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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
Muscat, Oman—The dastardly terrorist attack on the Tunisian Museum, which took a heavy toll on innocent human lives is an indicator that terrorists and forces inimical to Tunisia’s great march to a successful democracy are out in the open again. The attack left 20 people dead and more than 20 injured. Tourism is the lifeline of Tunisian economy. The post- Zine Al Abedin events had set back the Tunisian tourism industry by more than $500 million. The Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid has vowed to track down the perpetrators of violence who escaped after the attack. He said : ‘’We will show no compassion and no mercy in defending our country.” The intentions seem to be very clear as 17 foreign visitors are among the dead along with two Tunisians. The Polish, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and German tourists were murdered in cold blood by the terrorists, who spared not time thinking about the repercussions their vile acts will have on the Tunisian economy.
The matter of the fact is that Tunisians in large numbers had fled the country to join the ISIS terrorists. The museum attack is not a sporadic one. Tunisia has to be on guard so that such cowardly attacks are not repeated, bringing misery and despair to the Tunisians and the visiting tourists. Tunisia is just a 2-hour destination by air for many European tourists, who enjoy the beautiful climate and the warmth of the friendly Tunisians. Where will the much needed dollars or Euros come from if foreign tourists are attacked and killed just to satisfy their schizophrenic ideology? Tunisian militant Boubakr Hakim, also known as Abu Moqatel, who had earlier claimed responsibility for the assassinations of two left-leaning politicians in Tunisia had urged earlier support for ISIS.
The museum attack demonstrates that the terrorists have no fear, especially that the museum is located close to the Tunisian Parliament. The video footage on the Tunisian state television showed shocked and terrified tourists running for cover out of a doorway and a stairway, They were guided by the heavily armed riot police. The newly elected President of Tunisia Beji Caid Essebsi has a task at hand to protect the secular character of the country. Some people fear that the Tunisian government may resort to authoritarianism to stamp out the menace of terrorism from the country. A welcome step from the Islamic-inspired Ennehada party is the call for a public rally against terrorism and a national conference to set a comprehensive counter terrorism strategy. Actually, more needs to be done at the ground level to wean away the youth from the mindset that drives them to outfits like the IAIS or the Al Qaeda.
A large collection of antiquities, many important mosaics dating back to the Roman and Carthaginian era, the Phonician and Byzantine ceramics, precious jewelry and statuary draw the tourists to the Bardo Museum. It is very difficult to acquire and protect the human heritage but it takes only some moments of madness to destroy our cherished memories of human civilization.
When Beji Essebsi had won the last presidential elections, in my political analysis of the election and the futuristic way, I had indicated that attempts will be made by terrorists to set back the democratic process in Tunisia. My worst fears have come true. The pressing need of the hour is that the world community and the so-called protectors of democracy and human rights must stand behind Tunisia solidly by extending military and economic support. The great Tunisian nation needs to be protected at all costs. Terrorism knows no boundaries. Terrorists may knock at unsuspecting doors if they go unchecked.
