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Tunisia. Emel Mathlouthi: "The morphine we’ve been injected with for 23 years is no longer enough to dull our pain”
12/01/2011
We asked the Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi about the current unrest in Tunisia.
What news do you have from Tunisia in the last few days?
Between 20 and 40 deaths following the most recent actions by the police, several demonstrations have broken out across the country, especially in the universities and schools, so they have suspended lessons until further notice, and Facebook is being partially censored. Also they have fired the head of the army…
How did this clash between the government and the people begin?
The suicide of Mohamed Bou’azizi in Sidi Bouzid sparked everything off. On 17 December he set himself on fire out of pure despair. He was a young unemployed graduate who was selling vegetables on the street to make ends meet, and the authorities confiscated them because he didn’t have a permit. He just didn’t know where to turn. That was not the only case of suicide by self-immolation, several others did the same thing, and one electrocuted himself, another one threw himself off a bridge. Since then, the people in the centre-west and south of the country have risen up because those are the regions that have been completely neglected economically.
What do the people want?
They are demanding the right to work, freedom of expression, and electoral freedom. We want to have the choice to move on to something new, we have an urgent need to breathe the fresh air of hope, we need to express ourselves. It’s not demagoguery, people say now – “the morphine we’ve been injected with for the last 23 years is no longer enough to dull our pain”.
You were in Tunisia over the New Year, did you feel something was about to happen?
Things were happening when I was there playing concerts, and we didn’t understand what was going on. We did not think it was going to get this bad. I don’t think anyone could have known. We were all taken by surprise.
From the outside, the movement seems to be coming from the young generation, is that the case?
Yes, it’s logical because 48% of the population is under 35 years old. But it’s not just the young people who are involved, older men and women are also on the streets expressing their anger.
The demonstrators have the public’s support?
This movement is general, it’s all over Tunisia, from the coast to the inland regions, everyone is together in this. This solidarity was a long time coming, and I’m happy about this.
Is any opposition power structure surfacing? There are a few opposition parties who have never been able to do very much because of the situation. Now, I think they have been overtaken by events, we hope that they will take a position soon and present it to the people, we are counting on them.
Can an Islamist movement take advantage of the situation?
I think that’s always been the lie and the excuse that the government used, with the West’s support. Tunisia is capable of changing from within without an Islamist movement taking advantage of the situation, we’ve had the proof since the 17 December. Long live a free and secular Tunisia!
How far do you think all this could go?
It can go a long way, and I hope it does! "Akahaw/yezzi" ("that’s enough!") as we say, it's time for Tunisia to change, and change radically. We need to move into a new era, we need transparent leaders who care about the people and who can allow Tunisia to regain its spirit and its freedom.
Benjamin MiNiMuM
12/01/2011
TUNISIA SOCIETY EMEL MATHLOUTHI
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anton KOZEL
31/08/2011
Her testimony got me to tears. So much pain we should all be aware of and work together regardless where we are.
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