As Old Government Is Pushed Out, Tunisian Contester Watches And Hopes For Better Ham Future

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted January 17, 2011

As the regime of Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali collapsed over the weekend, some of the many citizens of that nation watching up close were ham radio operators from the North African nation, wondering if the change in government might mean more opportunities for radio hobbyists in 3V.

"Tunisian people proved their solidarity and courage," said Ashraf Chaabane, who often operates from the official Tunisian station 3V8SS, and who also holds the call KF5EYY from his time in the United States.

"Demonstrations never stopped for a whole month even with the excess of force from the regime's side," Chaabane told radio-sport.net on Sunday, just hours after he had made his way through the streets to get on the air.

"I was in 3V8SS for about one hour calling CQ from 3V8SS and sending 73s from free Tunisia," said Chaabane.

"I'm really proud putting my country on the air after this big achievement. The pileup was big on 17."

Friends of Chaabane have been keeping tabs on him in recent weeks, as news of unrest in Tunisia spread around the world and into his own backyard.

"The former regime ordred some militia belonging to presidential security to make troubles in the country after he (Ben Ali) left," Chaabane said, as he described some of the ongoing violence in his country.

"Even here in my QTH we captured a car with arms," as Chaabane joined with other Tunisians in forming neighborhood militias and impromptu checkpoints to keep order.

"We're working together with the army to re-establish safety. I'm very proud of the way Tunisian people are working together, as one man, for the best of our country.

"Radio friends were asking me to keep safe," said the Tunisian contester, who lives to the south of Tunis.

"During the past weeks I was receiving a lot of emails and phone calls from many ham radio friends all over the world asking about me and my family...Thank you all!"

The 3V8SS station where Chaabane was working stations in recent days, has been operational for almost seven years now, one of the very few "official" ham radio stations in Tunisia, known as the Radio Club Station of Tunisian Scouts.