Contact details for the occupation
Their website
Photos from the occupation
Contact the occupiers:
Email: soas.occupation@googlemail.com
Or
email : soas.stopthewar@googlemail.com
Contact details for the university
Director and Principal - Professor Paul Webley
Email: pw2@soas.ac.uk
Tel: 0207 898 4014
Occupation
Started - 13th January 2009
Ended - 14th January 2009
Where - At first a Ministry of Defence exhibition on campus and then the Brunei Gallery Suite on the ground floor of the Brunei building
Why - in solidarity with the people of Gaza
Demands
Theirdemands:
- Written confirmation of the cancellation of the racist, biased MoD exhibition
- An assurance by the School that military presence on campus will no longer be allowed under any circumstances in line with current Union policy
- to be allowed to host free lectures in the Brunei Suite until the weekend
- No repurcussions for the students involved
- For the school to consult with academic staff for the use of school space for events such as extra curricular lectures
- That room bookings be made through the university rather than Sodexo and that this change be brought about as soon as possible
- 5 x week-long bookings for student societies funding by the school for the Brunei suite including the use of kitchen facilities
- 5 x bookings for the Brunei Gallery to be funded by the school
Negotiation
Wednesday 14th February 2009
- The occupiers will remain in the Brunei Gallery until Friday - they will ‘hold meetings on issues related to Israel’s assault on Gaza, such as boycotting Israeli goods and Israeli war crimes’.
- The occupiers declare victory and end the occupation after ‘after winning significant demands from the university management’.
- The occupiers issue the demands of their occupation
Tuesday 13th January 2009
- Students occupy Brunei Gallery Suite
- The occupiers release theiraims and objectives for the occupation.
- Students occupy a Ministry of Defence exhibition on campus - ‘following a Union General Meeting at which a motion was passed condemning the college for allowing the MOD to use space which should be for students to portray the armed forces as a liberal, anti-racist organisation’.
Success
The occupiers posted up this statement about what they won
Students at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) occupying the Brunei Gallery in solidarity with Gaza have declared victory after winning significant demands from the university management.
These include an agreement that there will be no military on campus without prior consultation with the student union. A motion passed yesterday by the student union opposes all military presence on campus. It stands for the next five years.
The occupying students will also have exclusive use of the gallery space until end of day Friday. This time will be used to hold meetings on issues related to Israel’s assault on Gaza, such as boycotting Israeli goods and Israeli war crimes. Tariq Ali is already confirmed to speak at the space tomorrow.
University authorities have also agreed that students will be able use the lecture theatre and gallery for their own use throughout the year. Previously the rooms cost £1,000 to hire for a day – though the Ministry of Defence got it for free.
There will be no repercussions for the students involved in the occupation of the gallery. The mood here remains defiant and ready to ramp up the campaign for solidarity with Palestinians.
Support and Events
Saturday, 17 January 2009
The occupiers receive a message of support from James Caspell, Lambeth UNISON Young Members’ Officer
Friday, 16 January 2009
The occupiers host a series of meetings and films including a showing of ‘War Made Easy’, and a discussion with Anindya Bhattacharyya (journalist). The also have music in the space which they hold until 9pm.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Several speakers talk including Yvonne Ridley, Journalist and activist and Mike Cushman and John Chalcraft, Lecturer of History & politics of Empire/Imperialsm from BRIKUP-British Universities of Palestine. They also show John Pilger’s ‘The War on Democracy.
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
The occupiers hold a series ofmeetings. Several speakers attend and hold talks including: Voices from Gaza, Tariq Ali, John Rose and Alberto Toscano and Peter Hallward (lecturers from Goldsmiths).
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
At 6pm in the 6pm Brunei Suite, the occupiers hold a meeting where John Rose speaks. John Rose is the author of ‘The Myths of Zionism’.
