International
TUNISIA: 770 arrested over protests against plans to raise taxes, basic goods
Checks by the United Nations has revealed that no less than 770 protesters have been arrested by Tunisian authorities after nearly a week of demonstrations over plans to raise tax and basic goods.
Reacting to the arrests, spokesman for the UN human rights office, Rupert Colville, called for calm and restraint and also urged Tunisia’s government to ensure freedom of peaceful assembly.
“We’re concerned about the high number of arrests, some 778 people we understand have now been arrested since Monday, and around a third of those arrested were between the ages of 15 and 20 so very young,” Colville told reporters in Geneva.
Read also: 16-yr-old Palestinian activist charged for slapping Israeli police officer
The army deployed some 2,100 troops to different parts of the country after protesters torched government buildings, looted shops and blocked roads, after the government’s announcement of austerity measures in this year’s budget.
Reports say at least one person was killed in the western city of Tebourba on Monday and scores more injured as violence flared in some areas after government announced the austerity measures on January 1.
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