Australian National University (ANU) Management have delivered a vacation order, “effective immediately,” to the Kambri Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
The order to disassemble the Encampment follows an alleged “disruptive fire evacuation” on May 21 that “revealed a serious safety concern affecting the good order on campus,” according to a note delivered by ANU’s Facilities and Services Division.
“Non-compliance with this direction will result in further action,” the Facilities and Services Division said, “including potential involvement of the AFP to ensure that the order is carried out.”
According to the University, “ACT Policing are [sic] not currently involved.”
Student publication Woroni reported on their social media that police were in attendance at one of the bridge’s on campus due to a ‘move on’ order earlier this morning.
According to ANU4Palestine, students were woken up at 8am by “20+ ANU security guards and handed orders [sic] to pack up and leave immediately.”
Following the encampment’s vote to stay on the grounds, many members have placed the numbers of their lawyers on their arms in precaution of the police having grounds to carry out arrests.
ANU4Palestine have called for “reinforcements at the ANU Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” asking on social media for “as many people from the community as possible to get down to the encampment immediately to protect the camp and the protestors there”.
ANU alleged that the Encampment was “currently situated in the primary fire evacuation zone for Kambri,” a building on campus.
According to a University spokesperson, “ANU identified an alternative evacuation point to service this highly used and heavily populated area of campus at the encampment’s inception.”
“However, during a fire alarm and related evacuation of the residential hall and cultural centre in Kambri, the alternative assembly area failed,” the spokesperson continued.
“As has been the case since the encampment commenced, we have not directed any of our students to stop protesting,” the spokesperson said, “they may continue to do so as long as it is respectful, peaceful and abides by our codes of conduct.”
The move from ANU follows a suite of action from Universities across Australia against encampments, particularly in Victoria.
Deakin University ordered protestors to dismantle their encampment in the interests of “safety, security and amenity of all campus users,” on May 14. A building occupation by encampment protestors at the University of Melbourne (UniMelb) on May 15 was also met by University pressure.
Encampments across the country have also begun to wind down following negotiations with Universities and with the mid-year holidays approaching.
UniMelb camp organisers ended their encampment on Wednesday May 22 following negotiations with UniMelb Management.
Camp organisers at the University of Sydney have also held meetings with Management on May 25, behind closed doors in the Chau Chak Wing Museum boardroom. Student Representative Council (SRC) President Harrison Brennan stated that “the University has said they will come back with a proposal next week.”
Curtin University, in Western Australia, developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Curtin Student Guild establishing “full disclosure” of ties to defence industries and foreign governments.
However, the Curtin Gaza solidarity encampment claimed that this agreement was reached without their consent, and vowed to “continue to fight for disclosure, divestment, to cut ties and to free Palestine.”
Following the encampment’s decision to keep the protest firm, an ANU student told Honi that “if the [arrests] do go ahead, will have to be incredibly aggressive and it will not look good for the University”.
Honi Soit will continue coverage.
