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Home arrow newsitems arrow EU Zakharov Prize Mediterranean Democracy activist Mahfouz to EuroFora : Bouazizi = Hero for us all

EU Zakharov Prize Mediterranean Democracy activist Mahfouz to EuroFora : Bouazizi = Hero for us all

Written by ACM
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
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The Tragic Symbol of Tarek Bouazizi's deadly sacrifice in Tunisia, which notoriously triggered the Democratic Awackening in 3rd Mediterranean Countries and beyond, still "speaks" to Young People who consider him as "a Hero for all of us", stressed to "EuroFora" EU Parliament's 2011 Zakharov Prize winner for Freedom of Thought, Asmaa Mahfouz from Egypt, after the Official Ceremony in EU Parliament's Plenary, full of MEPs, where its President, Polish MEP Jerzy Buzek, awarded today the prestigious prize to 5 persons who emerged from the still on-going Popular movements, from Morocco up to Turkey's borders.

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Bouazizi's nomination, together with 4 other activists from Egypt and Syria, was hailed, earlier this Month, by the Chief of the greatest Political Party in the EU, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP), former Prime Minister, Wilfried Martens, at the Bi-Annual Congress which took place in Marseille last week, with its main Agenda focused on the "Mediterranean Democratic Awakening", (See "Eurofora"'s NewsReports from the spot). The overall move was supported by most EU Parliament's political Groups, in a rare demonstration of quasi-Unanimity.

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Freedom to work without harassment, bureaucratic obstacles and humiliating oppression by corrupted officials, obviously stands at the heart of Tarek Bouazizi's case :


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Buazizi had been repeatedly Harassed by local Officials who had targetted him for years and hindered his freedom to work under various bureaucratic pretexts including controversial requirements of "cards", etc., in a context of corruption, reportedly abusing of an humiliating and brutal behavior, including insults, refusal of previous fair hearing, exclusion, violent obstruction, etc., until they pushed their victim to despair.

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Reportedly a Computer Technician initially, the 25 years old Bouazizi had been obliged to sell fruits and vegetables on the street, after he was refused normal jobs, while his Father had died leaving him alone to support a whole Family, but he was hindered by petty bureaucrats even to work as a street vendor, humiliated in public, brutalized and denied a timely Fair hearing, until he set himself on Fire and died atrociously, sacrificing even his physical Life in a desperate protest which spurred Popular revolt.
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"EuroFora" asked Asmaa Mahfouz if Bouazizi, the young man who was killed by fire in Tunisia, is really important for protesting Young People like her, and if his case "speaks" to them, also in Egypt and elsewhere accross 3rd Mediterranean Countries.

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- "Yas. It was very important ! We were very impressed by Bouazizi", the Young Arab Lady, EU Parliament's 2011 Zakharov Prize winner for "Freedom of Expression", spontaneously replied, in a short but crystal-clear way to "EuroFora"s question, preferring that among several other sollicitations by various collegues' differend queries.


=> + "Bouazizi is a Hero, for all of us !", Asma Mahfouz, the Egyptian Young Arab Lady, who reportedly supported also the "Occupy Wall Street" American Popular Movement in the U.S., significantly stressed to "EuroFora" for the Young Tunisian, generally considered as founder of Democrary in his country where he triggered an original Mass Movement still spreading accross Arab and other 3rd Mediterranean Countries, but, in less tragic forms, even in Spain, Greece, the USA and elsewhere in the World.

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- "Asmaa Mahfouz" is "a young and remarkable woman.. who Mobilized Egyptians (via her Video-Blog+) to go out to Tahrir Square and demand their Rights. She is a shining Example and a Symbol of how an Individual can make a Difference, Leading by Inspiration and by the strongest possible Conviction of Human Rights, despite the Risks and Intimidation by the Authorities", said EU Parliament's President, Jerzy Buzek, speaking earlier to the Plenary Session  for the Sakharov prize Awards.

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- "Looking back at this Year's events, following the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, we witnessed the removal of a Dictator and recently Free Elections. To honour the Courage of the Tunisian People, we award the Sakharov Prize to the late Mohamed Bouazizi, a Young Street Salesman. He set himself on Fire after his Authorities repeatedly Denied him the most Basic elements of a Life of Dignity. Since then, History swept across North Africa and the Arab World and many lost heir Life for Basic Freedoms and Human Dignity".  "In Many places the Struggle is ongoing, as we speak". F.ex. "in Syria protestors' demands are met by Bullets, TearGas, Taanks, Arbitrary Detention and Torture. The latest number of Deaths reported exceed 5.000, including 300 Children", denounced President Buzek, asking MEPs "to stand and observe a Minute of Silence", "in order to Honour and Remember Mr. Bouazizi, and all those who  lost their Lives in the Struggle for Freedom and Dignity".


