UvA officials defend police action in ending
Palestine protest
May 7, 2024
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/05/uva-officials-defend-police-action-in-ending-palestine-protest/
Several
dozen lecturers and other members of the University of Amsterdam staff plan to
hold their own demonstration at the Roeterseiland campus on Tuesday afternoon,
in support of students arrested when police broke up their pro-Palestine
protest.
The police
took action in the early hours of Tuesday morning after the students, who were
calling on the university to cut ties with Israel, refused to leave the area.
“We are
furious about the police action,” sociology lecturer Sam Hamer told the AD. “A
peaceful demonstration led all too quickly to police violence.”
Student
unions ASVA and the national Landelijke Studentenvakbond have also said they
are concerned about the force used to remove the students. In total, some 140
people were arrested when riot police were brought in a bulldozer was used to
break through barriers and clear the area.
“The right
to demonstrate is a fundamental right which should be protected whatever it
costs,” said ASVA deputy chairwoman Ilona Polle. The police action, she said,
“was both an attack on the integrity and safety of Amsterdam students, and an
infringement of their democratic rights.”
The
university board, meanwhile, has published a statement saying that while it
shares the anger and shock about the war in Gaza, “dialogue is the only answer
within a university setting”.
Demonstrations
are allowed within the confines of the university but “without facial
coverings, blockades, spending the night and intimidation,” the board said.
The
demonstration began on Monday afternoon when the group began setting up tents
and demanding that Amsterdam universities cut their ties with Israel. They also
closed two bridges and the entrance to the campus next to the Nieuwe
Prinsengracht.
However,
the police, public prosecution department and city council decided to break up
the camp after the university asked the protesters several times to leave and
they refused.
According
to broadcaster NOS, riot police began moving in at around 3 am and the site was
cleared by 4.30 am.
Video
footage also showed a group of around 10 masked men attacking the protesters,
hitting some with pieces of wood and throwing fireworks. According to news
agency ANP they were eventually chased off.
As yet, it is unclear who the assailants were.
Cooperation
Earlier in
the evening, the university published a statement outlining its activities in
Israel, as the students had demanded. The UvA said it operated student
exchanges with the University of Tel Aviv, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and
Ben Gurion University, but no exchanges are currently taking place because of
the negative travel advice.
In
addition, the university said, it works on eight European research projects
that involve Israeli researchers or companies.
Education
minister Robbert Dijkgraaf issued a short statement on Tuesday morning saying
he regretted the fact the police were forced to intervene.
“Universities
are pre-eminent places for debate and dialogue,” he said. “You can express your
unhappiness and your emotions, but do it in a way that is safe for everyone and
that everyone feels safe.”
May 7, 2024
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/05/uva-officials-defend-police-action-in-ending-palestine-protest/
Several
dozen lecturers and other members of the University of Amsterdam staff plan to
hold their own demonstration at the Roeterseiland campus on Tuesday afternoon,
in support of students arrested when police broke up their pro-Palestine
protest.
The police
took action in the early hours of Tuesday morning after the students, who were
calling on the university to cut ties with Israel, refused to leave the area.
“We are
furious about the police action,” sociology lecturer Sam Hamer told the AD. “A
peaceful demonstration led all too quickly to police violence.”
Student
unions ASVA and the national Landelijke Studentenvakbond have also said they
are concerned about the force used to remove the students. In total, some 140
people were arrested when riot police were brought in a bulldozer was used to
break through barriers and clear the area.
“The right
to demonstrate is a fundamental right which should be protected whatever it
costs,” said ASVA deputy chairwoman Ilona Polle. The police action, she said,
“was both an attack on the integrity and safety of Amsterdam students, and an
infringement of their democratic rights.”
The
university board, meanwhile, has published a statement saying that while it
shares the anger and shock about the war in Gaza, “dialogue is the only answer
within a university setting”.
Demonstrations
are allowed within the confines of the university but “without facial
coverings, blockades, spending the night and intimidation,” the board said.
The
demonstration began on Monday afternoon when the group began setting up tents
and demanding that Amsterdam universities cut their ties with Israel. They also
closed two bridges and the entrance to the campus next to the Nieuwe
Prinsengracht.
However,
the police, public prosecution department and city council decided to break up
the camp after the university asked the protesters several times to leave and
they refused.
According
to broadcaster NOS, riot police began moving in at around 3 am and the site was
cleared by 4.30 am.
Video
footage also showed a group of around 10 masked men attacking the protesters,
hitting some with pieces of wood and throwing fireworks. According to news
agency ANP they were eventually chased off.
As yet, it is unclear who the assailants were.
Cooperation
Earlier in
the evening, the university published a statement outlining its activities in
Israel, as the students had demanded. The UvA said it operated student
exchanges with the University of Tel Aviv, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and
Ben Gurion University, but no exchanges are currently taking place because of
the negative travel advice.
In
addition, the university said, it works on eight European research projects
that involve Israeli researchers or companies.
Education
minister Robbert Dijkgraaf issued a short statement on Tuesday morning saying
he regretted the fact the police were forced to intervene.
“Universities
are pre-eminent places for debate and dialogue,” he said. “You can express your
unhappiness and your emotions, but do it in a way that is safe for everyone and
that everyone feels safe.”
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