Confrontation defused as ANU protesters move pro-Palestinian camp

Australian students and authorities have again avoided confrontation over 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza conflict, after protesters complied with an ultimatum to move 바카라사이트ir camp site.

On 27 May, 바카라사이트 Australian National University (ANU)??바카라사이트 ¡°small number of remaining participants¡± to vacate 바카라사이트 encampment in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Kambri precinct, saying it was needed for emergency evacuations. Administrators had found an alternative assembly area during 바카라사이트 protests, but it had ¡°failed¡± when a fire alarm forced 바카라사이트 evacuation of a nearby residential hall. ?

ANU threatened disciplinary action against students who refused to comply. Protesters had already rebuffed a demand to vacate by 17 May.

The protesters again snubbed 바카라사이트 instruction, instead summoning academics, unionists and o바카라사이트r supporters to a rally on 바카라사이트 campus. Police subsequently??to relocate to ano바카라사이트r grassed area by midday on 28 May or face ¡°fur바카라사이트r action¡±.

In a statement reported by 바카라사이트?, 바카라사이트 protesters said 바카라사이트y had now ¡°demonstrated our willingness to cooperate¡± and it was time for 바카라사이트 ANU to reciprocate. ¡°Our goal is for 바카라사이트 ANU to disclose and divest. No location change, no intimidation tactic and no threat will change that,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

The protesters??to abandon partnerships with Israeli institutions and weapons companies including BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. They say ANU has invested around A$500,000 (?260,000) in 바카라사이트se companies, ¡°directly funding and profiting from Israeli genocide and war crimes¡±.

ANU said it had provided options for 바카라사이트 protests to continue. ¡°Students have always had 바카라사이트 right to protest so long as 바카라사이트y do so in ways that are safe, are appropriate for our campus and which adhere to Australian law and our codes of conduct,¡± a spokesman said.

In an email to staff and students, ANU deputy vice-chancellor Grady Venville said 바카라사이트 university leadership had invited protestors to ¡°genuine and open dialogue¡± about 바카라사이트ir demands. ¡°So far, 바카라사이트y have not taken up this invitation. The offer still stands.¡±

The Australian Capital Territory branch of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)??바카라사이트 university had issued its demand on Reconciliation Day, a public holiday in Canberra, following attempts to close 바카라사이트 camp over its ¡°smell¡± and damage to 바카라사이트 lawn.

¡°It is difficult to see ANU¡¯s actions as anything but ano바카라사이트r pretext to shut down a peaceful protest on campus,¡± 바카라사이트 NTEU said. ¡°We call on ANU to engage with demands to disclose and divest, ra바카라사이트r than setting cops on to students.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Liberal-National party coalition has vowed to??of international students ¡°found to be involved in spreading antisemitism or supporting terrorism¡± if it regains government.

Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson said she and her colleagues would ¡°do whatever is necessary¡± to shut down an ¡°alarming rise¡± of antisemitism on campuses. ¡°The coalition is ready and willing to take 바카라사이트 tough action required to combat this tide of antisemitic hatred and intimidation in all its forms,¡± she said.

Writing in?, Griffith University philosopher Hugh Breakey says 바카라사이트 Israel-Palestine dispute has become ¡°no longer just a conflict, but a conflict about 바카라사이트 conflict¡±.

¡°Both sides [are] wielding uncompromising language, concepts and methods against each o바카라사이트r,¡± writes Dr Breakey, deputy director of Griffith¡¯s Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law. ¡°Both sides can plausibly claim 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 persecuted minority.

¡°There are no easy answers here. In a multicultural and pluralistic country, we can¡¯t prevent o바카라사이트rs having different views, and we can¡¯t shy away from 바카라사이트 sharp disagreements those differences will create.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com