Unfulfilled instant gratification in Tunisia may lead to anarchy

Tunisian people living in France burn a picture of their former president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali during a protest in Marseille

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Tunisian oppositionist Moncef Marzouki warned that anarchy may ensue in the small North African country and may lead to calls for the return of deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali if the people’s clamor for instant rights were not gratified.
In an interview by the Associated Press, human rights activist Marzouki said the situation could benefit Ben Ali's cronies who are still lingering in the government.
A day before he returned to Tunisia, the 65-year-old Marzouki who spent the last five years in exile in France, said during the interview, "The biggest threat is probably chaos. You have a lot of people from the old regime, mainly politicians and what remains of the secret police, and all these people are fearing the future."
Seeking instant gratification may lead to disappointment when it is not realized warned the activist who was jailed for four months in 1994 when he ran for president against the ousted Ben Ali.
In that election, Ben Ali allegedly "won" 99.9 percent of the votes.
Following the exile of the dictator, Marzouki expressed his desire to return and run for president that will take place after six months.

Key and Ross press flesh

IF JAMI-Lee Ross needed a lesson in how to work a crowd, he got one when the Prime Minister rolled into town in a whirlwind of handshakes and smiles.
John Key took several hours out of his schedule for a walkabout at Botany Town Centre with National’s by-election candidate.

Supported by an entourage of organisers and supporters, the master and apprentice engaged shoppers in conversation.

My Key expressed confidence in his party’s candidate as the most logical choice for voters.

“We want to campaign for and support Jami-Lee,” said the Prime Minister. “He’s the best candidate for this seat and will be a tremendous MP. My main message is that he has my 100 per cent support.”

Dozens of people approached them as they strolled around, posing questions on everything from the economy to education.


TASTES GOOD: Mr Ross and the Prime Minister sample a free treat.High-school students asked to have their photographs taken with the PM, who happily obliged.

Mr Key took five minutes to explain the intricacies of the Government’s position on the foreshore and seabed issue to shoppers in Timmermans Jewellers. He also discussed the state of the economy with owner Stephen Timmerman.

The PM said the Government is “focused on developing a strong economy, law and order because we want people around here to be safe, and stronger education standards”.

“Jami-Lee and National are in pole position but we take nothing for granted,” said Mr Key.

“We will work hard and we have seen that when a party doesn’t take it seriously, it loses.”

After Thursday’s walkabout, the PM and MP-in-waiting headed to Pakuranga Country Club for the party’s campaign launch.

Egypt live: Mubarak ‘to resign tonight’

Egyptian demonstrators have vowed to launch their most dramatic protest yet in Cairo today after President Hosni Mubarak enraged millions of optimisticEgyptians last night with a defiant address to the nation in which he refused to stand down. Protesters are hoping that millions will take to

Cho and Ko impress pros

LEADING Pakuranga golfer Cecilia Cho was one of only three amateurs to make the cut for the final two rounds of the professional Handa Australian Women’s Open last weekend in Victoria.
Cho, 16, finished five shots behind New Zealand teammate Lydia Ko, 13, who impressed as the top amateur.

Ko shot a final round two-over 75 to finish on three-under in a share of 12th place. Her earlier rounds were scores of 73, 73 and 68.

Cho, of Pakuranga Golf Club and Pakuranga College, shot three rounds of 73 before the final round on Sunday at the Commonwealth Golf Club, Melbourne.

She started the last round brilliantly with three birdies on the first eight holes on a day when only eight of the mostly professional players fired rounds below par.

As the winds picked up, Cho dropped five shots on the homeward nine holes to end the tournament with 75 and a share of 35th.

Ko was delighted with her form that carried her into the top amateur spot.

“All the players I played with, like Karen Stupples who has won the British Open, makes me more anxious to become a pro,” says Ko, of North Harbour.

Border Security Face-off Today: Arizona Sues, Napolitano Tours

Conflict flared today over enforcement of the security of the U.S.-Mexico border.


Contention over border security flared this afternoon as Arizona filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government for inadequate border enforcement. Hours later, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano personally invited top bipartisan Congressional members to tour the Mexican border with her this spring to observe the situation for themselves.
The counter-suit Arizona filed today in federal court responds to last year's federal lawsuit blocking key components of Arizona's tough SB 1070 legislation against undocumented immigrants.
"Because the federal government has failed to protect the citizens ... of Arizona, I am left with no other choice," Gov. Jan Brewer told a Phoenix news conference. Meanwhile, several boisterous protesters shouted their displeasure.
"We did not start this fight. But, now that we are in it, Arizona will not rest until our border is secured and federal immigration laws are enforced," she added, according to a Reuters account.
In Washington, a Justice Department spokesman had no comment on the Arizona suit.
However, Napolitano boasted of federal efforts over the past two years on the border in her letter inviting key Republicans and Democrats to join her there this spring. She specifically touted the augmentation of Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the deployment of National Guard troops.
"These efforts have paid significant dividends," Napolitano wrote in two identical letters, obtained by the political blog POLITICO, that were addressed to House and Senate leaders.

O'Donnell dazzles sevens

IT LOOKS as though rugby sevens maestro Gordon Tietjens may have produced another Christian Cullen in ginger-headed teenager Declan O’Donnell, judging from his brilliant play in the Wellington tournament before a festive crowd.
Three tries by the Waikato 20-year-old in Saturday night’s 29-14 final triumph against England and 10 overall was testimony to O’Donnell’s freakish talent.

That he failed to win selection in last year’s world champion under-21 New Zealand side just goes to show the extraordinary depth of the country’s winger talent.

Whether O’Donnell can convert his sevens brilliance into the 15-man game remains to be seen, but he has the speed, power and sidestep to be a sevens sensation.

That New Zealand could win the Wellington tournament despite losing inspirational captain DJ Forbes so early to a hamstring injury was a further tribute to Tietjens’ coaching when picking a team after 150 others were chosen for the country’s five Super 15 franchises.

While England had size and speed, they lacked the overall tenacity and smarts of New Zealand whose experienced pros Tomasi Cama, Lote Raikabula and Tim Mikkelson were once again great value.

Meanwhile, it was nice to see star batsman Jesse Ryder produce a timely century in spearheading the Black Caps to their 57-run ODI Eden Park cricket win against a Pakistan combination that claimed the series comfortably 3-2.

Return to winner's circle

THE New Zealand women’s hockey team got off to a dominating 4-1 winning start to their intensive summer series against Korea at Lloyd Elsmore Park last Saturday.
The women Black Sticks are playing Korea five times over eight days until this Saturday and Sunday’s fourth and fifth tests at the Pakuranga hockey stadium. The second and third tests are in Whangarei this week.

Coach Mark Hager was impressed with what he saw from his New Zealand team last Saturday. “It was great to have a win to start the series. The combinations weren’t always quite there. We need to continue to work on structures and value our possession more in the front third.”

New Zealand’s goals were scored by Samantha Harrison, Clarissa Eshuis, Cathryn Finlayson and Krystal Forgesson, while Korea’s went to Jong Eun Kim.

Before the Korea series started, Hager and co-captain Kayla Sharland told the Times at training it’s good to have international play on home soil for fans to enjoy, especially after their successful run at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

The Korean series is the first time the Black Sticks women have been in action since their silver medal-winning performance, when they lost the exciting Delhi Games final 4-2 to arch-rivals Australia on penalties.

Like a lot of New Zealand’s sporting codes, hockey is looking forward to next year’s London Olympics and is using series such as the ones against Korea to measure how they’re performing against top class opposition.