In Tunis, a coalition of civil society organizations tried Friday evening July 22 to demonstrate against the referendum on a new Constitution scheduled for Monday, calling for a boycott of the ballot. A protest that was immediately dispersed by the police with tear gas.
Amid water cannons, police cars and barricades, Messaoud Romani, a civil society figure, is haggard, shocked by the violent dispersal of the demonstration which had just started on Tunis’ main artery. It was necessary for him to come and fight alongside other activists against this new Constitution. “It’s an introduction to a dictatorship where the president will have all the powers and I want the 2014 Constitution,” he explains.
Tunisians are called to vote by referendum on Monday on a Constitution proposed by Kais Saïed, where the president, who came to power after a coup a year ago, will enjoy vast prerogatives without being held to account,
Messaouad Romani is worried about a decline in freedoms, in particular demonstrations. “The situation of freedoms worries me a lot; from July 25 until now, there are a lot of arrests and military tribunals for civilians”, he underlines.
Imed Zouari, an activist with the Arab Institute for Human Rights, denounces the repression of this demonstration, the use of tear gas and the arrests. He also fears a setback for the country. “It’s a regime that is trying to resume its repressive habits through the tools of power, of the state,” he said.
As the referendum approaches, many political parties have also called for a boycott of the ballot.
