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Mass protests may have toppled the Tunisian regime but the fight for freedom and dignity is ongoing.
"If people want life, destiny will obey. The night will become clear, chains will be broken. Oh protectors of this homeland you make a glorious history."
A slogan of the Tunisian uprising
On December 17, 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, a young Tunisian fruit seller set himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid. This act of self-immolation triggered what has become known as the Arab Awakening.
It was the continuation of a battle that, according to blogger Mohamed Boukram, had begun long before:
"Our battle against the government started in 2008 following the incident in al-Haoud al-Menjami. We lost that battle. After the incident with Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid we came up with a new strategy. We learned the lessons from 2008. This time, bloggers published videos. We assumed the role of the media. People became totally dedicated to this. We formed several groups of bloggers who were in constant contact with each other via Skype."Mass protests broke out across Tunisia and a state of panic and fear gripped much of the country.
A month later, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country.
Amid the insecurity and lawlessness that accompanied and followed the revolution, citizens formed vigilante groups to protect their property and neighbourhoods from looting, unrest and a possible fightback by Ben Ali loyalists. As police stations were burned down, one Tunisian explains, the people became the guardians of their own neighbourhoods.
"This is what Ben Ali did to us. He divided us. He made us quarrel with each other. But it reached its limits and so we exploded and the revolution was born," another says.
What started spontaneously, gradually became a well-organised practice with groups forming to protect local shops and businesses as well as homes.
This film follows those citizens who came together to offer a sense of security to their families and neighbours as well as those who participated in the protests and reveals the emergence of a sense of unity among Tunisians.
As one protester says: "Thank God the day has come when we are all united. Everyone now knows how to think for themselves and we are no longer just distracted by football games. No one expected this to happen in Tunisia. It all started spontaneously - from what Mohamed Bouazizi did up until this day when we all came together. No one knew of Bouazizi before. God's mercy be upon him. He has brought all Tunisians together. He made us support and care for each other."
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