Tunisians Abroad Bring their Support for the Nomination of UGTT to the Nobel Peace Prize

The nomination of the labor union, UGTT, to the Nobel Prize is gaining ground both in Tunisia and abroad, honoring not only the workers and the labor organization militants, but also all Tunisians wherever they are.

“The nomination of the UGTT for the Nobel Prize is neither an act of allegiance nor that of glorification; it is fundamentally an ethical recognition that goes beyond political and trade union issues,” stated the letter signed by several university presidents who were behind this initiative.

And it is fundamentally this ethical dimension that has allowed the UGTT throughout all its history to take action, both at the union and political levels, to help Tunisia, a multidimensional society, move peacefully towards democracy, freedom, dignity and social justice despite a regional context marked by the upsurge of violence.

The UGTT, a trade union organization that was born in the particular context of colonization, has, since its foundation, played a key role in the liberation of the country, skillfully reconciling union and national struggle. Farhat Hached, the founder, paid for this with his life in 1952.

It is precisely this historic role that gave the trade union organization a prime position in building the newly-independent country. The major social reforms and the key public institutions bore, undoubtedly, the traces of the UGTT.

Thereafter, that role has never faltered.

Despite hardships, setbacks or repressions, the UGTT has carried on to be a space for the defense of public freedom, a refuge for militants and human rights activists. Thus and during the dark years of repression, the UGTT was one of the rare public spaces that could offer a haven to political and human rights militants.

Likewise, during the 2010-2011 revolution the UGTT welcomed and monitored youths and demonstrators.

For decades, this role has widely contributed to strengthen the peaceful struggle for freedom in Tunisia. Also, it was proved to be essential during the 2010-2011 revolution when the country was spared from violence and civil war.

Lately when Tunisia was caught up in an escalating turmoil with political assassinations and a deepening crisis of institutions, the UGTT, along with other important civil society organizations, conducted a national dialogue between political parties, thus saving the country from possible chaotic scenarios and breaking the deadlock in the civil and pacific transition to democracy.

Also, the UGTT has kept on, in concert with a wide range of Tunisian civil society, fostering a real culture of dialogue in the political, social and institutional life, as an antidote against violence. And because of this very peaceful dimension almost distinctive to the 14 January 2011 revolution, many people rightfully speak of the Tunisian exception.

It is therefore legitimate for Tunisians to get involved and rally together so that this major part played by the UGTT in the history of the country would be recognized and rewarded. But theNobel Prize is more than just recognition and reward: it raises hope and sets the example across the Arab world and beyond.

Tunisians abroad, French citizens of Tunisian origins, friends of Tunisia in France and throughout the world could only express their pride of the role played by the UGTT. At the same time, they welcome and strongly support its nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

First signatories:

Hichem Abdessamad,member of the Committee for the Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDHT) and of the Association Truth and Justice to Farhat Hached (AVJFH)
Mohsen Dridi, blogger and community activist
Adel Ltifi, Historian and President of Modern Arab Culture Institute
Kamel Jendoubi, former president of the Independent High Authority for the Elections (French acronym, ISIE),former president of the Euromediterranean Network for Human Rights, Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDHT)
Hedi Jilan, President of the Association Truth and Justice Association to Farhat Hached
Sarra Abbichou, teacher
Abderrazek Bouazizi, community activist
Tarek Toukabri, President of “Association Démocratique des Tunisiens en France”
Cherif Ferjani, academic ,Lyon 2
Hedi Chenchabi, President AIDDA
DR Mohamed salah Omri,professor of Arabic Literature ,Oxford University, Great Britain
Nourredine Baaboura,lawyer , community activist
Nourredine Senoussi,president of “Réseau Méditerranéen Culture et citoyenneté”
Moncef Gueddoir, president of Yonga-solidaire and vice president of Fédération des Tunisiens Citoyens des deux Rives
Ali Ben Amor, academic, community activist
Houcine Bardi,Lawyer , Association Truth and Justice to Farhat hached
Najet Mizoouni, academic, community activist
Mohamed Benhinda,president of Association des Tunisiennes et Tunisiens des deux Rives, Switzerland
Nacer Jalloul, Association Truth and Justice to Farhat Hached
Mourad Gadhoumi, president of Filigrane-FTRCR
Hafedh Affes,president of “Association des Tunisiensdu Nord-FTCR
Mohamed Bensaid, president of « Union desTunisiens pour une Action Citoyenne » CRLDHT
Habib Ouarda,bookseller, community activist
Mohamed Hamrouni,national secretary CFDT-FPA, president of « Mouvement Citoyen des Tunisiens en France »
Khaled Abichou,community activist
Saloua kammarti, community acticvist
Maha Abdelhamid,PhD
Samia Ammar,human rights activist
Nacer Benrejeb
Hedi benkraiem, academic, community activist
Tarek Benhiba, regional concillor and president of the « Federation des Tunisiens Citoyens des deux Rives »
Fethi El hadjali, president of « Comité de Vigilance pour la Démocratie en Tunisie» Brussels
Mourad Allal,director of « Pole Organisme de Formation »
Adnane Benyooussef,Member of the Federal Bureau « Fédération des Tunisiens Citoyens des deux Rives »
Mohamed Smida,lawyer , president of « L’Association des Tunisiens en France-Nord »
Ines Hammami, academic, community activist, Nice
Mohamed Bhar,artist, musician, director of “Fédération des Tunisiens Citoyens des deux Rives”
Mohamed Mansar,president of « Centre Interculturel Franco-Maghrébin-Chalon sur Saône »
Mohamed Lakhdar Ellala,Phd in Economics, president of « L’Association des Tunisiens en France »
Saifallah Khablachi,trade union and community activist
Kamel Ghali,poet and writer, community activist
Hassan Salama,academic, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Raoudha Faouel,city councilor,community activist
Nacer Elfahem,community activist, “Association desTunisiens en France”
Chedly Elloumi, community activist, Grenoble
Jelloul Benhamida,community activist, Nîmes
Mohamed Larbi Bouguerra, former director of « L’institut Nationzl de La Recherche Scientifique et Techinique de Tunisie,INRST » former assistant at « La Faculté de Médicine de Paris », member of « L’AcadémieTunisienne des Arts, des Sciences et des Lettres Beit el Hikma, Carthage »
Fethi Benslama, dean of « UFR d’Etudes psychanalytiques,university Paris-Diderot »
Radhia Hamrouni,community activist, ADTF
Miled Belgacem,community activist
Jalel Matri,community activist, Genève
Radhouan Chandoul, Tunisian citizen
Nacer Azaiz,lawyer
Najet Miled,bookseller
Najet karabomi,president of « Organisation Apposition et Engagement Civique, OAEC »
Mohamed Damak, community activist
Hédi Houaichia,teacher, community activist , ATNF-Lille
Ezzedine Boughanmi,president of “L’Association Solidarité Fraternité Méditerranéenne »
Aida El Amri,cardiologist ,former research associate of Paris Hospitals,president of « L’Association TunisieCulture et Solidarité »
Houda Zekri,president « Association Communication Culture Citoyenneté-3C »
Sami Dachraoui, academic-Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, former UGET activist
Fatma Houas, president of « Association Engagement Citoyen
Sondes Zouaghi,academic Paris
Sonia Rezgui,social worker- Belgium
Driss Elkherchi,president of “L’Association des Travailleurs Maghrébins en France ATMF