[Chapter-delegates] From Free Tunisia

[Lynn St.Amour]

Khaled,

this is such good news and shows the power of communities when enabled  
by the freedom to speak and the freedom to choose; all of which, as  
you say, the Internet so ably supports.  Best wishes to you, your  
family and all Tunisians.

I hope you are now re-united with your lovely wife and child and that  
everyone is safe.

Please do take care.

Lynn

On Jan 20, 2011, at 7:41 AM, Khaled KOUBAA wrote:

> All,
> For those who don't know Tunisia : Tunisia is a Small country, great  
> nation. First Arab country that abolished slavery in 1848. First  
> Arab country to establish a constitution in 1861. First Arab country  
> to abolish polygamy in 1956. First Arab country to legalize abortion  
> in 1973. Tunisia is the first Arab country to kick out its dictator  
> and this without the help of any foreign nation!
> Today Tunisia has reached a critical and important point in its  
> history after succeeding in its revolution. President Ben Ali has  
> left the country, and government has collapsed leaving the country  
> in an unpredictable situation.
> A new “Coalition Government” has been announced bringing old  
> dissidents and Human Rights activists in team with a main focus of  
> preparing a democratic transition.
> Friday January 14th 2011, ( http://www.youtube.com/watch? 
> v=FeLT2PEmnDI ) I have been inside the huge protestants in front of  
> the ministry of Interior and I witnessed brave people asking clearly  
> their dictator to leave.
> Since then Tunisian retrieved their freedom lost many years and  
> began interesting politics.
> Young people went on the street asking for more n and more social  
> change without being politically coached.
> I have witnessed, and have been part, of the strength of the "real"  
> Tunisian Internet community to use Internet and Web 2.0 ( Blogs,  
> Video, Facebook, Twitter, … ) to support the revolution and  
> everyday’s riots showing to the world what’s happening  due to a  
> lack of official local media coverage.
> My life has been different during these days : my house is in a hot  
> spot; near El Aouina Army Casern and just between the Airport and  
> the US Embassy. So I took my wife to her father house, and I stayed  
> alone during 5 days. Everything was different each day; night riots  
> with fire shooting between protestants and police during the first 2  
> days , near helicopter surveillance between army and snipers  
> belonging to Ben Ali Presidential militia  during the last 3days.
> I have never felt the importance of the security before that. It was  
> the same feeling that had the Tunisian people which led them to go  
> out and organize “Population committees” in each city to protect  
> each city from Ben Ali militia.
> Tunisian Internet community is free today and will show to the world  
> what we are capable to accomplish.
>
> Vive Internet and thank you Vint and Internet pioneers to gave us  
> this wonderful tool that helped our revolution.
>
> From the free Tunisia
>
> Khaled Koubaa
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