FREEDOM AGENDA QUARTERLY REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000750

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE, NEA/FO, NEA/PI
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
ROME FOR ROSE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV KMPI KPAO TS
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA QUARTERLY REPORT

REF: A. TUNIS 667


B. TUNIS 644

C. TUNIS 622

D. TUNIS 584

E. TUNIS 501

F. 03/01/2006 ERELI STATEMENT

G. TUNIS 425

H. TUNIS 387

I. TUNIS 311

J. TUNIS 299

K. TUNIS 227

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: This quarter was marked by significant USG
engagement of the GOT, including visits by SecDef Rumsfeld
and NEA A/S Welch. The GOT took some positive steps towards
increased political reform, including pardoning approximately
eighty prisoners described as political prisoners by human
rights groups. Activism by Tunisian reformists has
continued, but its efficacy is limited by the GOT's strict
domestic control. The status of human rights and democracy
remains behind our Freedom Agenda targets and requires
increased and sustained USG pressure to advance our reform
goals. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) HIGH LEVEL ENGAGEMENT: The highest levels of the USG
raised the Freedom Agenda with GOT officials and private
Tunisians during this quarter. During Secretary Rumsfeld's
February 11 visit to Tunisia, he noted the importance of
democratic reform. In a short statement after his meeting
with the Minister of Defense, Rumsfeld said "political and
economic freedom go hand in hand." On March 1, the Deputy
Spokesman released a statement praising the GOT release of
political prisoners and encouraging greater reform (Ref F).
During his March 15 visit to Tunisia, A/S Welch reinforced
USG expectations for political reform in Tunisia with a
variety of GOT and private interlocutors, including President
Ben Ali (Ref B),and in a press conference.


3. (C) GOT PROGRESS: In the first quarter of 2006, the GOT
did take some positive steps towards increased political
reform. Most notably, President Ben Ali, for the first time
with an American official, suggested to SecDef that he would
one day be a "retired" president (Ref I). In advance of
Tunisia's fiftieth anniversary of independence, Ben Ali
pardoned or granted conditional release to over 1600
prisoners, including over eighty described as political
prisoners by local and international NGOs (Ref G). The
International Committee of the Red Cross head of delegation
also reported continuing good cooperation with GOT
authorities on improving prison conditions. On March 3, a
new political party, the Green Party for Progress, was
registered, bringing the number of Tunisian opposition
parties to eight. While the registration of new political
parties is one of our Freedom Agenda goals, there is no
evidence this party will play an active role in the
opposition (Ref D). Announced changes to the prior review
(depot legal) process for print media were ratified in
January (Ref K). There is also a palpable, if cautious,
trend toward more critical press coverage of local social
issues, although journalists are unconvinced true freedom of
expression is growing. In mid-March, a GOT-controlled
newspaper suggested new print media would appear in the near
future. These positive actions are significant since they
include four of the seven political reform targets former A/S
Craner raised with the GOT in 2004.


4. (C) GOT RECALCITRANCE: Despite these small positive steps,
the GOT has also maintained many of its status quo positions
on civil society. Harassment of activists (septel)
continues, including press defamation campaigns, and GOT
officials also publicly denounced many activists as
"traitors" (Ref C). The Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH)
continues to face a court case brought by GOT loyalists to
try to reduce the group's activism (Ref E).


5. (C) CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISM: The 18 October Committee, a
disparate alliance of activists and politicos, including
leftists, independents and Islamists, continued to be
publicly active, although the GOT banned participation in
press conferences and demonstrations organized by the group
in 2006 (Refs H and A). The General Union of Tunisian Workers
complained that GOT control restricted press coverage of its
sixtieth anniversary (Ref J).


6. (C) OUTLOOK: Tunisia remains behind the curve when it
comes to Freedom Agenda goals. While the GOT may take steps
that give the appearance of a commitment to democracy (like
those in para 3),there is no evidence that there is any
willingness to increase political space or discourse in a
meaningful way in the near term. With major legislative and
presidential elections scheduled for the fall of 2009, clear
and strong pressure must be continuously applied to the GOT
if the Tunisian populace is to be engaged in the political
process by 2009.
HUDSON