NCPN & CJB
On the 14th of November in Utrecht, the protest of students and education personnel against the government’s proposed cuts took place. Where previously the municipality tried to prevent students, teachers and others who care about education from raising their voices because of vague security reasons, the struggle continues!
Over the past few months, (student) unions FNV (Federation of Dutch trade unions), AOb (Education trade union), LSVb (national student trade union) and the UNL (Universities of the Netherlands) have been hard at work preparing for this protest against the new administration’s proposed budget cuts. During this time, a unique situation has arisen in which the unions and student unions found universities willing to call their staff to the action and make arrangements for a large-scale action by the entire sector. The Schoof administration of PVV-NSC-VVD-BBB wants to cut 1 billion from higher education while investing 37 billion in war and defense. With arms manufacturer Rafael from Israel, for example, a 250 million deal is already in the pipeline.
Although many universities were simultaneously anticipating the cuts by, for example, already putting small studies on the backburner, implementing vacancy stops or eroding support services, it was at least a special merit of the unions and student movement to get the universities to join in this protest. It looked to be a big action with 6,000 to 10,000 participants for a clear signal to the administration: invest in knowledge, not war!
In the early evening of the 13th of November, however, a sudden NOS (state news) report came out in which-to the surprise of all participating parties-was stated that the November 14th action would be canceled. Sharon Dijksma (Labour party), the mayor of Utrecht, had “in close consultation with the organization” urgently requested FNV and AOb to cancel the protest because “information had come in” about possible external pro-Palestinian groups that would want to hijack the demonstration. According to Dijksma, they could not guarantee the safety of the protesters. Without information and without any consultation, some administrators of the FNV and AOb decided to cancel the action. Especially the student unions, WOinAction and other organizations are furious about this action of the FNV and AOb.
The NCPN and CJB condemn this restriction of the right to demonstrate in the struggle against proposed cuts in public services such as education. An attempt is being made to kill two birds with one stone, by suppressing on the one hand this struggle for education as a public facility and criminalizing the solidarity movement for Palestine. The capitulation of the FNV and AOb to rumors is incomprehensible.
The FNV and AOb should organize the working class and their youth, instead of going along with anti-democratic tactics to ban demonstrations. In addition, they are thus also falling into the anti-democratic trap of the current cabinet’s strategy to demolish hard-won demonstration and social rights.
It is the cabinet’s desire that municipalities be allowed to intervene more harshly during demonstrations, impose even more restrictions and ban demonstrations even more quickly. Today we see a concrete example of how easily a demonstration can already be banned under vague pretexts. It appears that democracy is only considered important as long as it does not touch the interests of capital!
Moreover, the FNV and AOb are effectively indulging in the criminalization of the solidarity movement for Palestine, which is supported by many union members. Opposition to the genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state and to the Dutch government’s support of the criminal regime in Israel is legitimate.
Numerous peaceful solidarity actions for Palestine have taken place in recent months. The municipality and the government themselves provoke the disturbances by violently repressing the movement and undermining it by casting it in a bad light. It is precisely the mass nature of protests that allows the movement to defend itself against provocation.
Currently, the LSVb is calling for a college strike and urging students to follow their social media channels. The student unions ASVA, AKKU, SRVU, VIDIUS, STUUR, the NCPN, CJB and other organizations will continue the demonstration tomorrow, supported by the LSVb. We will not let false allegations lead us off the path. Students and all workers in the education sector who want to stand up for their interests and against the cuts will gather at Moreelsepark at 13:00. Actions are also being organized in other cities.
The NCPN and CJB call on everyone to heed the call of the student unions, get involved!
For good and free education!
For the right to demonstrate!
For a militant trade union movement!
For freedom for Palestine!