Click on the video image to watch “Vidéo de Nessma montrant les agressions des milices contre les membres de l’UGTT,” or “Nessma video showing militia assault against the members of the UGTT.”
A media description of the video describes the sequence: “A shocking video broadcast on Nessma TV shows yesterday’s attack in Tunis on the central headquarters of the UGTT union by a group of government supporters. Hundreds are seen in the video just before they attack Tunisia’s most powerful union and then during the attack itself, with the attackers using what seems an iron bar or railings to knock down the door. The video shows the attackers chasing the union members and hitting them with sticks and flag poles. One of the most shocking sequences shows a unionist hit to the back of his neck by a stick, who then fell violently to the ground and continued to be kicked in the head, despite his clearly being unconscious. A few minutes later police in anti-riot gear arrived in front of the union headquarters and placed themselves between the attackers and those attempting to defend the offices. However, the police seemed to take a passive stance in the video, despite the fact that the attackers continue to chase and beat one individual. Dozens were injured, including Said Aidi,former minister and representative of the Al Joumhoury party. Aidi sustained serious injuries to his face when he tried to put up resistance to the attack.(ANSAmed).
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has written to the President of Tunisia condemning Tuesday’s violent attack on the offices of the national centre UGTT and supporting the union’s strike, called for December 13th.
Hundreds of men armed with knives, sticks and Molotov cocktails descended on the union’s Tunis headquarters on 4th December, whilst a vigil was being held to mark the 60th anniversary of murdered union founder Farhat Hached. Ten people were injured. Key ITF representatives witnessed the attack.
ITF Arab World representative Bilal Malkawi said: “This shocking incident is an attack on human and trade union rights. The UGTT is a key player in the global union movement and also for democracy in the Arab world. Global transport workers support the UGTT together with its member unions who are in the ITF.”
ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: “We are calling on the government to protect the unions’ right to peaceful assembly in the future this is a key responsibility which the state must no longer neglect.”
Following the incidents thousands of union members and supporters gathered in the city centre to protest against the violence.