Tunisia Live (Tunis)
Houda Mzioudet
3 December 2011
The Tunisian-Libyan border crossing at Ras Jedir continues to be closed for the third day in a row today. Border police stopped working in protest of the lack of security and the difficult work conditions they face. This comes after a group of armed Libyans attacked police officers at the Ras Jedir border crossing.
The Secretary General of the Union of Internal Security Forces in Ras Jedir, Mongi Chebbi, called for the reorganization of the border crossing on the Libyan side by setting up a viable security and military structure.
Security forces in Ras Jedir have also indicated that the situation requires military reinforcements. They have also demanded the creation of a military commission to investigate the circumstances of the recent attacks at Ras Jedir to take necessary measures.
Currently, only Tunisian nationals are authorized to cross the border into Tunisia, while also allowing for Libyan nationals in Tunisia to return to Libya, according to the same source.
Security sources at the Dhehiba border crossing have called upon the presence of Libyan authorities at the crossing in order to solve security-related problems and the establishment of permanent and official channels of dialogue between both sides to prevent further irresponsible actions on the Libyan side.
Following recent violent attacks against Tunisians in the town of Nalout (northwest Libya) and some Jebel Nefussa towns, tension was further heightened at the border crossing. On Friday, December 2nd, 2011, the Dhehiba-Wazen border crossing in the governorate of Tataouine (southwest Tunisia) was closed at the request of Dhehiba locals, according to security sources at the border crossing.
Tunisia Live contacted Amjed and Nader, two locals from Nalout who denied any attacks on Tunisian nationals residing in the town. They added that the Nalout local council expressed its discontent with the current situation. This was confirmed by a Dhehiba local, Amjad, who told Tunisian Live that three Tunisian cars had their windows smashed in the town of Kabaw in the Jebel Nefussa province (northwest Libya) and home to a strong Amazigh Libyan community.
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