President Ben Ali suppresses demonstration in support of press freedom

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the recent suppression of a demonstration in support of a free and independent press. On 27 March 2004, police dispersed members of human rights and political opposition groups who had gathered in front of the state broadcaster's headquarters in Tunis. "With the stroke of a pen, the winner of the 'golden pen of press freedom', alias President [Zine al-Abidine] Ben Ali, has once again erased civil society groups' demands for the easing of restrictions on the press. This is the second time since the start of the year that the president has ordered the suppression of a demonstration in support of a free and independent media. How much longer will the Tunisian president remain deaf to the demands of his people?" the organisation said. The demonstration, led by a group of 10 organisations and five political parties, was part of a national press freedom campaign that is currently underway. Protesters wanted to hand over a letter to the director of the state broadcaster demanding that civil society groups be granted access to the Tunisian airwaves. Police dispersed the protesters less than one hour after the start of the demonstration. The groups had not been given permission to assemble. On 19 February, a similar demonstration was dispersed by the security forces. In late 2003, the Tunisian Journalists' Association, which is completely loyal to the government, presented its Golden Pen of Press Freedom award to President Ben Ali. On 8 March 2004, in protest over the ridiculous move, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) announced the Tunisian group's suspension and provisional expulsion from membership in the IFJ.