The organizers of the camp installed at UQAM denounce a “disguised” dismantling | Middle East, the eternal conflict

Demonstrators who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment in an outdoor courtyard at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) denounce that the changes they will have to make to their encampment under an injunction amount to a “disguised” dismantling.

In a press release published Tuesday morning, the organizers of the camp deplored that the management of theUQAM chose to turn to the courts to have modifications made to the camp, even though, according to them, solutions were put forward to ensure the safety of the site.

In their opinion, by judicializing the process, theUQAM chose to divert attention from the substance of the issue towards formalities which only facilitate political profiling students and prevent any real dialogue.

Monday, the Superior Court granted in part the request for a provisional injunction filed by UQAM so that changes be made to the camp, which has been installed since May 12 near the Pierre-Dansereau Science Complex.

L’UQAM did not demand the complete dismantling of the encampment, but rather sought markers to ensure free movement in this sector.

She had argued in particular that, for her, the demonstrators represented a security risk by blocking an emergency exit, by being in possession of gasoline cans and iron bars, as well as by overloading potentially the university’s power grid with unauthorized extension cords.

Requests from Judge Gouin

Sensitive to the university’s concerns regarding site security, Superior Court Judge Louis-Joseph Gouin ordered the demonstrators to make several changes to their encampment, including clearing a two-meter space around the buildings and removing objects that block windows and surveillance cameras.

In his judgment he argued that these security measures will not interfere with the exercise of the defendants’ right to freedom of expression, including the right to demonstratebut the camp organizers do not agree with this interpretation.

UQAM. Implementing these measures only reduces the size of the encampment, without harming the defendants’ right to demonstrate”,”text”:”Failing to implement these measures would continue to create serious inconveniences in terms of security for the UQAM. Implementing these measures only reduces the size of the encampment, without harming the defendants’ right to demonstrate”}}”>Failure to implement these measures would continue to create serious security disadvantages for theUQAM. Implementing these measures only reduces the size of the encampment, without harming the defendants’ right to demonstrate.he wrote.

The camp organizers, however, do not agree with this interpretation.

UQAM, although it does not require dismantling of the encampment, imposes restrictive measures which amount to disguised dismantling”,”text”:”We consider that UQAM’s request for a provisional injunction, although it does not require dismantling of the encampment, imposes restrictive measures which amount to disguised dismantling”}}”>We consider that the request for a provisional injunction from theUQAMalthough it does not require dismantling of the encampment, imposes restrictive measures which amount to disguised dismantlingthey argued in their statement.

However, we will do our best to comply with the orders, taking into account our capacities and available material resources, while guaranteeing the safety of all. But, it is important to note that some factors are beyond our controlthey noted.

Under the provisional injunction, valid until June 6, demonstrators must also allow representatives of theUQAM and the Montreal Fire Department to visit the camp so that they can check the safety of the premises.

Support from teachers’ unions

Monday evening, the Union of Teachers of theUQAM and the Union of Teachers and Teachers of theUQAMaffiliated with the CSNalso affirmed that they disagree with the legal route taken by theUQAM in this file.

In his own reaction to the judgment, theUQAM said it was counting on the people targeted by the injunction to respect it.

Refocus the debate

Since mid-May, pro-Palestinian protesters have been camped out in the courtyard of the Science Complex, following similar rallies that have taken place on campuses elsewhere in Canada and the United States.

The camp participants demand that theUQAM severs its ties with Israeli institutions and reveals the extent of these relations. They also ask the Quebec government to reverse course regarding the opening of the Quebec Office in Tel Aviv.

For its part, theUQAM assures that his foundation has no investment in weaponsand that she also does not have mobility agreement or framework agreement with Israeli universities.

On Tuesday, the organizers of the encampment also denounced that attention was focused on the request for an injunction filed by theUQAMrather than on the extreme violence happening right now in Palestine.

Yesterday, the Israeli occupation army relentlessly bombed the Rafah refugee camp, causing an indescribable massacre. The genocidal violence of the Zionist state occupation must end immediatelythey decided, blaming the leaders and the media for not being sufficiently interested in the situation in the Gaza Strip.

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On Sunday evening, an Israeli strike left 45 dead and nearly 250 injured in Rafah, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The strike sparked a fire in a camp for displaced Palestinians, sparking worldwide outrage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described this event astragic incident.