Origin of the Uprising

The events of the last two months have touched the lives of every Tunisian, regardless of class or position. Executive spoke with several of them to hear, first hand, the story of how this tiny nation sparked the fire now raging across the Arab world. By New Year’s Day 2011, Rafik Rezine had heard plenty about the violence in Sidi Bouzid. Everyone in Tunis had.  At first the reports had come by circuitous means: through Facebook messages, phone calls and hushed conversations. Those lucky enough to have access to illegal Internet servers shared outside news reports with those who didn’t. The story was compelling, even if its details were unclear: a poor student turned street vendor, Mohammed Bouazizi, had set himself on fire after being humiliated by the police, and the quiet desert city of Sidi Bouzid had erupted against the government in response.  Like most Tunisians, Rezine expected the