12 February, 2011

Jan Palak for our times

Tunisia, Egypt and now according to Algerie 360 there are 30,000 riot police on the streets of Algiers. I have believed from the start that there would be a domino effect in N. Africa, and I wonder now if it could even cross the Red Sea.

How did it start? Rising food prices, years of discontent and mistrust, but the spark which ignited the tinder was on the 18th December. A young man, a university graduate, unable to find work had begun to sell fruit and vegetables in a market in Sidi Bouzid. He did not have a licence and the police confiscated his produce. He set himself on fire and died a few days later.

His name was Mohamed Bouazizi. I wonder if he will be remembered when it is all over.

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