EDITORIAL: Regime change in Tunisia

After ruling Tunisia for 23 years, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the North African nation last week amid a storm of anti-government protests.

But this change of government was not brought about by pro-democracy leaders or representatives of the people. Rather, it was the people's collective anger that drove out his autocratic regime.

The first task of the new regime is to free the nation of authoritarianism and establish democracy. All political parties must join forces to call a general election as soon as possible.

Failing to do so will only prolong the turmoil. What Tunisia needs now is a new start reflecting the will of the people. Both the prime minister and the interim president must clearly understand this.

Known for the ancient ruins of Carthage on the Mediterranean coast, Tunisia has been seen as a politically stable country in the Middle East, a region riddled with terrorism and conflict.

While the population is predominantly Muslim, polygamy is outlawed and women's participation in society is encouraged under its pro-Western modernization policies.

Earlier this month, however, riot police fired at and killed many citizens protesting corruption in high places and the government's failure to address rampant unemployment.

The people's anger exploded when they saw their country's cloak of moderation come off to expose a brutal police state.

Even before the latest development, Amnesty International and other human rights groups had repeatedly pointed out human rights violations in the country.

The Constitutional Democratic Rally, the ruling party, kept the parliament under firm control, virtually eliminating opposition.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the government passed "counter-terrorism legislation."

With the secret police in its pocket, the government used this legislation to round up opposition politicians, human rights activists and journalists.

Disparities between urban and rural residents grew. The unemployment rate neared 15 percent. For university graduates, the figure exceeded 20 percent.

Despite these hardships for the people, members of the president's family continued to enjoy special privileges and drew criticism for expanding their businesses.

The seemingly sudden collapse of the regime was brought about by the people's anger and frustration finally erupting against the oppressive government that continued to deny them democracy as the nation modernized.

For Japan and Western nations that supported this regime for many years, there is much to think about.

Since the 1980s, the Japanese government has regularly held meetings of a Japan-Tunisia joint committee to discuss economic cooperation and other matters. As a "friend," couldn't Japan have offered wise advice on human rights issues and democracy?

Dictatorial regimes exist all over the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.

Regarding regime change in Tunisia, it is said that massive anti-government momentum was created by citizens who took to the streets and used the Internet to exchange information.

The days of heavy-handed politics of eliminating dissidents and pro-democracy leaders are nearing an end. We have no need for politicians who don't respect the people.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 18