ARMED GROUP ATTACKS HIGH-RANKING PDP DELEGATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000464

SIPDIS

NEA/MAG (MHAYES); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN/COFSKYU)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL KPAO TS
SUBJECT: ARMED GROUP ATTACKS HIGH-RANKING PDP DELEGATION

REF: 08 TUNIS 851

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


1. (C) Summary: A Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)
delegation led by Secretary General Maya Jribi attending a
celebration of the release of a PDP member in Sidi Bouzid
July 6 was attacked by a group armed with sticks, stones and
knives. Two PDP members sustained minor injuries and the
windows and windscreens of three PDP vehicles were shattered.
Police present during the attack offered no assistance to
the PDP members. End summary.


2. (SBU) A high-ranking PDP delegation led by Secretary
General Maya Jribi was attacked July 6 by a group armed with
sticks, stones and knives in the Governorate of Sidi Bouzid.
In addition to Jribi, the delegation included Mongi Ellouz,
Issam Chebbi, Ahmed Bouazzi, Mouldi Fahem and Salah
Belhaouichet. The delegation was attending a small-scale
celebration for the prison release of one of the PDP's
militants, Wahid Brahmi, at his parents' home in the village
of Hichriya. (Note: Brahmi was sentenced to four years in
prison in June 2007 for allegedly spreading false
information. The Court of Appeal subsequently reduced his
sentence to two years and four months).


3. (C) Jribi informed Ambassador and PolOff July 9 that upon
the delegation's arrival in Hichriya, they were met by the
armed group and the local police chief accompanied by three
deputies. The police chief and one deputy were dressed in
plain clothes and the other two were in official uniform.
Jribi and her group introduced themselves to the police chief
and informed him of their unofficial business in the village.
Jribi said that several minutes later while talking to
Brahmi and his family, they were attacked by the group which
threw a barrage of stones at them.


4. (SBU) The ensuing violence resulted in minor physical
injuries to Ahmed Bouazzi and local PDP leader Lassad
Bouazizi. The windows and windscreens of three PDP members'
vehicles including Jribi's were shattered. The violence
occurred in the presence of the local police chief and his
deputy, while the other two officers that Jribi noted upon
arrival departed the scene. Jribi stated that the police
chief made no attempt to stop the group's aggression, and the
absence of action encouraged the group to further violence.


5. (C) Jribi and her delegation were forced to seek cover in
the Brahmi family home where they remained under attack.
Jribi contacted the MOI during the event at 1600 hours and
requested assistance from the Minister, but was informed he
was unavailable. She then requested to speak to his deputy
and the rest of the chain of command but received the same
answer. She was subsequently informed that that the MOI
closed at 1400 hours during the summer. Jribi claimed the
attacks stopped two hours after her call to the MOI and more
police were visible on the scene although they were not
responsible for stopping the attacks. A police officer
entered the home to check on Jribi and company, but Jribi
claimed she refused to speak or allow anyone else to speak to
him. The delegation subsequently left the village before
nightfall escorted by police. Jribi stated that the police
escort was not for safety reasons but to ensure their
departure out of the governorate.


6. (SBU) The PDP released a communiqu July 6 condemning the
violence and held the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally
(RCD) and security forces in the Governorate of Sidi Bouzid
responsible. Jribi also held a press conference with local
media and one with Al-Jazeera July 7 denouncing the GOT's
refusal to intervene and protect its citizens. The PDP in
their communiqu called for a transparent investigation into
the event and for civil society and democratic forces to
stand against the return of the use of such groups and
violence against democratic opposition. Mustapha Ben Jafaar,
Secretary General of opposition party Democratic Forum for
Labor and Liberties (FDTL) was present at Jribi's local press
conference in show a of support.


7. (C) Jribi stated that she was sure the armed group was
aware of the delegation's visit to the governorate since
telephone and email monitoring of opposition leaders by the
MOI is a common practice. Additionally, Jribi reported that
she was informed by PDP sympathizers in the village that
during morning prayers in the local Mosque, the Imam
announced that a PDP delegation was scheduled to arrive in
the village and the residents had to "do their duty." Jribi
could not corroborate the authenticity of this information
but believed it to be true given the events. So far, the GOT
has not made any official comment about the incident, but
Agence France Presse newswire reported July 8 that GOT
sources claimed that PDP members started the fight by
insulting and throwing stones at some inhabitants in Hichriya
and these inhabitants were forced to defend themselves.
Jribi categorically denied the PDP did anything to provoke
the incident.


8. (C) Comment: The violence directed at the PDP group is a
very serious matter. When asked, Jribi said it is not usual
for such violence to be directed at the PDP. It is possible,
she said, that the decision to attack her group was made by
local officials in Sidi Bouzid rather than in Tunis.
Regardless of who was behind the attack, however, it is
another example of the growing tension in the run up to the
October presidential and legislative elections. As we have
heard elsewhere (e.g., from PSL leader Mondher Thabet),local
GOT and RCD officials are under great pressure to ensure the
"right" results from their regions, i.e., an overwhelming
vote for Ben Ali and the RCD. While the election is in no
doubt, the pressure is predictably encouraging GOT and RCD
officials to use intimidation to prevent opposition parties
from organizing or conducting outreach. The Embassy will
raise this attack with like-minded Missions to discuss
possible responses. End comment.

Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm

Godec
Godec