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Analyst SeesTunisian Unrest as Promising, Warning to Arab World

   Political  science  professor  Ellen Lust of Yale University says many
   Tunisians feel the prisoners had been unduly punished by Ben Ali

   James Butty  20 January 2011

Photo: AP

   Protesters  shout  slogans  during  a demonstration in Tunis, Jan. 19.
   2011.

   Tunisiaâs  transitional  government  Wednesday freed all the countryâs
   political  prisoners  and  announced  it  would  go  after assets held
   overseas by former President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali and his family.

   Ellen   Lust,   associate  professor  of  political  science  at  Yale
   University  in  Connecticut  told  VOA  the  release  of the political
   prisoners  is  a  welcome  development,  since most Tunisians feel the
   prisoners had been unduly punished by the deposed Ben Ali government.

   âI think most people, certainly the people in (the) streets, feel that
   political  prisoners  in  Tunisia  were  people  who  have been unduly
   punished for opposing a regime that they see as equally worst in terms
   of corruption and human rights,â she said.

   A  police  officer faces protestors during a demonstration against the
   Constitutional  Democratic  Rally, RCD, party of Ben Ali in the center
   of Tunis, 18 Jan 2011.

AP

   A  police  officer faces protestors during a demonstration against the
   Constitutional  Democratic  Rally, RCD, party of Ben Ali in the center
   of Tunis, 18 Jan 2011.

   Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa Wednesday warned Arab leaders
   at  a  summit  in  Egypt  that  the  Middle  East is being "broken" by
   poverty, unemployment and a general slide in economic conditions.

   Moussa  told  Arab  leaders  the  political  upheaval in Tunisia is an
   indicator  of  spreading  discontent  in  the Middle East. He said the
   anger of Arab citizens has reached unprecedented levels

   Lust  said  Arab leaders find their backs against the wall in the wake
   of the Tunisian unrest.

   âIt  is  actually  correct that the region sees a lot of unemployment,
   particularly  among  the  youth. Itâs not new. I think it is a warning
   sign  to other leaders who hope that they can stem the tide of change.
   In  many  ways,  they (Arab leaders) are probably more shaken now. One
   wouldnât  have  thought that this can happen in Tunisia. So, this is a
   strong warning throughout the region,â Lust said.

   She  said  leaders  and citizens throughout the Middle East region are
   probably  looking at the Tunisian unrest and realizing that the people
   are much more powerful than they have been.

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