Sunday, May 1, 2011

In Tunis, workers have gathered in celebration of International Workers Day.


It is commonly celebrated with street demonstrations and marches by working people and Labour Unions.

Here at the Kobaa in Tunis, the Tunisian General Workers' Union have organised a day of celebration for workers and their families. This year with the ouster of the Ben Ali regime, people have even more reason to celebrate. However, their celebrations also carried a political message.

Out in the streets of Tunis, hundreds of workers and trade unions mobilised to protest against the Tunisian interim government, which they claim, has hijacked the revolution in order to establish their own political agenda. Many Tunisians feel that they are not being represented by the government and that their concerns go unheard.

The demands of the protestors are clear, they are asking for an establishment of an independent and fair judicial and media system, the prevention of members of the Constitutional Democratic Rally or RCD from participating in Tunisian politics, and the removal of the current head of the Ministry of Interior.

The demands shown in these protests are not new; they follow up from the demands initially made during the Jasmine revolution.

Observers say, as the Tunisian elections get closer, the demands of Tunisians over their country's democratic transition seem to increase as symbolised by the recent protests.

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