Seven hunger strikers announce end of protest as summit draws to close

Seven leading opposition and civil society figures who began a hunger strike on 18 October announced the end of their protest at a press conference today as the three-day World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was drawing to a close in Tunis. The press conference was held in lawyer Ayachi Hammami's office in Tunis, where the seven hunger strikers stayed during their 32-day protest. They said there was no longer any point continuing because they had achieved all of their goals and had, in some senses, exceeded their expectations. The indefinite hunger strike was launched on 18 October to demand respect for freedom of expression and association in Tunisia and the release of all political prisoners. The end of the protest did not mean they had given up their demands, they said. One of the hunger strikers, Mokhtar Yahyaoui of the Tunisian Committee for Judicial Independence, announced that a national committee would be formed to bring together all of the opposition movements, pursue their demands and establish a national dialogue. Reporters Without Borders said it supported this initiative, which should help foster more freedom of expression in Tunisia, and “saluted the courage of these seven personalities who have succeeded in giving birth to an unprecedented movement in Tunisia.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 08.11.2005 Reporters Without Borders visits hunger strikers, urges government to take heed After sending a representative to Tunis to pay a visit yesterday to seven political opposition and civil society members who began an indefinite hunger strike on 18 October, Reporters Without Borders today urged the Tunisian government to listen to their demands. “The Tunisian authorities must heed the legitimate demands of these hunger strikers,” the press freedom organisation said. “They are demanding just one thing, more freedom. President Ben Ali must stop turning his back and begin listening to them.” Reporters Without Borders added: “We are worried about their state of health. Three of them had electrocardiograms yesterday and all of them are in danger of suddenly having kidney and heart problems. We call on foreign embassies, including the French embassy, to pay them a visit if they have not yet done so.” The hunger strikers are staging their protest to demand respect for freedom of expression and association in Tunisia and the release of all political prisoners. Originally they were eight, but one of them dropped out after two weeks for medical reasons. “This hunger strike is indefinite,” said one of the participants, Néjib Chabbi, who is secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party (PDP). “But if we think this action has given birth to a lasting and structured protest movement throughout the country, then we may stop it. We are already pleased that there are now support movements in several parts of the country. It is encouraging.” Hamma Hammami, the spokesperson of the Tunisian Communist and Workers Party (PSOT), said: “Today in Tunisia, we have a minimum of liberty but beyond that, it is a dictatorship. We decided to go on hunger strike because we have no other way of expressing ourselves. Demonstrations are banned and the press is completely gagged. The only thing President Ben Ali does not control is our resolve and our bodies.” Mokhtar Yahyaoui, another of the hunger strikers, said: “We have been able to show that public opinion really does support civil rights and democracy, and we are very pleased with that.” Reporters Without Borders yesterday also met with Fethi Touzri, the head of a medical panel that is monitoring the condition of the hunger strikers. “Three of them are in a worrying condition which requires more exhaustive tests,” he said. “Their degree of weight loss is now about 12 per cent and you are considered to have crossed into the danger zone at 20 per cent. They all risk having heart, kidney and dehydration problems very soon. The water and sugar they are taking is no longer enough after three weeks on hunger strike.” A court bailiff today went to the premises of Ayachi Hammami's law firm, where the hunger strike is taking place, and gave orders for it to resume operating as a law firm within 24 hours. The bailiff claimed that the building's owner is insisting that it should not be used for anything other than the declared purpose. The seven hunger strikers are: - Lotfi Hajji, 43, president of the Union of Tunisian Journalists (SJT); - Mokhtar Yahyaoui, 53, a judge and president of the Tunisian Committee for Judicial Independence; - Néjib Chabbi, 62, secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party (PDP); - Mohamed Nouri, 66, a lawyer and president of the International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners (AISPP); - Samir Dilou, 39, a lawyer and former political prisoner: - Ayachi Hammami, 46, a lawyer and secretary-general of the Tunis section of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH); - Hamma Hammami, 53, the spokesperson of the Tunisian Communist and Workers Party (PSOT). Abderraouf Ayadi, the vice-president of the opposition Congress for the Republic (CPR), had to abandon his participation in the hunger strike after two weeks. Reporters Without Borders has film and still photos of the hunger strikers that are available free of copyright.