31 July, 2013After the general strike, in protest of the killing of opposition leader, Mohammed Brahmi, which was the second killing within six months, the General Union of Workers of Tunisia (UGTT) urged the government to resign.
Tunisia observed an official day of national mourning on 26 July in response to the deadly shooting of the prominent opposition leader Mohammed Brahmi, who was general coordinator of the People’s Movement, a member of the National Constituent Assembly and a leading figure in the Popular Front coalition. He was also known as an outspoken critic of the ruling party Ennahda.
An unidentified gunman on a motorbike shot Brahmi dead on 25 July outside of his home near the capital, Tunis. The 58-year-old was the second leading member of the leftist Popular Front to be shot dead this year.
The UGTT also called for all national dialogue meetings and initiatives to be suspended in order for the UGTT National Administrative Commission to meet on Monday 29 July 2013 to assess the overall situation in the country and to take every measure deemed necessary and appropriate, which resulted in a general strike.
The opposition, angered by the assassination of leftist leaders Chokri Belaid in February and Mohamed Brahmi last week, has rejected several concessions and power-sharing proposals from the Ennahda-led coalition.
“IndustriALL strongly supports its Tunisian affiliates and their confederation UGTT’s mobilizations to urge the authorities to investigate the killing of Mohammed Brahmi and make sure that those responsible are brought to justice” said Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL General Secretary.
This killing follows on from a long line of attacks against trade union leaders, journalists, political activists and ordinary citizens over recent months. In February 2013, Chokri Belaid was gunned down outside of his home, sparking protests that led to the resignation of the prime minister. Belaid was the General Secretary of the Democratic Patriotic Party.