On the 29th of June, Ben Ali, the ousted president of Tunisia, will be tried for his crimes against the Tunisian people. The trial will at least start in absentia because Ben Ali and his wife are still in Saudi Arabia under the protection of its government.
Whether the Saudi regime will release Ben Ali to the Tunisian authorities is problematic because the least one can say is that the Saudis are not thrilled with the Arab Spring. And, will America and Europe press the Saudi king to answer positively the Tunisian request for his extradition? That will undoubtedly be the subject of many twisted phrases as the West tries to have Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, too. My bet is that they will consider Saudi Arabia more valuable and let Tunisia dangle in the wind.
Certainly, one of the first lines of questioning at the trial will concern the stash of money, gold bullion, diamonds, jewelry, drugs and guns found in a two-level walk-in safe in Ben Ali's home in Tunis. This has caused many journalists to call him Ben Ali-Baba.
This may be surface funny, but it is sad to think that the Tunisian people were poor and suffering while their self-proclaimed champion was hoarding the where-with-all that could have improved their lot.
We don't know as yet exactly what the charges against Ben Ali will be, but there must be a lot more golden closets with a lot more skeletons in them.
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