The Tunisian Revolution blew a wind of freedom on the country and has also dusted off records buried deep in the archives of the government of former president. These include, among others, the record of "case Barraket Essahel" which returned to the surface, particularly following the damning testimony of some victims have already been published on the press following the example of "reality," The Press "or" Jeune Afrique ".
These former military decided to lift the veil on a very heavy experience that marked forever, their lives and they could not speak under the old regime. We even saw to create an association "Insaf (meaning justice), for ex-servicemen" who advocates the moral rehabilitation and obtaining material reparations for damages suffered by the victims of this "conspiracy".
Moreover, according to the latest news, reported by "Time", ten other individuals were heard recently in the context of this case by the judge and placed in custody.
Back to what really happened in May 1991.
The case in question was issued dated 22 May 1991 when, Abdallah Kallel, interior minister at the time, announced in a press conference that police had foiled an attempted coup State by a group of soldiers belonging to the Islamist movement Ennahdha. The testimony of a military captain named Ahmed Amara on national television supported the statements of Minister of Interior, admitting involvement in the conspiracy fundamentalist and grateful at the same time, membership in the movement Ennahdha.
Reports of investigation and indictment prepared by the authorities at the time, stipulated that some 70 military officers allegedly met Jan. 6, 1991 at Barraket Essahel on the outskirts of the city of Hammamet, for plotting against the regime to seize power in Tunisia and to impose a theocratic state and religion. The military had planned to hand over government institutions, the seat of radio and television and eventually seize the presidential palace in Carthage. The same reports indicated, according to the Interior Ministry, the military intended to give power to Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahdha.
The military, in which Ali Seriate held the rank of Colonel General Staff, was subsequently arrested and delivered into the hands of the Ministry of Interior, a position not at all ordinary, because normally, the military plans to address regulatory such cases, involving members of the army, within the military institution. The rising security concerns over legal and moral considerations, Ben Ali had deliberately instructed his henchmen to extort confessions biased.
The arrests had hit 244 soldiers of different ranks in the national army. The interrogations took place in the basement of the Ministry of Interior, in the presence of Mohamed Ali and Ganzouî Jenayah Ezzeddine, both responsible for the security of the State. "These basements were the scene of torture sessions and humiliation of the most horrific. One of the accused inflicted physical and psychological abuse. It was a crime methodically executed behind closed doors "in the words of a victim. At the end of each session, the accused were forced to sign confessions and cite the names of other possible suspects in the military. Some defendants have even died in the clutches of their abusers, including Abdelaziz Mahwachi, Faisal Barakat, Abderraouf Laaribi and Ameur Deguèche.
The investigation was launched against these military prisoners, the counts of violence, conspiracy against national security and inciting the use or possession of weapons illegally. The Military Attorney General had even demanded the death penalty against some defendants.
Two cases were transferred to the military tribunal, including the so-called "Stinger missile, that we have planned to use the missile against the procession of Ben Ali.
The defendants had submitted documents for which they were at the time of the meeting Barraket Essahel, in barracks or family. There was even the case of someone who was in the hospital with his wife who gave birth! Moreover, the military and the lawyers had focused on the fact that the confessions recorded in the minutes were worthless considering the fact that they were extracted under threats and torture. In addition, the investigation had never been able to prove the link between the military and the so-called operation against the regime. That said, the lieutenant Bedoui Kamel, one of the soldiers arrested and tortured, did not deny the tendency of some Islamist military.
Some have been subsequently released and were treated to a formal apology, while other inmates had their trial run from July 9 to August 30, 1992. Several were acquitted, but many accused were found guilty and were jailed following sentences of imprisonment ranging between 1 and 14.
These soldiers, who are mostly already reached the retirement age, raising their voices today to proclaim their innocence, screaming their denunciation of the injustices committed against them and claim damages and repairs.
In this context, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Ahmed, wrote an open letter (published in the magazine "Reality") by contacting the Minister of National Defence at the time (Habib Boularès) in which he asked if had received "instructions" of the former president to unload military justice and load the jailers of the Ministry of Interior of the interrogation of these personnel? Why this injustice? It would surely have had to copy someone has the courage of Colonel Ammar, say NO to this injustice. Had that been the case in 1991, although many lives were saved and much suffering could have been avoided!
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