Australian National University Protest: Police reach campus; Arrests expected

The students who are demonstrating against the Gaza war at Australian National University are reportedly refusing orders to dismantle their encampment. The Police have arrived on the campus and arrests are expected if the students do not obey the orders.

As per reports, the Police are trying to negotiate with the students involved in the pro-Palestine protest at Australian National University. The students are refusing orders to pack up and leave. The encampment was set up in the centre of the university nearly a month ago.

If the negotiation fails, the police can arrest the protesting students. The protestors have reportedly formed a human chain and refused to leave the Australian National Univesity campus. The university said that it ordered immediate eviction after a fire evacuation last week highlighted "serious safety concerns".

The evacuation notice to order vacating Kambri Tent Encampment reads, "On the 21st of May 2024 at 12:50 PM, a disruptive fire evacuation revealed a serious safety concern affecting the good order on campus and in that zone. The encampment's continued presence in this critical area poses an unacceptable risk to the safety and security of our staff and students."

Social media platform X has several reactions to this, The following are some of the related messages:

"AFP heading into ANU to smash up the encampment is Canberra's faux progressiveness at its most egregious. Come to our wonderful and diverse city to study at one of the world's best* institutions! Take a photo at the rainbow roundabout but you better stfu about anything else ok!!," reads a message.

"On Reconciliation Day of all days, @ourANU is attempting to disband the campus’ pro-Palestinian encampment, citing “unacceptable risk to safety”.The ANU’s unwillingness to engage with these protestors and instead to shut them down is deplorable, shows a real void of leadership," said another message.

ANU protestors decide to continue with encampment

As per the ABC report, the protestors held a vote on whether or not to move the protest to another site and decided in favour of remaining on campus.

Protestors' statement in this regard said that they would "not succumb to baseless threats by the university" and would continue their "peaceful demonstration". 

"We are staging a peaceful sit-in around the main gazebo area of the encampment not just to protect the camp but also our right to free speech and peacefully protest," the statement added. 

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