Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TUNIS1058
2007-08-03 15:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:  

OCTOBER 18TH MOVEMENT: FOCUS ON 2009 ELECTION

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0819
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTU #1058/01 2151544
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031544Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3625
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TUNIS 001058 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/FO (GRAY AND CARPENTER); DRL/FO
(BARKS-RUGGLES); NEA/MAG (HOPKINS/HARRIS); NEA/PI
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 18TH MOVEMENT: FOCUS ON 2009 ELECTION

REF: A. TUNIS 986


B. TUNIS 840

C. 06 TUNIS 2661

Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TUNIS 001058

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/FO (GRAY AND CARPENTER); DRL/FO
(BARKS-RUGGLES); NEA/MAG (HOPKINS/HARRIS); NEA/PI
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 18TH MOVEMENT: FOCUS ON 2009 ELECTION

REF: A. TUNIS 986


B. TUNIS 840

C. 06 TUNIS 2661

Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) On July 26, the Ambassador met with five civil
society activists involved in the October 18th movement (an
alliance of disparate human rights and political activists
that includes moderate Islamists). The October 18 group
expressed deep concern about the lack of freedom of
expression and freedom of association in Tunisia, stressing
the GOT needs to ease restrictions now if the Presidential
and parliamentary elections in 2009 are to be meaningful.
They added the lack of political freedom is discouraging
investment and slowing economic growth.


2. (C) While the October 18 group includes some of
Tunisia's most serious opposition politicians (e.g. Nejib
Chebbi),ongoing internal divisions over the role of
Islamists threaten its continued existence and hamper its
ability to attract a widespread following. While the group
welcomes US Government advocacy for greater freedom, they
have little interest in other engagement with the United
States because of their opposition to USG regional policies.
The Embassy is developing an action plan, focusing on freedom
of expression and association, leading up to the 2009
elections. End summary.

--------------
Who's Who
--------------


3. (C) On July 26, the Ambassador met with Nejib Chebbi
(former Secretary General of the opposition Progressive
Democratic Party and current member of the party's political
bureau),Lotfi Hajji (president of the unauthorized Tunisian
Journalists Syndicate),Samir Dilou (a member of the
International Association for the Support of Political
Prisoners),Fethi Jerbi (a member of the unauthorized
Congress Party for the Republic or CPR),and Mohamed Nouri
(President of the International Association for the Support

of Political Prisoners, AISPP). Chebbi, Haji, Dilou, and
Nouri were four of the seven individuals who began a hunger
strike on October 18, 2005 (Ref C) to protest GOT
restrictions on freedom of expression; Jerbi stood in for
Abderraouf Ayadi (an original hunger striker from the CPR).
The movement subsequently expanded to include a disparate
alliance of civil society activists, including additional
moderate Islamists.

--------------
Obstacles to Political Freedom
--------------


4. (C) When asked if they felt the July 24 release of
political prisoner Mohamed Abbou (Ref A) was indicative of
growing political freedom, the group was unanimous that their
answer was, unfortunately, no. Chebbi responded that while
civil society applauds Abbou's release, it has no assurances
(or confidence) that the GOT will not imprison outspoken
activists in the future. A more genuine indicator of
increasing political space, he continued, would be specific
measures to improve freedom of association and expression
(e.g., access to television and radio for political parties,
or registering new associations).


5. (C) Over the course of the two-and-a-half hour meeting,
the group repeatedly expressed concerns regarding freedom of
association and freedom of expression. Chebbi opined that in
order for there to be meaningful Presidential and
parliamentary elections in 2009, the GOT needs to ease
restrictions on freedom of the press and allow opposition
groups to organize and promote their platforms. He
characterized the 2009 elections as a potentially pivotal
turning point for Tunisia, but only if preparatory measures
are taken in 2007. Opposition groups, he said, are orienting
their activities towards the elections, but are hampered by
their inability to meet freely and lack of access to local
media. Asked about future activities, the group explained
that it has no concrete plans, citing problems plaguing
freedom of association, ranging from an inability to secure
conference venues to the presence of plainclothes policemen
outside meetings.


TUNIS 00001058 002 OF 002



6. (C) Chebbi countered the oft-expressed GOT argument that
rapid reforms could lead to instability, offering Tunisia's
political reforms during the early 1980's as proof that
growing political liberty could foster economic prosperity.
Jerbi agreed that democracy as a whole fosters economic
growth. A strong press and independent judiciary counter
corruption, Jerbi said, while political repression simply
polarizes society and fosters extremism. Jerbi, an economics
professor, voiced concern that continued political repression
would discourage continued investment in Tunisia, chasing
away both talent and employers. As proof that this
phenomenon is potentially already underway, he cited the high
unemployment rate in Tunisia, saying the official rate of 14
percent was a dramatic underestimate.


7. (C) Aside from the economic question, Jerbi flirted with
positions more extreme than the others. More than once, he
even alluded to the possibility that some Tunisians are
willing to take up arms against the Ben Ali regime. Although
he distanced himself -- and the CPR, which advocates only
non-violent opposition -- from the notion of armed
resistance, some members of the group found the references
unsettling. Ambassador stressed that the USG believes that
the GOT has made progress in important areas, and that all
discussion of violence is completely unacceptable. Jerbi
agreed that violence is unacceptable. Chebbi told EmbOffs
separately that he considers Jerbi extreme and not
representative of the Movement.

--------------
A Role for the USG?
--------------


8. (C) When the Ambassador solicited the group's thoughts
on what the USG should do to support civil society,
participants at first avoided the question. Nouri and Chebbi
concurred that the democracy movement in Tunisia should be
first and foremost a Tunisian-driven enterprise, though they
acknowledged it would be useful if the USG lobbied the GOT
for more press freedom and freedom of association. There was
an uncomfortable pause, followed by some nervous laughter,
when the subject of the Middle East Partnership Initiative
(MEPI) was raised; the October 18th group displayed a
distinct preference for assistance not associated with the
USG. (Note: Many civil society activists in Tunisia have
declined to apply for MEPI small grants, because of their
opposition to US policies in the region. End note.) Hajji
offered the most concrete wish list, noting that a project
similar to Freedom House's Blue Umbrella (with international
NGOs providing "cover" to local activists) would be useful.
Hajji, the president of an organization currently
unrecognized by the GOT, also wished for an office where his
members could meet freely. His colleagues good-naturedly
pointed out that even if he had a door, there would probably
be plainclothes policemen blocking it.

--------------
Comment
--------------


9. (C) Through partnerships such as the October 18th
Movement and the Coalition Against the Death Penalty (Ref B),
Tunisian civil society has demonstrated a high degree of
initiative and the ability to coordinate between sometimes
disparate groups. The group's reluctance to receive grants
from the USG complicates the issue of assistance. For the
most part, the group seemed to be asking the Embassy to do
what they cannot without reprisals: advocate for greater
freedom of expression and freedom of association with the
GOT. The Embassy is exploring non-financial forms of
assistance, in addition to greater cooperation with other
diplomatic missions to better support human rights and civil
society activists. The Embassy is also developing a
programming action plan, focusing on freedom of expression
and association, leading up to the 2009 elections. End
Comment.
GODEC