The terminator line is the line on a planetary surface where daylight begins and ends. I thought it was a suitable enough way to reimagine this blog: I've seen my fair share of sunrises and sunsets moving across the landscape below from red eye flights in my recent months of budget travelling and freelance writing. For that matter, I've seen plenty of them from buses, trains or taxis here on solid land; I've looked out the window after the call to prayer wakeup to catch the dawn, and I've sat with a Stella and watched the sun set behind new horizons.
The title is a little bit philosophical, too. The start of something new always means the end of what came before it.
Thawra Eyewitness spoke to me in 2011, and for me it still encapsulates the heady excitement of being in the Arab world in that year of overthrown dictators and masses in motion. But here and now in 2015, things are different. For me, I'm no longer a full-time activist; I've given up my roles in the Socialist Alliance, and I'm less an eyewitness and more a writer. And for the Arab world, the revolution is over... bukrah.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Saturday, 12 September 2015
Saturday, 25 July 2015
Tunisia: government crackdown misses source of terror
Submitted to Green Left Weekly for publication.
The Tunisian government has responded to the June 26 terror attack at the Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse with increased security measures and a crackdown on unlicensed mosques preaching ‘venom’.
The Tunisian government has responded to the June 26 terror attack at the Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse with increased security measures and a crackdown on unlicensed mosques preaching ‘venom’.
The attack on the beachside resort was targeted at
foreign tourists; none of the 38 killed were Tunisians. Seifeddine Rezgui, the
gunman, accessed the beach from the ocean, before storming through the hotel’s
lobby.
"Rezgui had training in Libya at the end of 2014.
He was trained during the same time in Libya as the Bardo attackers,"
prime ministerial spokesman Dafer Neji told Reuters.
After escaping from the hotel, Rezgui was confronted
by a local construction worker, Mayel Moncef, who threw tiles at him from a
neighbouring rooftop where he was working. After this, the police intervened,
shooting Rezgui dead.
"All I did was my duty, the duty of any Tunisian
and any Muslim," Moncef told Channel 4 news.
In response to the attack, solidarity marches were
held in Sousse and throughout Tunisia. Two days later, hundreds of activists
joined victims’ families and offical figures on the beach where the attack had
taken place, laying flowers.
The Tunisian government’s response, however, has been
increasing securitisation of the issue of terrorism. The BBC has reported that
army reservists will be called up to guard popular tourist hotels, while
hundreds of police have already been mobilised.
New anti-terror legislation will also be rushed
through the parliament in response to the attacks. Mohamed Ennaceur, speaker of
the parliament, vowed that the new legislation, which has been under debate
for months, will be passed ‘by July 25’ to radio station Mosaique FM.
The new legislation will reintroduce the death
penalty, undermine due process for suspects or those convicted of
terror-related charges, and allow extended detention – hallmarks of the Ben Ali
regime.
Even more worryingly, Prime Minister Habib Essid, an independent associated with the ex-regime Nidaa Tounes party, has vowed to close 80 unlicensed mosques.
Essid said: “Some mosques continue to spread their
propaganda and their venom to promote terrorism. No mosque that does not
conform to the law will be tolerated.”
Naturally, this has been welcomed by Europe’s
Islamaphobic right. Roberto Maroni, the governor of Lombardy and a member of
Italy’s Right-wing Northern League party, responded by saying: "If Tunisia
has closed some mosques, it means that it is a road that we have to consider
and also follow,” the Telegraph reported on June 30.
“So I hope that the interior ministry and the
government do not bow to ideologies of any kind, and focus instead on the
safety of citizens and eventually, if necessary, on the closing of the
mosques."
The logic of this repressive response, however, does
not get to the real origins of terrorism.
Tunisian tennis player, Malek Jaziri, told reporters at Wimbledon “"It
happens when more people are poor. I don't know how they do it but [terrorist
organisations] infect them.""The most important thing is we need help in order to protect, to give confidence to Tunisian people. We are all the same and we are against terrorism,” he said.
President Beji Caid Essebsi, leader of Nidaa Tounes, told French radio station Europe 1 that combatting terrorism is difficult because "Tunisia
has not the financial resources to pay 2,000 euros to each unemployed,"
referring to sums of money granted to "youths recruited by the Islamic
State."
Essebsi served as President in the aftermath of Ben
Ali’s overthrow while elections were organised for the Constituent Assembly.
Prior to that, he had been a statesman under the previous dictatorship of Habib
Bourguiba.
His party leads the government which has taken office
since February. After winning 86 seats in the 217 seat parliament in last
October’s elections, Nidaa Tounes eventually formed a coalition with the
moderate Islamist party Ennahda, which has previously held government, as well
as liberal parties the Free Patriotic Union (UPL) and Afek Tounes.
