Press votes for Ben Ali in presidential election

"I find all the newspapers on my desk every morning. I leaf through them all. But it is enough to read one, I don't need to read the others. The same photos, the same articles, the same news. In fact, I must admit I find virtually nothing at all to read in them." Who said this ? In an address to journalists marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2000 ? Going on to tell them: "Write. That would at least allow us to find something to read. And if someone gives you a hard time, or if someone tries to interfere with your work, let me know, and I will take appropriate action. But please do not hide behind unthinking fear or self-censorship." The speaker was none other than President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. As Tunisia's presidential election campaign comes to an official close today, it is heart-breaking to see that the country's journalists are still unable to report the news freely, Reporters Without Borders said. "Subjected to close supervision and surveillance from the authorities, they have virtually no leeway to write objectively and calmly about Tunisia's political life for their fellow citizens," the organisation continued. "As President Be Ali lamented so dramatically, there are scores of newspapers in Arabic and in French in Tunisia, but the reports are all the same. Radio and TV are reserved for entertainment. And above all, they never talk about politics." The 4.6 million voters able to cast a ballot on 24 October have been starved of any independent news or views in the national media throughout the campaign. They have been fed only incomplete, insipid and pompous reports. It is utterly illusory and impossible to hold the "free and transparent" elections promised by Ben Ali in these conditions. The Tunisian media work in a strait-jacket. The press code stipulates heavy fines or prison sentences for the author of any overly critical article or comment. Self-censorship has become second nature for journalists who have to co-exist with a well-oiled apparatus of repression. "Unfortunately, we see no encouraging signs," Reporters Without Borders said. "The announcement at the end of 2003 that broadcasting would be opened up to the private sector has resulted in just one new music radio station. No one is fooled by this so-called liberalisation as it was decided in advance that only the president's associates would be allowed to start up privately-owned radio and TV stations." "In the absence of action, President Ben Ali's statements in support of press freedom are no more than "illusions" designed to satisfy the international community", Reporters Without Borders continued. "And they are doubly harmful to the Tunisian press as journalists not only know they cannot give any credence to these saccharine speeches but they also have to report them for their news media." Ben Ali has been president for 17 years and is now running for a fourth, five-year term. A constitutional amendment made this possible. There are three other candidates in the presidential election, which will take place the same day as legislative elections. Newspaper passages that say it all A few examples suffice to show that "privately-owned press" does not mean "independent press" in Tunisia. La Presse, Tunisia's leading French-language daily with a print run of 45,000 copies, wrote this as early as 8 October : "However, the 24 October elections are not just about economic performance and social gains, even if the record alone suffices to justify a grateful and intelligent response from a well-informed electorate." Even before the start of the campaign, on 8 October, President Ben Ali was being praised in the press by such functionaries as Habiba Mejri-Cheikh, who identified herself as a "journalist" as well as director-general of communication and information at the ministry of women's affairs, family and children : "In the century of the globalized masses, the jungle on the march, the technological revolution, terrorism and the undecided new world order, Tunisians have appreciated the progress they have made under President Ben Ali's guidance and, with full knowledge of the facts, are naturally revealing their intention of going and voting an almost unanimous 'Yes'." This senior ministry official enthused publicly about her candidate, the incumbent president. But 10 days later, the same newspaper La Presse was ecstatic about the administration's neutrality in a campaign that was progressing well : "Tunisia continues to live according to the rhythm of the campaign for the presidential and legislative elections of 24 October, a campaign that is taking place in an atmosphere of festivity, healthy emulation between the candidates and the administration's neutrality." La Presse, which is distributed free to civil servants, made no secret about its preferred candidate on 18 October : "The dynamism our country has experienced since the Change (meaning Habib Bourguiba's overthrow on 7 November 1987 and replacement by Ben Ali) and the great successes seen in all sectors of the economy inspire all Tunisians to express their full gratitude to the one who made all this possible: Président Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. And to wish to see this prodigious process of will, initiative and work continue and expand on the broadest possible road to prosperity." The weekly Réalités did not manage to hide its preferences either when reporting on a rally on 10 October at the Kram exhibition park in Tunis : "Several hours before the Head of State's arrival, the crowd was already jubilant, chanting slogans and expressions of affection and loyalty to the President. The exhibition park was decked out in all its best finery that day, with banners, flags and posters in the colours of Tunisia and the RCD (the Constitutional Democratic Rally, President Ben Ali's party). The remarkable decorations and the extraordinarily well-managed organisation were indisputable evidence of the RCD's high art and professionalism. "And then the Head of State arrived. The ululation and cries of joy swelled. The jubilant crowed was in the presence of its President. He crossed the podium from one side to the other several times to greet his people, who had come early in the morning to extend him their support and commitment."