Astonishingly, however, despite President Buzek's words, and almost all EU Parliament Political Leaders' support for awarding the Zakharov Prize to Tarek Bouazizi and other People's fight inspired mainly from his sacrifice which notoriously triggered the "Arab Spring" pacific revolts, the staff in charge of materializing the practical implementation of the 2011 ceremony hadn't invited in Strasbourg anyone among the Family and/or Friends the Killed young man in order to represent and Speak for him, contrary to what is usual and has already been done many times in other such cases...
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- "I was a Prisoner of conscience .. for 31 Years, including 9 in Solitary confinement, I was tortured, denied Health Care, humiliated. But I never lost Hope, ..and I didn't abandon my Human Dignity"... "I thank the International Community for its help. But I have to say that our European Neighbours were the 1st to support us, despite the lack of weapons, and, thanks to that support, we managed to get rid of a Totalitarian Regime which had oppressed the country for 42 years"... "I hope that the Zakharov Prize will allow ...also Other States, still suffering from oppression to become Free", concluded the old Libyan dissident Ahmed El-Senussi.

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Contrary to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, who had visited with big Mediatic Publicity the late Colonel Kadhafi in Libya only a few weeks before Popular Revolts : at the End of November 2010, in order to receive the infamous .... "Khadafi prize for ... Human Rights" (sic !) , EU Parliament's President Buzek revealed in his Press Conference on 2011 Zakharov Prize for Freedom of Conscience, that, when he had recently been obliged to go to Libya for the 60th Anniversary of Tobrouk's battle (2nd WW), he had managed to manouver in order to .. "avoid meeting Kadhafi", as a "gesture" to dissidents.


But "the question of Human Rights stands for every Human Being in the World", including "North Africa and the Middle East region, spreading also well Beyond" that, President Buzek warned too.


- "Nothing is more important than protecting Human Rights and Human Dignity, Outside of the EU, but also Inside the EU  when necessary. During the 2,5 Years of my (EU Parliament's) Presidency, (7/2009-2011), I always considered it as very important", stressed later, speaking to Journalists including "EuroFora", EU Parliament's President Buzek, of the Majority ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group, who is due to be succeeded, according to a routine deal, by Minority leader Martin Schultz, a long-time MEP from the Socialist Group next year (2012-2013).

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Asmaa Mahfouz rightfully observed that "the People who were targetted (by oppression) and fell, were People who didn't have Weapons, but they had the (Right) Words  to tell the Truth".

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Syrian laureate Razan Zaitouneh, "forced to live in Hiding", according to President Buzek, was hindered to come to Strasbourg, but sent a Letter where she "dedicate(s)  the prestigious Zakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought" to "little Ghiyath", a baby whose "Father, 26 years old Matar Ghiyath, the non-violence Activist from .. Damascus' countryside, (who) was Killed under Torture in a Security branch last September"

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. + But another Syrian dissident, Ali Farzat,  "able to Flee from Syria after being Beaten up by Security Forces in August", when "both his Hands were Broken", Cartoonist Ali Farzat, whose "images speak more than a thousand of words in Syria and the entire Arab World", as Bouzek said, stressed in a Video sent to Strasbourg, where he denounced the fact that People were still being killed in Syria all this time,  that, despite all these hardships, he was happy that "after 15 Years during which (his) Voice couldn't be heard", at last now it can.

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Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, speaking  to "EuroFora", denied rumors on Turkey's attempts to avoid an EU check of its obligations on Cyprus on December 2009 by blackmailing Nicosia to either accept any deal with intransigeant Turkish claims contrary to EU values on the island's political issue, or face threats against the territorial integriy of the EU island, semi-occupied by Ankara's army.

On the contrary, the incoming EU President-in-office, speaking exclusively to "EuroFora", promissed that he will act for EU Council's decisions on December 2009 assessment of Turkey's commitments on Cyprus to be kept.


    Bildt was asked to react to Cyprus' President Christofias' denunciation, earlier this week, that some want to exert "pressure" on Cyprus in order for Turkey to escape from its obligations.

    Avoiding to mention any precise Deadline, Bildt, however, warned about "Consequences" in case of "failure" to reunite Cyprus, but without saying whose responsibility an eventual deadlock might be.  

