The Socialist International Didn't Know?

While today Tunesia's citizens are still struggeling to get rid of any remaining member of the Trabelsi clan and friends in the new interim government (9 of them are still left), it should be noted that the Socialist International has announced 10 days ago the expulsion of the RCD – the Rassemblement constitutionnel démocratique*

SI decision on Tunisia, 17 JANUARY 2011

A decision has been taken by the President together with the Secretary General, in accordance with the statutes of the Socialist International, to cease the membership of the Constitutional Democratic Assembly (RCD) of Tunisia.

This decision, in extraordinary circumstances, reflects the values and principles which define our movement and the position of the International on developments in that country.

RCDs long-standing party leader was former President of the Tunesian Republic, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fled to Saudia-Arabia on January 14, 2011, where he and a major part of his clan is still residing. The RCD was well known to have established the epitome of a police state, relentlessly persecuting labor unionists "through harassment, intimidation, detention, and even torture" - so reported by Human Rights Watch only in October 2010. The Report (available here) mentions the word 'torture' 33 times.

It's left to ask how many "socialist" parties around the globe using torture the International is still counting as its members? How about the NDP in Egypt?

German Article: Sozialistische Internationale schließt Ben Alis Partei aus