Mohamed Bouazizi's Self-Defense Action Triggers Arab Spring Revolution Wave

Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in Sidi Bouzid City on December 17, 2010 to protest against the corrupt Tunisian government, led to the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. (Medium/Matt Mortensen) (

JAKARTA - Authoritarian leadership often sparked protests. The narrative was seen in the era of the government of the Tunisian dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Freedom of opinion is like a gaib' in Tunisia. Whoever fights, they will be dealt with firmly.

Mohamed Bouazizi was moved to be a savior. The fruit seller wanted to fight the tyranny of power with a phenomenal action: self-immolation. Instead of just making dictator Ben Ali step down, his actions became like a trigger for a wave of revolution in the Middle East (Arab Spring).

Presidential leadership, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali once brought new hope to the whole Tunisia. He was hailed like a hero from the start of his lead in 1987. The Tunisian people hope Ben Ali can bring about an era of freedom of expression.

Ben Ali's regime is considered not to harm the people. Moreover, until it took effect, it forced the critics to endure and torture those who were noisy. The hope is only hope. Ben Ali's government actually did the opposite.

Ben Ali inflamed an authoritarian government. This condition was exacerbated by rampant corruption. The Tunisian side became a victim. The lifespan of the Tunisian people fell to its lowest level. No one was able to criticize Ben Ali. The Tunisian leader was always able to defend his power. Even though the elections continued to be held.

The winner is of course Ben Ali. He was then nicknamed Ben a Vie, aka president for life. Tunisian people are furious. The horror arises because the life condition of the Tunisian people is getting worse. The people demand that the government can open up many jobs and raise workers' wages.

The Tunisian government did not seem to have heard criticism. The power of attorney is even more repressive. This portrait was shown by the reckless actions of law enforcement officers who raided Mohamed Bouazizi's fruit cart in Sidi Bouzid City.

The seller of the dropping out of school (previously Bouazzi's information was that Bouazi was a scholar, but it was not true) took the initiative to go to the city hall to get his cart back. Malang could not be rejected.

His wish was ignored by the local government. Bouazizi's disappointment with the government which he considered to have contributed to the suffering of the small people emerged. He bought two cans of gasoline and went to the Governor's Office on December 17, 2010. There he carried out his self-immolation as a form of protest to the government.

She earns a living in the only way she can find: as a fruit and vegetable seller to support her mother, uncle, and five brothers and sisters at home. However, she is constantly being disturbed by government officials.

"After the authorities confiscated his merchandise, beat him, and refused to return his property, he doused himself with gasoline and started a match to burn himself in front of the local governor's office," Adele Hasan wrote in her article on The New York Times page entitled A Fruit Vendor Whose Death Led to a Revolution (2014).

Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation brought a stir throughout Tunisia, then the world. Bouazizi's body was seriously injured and died three weeks later. Bouazizi's sacrifice was not in vain. The self-immolation in fact sparked resistance against the Ben Ali regime.

A wave of resistance that brought pro-democracy spirit has emerged everywhere. The Tunisian people are no longer willing to be led by a dictator. Tunisian people's anger spilled over on social media, from Twitter, Facebook, to Youtube.

The results were amazing. Many people think they have the same fate as Bouazizi. Those who were upset joined to take to the streets. The Tunisian people demanded that the government give them a job to a decent wage.

Ben Ali did not heed. The bigger action forced him to take a stand. He then agreed. However, the ability was too late. People who demanded him resign have spread everywhere. The effort was finally able to remove Ben Ali from his pocket on January 14, 2011.

Since then Mohamed Bouazizi has become a symbol of resistance in the Middle East. Bouazizi's self-immolation inspired the wave of the Arab Spring revolution. A wave of revolution that was able to undermine the regime of dictators, from Egypt, Libya, to Yemen.

Thursday two weeks ago, President Ben Ali made an emotional speech. I understand you. Please stop the violence. He promised to fulfill the demands of demonstrators, provide 300 thousand jobs, and will not run in 2014. But too late, the Tunisian people were already angry.

Tunisia is critical. Ben Ali disbanded the government and declared a state of emergency. The next morning, Tunisian state television announced Ben Ali officially resigned. Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Fethi Abdennadher stated that Ben Ali had left Tunisia. He had the opportunity to bring in 30 members of his family," said Ninin Damayanti in her article in Tempo Magazine entitled Revolution of the Fruit Worker (2011).