Tunisia gripped by general strike as assassinated Chokri Bela?d is buried

Fears grow

political violence as a hero of the family opposition accuses ruling party Ennahda of being complicit in the death

While tens of thousands of people and national flag draped protesters crammed into a wooded hillside of the historic cemetery Jellaz Tunisia, Yassim Boubakher, a lawyer with a peaked cap, began to cry .

"One thing you must understand about Tunisia is that we do not like blood," she sobbed. "We can not bloodshed. Live under the dictatorship of Ben Ali for 23 years, but eventually fell when he turned up arms against the people and rose to say "stop" will not have blood. "

As a military helicopter hovered over the crowd gathered to greet the flag-draped coffin of Chokri Belaid. A leader of the leftist opposition, unionist and lawyer, Belaid was one of the most outspoken critics of the coalition government after the revolution led by the moderate Islamist party Ennahda. He appeared on television this week only to criticize a rise in political violence.

Wednesday was shot dead in broad daylight after he put in a car outside his home just before 8:00 Tunisia. Among the crowd were teachers, lawyers, business owners and the unemployed, women veiled or not, trade unionists and leftist politicians, laymen. They said his death was a watermark for the post-revolutionary Tunisia, which sparked the Arab Spring when his popular revolt overthrew the dictatorship in January 2011.

Bela?d

death was described in his court as a new type of political assassination. Under brutal Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, political opponents and human rights defenders have been imprisoned, tortured, exiled, beaten and intimidated. "However, since the colonial era in the 1950s, Tunisia has seen a clear political assassination in the streets," said a lawyer, Moez Jmel in the crowd. "The blood is not on our mind, we've never seen before. Murder is a red line that can not be allowed to cross. "

"It's not like neighboring Algeria," a duel, in reference to the bloody civil war in Algeria. "It's not us."

"He is a martyr," said Hedi Hammami, an unemployed graduate of philosophy in the cemetery.

Murder

Bela?d plunged the country into shock and conscience. He also highlighted the current political impasse in the process of transition in Tunisia after the revolution, which was much admired by his neighbors as Egypt and Libya, besieged by his own confusion.

After the first democratic elections in Tunisia in October 2011, Ennahda has become the leading partner in a coalition government with two secular center-left parties. The National Assembly was temporarily sentenced to a year to draft a new constitution before setting a date for elections. However, several months after the deadline, there is still no agreement on a constitution. Some lay members of small partners began to withdraw their support, others require leaving the key cabinet posts Ennahda. The economic situation deteriorated, the official unemployment rate of 17%, but much higher among young people. Lawyers and activists say torture continues in prisons, the judiciary and the administration is still corrupt.

"More worrying is the drip of violence, political violence in the street," said Fathi Abaza, math teacher and trade unionist. Pockets Small but vocal Salafists are accused of violence in the streets. However, the funeral of a complaint Bela?d key was dark in the protection area called groups known as the League for the Protection of the Revolution, a small contingent of men who claim to be against the remnants of the former regime, but are accused of using thugs to remove clashes at opposition rallies and union meetings. Most notable was an attack on a branch of Tataouine a new party, the 'secular opposition - Nida Tounes - in October last year that killed a local activist. Belaid was an outspoken critic of these groups, accusing them of belonging to Ennahda. Others on the left, said Ennahda was too permissive violence and failed to eradicate. Ennahda refuse membership or control groups.

• On Friday, the funeral took place Belaid, Tunisia has closed its first national strike since 1978, organized by the majority union, the UGTT. A top union and university mathematics professor, Anouar Ben Kaddour said: "The strike has only one goal:. More violence Our transition to democracy must go in peace."

In HQ Ennahda in Tunisia, the party has been treating its response to the political crisis triggered by the murder of Belaid. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali Ennahda said on Wednesday he would dissolve his government and replaced by a firm, non-partisan elections will be held as soon as possible.

Other Parties welcomed the news, but officials said his executive Ennahda has not approved the measure, suggesting divisions in a game that many of those who were imprisoned, tortured or exiled during the reign of Ben Ali. Jebali assured Friday its intention to replace some ministers technocrats.

Hichem
Laareyedh said a party leader. "Although we do not agree with Chokri Belaid in his political position, was a militant activist for democracy, respect, Tunisia were shocked by his murder. 'S very painful for all Tunisians, that they see it as a major threat to democracy. "

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