OPPOSITION PARTY TURNS TO HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001294 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/MAG (HOPKINS/HARRIS); DRL (JOHNSTONE) LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARTY TURNS TO HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST EVICTION REF: A. TUNIS 699 ¶B. TUNIS 1044 ¶C. TUNIS 1248 ¶D. TUNIS 493 Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The opposition Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) announced that as of September 20 PDP leaders began a hunger strike to protest what they deem a politically motivated eviction from their Tunis headquarters. During a September 18 meeting with the Ambassador, PDP Secretary General Maya Jribi explained that the PDP has been paying its rent to the same landlord (under the same lease agreement) without incident for over ten years. Because of the sudden nature of the eviction proceedings, the fact that the landlord has refused to renegotiate the lease, has recently refused rent payments, and has not given an explanation beyond "lease violations," the PDP has concluded the eviction attempt is retaliation for its political activities. Jribi said that because the PDP feels this case is politically motivated, it is responding politically with a hunger strike. End summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶2. (C) The PDP is a registered opposition party that also operates the Arabic-weekly newspaper al-Mawqif. In a September 18 meeting with the Ambassador, PDP Secretary General Maya Jribi explained that technically, the PDP's lease is in the name of its newspaper as this is common practice for political parties in Tunisia. Many of the personnel are the same, and at any rate the combined personnel are not numerous. The PDP has operated in the same space, under the terms of its current lease, for over twenty years. When the current owner, Abdel Rahman Bou Zayen, bought the building in 1993, he accepted the terms of the prior lease, and the PDP has been paying rent to Bou Zayen without incident for over a decade. ¶3. (C) Without discernable motivation, Bou Zayen suddenly threatened to begin eviction proceedings in April 2006, saying that the PDP's sharing office space with al-Mawqif violated the lease agreement (Ref A). After several threats, he legally requested eviction in April 2007, and the case is scheduled to go to court on September 24. According to Jribi, Bou Zayen has not offered a reason beyond "lease violations" for his attempt to evict his long-time tenants. Because of the eviction's sudden nature, the lack of explanation, the landlord,s refusal to renegotiate the lease, and recent refusal of rent payments, the PDP's steering committee concluded that the case is politically motivated. The PDP, through meetings, campaigns, press releases, and its newspaper, is an active critique of government policies. Recently, the PDP has called for reforms concerning access to the media, with an eye to presenting viable candidates in the 2009 presidential and legislative elections. -------------- Fight Fire With Fire -------------- ¶4. (C) Because the PDP considers this case to be political, Jribi announced at a September 20 press conference that the party would respond politically by staging a sit in and a hunger strike at the party headquarters. She clarified that the PDP would not dignify the court proceedings with a representative. Jribi elaborated that the hunger strike was not a decision the PDP came to easily or lightly, but one that members felt necessary to call attention not only to their own situation, but the treatment of civil society by the government in general. She specifically noted the difficulties encountered by the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, Ref B),which Jribi attributed to the GOT, and the potentially politically motivated fire at the office of attorney Ayachi Hammami (Ref C). Journalist Lotfi Hajji and attorney/activist Ayachi Hammami were stopped and questioned by plainclothes police en route to the press conference, and were not able to attend. Hammami was also prevented from visiting PDP headquarters by plainclothes police on September ¶21. ¶5. (C) The move carries some health risks for the participants, current PDP Secretary General Maya Jribi and PDP political bureau member Nejib Chebbi (former Secretary General of the PDP and a potential presidential candidate). Chebbi is 64, diabetic and has undergone triple-bypass surgery. Jribi is 48, and though not frail, has a slight frame and acknowledged the hunger strike would not be easy. During a September 21 meeting with Pol/EconCouns, Chebbi explained that neither he or Jribi will eat or drink, and they will proceed with the hunger strike even against medical advice. (Note: Jribi and Chebbi are being monitored by medical personnel. End Note.) During the September 20 press conference, Chebbi stated that since the PDP would not be granted the right to hold a demonstration, and because it does not have free access to the media, the party is pursing the only means of protest left to it. According to Chebbi, the goal of the strike is twofold. First, it acts as a call for solidarity among civil society activists. Second, the PDP hopes to pressure the GOT into halting the eviction proceedings. ¶6. (C) The move comes after a spate of incidents involving the PDP -- nine of their regional offices have been or are in the process of eviction. Chebbi told Pol/EconCouns on September 21 that several of the party,s regional landlords admitted they were being strongly pressured by police and local officials to evict the PDP. On August 27, the PDP held a press conference to protest the last-minute cancellation by a hotel of a planned summer university targeted at youth. Management cited ongoing work at the hotel,s facilities, but the PDP believes that the GOT pressured the hotel to withdraw the meeting space. Jribi told PolOff she had visited the hotel and found no evidence of substantial renovations, and the hotel staff was given leave for the three days the conference was scheduled. Further, on August 29, the party published a press release noting that plainclothes police prevented a social gathering in which Chebbi was participating in Nabeul. As Chebbi later recounted, the group attempted to meet in a cafe but left after police told the owner they would shut down his cafe if he did not throw out the PDP members. When the group moved to the nearby beach, police officers tried to disperse them. After their attempts failed, police officers brought chairs and sat in a circle surrounding Chebbi and his party. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The experience of the PDP shows that, while some members of the GOT may be willing to pursue reform, not everyone shares their agenda. Notwithstanding President Ben Ali,s declaration to CODEL Tanner (Ref D) that he wanted to strengthen opposition parties, security officials are hampering their activities. If genuine, Ben Ali,s message has not filtered down to the GOT rank and file, leaving independent parties like the PDP little room to maneuver. The Embassy will continue to maintain close contact with the PDP and plans to make periodic visits to the hunger strikers. End Comment. GODEC