Tunisian civil society groups won the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday for helping to create the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring, at a time when the nation is under threat from Islamist violence.
The Nobel panel said the award to the National Dialogue Quartet was intended as an “encouragement to the Tunisian people” and as an inspiration for others, particularly in the troubled Middle East.
The committee hailed the quartet’s “decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011,” chairwoman Kaci Kullmann Five said. “The Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes that this year’s prize will contribute toward safeguarding democracy in Tunisia, and be an inspiration to all those who seek to promote peace and democracy in the Middle East, north Africa and the rest of the world.”
Photo: Reuters
UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi congratulated the quartet, telling reporters in Geneva, Switzerland: “We need civil society to help us to move peace processes forward.”
The National Dialogue Quartet was formed in 2013 when the process of democratization was in danger of collapsing because of widespread social unrest, “establishing an alternative, peaceful political process” at a time when Tunisia was on the brink of civil war, Kullmann Five said.
It is made up of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the Tunisian Human Rights League and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
“The quartet exercised its role as a mediator and driving force to advance peaceful democratic development in Tunisia with great moral authority,” the Nobel panel said. “More than anything, the prize is intended as an encouragement to the Tunisian people, who despite major challenges have laid the groundwork for a national fraternity which the committee hopes will serve as an example to be followed by other countries.”
The powerful labor union described it as a “tribute to martyrs of a democratic Tunisia.”
“This effort by our youth has allowed the country to turn the page on dictatorship,” UGTT chief Houcine Abassi said.
The trade confederation said they had succeeded where others had failed.
“We are here... to give hope to young people in Tunisia that if we believe in our country, we can succeed,” its head Ouided Bouchamaoui said.
On the streets of Tunis, people welcomed the Nobel as a boost for democracy.
“It’s an encouragement for the parties in opposition and those in power so they can believe in democracy and not just grab power,” Tunis resident Shukri ben Nasif said.
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said the award recognizes the “path of consensus” chosen by the nation.
The prize is a gold medal, a diploma and a check for 8 million Swedish kronor (US$950,000) to be shared by the laureates.
They are due to receive the prize at a ceremony in Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize creator Alfred Nobel.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol yesterday declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime” amid parliamentary wrangling over a budget bill. “To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness, I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in a live televised address to the nation. “With no regard for the livelihoods of the people, the opposition party has paralysed governance solely for the sake of impeachments, special investigations, and shielding their leader from justice,” he
The Mainland Affairs Council and lawmakers yesterday accused a visiting Chinese university student of denigrating Taiwan’s sovereignty by referring to the national baseball team that won a first-ever Premier12 title as “China, Taipei team” (中國台北隊). “We deeply regret the Chinese student’s words, that have hurt the feelings of Taiwanese... The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, as the organizers, should remind group members not to use inappropriate words and behavior,” a council statement said. “We hope these young Chinese can accurately observe the true views of Taiwanese, which would be a positive development for interactions between young people on the two sides of the Taiwan
China is trying to set a "red line" for the incoming Trump administration and US allies by stepping up military activities in the region, a senior Taiwan security official said, including likely war games this weekend around Taiwan. China has held two rounds of war games around Taiwan so far this year, and its forces operate nearby on a daily basis. The official confirmed concerns expressed by other security officials in the region who have previously told Reuters that China could launch new drills to coincide with Taiwan President William Lai's (賴清德) trip to the Pacific this week which included visits to
PHONE CALLS: Two US lawmakers told Lai about the US Congress’ bipartisan support for Taiwan to preserve its democracy and freedom, and for stronger bilateral ties US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said during a telephone call with President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday morning that recognition of Taiwan is at the core of the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said. The call marked the first time Lai had spoken directly with Johnson, of the Republican Party, since taking office in May. Lai also had a call with US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the Democratic Party and a videoconference with Republican Senator Roger Wicker while in Guam, during a stopover on his way back from visiting the nation’s allies in the Pacific,
RSS