reached a climax in the past few weeks. After a violent episode on November 27th between police and disenchanted youths in the southwestern town of Siliana, strikes broke out in various regions, including Sidi Bouzid—the epicenter of the Tunisian uprising in late 2012. While a nationwide general strike

d contacts with grassroots activists in the marginalised towns that have come to symbolise the uprising, including Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine, Gafsa and Siliana. The reception has been mixed. Abdennaceur Laouini, who had led the lawyers' protests in December and January. was one of several revolutionary fi