[WSIS CS-Plenary] Why WSIS-05 May Not Hold in Tunisia

[Ralf Bendrath]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200401220684.html

Why WSIS-05 May Not Hold in Tunisia

Daily Champion (Lagos)
January 22, 2004
Remmy Nweke, Lagos

AS the campaign to cushion the lapses witnessed in the first-phase of
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) hots up, and the Tunisian
Government warms up for the preparation of the second phase of WSIS in
2005, press freedom groups may scuttle the plans.

This is coming in the wake of alleged human rights and press freedom
abuses by the government of Tunisia.

The Press Freedom groups under the aegis of World Association of
Newspapers (WAN), Journaliste en danger (JED), along with World Press
Freedom Committee, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Inter American
Press Association, International Association of Broadcasting,
International Federation of the Periodical Press, International Press
Institute and the North American Broadcasters Association are urging
summit organizers to cancel plans to hold the 2005 follow-up summit in
Tunisia.

According to them, "The second phase of the WSIS should not be held
there because of the country's serious human rights abuses," a statement
issued by the groups said.

"The Tunisian press is censored, journalists are jailed along with
hundreds of other political prisoners, and organsiation of the Tunis
summit has been assigned to a military general alleged to be responsible
for the torture of political prisoners," the groups added.

They also called for the 2005 meeting to be either held in a country
known for respecting press freedom or be put-off.

WAN which is leading the campaign, added that unless the Tunisian
government improves its human rights records, holding WSIS-05 in the
country would bring the WSIS process into disrepute.,This, the groups
maintained would "completely undermine WSIS declaration's reaffirmation
on the principles of free information and free expression".

Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) last weekend, accused the
Tunisian authorities of blocking the development of an independent press
in the country after journalist Sihem Bensedrine failed in her attempt
to register the weekly newspaper "Kalima".

Bensedrine was turned away when she tried to begin the registration
process for the bilingual publication at the Interior Ministry's offices
on 13 January 2004.,"This latest unsuccessful attempt to publish the
newspaper 'Kalima' provides additional evidence of the Tunisian
authorities' determination to keep the press under control," said RSF
Secretary-General, Mr. Robert Ménard.

"President Ben Ali has publicly declared his support for freedom of
information but deliberately prevents the creation of an independent
press. Against this backdrop, the holding of the second phase of the
World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in 2005 is a scandal,"
Ménard added.,This is the third time since 1999 that Bensedrine has
attempted to file a "preliminary statement" for "Kalima" with the
Interior Ministry. A home-produced version of the newspaper is currently
published on an irregular basis and distributed unofficially. "Kalima"'s
website, which is hosted abroad, continues to be blocked within Tunisia. 

Anticipating a setback at the ministry's offices, Bensedrine decided to
invite witnesses to observe her request for registration. "Kalima"'s
editorial committee, her lawyer, Member of Parliament Mokhtar Djalali
and Tunisian Human Rights League President Mokhtar Trifi accompanied the
journalist. 

She was once again able to show proof of President Zine el-Abidine Ben
Ali's refusal to liberalise the press in Tunisia, RSF noted. On January
14, Bensedrine was subjected to a particularly thorough search at Tunis
airport before boarding a flight to Germany, while a copy of "Kalima"
was confiscated from her as well as three CD-ROMs containing personal
data.