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State of Emergency Is Declared in Tunisia State of Emergency Is Declared in Tunisia
(about 2 hours later)
TUNIS — President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia has declared a state of emergency, a week after a terrorist attack killed more than 30 foreign tourists, the state news agency reported Saturday. TUNIS — Speaking on national television, President Beji Caid Essebsi declared a state of emergency in Tunisia on Saturday, eight days after a terrorist attack killed more than 30 foreign tourists.
The president planned to speak on national television later Saturday, the agency announced. “Tunisia, which is dear to all of us, is going through difficult circumstances, exceptional circumstances, that necessitate exceptional measures to face them and prevent a worse situation,” Mr. Essebsi said.
The state of emergency will increase the powers of the security services. The army in particular will be allowed to expand the areas in which it can operate. The government has been seeking to increase the powers of the security forces as it grapples with an insurgency in the western border region and with terrorist attacks in cities. “Our security forces are in a full alert status, but we do have weaknesses as our prime minister admitted,” he said. “We are not blaming anyone, but we are calling for everyone to feel and act responsibly. If such incidents happen again, the state will collapse. It is the duty of the president to take a stance.”
A lone gunman attacked tourists at the beachside Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the town of Sousse on June 26, killing 38 foreigners and wounding 39 other people. The police took more than a half-hour to respond to the emergency. Security officers killed the gunman, but only after he had walked away from the hotel at the end of the attack. The state of emergency will last 30 days and can be renewed, he added. The measure increases the powers of the security services and restricts the right of assembly. The army in particular will be allowed to expand the areas in which it can operate.
Stunned by two brazen assaults on tourists in three months — 21 tourists were killed in March at the National Bardo Museum — the government has ordered extra security guards to protect hotels and tourist sites, and it has also announced that army reserves will be called in. Tunisia’s laws prevent the government from mobilizing the army for operations in the country’s cities, but the state of emergency would allow the president to do so. The government has been seeking to give more powers to the security forces as it grapples with an insurgency in the western border region and with terrorist attacks in cities.
A lone gunman attacked tourists at the beachside Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the town of Sousse on June 26, killing 38 foreigners and wounding 39 other people. The police took more than 30 minutes to respond to the emergency. Security officers killed the gunman, but only after he had walked away from the hotel at the end of the attack.
Stunned by two brazen assaults on tourists in three months — 21 tourists were killed in March at a national museum — the government has ordered extra security guards to protect hotels and tourist sites, and it has also announced that army reserves will be called in. Tunisia’s laws prevent the government from mobilizing the army for operations in the country’s cities, but the state of emergency would allow the president to do so.
Mr. Essebsi said Islamist extremists from Libya and organizations like the Islamic State were intent on destroying Tunisia’s democratic progress. “Tunisia is the only country in the region that followed a democratic process, that held transparent and free elections, that has a constitution based on consensus,” he said.
“Tunisia is a civil state with no Islamic background or any other religious background. It has a republican system that cannot be violated or changed,” he added. “These people are fighting all this.” The “continuous threats,” he said, put Tunisia in a state of war.
Legislation that would amend a 2003 antiterrorism law, as well as a proposal to grant the police more powers to conduct surveillance operations and detain suspects, has been making slow progress through Parliament.Legislation that would amend a 2003 antiterrorism law, as well as a proposal to grant the police more powers to conduct surveillance operations and detain suspects, has been making slow progress through Parliament.
A state of emergency was last imposed during the Arab Spring uprising of 2011, which overthrew President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled for more than 20 years. The state of emergency remained in place until last year, when it was lifted by the interim government to signal Tunisia’s return to normalcy as it prepared for national elections. A state of emergency was last imposed during the Arab Spring uprising of 2011, which overthrew President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. The state of emergency remained in place until last year, when it was lifted by the interim government to signal Tunisia’s return to normalcy as it prepared for national elections.
Mr. Essebsi said freedom of speech and the press, important gains from the revolution, would be respected. But, he said, change was needed because the terrorist attacks were hurting the economy.