By Our Online Team

19^th Dec 2011: Tunisians have unveiled a statue in honour of the late fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi, the man who set himself alight a year ago and whose plight sparked the so-called “Arab Spring” protests that brought down President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia who have been in power for 23 years.

Tunisia’s new President Moncef Marzouki joined flag-waving crowds in Sidi Bouzid in commemoration. “…Thank you to this land, which has been marginalised for centuries, for bringing dignity to the entire Tunisian people,” said Mr Marzouki who was named President early last week after Tunisia’s first free elections in October.

Thousands of people carrying flags and pictures of Bouazizi and other dead protesters flocked from around the country for the anniversary of Mohamed Bouazizi’s death on 17^th December 2010.  Mohamed Bouazizi was said to be the sole bread winner for a family of eight.  His fruit business used to bring in approximately $150 a month but his ambition was to progress from selling fruits in a wheelbarrow to a pick-up truck.

At the time of his death, reports suggested that Bouazizi had refused to pay bribes to local authority inspectors.  The inspectors consequently seized his fruits, arrested him, and beat him up.  All his attempts to meet the Governor and put his case him were blocked.  Frustrated, he decided to pour petrol on himself and eventually set himself ablaze.

The “Arab Spring” protests that followed Bouazizi’s death have so claimed the political careers of former Tunisian President Ben Ali, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, Yemen’s Mohamed Saleh, and the grisly end to Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s 42 year grip on power in Libya.  END:  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.