Zine El Abidine Ben Ali the 74 year old President of Tunisian Republic for the past 23 years had been re-elected with enormous majorities at every election Hands in every cookie jar in the entire economy (January 15 2011)

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali the 74 year old President of Tunisian Republic for the past 23 years had been re-elected with enormous majorities at every election, although his authoritarian regime was often criticized internationally for failing to observe international standards of political and human rights. Leaked US diplomatic cables on the WikiLeaks site described his regime as “The Family who have their hands in every cookie jar in the entire economy.”  The WikiLeaks revelations appear to have confirmed to the Tunisians their fears, providing the catalyst for protest the pace of which was fueled by Twitter engagements. Ali resigned the presidency as his grip of power rapidly waned and the army surrounded his Presidential Palace in Tunis. Fearing retribution Ali and close family fled in helicopters for Malta and sanctuary in Saudi Arabia.

 

Inspired by Martin Varsavsky ow.ly/3Iggb and Elizabeth Dickinson ow.ly/3IgfW Image source ow.ly/3IhEr