UN official calls to control national army

President Moncef Marzouki UN expert on transitional justice Pablo de Greiff on Wednesday urged for precise provisions in the country’s new constitution limiting the powers of the national army. The statement coincides with France’s Ambassador for Human Rights François Zimeray’s visit to the country in a mission to monitor human rights development and provide support to the Tunisian civil society.
De Greiff, who is currently visiting Tunisia, said it was important for the new constitution to include provisions detailing the jurisdiction of Tunisia’s court-martial system, limiting it to military affairs.
He expressed admiration for the reforms enacted after the revolution and said Tunisia was moving “in the right direction towards international standards.”
The committee’s proposals for the constitution include: setting the principles on which the armed forces stand and establishing a defence council to limit the role of armed forces to defend territory.
Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki had previously called for similar reforms, stressing the importance of maintaining a separation between the military institution and political conflict.
Local security forces had suffered a crisis of confidence after the revolution as the police was accused of using snipers to kill protestors. In contrast, the army acquired a new allure as it was considered the protector of the homeland. This effect was especially marked following reports that General Rachid Ammar had refused to obey orders to kill protestors.
Politicians and human rights activists have increasingly called for armed forces to take control of the country.
Those wishing the military to take over say that the government has failed to ensure security and protect citizens from extremist groups.
A number of lawmen also called on the army to take control of the country after October 23 2012, claiming that the legitimacy of the government and parliament extends for only one year.
Other voices have raised suspicions over the army’s heroic image, especially after it was confirmed that ousted dictator Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali had fled the country from a military airport, and not a civilian one. Observers believed this to indicate the possibility that Chief of Staff Rachid Ammar was involved in smuggling Ben Ali out of the country.
A secretly-filmed footage showing Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi in talks with senior Salafist was recently leaked.
The footage shows Ghannouchi telling Salafist leaders that the police and army are not under the control of the Ennahda movement.
All these factors led to the armed forces to release the following statement: “We’ve said this many times. The army does not involve itself in political conflict.”
Tunisian military leaders are additionally almost completely absent from the media, refusing to speak to the press and shunning away from the limelight.
In another leaked video, Former Prime Minister Beji Caid al-Sebsi is heard advising current PM Hamadi al-Jebali to keep Minister of National Defence Abdel Karim Zbidi on for his expertise.
 Zbidi has maintained his position since January 28, 2011.
The Tunisian transition has become subject to intense scrutiny from world powers as delegations and representatives flood to the country to assess the situation. Many local analysis, meanwhile, have raised doubts about these frequent visits and their effect on national stability and Tunisian sovereignty.
Zbidi recently met with UN Ambassador to Tunisia Laura Baeza as part of an initiative aiming at promoting the military’s democratic accountability. The ministry had requested from the Constituent Assembly that the constitution draft detailed the ministry’s remit, internal procedures and submission to a monitoring body.
The question of transitional justice in Tunisia has placed the country under Europe and the world’s microscope. UN delegations and reports by international organizations have been too numerous to account.
Meanwhile, France’s Ambassador for Human Rights François Zimeray, who is visiting Tunisia for the second time, pledged his country’s support to Tunisian civil society. Zimeray’s visit extends to November 15.
De Greiff is also in the country until November 16.
His visit is the first of its kind by an independent UN specialist commissioned to monitor and advise relevant bodies in Tunisia.
He will also file a report to assess government measures relating to past human rights violations.