Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly

Mohamed Brahmi and Hmed Khaskhoussi, members of the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly (NCA), have ended their 20-day-long hunger strike.

In a press conference held today, both members announced that they were ending their hunger strike, saying that the government had complied with their demands and released all protesters recently arrested in the towns of Menzel Bouzayane and Omrane, which are both located in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid.

The press conference was attended by the Tunisian General Labor Union, the Tunisian League for Human Rights, the Journalist Trade Union, the League for Free Writers, and fellow NCA members.

Attendees congratulated both members and stressed the nobility of their struggle. “For my part and on behalf of the Democratic Bloc, I say that my colleagues Khaskhoussi and Brahmi have taught me a lesson on bravery, devotion, and real patriotism,” said Salma Baccar, a NCA member representing the Democratic Bloc.

All of those in attendance stressed that the government had not been responsive enough.  “Despite the legitimacy of their demands, it took the government more than 20 days to listen to them and did so only under pressure,” stated Nooman Fehri, another NCA member of the Democratic Bloc.

Khaskhoussi was pleased that the government eventually agreed to release the protesters and initiate a discussion concerning regional development. “Eventually, the government agreed to our demands, and we appreciate that,” he said.

Brahmi, an independent, and Khaskhoussi, a NCA member from Ettakatol, went on a hunger strike in order to persuade the government to release protesters that were detained this month when they peacefully marched demanding jobs and regional development in Menzel Bouzayane and Omrane.