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

and clear limits to police behavior be established, so that both the officers
themselves and the populace consider a new social contract in place post-revolution.
• Institute credible reform programmes for the police and the judiciary. The state
of the judiciary in Tunisia is an issue that has been often overlooked—while calling
its legitimacy into question at the same time as the courts are trying others for corrupt
practice may present a number of issues, it is also crucial to the development of the
country that the judiciary is perceived to be independent and unbiased. The recent
trials of senior regime figures perhaps represent an attempt to demonstrate the cut
ties, but visible reform would still be beneficial. Similarly, a thorough vetting process
for the police, as well as the institution of new codes of conduct, is important to
restore public trust in the institution.
• Auction off the businesses seized from the former regime. Allowing these to
remain unproductive is detrimental to the economic good of the country—something
which has been identified numerous times as the key priority of the Tunisian people.
Auctioning or selling them will both increase production and generate useful revenue
for the government. Attempts should be made to ensure that an environment of
competition is created, and that these businesses are not purchased by individuals or
corporations particularly associated with past corruption.
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