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STORY: GENEVA / SCHEININ TUNISIA
TRT: 2:11
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 7 MARCH 2011, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT
RECENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior UN Geneva headquarters
7 MARCH 2011, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, conference room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Scheinin, Special Rapporteur, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, United Nations:
“In Tunisia the notion of terrorism was used by former President Ben Ali to stigmatize demonstrators by accusing them of ‘unpardonable terrorist acts.’ This happened on January 10, two days after Tunisian security forces had begun deliberately killing protestors there. This is not an isolated phenomenon. Last week Colonel Gaddafi of Libya has accused demonstrators to be drugged by al Qaeda fighters, and by using this stigma he justified the brutal use of force against them. These remarks stress again the importance of well defined terrorism offences. Other countries that are contemplating replacing a state of emergency with a proper counter-terrorism law should keep this in mind. Broad and vague terrorism definitions and their abusive use to suppress dissent prove to be a galvanising factor in society, bringing together very different groups targeted by authoritarian regimes for various reasons.”
4. Cutaway, delegations
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Mohamed Samir Koubaa, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations:
“The revolution of our people has been to reaffirm a break with decadent practices of the past. The Tunisian people have raised against oppression and injustice, have led a revolution that will allow them to obtain dignity, liberty, democracy, human rights, universal values that all Tunisians continue to defend with their engagement and courage. In that context, Tunisia will proceed with a total overhaul of the judicial system, as well as the election of an Assembly next July and the revision of all legislative texts in order to conform to all international treaties is a main priority of the transitional government.”
6. Cutaway, delegations
While addressing the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on Tunisia, Special Rapporteur Martin Scheinin said “broad and vague terrorism definitions and their abusive use to suppress dissent prove to be a galvanising factor in society.”
Scheinin, who addressed the Council today (7 Mar), talked about the need to revise the definition of terrorism.
In light of the recent violence in the Middle East and North Africa, he noted that by focusing on security, world leaders have found a means to legitimise state violence, withhold rights and freedoms, and neglect governance.
Scheinin also told the Council that Tunisia's counter terrorism laws and policies played a central part in the former government's crushing of political opposition.
Speaking after Scheinin, Tunisia’s representative Mohamed Samir Koubaa said his country will not “proceed with a total overhaul of the judicial system, as well as the election of an Assembly.”
Following the ouster of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, UN Human Rights office called for a clear separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches in the country.
