Student protesters move on before deadline

Student protesters in Canberra have relocated their pro-Palestine encampment 50m down before the midday deadline set by the university.

Protesters at the Kambri Tent Encampment at the Australian National University spent most of Monday defending their camp after a heavy police presence was deployed to observe and monitor the situation.

The students were ordered to vacate the area by midday on Tuesday after they were told they were an “unacceptable safety risk,” with Kambri lawns marked as an evacuation point.

In a statement, the protesters said ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell was yet to accept their invitation to engage with the group, who are calling on the university to cut ties with weapons companies connected to the Israeli military.

“By relocating, we have demonstrated our willingness to co-operate with vice-chancellor Bell’s demands,” the statement said.

“It is now time for vice-chancellor Bell and the ANU leadership to start engaging with ours.

“Our goal is for the ANU to disclose and divest. No location change, no intimidation tactic, and no threat, will change that.”

ANU chief operating officer Christopher Price told staff in a published letter online on Monday that safety for everyone on campus was priority.

“It is important to emphasise the University’s direction to leave Kambri is about the safety of the campus in the event of an emergency,” Mr Price said.

“No one has been told not to protest.

“I also want to state that these are our students and members of our community, and we wish to continue to manage this issue in a compassionate and sensible manner, and in dialogue with protesting members of our community.”

The university identified two other locations for protesters to relocate, including the grassed area at the end of University Ave near the North Rd junction, or alternatively on the lawns at the front of the Chancery building.

ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury said he was concerned by the actions of the ANU leadership in trying to move protesters on.

“The ANU encampment was established, like many others around the world, to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and call on the University to cut military ties with Israel,” Mr Rattenbury said

“The ACT Greens have continuously called for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace for Palestine and we support calls for the ANU to divest from corporations complicit in the genocide and human rights abuses.

“It is shameful that the ANU leadership is trying to move the students on rather than genuinely addressing the demands for the ANU to divest its ties to the genocide.

“The ANU should be supporting students in their peaceful protest and their right to use their voices in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”