 Asked by "EuroFora" if there is a risk for "Turkey's commitments to "be forgotten or downgraded", "despite crystal-clear EU Council decisions and EU Parliament's latest Resolution on the assessment to make at the end of this year on Turkey's obligations", according to rumours that, instead of pressing Turkey, on the contrary, there might be "pressure on Cyprus", even "blackmail", as Media reported and President Christofias denounced this week, Bildt denied :

- "No ! ", he clearly replied.


- On the contrary, invited by "EuroFora", to "reassure that the Swedish EU Presidency (7-12/2009) will keep a fair stance, based on principles",  Bildt promised that "we (Swedish EU Presidency) will be very clear on all of the decisions taken by the (EU) Council".

He added, however, that "we have very numerous decisions that have been taken" by EU Council, as if he warned, also, on something else.

- "'I am not aware of any sort of statements coming out today''", Bildt started to say, on our reference to Cyprus' President Christofias" denunciation of Turkish lobby's manoeuvers this week, replying earlier to 'another"EuroFora"'s question during a Press Conference at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.


 - '"I know the issues that you' are concerned with'", he added, remembering  the statements he gave us when Sweden was chairing the PanEuropean CoE on 2008.

- "But, obviously, .. I think that Cyprus' Peace negotiations are extremenly important".

- And "'I think that we are at a unique moment in History, in the sens that both (Cyprus') President Christofias and Mr. Talat (the Turkish Cypriot leader), are personally convinced of the need to overcome the division".

 - "It's 20 Years since the fall of Berlin Wal, but we still have a Capital in Europe (Nicosia) that's divided". ,

- 'I don't that we should loose any time in overcoming that"..

 - ''We should be aware of the fact that success will bring great benefits, but failure, will also have major consequences. There will not be Status Quo' " It's a question of seeking a solution, or entering another situation, which is somewhat difficult to see exactly how that could evolve", he warned.

- "That being said, this is a negotiation for Cyprus itself", Bildt admitted.

 - ''We (EU) can support, the (EU) Commission primarily, be technically helpful, and then, of course, there is a specific role for the UN, when it comes to the Cyprus' situation".  

- "At least so far. It might not be for ever'. Certainly not for ever, but for this period of time", Bildt added, skiping now any reference to concrete threats on UNO's Peace keeping force in face of more than 40.000 Ankara's soldiers, contrary to some Press claims, (See previous NewsReports).


     Replying to another "EuroFora"'s Question,  if anyone might attempt to "impose a Deadline for the conclusion" of Cyprus' Talks on December 2009, Bildt avoided to speak of any precise Time-frame, and indirectly evoked the fact that  35 Years of Turkish Invasion/Occupation obviously durated too long :

'- "If I was from Cyprus, I would say that the Deadline was Yesterday ! '",
Bildt concluded.

Cyprus' Government Spokesman, Stephanou, reportedly pointed out that "a settlement is possible on December if Turkey changes its stance", accepting a solution for the reunification of the island based on UNO resolutiona and EU principles.

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Earlier, EU Chair, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, highlighted an "historic opportunity" to "re-Unite" Cyprus according to EU's "basic Values"' (i.e. Human Rights) and 'Rules'", in a last-minute change of his draft speech to EU Parliament in Strasbourg.

    The initial Draft spoke only about "healing" the island.

    Significantly, Reinfeldt linked Cyprus' reunification with Turkey's obligations to respect EU's "Values" and "follow" EU's "common Rules" :

    - What is "called Membership Negotiations" should lead, "at- the end of the day", into "sharing a set of common Basic Values (i.e. Human Rights, Democracy, etc), and following common Rules", stressed Reinfeld from the outset.
    
    - "This is something that those on the Outside (of the EU), are now  contemplating", up "to Ankara", for "a solution" on "Cyprus", observed the EU Chairman, immediately afterwards..  

    - "Both sides of Cyprus have been granted a historic opportunity to together reach an agreement on a solution to re-Unite the island, that has been divided for far too long", said Reinfeldt, modifying his draft text.


-  "The Swedish Presidency will act ...in accordance with Commitments EU has made, on the basis of Criteria that apply", "as a Honest Broker", he promised.    

- "To those on the inside (of the EU), allowing the membership process to become an opportunity to solve protracted disputes, can be tempting", he added.


    "In such cases, we must find solutions that can benefit both sides, and open up a way forward. Otherwise, it would jeopardize the progress we have made towards EU integration", Reinfeldt said.

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