Statement in support of Birzeit University students
The Democratic Socialist Party (Australia) sends its solidarity and support to the students of Birzeit who are taking action for the release of students arrested by the Palestinian Authority (PA) following the protest against French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on February 26.
The DSP expresses grave concern at the arrest and detention of the students. Our party supports the students' condemnation of Jospin's criticism of the Lebanese resistance movement Hizbullah, which is struggling against Israel's illegal occupation of southern Lebanon.
The arrests by the PA violate the Palestine Law of Higher Education that upholds the sanctity of the university campus. The DSP condemns the use of the PA security forces to invade the campus and carry out arbitrary arrests and detention. The DSP believes the action by the PA is a serious breach of the democratic right to express political views and to protest.
The DSP calls for the release of all the detained students and for the PA to respect the law.
John Percy
National secretary
Democratic Socialist Party