[EN] NGOs protest deterioration of rights in Tunisia two months ahead of World Summit

[Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org>]

Dear all,

Please find hereafter a press release signed by Tunisian and NGOs from 
other countries.
Background: this press release has been issued by the participants to a 
meeting of Tunisian and international NGOs in Tunis on Sept. 8, on WSIS 
and the situation in Tunisia. I was invited to participate, 
representing the WSIS human rights caucus, but unfortunately I had to 
cancel my trip due to health problems. Many members of the caucus are 
however among the signatories of this press release.
The press release provides an idea of the current situation in Tunisia, 
host country of WSIS second phase.
The human rights caucus will hold a public meeting during PrepCom3, 
where this issue, as well as other issues of concern to the caucus, 
will be raised. The reservation (not confirmed yet) has been made for 
Thursday Sept.22 afternoon in Geneva. More detailed information will 
follow later.

Best regards,
Meryem Marzouki
HR caucus co-chair
==================

Joint press release in English (published with some signatures by IFEX 
at: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/69143/

(Index on Censorship/IFEX) - The following is a press release from IFEX 
members and other NGOs:

 NGOs protest deterioration of rights in Tunisia two months ahead of 
World Summit

 TUNIS, Sept 9, 2005 - International and Tunisian non-governmental 
organisations express their outrage at the rapid deterioration of the 
human rights situation in Tunisia just two months prior to the World 
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), to be held in Tunis, November 
15-18, 2005. After prohibiting the founding congress of the Tunisian 
Journalists' Union (SJT) on September 7, authorities prevented the 
Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) from holding its 6th Congress, 
scheduled to begin today.

 This drastic decision, targeting the oldest human rights' organisation 
in the Arab World and Africa, aims to stifle the most important 
organisation for the defence of human rights in Tunisia.

 While processed through formal legal channels, this decision 
illustrates the manipulation of the law by authorities.  Another 
victim, the Association of Tunisian Judges (AMT) itself, was locked out 
of their offices for taking a public position in favour of the 
independence of the judiciary.

 This dark week for Tunisian human rights is part of an ongoing attack 
on fundamental freedoms which has included police surrounding the 
offices of human rights defenders, physical and verbal aggression, 
libellous campaigns and harassment.

 These provocative policies do not augur well for a successful Summit.  
It is unconscionable to hold a summit in such dire circumstances, with 
the LTDH, pillar of independent civil society, under attack.

 We call upon the Tunisian government to respect its commitments on 
human rights, particularly freedom of expression and association 
guaranteed by international treaties ratified by the Tunisian 
Government and re-affirmed in December 2003 during the first phase of 
the WSIS.

 We call upon the governments which will meet in Tunis in November 2005 
to fully recognize the severity of the situation and to bring pressure 
to bear on the Tunisian authorities to respect their international 
obligations.

 International Association to Support Political Prisoners (AISPP)
League for Free Writers (LEL)
National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT)
Observatory of the Freedom of the Press, Publishing and Creativity 
(OLPEC)
Raid-ATTAC Tunisia
Tunisian Association for the Struggle against Torture (ALTT)
Tunisian Centre for the Independence of Justice (CIJT)
Tunisian Committee for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDHT)
Tunisian Journalists' Syndicate (SJT)
Tunisian League of Human Rights (LTDH)

 ARTICLE 19
Association des Journalistes Transfrontaliers (AJT)
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
Comunica-ch (Swiss coalition for WSIS)
Deutscher Journalisten-Verband
Egyptian Organisation of Human Rights
Euromed Network
Index on Censorship
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/Free 
Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (IFLA/FAIFE)
International PEN
International PEN - Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC)
International Publishers' Association (IPA)
Journalistes en Danger (JED)
Ligue française des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen (LDH)
Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme (LTDH)
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
PEN Norway
Rights and Democracy
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
World Association of Newspapers (WAN)
World Organisation against Torture (OMCT)
World Press Freedom Committee