Still waiting
July 30, 2011
As Tunisia heads towards its first free elections this October, discontent and violent unrest continue to threaten the country, even in the small town that sparked the Arab Spring revolutions that have reached across Mideast and North African countries.
The small central Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid is home to some 40,000 residents, a small produce market and a few government buildings, and it was vegetable vendor Mohammed Bouazizi's self-immolation death here on January 4 that tipped Tunisia into a public revolt, leading the rest of the Arab world.
Bouazizi's act triggered the uprising that toppled Tunisia's long-time dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.
But locals say they are still awaiting real political change. Just earlier this month, a teenage boy was killed in Sidi Bouzid amid anti-government riots.
Waiting for justice
The family of another hero, Adel Hammami, says they are still hoping for justice for Hammami, who died in February after being summoned to a police station. The 36-year-old had threatened to expose fraud within the old ruling RCD party.
"The family has asked the Interior Ministry to launch a wider investigation, but so far nothing's happened," Hammami's sister Monjia told Deutsche Welle.
Other Sidi Bouzid residents are also frustrated, agreeing that progress, especially economic progress, has been slow to come to their town. Former history teacher Ridha Bargougui says he lost his job in 1998 and is still unemployed.
"Nothing has changed since Tunisia's revolution. Everything is blocked," Bargougui said.
Local activist Mohamed Sghaier Noury agrees that many of the problems that fueled Tunisia's revolution remain - not only in Sidi Bouzid, but across the country.
"There has been no local development," he said. "No involvement of the people in any decision process - whether it's political or economic or social."
Hoping for 'clear signs'
Unemployment remains high in Sidi Bouzid. Jobless university graduates here reportedly pasted their diplomas on municipal buildings in protest.
Noury has founded a local non-governmental organization called Madrassa, which has developed a blueprint for grassroots change in this rural region, starting with agricultural development.
He says Madrassa has presented its plan to the government in Tunis, with positive initial response.
Noury said the people need "clear signs … that local development is starting."
"This gives hope to the people that the future will be better than it has been."
Author: Elizabeth Bryant, Sidi Bouzid / dl
Editor: Nicole Goebel