAY PASSES LARGELY UNNOTICED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000667 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV TS SUBJECT: INDEPENDENCE DAY PASSES LARGELY UNNOTICED REF: TUNIS 666 Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Although Tunisia's fiftieth anniversary of independence from French rule was marked by official events and speeches (reftel),few Tunisians seemed to take particular pride in the event. The country was festively decorated, but the public was largely uninvolved in celebrations. A generational divide accounts for some of the blas attitude, as the majority of Tunisians were born after independence. However, some private Tunisians also expressed their disappointment with the pace of change since independence. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Cities throughout Tunisia were decorated with flags and banners celebrating the March 20 fiftieth anniversary of Tunisia's independence from France in 1956, especially in government and ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) party offices. Banners around the country highlighted RCD-affiliated groups' support for Ben Ali and his policies, including "Long Live Tunisia, Ben Ali and the RCD." A large poster in downtown Tunis featured a photo of Ben Ali and the slogan, "Loyalty to the Man of Loyalty," highlighting the theme of this year's celebration. ¶3. (C) Despite the decorations and the official commemorations of independence, our observations were that the Tunisian public paid little attention to the holiday. Many took advantage of good weather over the long holiday weekend and the beginning of school vacation to enjoy family outings. However, few Tunisians emboffs spoke with expressed any particular pride in fifty years of independence. A Berber guide in southern Tunisia told Poloff that he had no special plans to commemorate the holiday, but perhaps government authorities had organized something in the schools. ¶4. (C) Some of the disaffection may result from the generational divide in the Tunisian populace, as most Tunisians are now under age fifty. A local radio station asked listeners to call in to share their views on independence. One caller in his thirties said that he didn't feel strongly about independence since he hadn't lived under occupation. When the presenter asked where he had learned about independence, he said mostly in school, rather than from family or friends. ¶5. (C) Other Tunisians complained about the feeling that Tunisia has made little progress since 1956 and the early years of first president Habib Bourguiba's rule. A thirty-year old woman told Poloff that the current lack of progress made her, and her peers, feel like the country was moving backwards. Others complained that GOT and RCD control over citizens' lives make people feel like there is little independence to celebrate. The 18 October Committee (Ref B) tried to organize a demonstration on March 17 in Tunis' Independence Square with the slogan, "50 Years of Dictatorship: Enough." One local independent Arabic language newspaper headlined its March 17th edition with an article titled "Elites monopolize independence." Indeed, at the independence day parade attended by President Ben Ali, Ambassador noted mainly elites were present, rather than average Tunisians. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: What should have been a milestone of nationalism and pride seems to have been just another day off to the average Tunisian. This reaction is, in part, illustrative of how engaged the man on the street feels with his government. While Ben Ali or the RCD may proclaim that democracy is firmly entrenched in Tunisian society, few seem to personally relate to this statement. END COMMENT. HUDSON