GOT DISCOURAGES CIVIL SOCIETY ANTI-DEATH PENALTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000840 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/FO (CARPENTER) NEA/MAG (HOPKINS/HARRIS); NEA/PI LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM KPAO TS SUBJECT: GOT DISCOURAGES CIVIL SOCIETY ANTI-DEATH PENALTY CAMPAIGN Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On June 14, a group of prominent Tunisian NGOs, led by the Tunisian chapter of Amnesty International, announced they were launching a coalition against the death penalty in Tunisia. This move is an anomaly because the Tunisian chapter of Amnesty International usually refrains from reporting on Tunisia, per its agreement with the GOT. The next day, the president of Amnesty International's Tunisia chapter was reportedly questioned about the coalition by Ministry of Interior (MOI) representatives, who characterized the effort as "illegal." The GOT's reaction probably has more to do with groups joining together to criticize the GOT than it does with the death penalty itself. End Summary. -------------- Tunisian Coalition Against the Death Penalty -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During a June 14 press conference, the Tunisian chapter of Amnesty International (AIST),Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH),Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD),Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR), Tunisian Womens' Association for Research and Development (AFTURD),Tunisian Journalists' Association (AJT),and the Tunisian Federation of Film Associations (ATCC) announced the creation of a coalition against the death penalty in Tunisia. This move is an anomaly because, per its agreement with the GOT, the Tunisian chapter of Amnesty usually refrains from reporting on Tunisia. Habib Marsit, president of the Tunisian branch of Amnesty International, stated clearly that the coalition is a Tunis based initiative. He mentioned the possibility of later forging ties to international groups campaigning against the death penalty, but said that for the time being this is a Tunisian group formed in response to a Tunisian problem. Marsit outlined an action plan that included an awareness campaign, and lobbying opposition members of parliament and government officials. ¶3. (C) While the death penalty exists in Tunisia, no one has been executed since 1991. LTDH President Mokhtar Trifi said while the coalition's primary goal is abolishing the death penalty, the group is also concerned about the conditions of prisoners on death row which he called "inhumane." Ilhem Abdelkefi, a member of AIST, told PolOff on June 22 that the coalition grew out of the AIST's participation in the annual global Amnesty International (AI) meeting. She shared that dozens of local groups (both officially recognized and unofficial) had been invited to participate, but the coalition consisted of the only groups that responded. (Note: All are legally recognized NGOs. End Note.) ¶4. (C) Though the June 14 press event went off smoothly, on June 15 AIST President Marsit was summoned by Ministry of Interior (MOI) representatives. According to a AIST communique, GOT officials told him the coalition is illegal since it is not an official organization and AIST does not have the right to intervene in "internal affairs." Marsit responded that the groups comprising the coalition are all legally recognized NGOs, and they are coordinating their efforts, not creating a new organization. He added that according to his interpretation, AIST's actions fall under the four dispensations for local initiatives (specifically those regarding conformity of local laws with international conventions). After signing a declaration saying he had been informed of the police and MOI's concerns, Marsit reportedly left the police station. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Given that there is a de facto moratorium on executions in Tunisia, the GOT's reaction to the coalition probably has more to do with concern about increased civil society coordination than it has to do with the issue of the death penalty. It is worth noting that the only groups that felt comfortable speaking out on this issue were registered NGOs, though many others were invited to participate. According to ATFD President Khedija Cherif, the AIST confrontation with GOT officials is another example of competing GOT instructions: while some may encourage legal and moderate civil society activities, the majority are inclineQo dissuade any and all discourse. End comment. GODEC