A BURNING TUNISIA – WHAT NEXT?

Before the might of the masses, a dictator however mighty he is will have to flee for life at some point in his life. Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali too followed the age-old truth, fled for life to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after 23 years of authoritarian rule. The masses got fed up with his corrupt rule and their anger snowballed into agitations, protests and violence, plunging the whole nation into chaos. At last the North African country succeeded in ousting him from power. It is said that in the history of Africa this is the first time a ruler had to flee his nation seeking asylum in another Muslim nation.
Saudi Arabian rulers considering the exceptional circumstances did provide asylum to Zine El Abdidin Ben Ali and his family which has been confirmed by Saudi sources.
Before fleeing the country he signed a decree handing over power to Mohammed Ganauchi, the Prime Minister for the post of President but Constitutional Council rejected the decree and appointed Tunisian Speaker Foaud Mebasa as the acting President until further orders. Though Mohammed Ganauchi promised Tunisians a rule free from corruption and assurance to reduce the price rise, there were no takers for it and was asked to shut up.
Zine El Abidin Ben Ali got enthroned in power in 1987 ousting the then regime in a bloodless coup. In the beginning he started on a positive note, introduced liberal reforms bringing cheers to the lips of his countrymen. But gradually he deviated from his progressive policies and programmes and corruption became his hallmark and began a rule of repressions which at the outset the masses took it in their stride, everything has its limits and as their life turned for the worse organized themselves and agitation progressed on a gradual note.
Across the whole country restlessness spread especially capital Tunis, violence and clashes aggravated and Ben Ali found it an ardous task to continue in the saddle.
Capital Tunis has virtually turned into a flashpoint the whole countrymen angry over Saudi Arabia arranging an asylum for Ben Ali, the streets of Tunis turned into a battle ground with police arrayed against the fighting people. Deafening explosions and gun shots rent the air as per the reports streaming in. Be it a dictatorship or democracy if the rulers unleash, anti-people measures both the dictator and democrat will have to pay heavily for it. That is happening in Tunisia also and it is not a matter of surprise, embarrassment or apprehension.
The President of the greatest democracy, US, Barack Obama has welcomed the ouster of the dictator and has lauded the Tunisian people for the ‘dignity’ and ‘courage’ they have displayed. Tunisia could very well expect massive support in the form of funds and innovative technology in the coming days to sustain democracy, in the North African country.
Tunisia is still flaring up, with looters on the rampage and the police and army armed with special powers to shoot to death such elements and already about twenty people have been reported killed.
Let Tunisia come out of the deep pit into which its former ruler had pulled it down and let that devastated restless nation return to normality at the earliest.