Translation of the News Article
Colonel Houssem Eddine Jebabli Warns of Exploitation of Minors in Gabès Protests
Colonel Houssem Eddine Jebabli, spokesperson for the National Guard, stated on Saturday evening that minors have been exploited to fuel tension in the Gabès governorate, which has been the scene of protests in recent days demanding the dismantling of the polluting industrial units of the Tunisian Chemical Group.
Appearing on the television news program on the national channel Al Wataniya 1, Jebabli specified that some of these minors have received money and narcotics. He called on parents to be vigilant and prevent their children from being manipulated by criminal groups seeking to involve them in acts that undermine public security.
Right to a Healthy Environment
The colonel emphasized that the right to a healthy environment remains a legitimate claim for the inhabitants of Gabès. He recalled that the President of the Republic, Kais Saïed, had ordered the dispatch of a joint team from the Ministries of Industry and Environment to assess the situation on the ground as soon as the first cases of asphyxiation due to leaks of polluting gases from the chemical complex appeared.
Environmental Degradation and Investigations
Jebabli indicated that environmental degradation in the region did not start today. In fact, the National Guard has been conducting several investigations since 2022 targeting officials from the Tunisian Chemical Group.
Ongoing Efforts to Improve the Environmental Situation
He finally specified that current efforts are focused on finding sustainable solutions to improve the environmental situation in Gabès, citing the meeting held on Saturday between the Minister of Equipment and Housing and the Chinese Ambassador, dedicated to the rehabilitation of production units at the Chott Essalem complex, reducing polluting emissions, and combating sources of contamination in the area.
