Interior Minister: security in most regions of country improved substantially

Interior minister Ahmed Friaa, said in a meeting with media, on Friday afternoon, that the security situation across the whole country has witnessed clear improvement.

At the start of the news briefing, the minister offered condolences to the families of victims of the recent events whom he described as “martyrs of the Revolution,” stressing Government’s solidarity with and support to the martyrs’ families whom he considers as “the elements most loyal to the homeland” for the laudable sacrifices they made and their self-denial in the service of Tunisia, a free, democratic and fair Tunisia.

Regarding the security situation, the minister pointed out that the country is moving steadily towards appeasement, calling on Tunisians to demonstrate greater watchfulness and to close their ranks in order to preserve the national gains, hailing also all Tunisians, women and men alike, as well as the police force, who defended their country and placed the nation’s supreme interest above all other considerations.

On the political and Human Rights situation, Mr. Ahmed Friaa said that all parties that had applied for new political activities authorisation had received positive reply, as is the case for the Green Tunisia Party, the Left Socialist Party and Tunisia’s Patriotic and Democratic Labour Party, specifying that a new party, namely the Baath Party, had also submitted on Thursday an authorisation application for political activity.

He insisted that “the country is favourable to putting into effect of the principles underpinning freedom of opinion, and that all those who applied for a visa to form a political party and who meet the required criteria will unquestionably be granted that right, given the fact that Tunisia from now on is pluralistic; and it is imperative to preserve this pluralism, which,” he specified, “represents the strength of the Tunisian model in matters of promotion of democracy and political life in Tunisia.”

On the issue of passports, the minister underlined that all Tunisian nationals of proved nationality who wish to obtain a passport are in a position to enjoy that right, given the general principle which acknowledges to Tunisians the right to hold a passport.

Regarding the other measures related to the promotion of liberties, the minister pointed out that demonstrations are being peacefully staged, and that the police have never intervened, as it now is plain and simple truth that all Tunisians are free to stage marches as long as they do not harm other Tunisian citizens’ interests.

On the issue of the Internet, the minister said that no website will be censored and that censorship will only be carried out if such an action is required by justice, underlining that at present there is no authority pressurising media in Tunisia and, in case of contrary evidence, the ministry is ready to study the cases submitted to it and to take the appropriates steps to remedy the situation.

Regarding the security situation, Mr. Ahmed Friaa pointed out that 33 persons from the deposed president’s entourage have been arrested, brought to justice and are now being interrogated. He added that these people’s jewels and huge sums of money in their possession have been seized, as was shown by footages of the Tunisian TV. The minister that 1200 people who spread terror among the population and carried out unacceptable acts have been arrested, pointing out that some among the latter whose involvement has not been proved have been released and that 382 people have handed over to the law, under a variety of charges, such as illegal carrying of firearms, looting and recourse to violence.

Mr. Ahmed Friaa went on adding that weapons, of different sorts, were found, concealed underground in some houses, pointing that investigations are being carried out in total co-ordination with the judicial authorities in order to establish ownership of these firearms.

The minister also stressed that nobody can stand above the law and that the latter will be applied to all, given the fact that the country has entered a new stage, one grounded in justice and liberty with no harm to the Other’s possessions, calling on all Tunisians to close their ranks in such a way as to achieve the aspirations of all.

He, then, indicated that the number of deaths among the security forces stood at five. The minister underlined that, in clarifications made to Tunis-Afrique-Presse news agency that the number of victims among the internal security forces went up to eight as a result of three other policemen who succumbed to their injuries, specifying that their families will be contacted to offer them the needed support and comfort.

Answering a question of media representatives, the minister pointed out that the number arrested relatives of the ousted President and his wife, all ages included, stood at 33: they are presently under arrest, reminding that, in compliance with the law, their given names are not to be revealed and that their full identity will be made public in opportune time, as soon as they are judged.

He added that some members of the deposed President’s family and his wife’s have left the country, since January 14 morning, underlining, in this connection, that Mohamed Imed Trabelsi is still alive and that he is being questioned.

As to the likelihood of extradition of some relatives of the former President and his wife’s, the minister said that Tunisia had signed several handing-over conventions with most countries of the world, specifying that any escape from Tunisia is of no avail for those people and that this issue pertains to the Justice Department and the ministry in charge of execution of all related decisions.

Mr. Ahmed Friaa added that the former presidential guard director Ali Seriati is presently under arrest and is being interrogated, as well as several of his associates, stressing the obligation of not generalising as to the stand of the presidential security forces. He said, in this context, that members of that body are now in the service of Tunisia’s Revolution.

He emphasised the fact that the police are in the citizen’s service and the republican regime’s, and the duty dictates on the police force to be in harmony with the new stage which Tunisia has entered, such a stage wherein relation between police and citizen rests on mutual confidence and compliance with the law.

Regarding reactions to his address broadcast on TV channels and the different comments it aroused, Mr. Friaa underlined that he harbours no personal ambitions and that the situation dictated on him to take charge of that position, adding that the enthusiastic tone which he had shown during the press conference in question was only the expression of his high patriotic sense and the sorrow he felt in reaction to the SOSs received by the interior ministry’s call centre, as well as his will to protect the Revolution’s gains, so as not to slide back and in order to transfer power to whomever will be elected, in a few months’ time, by the people, within the framework of freedom and democracy.

Mr. Ahmed Friaa reminded that he had left the Government ten years ago and that he came back to head the interior ministry under difficult and exceptional circumstances, in response to the call of duty, asserting that “my ultimate purpose is to serve Tunisia and not to realise personal ambitions.”

Source: TAP