Police end renewed occupation of the University of Bern
Published: Thursday, May 30th 2024, 21:50
Back to Live Feed
The police evacuated the University of Bern, which was once again occupied by pro-Palestinian activists, on Thursday evening. 50 people were evicted, as the Bern cantonal police announced on X. The university management had previously requested the eviction.
The police operation began shortly after 6.00 pm. Officers surrounded the squatters in front of the entrance, according to their statements. According to the police, the eviction was calm and without incident. The activists who were checked are now facing charges.
The police put an end to the "disruption of university operations and ongoing examinations", commented Bern cantonal councillor Philippe Müller (FDP) on the operation on X. According to the security director, the activists were mainly non-students.
The occupiers criticized in a statement that the peaceful occupation had been cleared without police warning. No information was available from the police.
"Pop-up cast"
Around two dozen pro-Palestine activists took over the foyer of the university's main building for themselves and their protest in the early morning. It was a "pop-up occupation", said a spokeswoman for the collective. The group announced in the morning that they would be leaving voluntarily in the evening.
The collective reiterated its demands for a "free Palestine". The collective had already occupied rooms at the University of Bern in mid-May, at that time in a building in Bern's Länggass district.
The University of Bern must take a stand against "settlement colonialism" in Palestine and for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, according to a statement from the activists. To this end, it must not only disclose its "academic, military and economic" links with Israeli institutions, but also cut them. The activists also demanded that the university take responsibility for its "complicity in genocide and settlement colonialism".
Fisticuffs on the premises
The University of Bern did not accept the renewed occupation of its premises. The university is a place for the exchange of ideas and debate. However, an occupation and politically motivated demands are not a framework for constructive dialog, said University Rector Christian Leumann in a statement.
According to the university management, there was violence from the squatters against a member of housekeeping staff on Thursday. According to the university, it then demanded that the protest be cleared as quickly as possible. From the collective's point of view, the "harassment" was caused by a member of the housekeeping staff.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic