Tunisia: Understanding Conflict 2012 - Johns Hopkins School of ...

head (Dégage, 2011). It should therefore come as no surprise that one of the greatest
concerns of the youth from this region is seeking justice for those responsible for the
murders of their friends and family members during the protests and those in the regime
who have neglected the region for so long.
Walking up the dreary main road in Thala, it is hard ignore the youth lining the
streets, either mulling around or drinking a cup of coffee. Equally as haunting are the
plaques on the streets where martyrs once stood before they were gunned down by Ben
Ali snipers in January 2011. The memory of what happened during the protests still lives
on to the present day. Many youth are still in disbelief that the government has done so
little to bring to trial those responsible for the attacks, or as they refer to them,
assassinations (Personal Interviews, Thala, 20 January 2012). Since the transition, the
acting government has acknowledged the role of ex-Chief of Riot Police, Moncef Ajimi,
in the brutal attacks, and they sequestered him in Tunis for safe keeping. But, in the eyes
of the people of Thala, little has been done to punish those who they see as the most
responsible for Thala murders. Some youth claimed that it was this lack of justice for the
fallen, that discouraged them from voting in the NCA election (Personal Interviews,
Thala, 20 January 2012). In their eyes, many of the candidates neglected to discuss an
issue that was most dear to their needs because the government was too uneasy about
immediately punishing actors from the old regime. For a town that has paid a high price
for freedom and has been marginalized under the Ben Ali regime for the last 20 years,
many youth felt that the politicians were out of touch with the realities in the interior and
their longing for justice.
The need for justice resonates with youth who were not necessarily victims to Ben
Ali’s direct repression but expect a newly democratic Tunisia to be free of its old
oppressive rulers and their collaborators. During a meeting with Ennahdha youth, one
active member pointed out that justice is needed in order to build a new mentality for
democratic practices amongst Tunisian youth. They felt that the government needs to
lead by example and hold accountable those who have committed grave crimes in the
past to facilitate teaching youth the value of a democratic society (SAIS Group Meeting,
Tunis, 27 January 2012). This idea is a powerful one. Most Tunisian youth have never
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