Of the parties of the previous “Troika” government,
which ruled through general strikes and the assassination of two Popular Front
trade union leaders, Ennahda fared best in the October elections. Both of their
“liberal” partners, Ettakatol and the Congress for the Republic, lost almost
all representation in the parliament.
The Popular Front, a united left formation that functions
both electorally and in social struggle, was the largest party left out of the
government, holding 15 seats.
Now Hamma Hammami, a leader in the Popular Front, is
criticising the government’s response to the June 26 attack, telling Le Monde that: “a genuine strategy against terrorism must also incorporate social,
economic, regional, cultural and religious aspects,” and “not just security
ones.”
Poverty has remained unchanged since the days of the
Ben Ali dictatorship. The latest National Institute of Statistics figures show
poverty at 24.7%, while United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation data
shows 1.287 million Tunisians suffer from undernourishment, and 1.928 million
suffer from severe and chronic difficulties in meeting their organic needs.
Despite this, a World Bank document on poverty in
Tunisia currently being prepared recommends more of the same economic medicine
for Tunisia – and argues for restructuring of public banks, and “great
cooperation” of the public & private sector – typical neoliberal language
for partial privatisation, reported All Africa on June 3.
Without a government providing real solutions these
kinds of issues, the political vacuum which has bred radicalism will remain,
even now that parliamentary democracy has been established in the nation where
the Arab Spring began.
Monday, 26 January 2015
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
What Can You Do For Palestine?
If you're in Australia and looking for a way to make humanitarian donations that you know will reach their destination, then I recommend donating to the APHEDA Gaza appeal. They have supported many different projects in Gaza and the West Bank, including the el-Wafa hospital which was recently bombed by Israel.
Longer term, one of the most useful projects I've been involved with is the Keep Hope Alive olive harvesting program. Travelling to the West Bank and taking part in the harvest was one of the most useful things I feel like I have done; the planting is harder work, but speaking to those who have done it, even more fulfilling.
Keep yourself informed - here in Australia we have a corporate media which, at best, equates the violence of the occupied with that of the occupier, and at worst echoes Tony Abbott's "We Are All Israeli" line. Sites like Electronic Intifada and +972 are great trustworthy sources. This open letter from Gaza is worth reading too.
And then engage in information making, too - share to your networks, whether social media or around your workplace or communities. Update Wikipedia pages so those who are looking for easy answers don't get the wrong ones.
Go beyond your comfort zone. Unfortunately I work weekends and haven't been able to attend many local rallies personally, but if you can, please do. We don't have the strength of institutional bias or resources that defenders of Zionism do, but we have justice on our side, and when we unite in mass action that narrative can win through. The next Sydney rally is on August 3.
Longer term, one of the most useful projects I've been involved with is the Keep Hope Alive olive harvesting program. Travelling to the West Bank and taking part in the harvest was one of the most useful things I feel like I have done; the planting is harder work, but speaking to those who have done it, even more fulfilling.
Keep yourself informed - here in Australia we have a corporate media which, at best, equates the violence of the occupied with that of the occupier, and at worst echoes Tony Abbott's "We Are All Israeli" line. Sites like Electronic Intifada and +972 are great trustworthy sources. This open letter from Gaza is worth reading too.
And then engage in information making, too - share to your networks, whether social media or around your workplace or communities. Update Wikipedia pages so those who are looking for easy answers don't get the wrong ones.
Go beyond your comfort zone. Unfortunately I work weekends and haven't been able to attend many local rallies personally, but if you can, please do. We don't have the strength of institutional bias or resources that defenders of Zionism do, but we have justice on our side, and when we unite in mass action that narrative can win through. The next Sydney rally is on August 3.
Monday, 28 July 2014
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Freedom and justice For Gaza: Boycott action against 7 complicit companies | BDSmovement.net
Freedom and justice For Gaza: Boycott action against 7 complicit companies | BDSmovement.net
At a time of such horror and such hypocrisy from our leaders here in Australia and elsewhere in the world, the movement for BDS against Israel gives us a way to take the power of solidarity into our own hands and stand up for the Palestinians.
Israel’sIsrael's regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpuf
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct suppport from governments in North America and Europe but also from corporations that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every conscientious person and organisation around the world to target the following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
At a time of such horror and such hypocrisy from our leaders here in Australia and elsewhere in the world, the movement for BDS against Israel gives us a way to take the power of solidarity into our own hands and stand up for the Palestinians.
Israel’s
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpufregime
of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpufIsrael’s
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpufIsrael’s
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpufIsrael’s
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpufIsrael’s
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpufIsrael’s
regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again
committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from
governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations
that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights
violations.
There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in
facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody
massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS
National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every
conscientious person and organization around the world to target the
following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.
- See more at:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ZwAsxIe9.dpuf
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