*The Old Theatre is Now Under Occupation*


PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


16 January 2009


Over forty pro Palestine students have occupied a lecture theatre at the
London School of Economics to demand that the university releases a
statement condemning the attack on Gaza and divests from arms companies that
supply the Israeli military.

Students entered the Old Theatre and sat down on the stage after the
Students' Union passed a motion in support of their demands. A lecture
continued as scheduled with the students on the stage.

The group want LSE Director to issue a statement condemning the Israeli
violence on Gaza.

"LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values that were the precursor
of the human rights agenda of modern politics. LSE must restate those values
and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter of politics, it is a
matter of humanity," a spokesperson said.

The group are also demanding that LSE divests from arms firm BAE Systems, an
arms company who supply the Israeli military.

"The fact that LSE invests in BAE Systems means that it is directly
profiting from the collective punishment of the Gazan people. Our University
will remain tainted for as long as it is funded by unlawful military
aggression. The LSE must divest from BAE and other arms companeis
immeditately.

The LSE also invests in arms companies Boeing, Rolls Royce=2 0and BHP Billiton,
a firm the School says supplies nuclear material for warheads.

They have also issued several demands related to providing material support
for Palestinian students including providing 5 fully paid scholarships for
Palestinian students, books and computers for Palestinian universities and
facilitation for fund raising activities.

The LSE has said "disowned" the protest and said that it will hold the
Students' Union responsible for any damage. It has however said that it will
not remove the occupiers and have agreed not to prevent free movement in and
out of the occupied theatre.

Over 250 students and academics wrote to Director Howard Davies at the
beginning of the year to demand a statement and other demands similar to
those being demanded by the occupation. Davies agreed to waiver application
fees for students affected by the crisis but refused to issue a condemnatory
statement, pledge further material assistance or support divestment from
arms firms.

Davies claimed that the School does not take positions on "political
issues". This is in stark contrast to an overtly political statement issued
by the Davies in May 2007 condemning a UCU (University and College Union)
resolution concerning the Israeli Occupation, and previous condemnations by
LSE of South African Apartheid and the Tiananmen Square massacre in the
1980's.

*
DEMANDS IN FULL
*

1) *Statement*
The LSE should release a statement condemning the Israeli attack on Gaza and
demanding a ceasefire. LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values
that were the precursor of the human rights agenda of modern politics. LSE
must restate those values and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter
of politics, it is a matter of humanity. A statement condemning Israeli
violence is fully in keeping with the founding principles of our university.

2) *Divestment *
The LSE currently holds investments in BAE Systems, a firm that the Campaign
Against the Arms Trade (caat.org.uk) states provides weapons and ammunition
for the Israeli military. This means that our university is being directly
funded by the Israeli war on Gaza. The LSE must divest from BAE immediately.

3) *5 fully paid scholarships for Palestinian students*
At a University as diverse and international as LSE, Palestinian students
are grossly underrepresented in the student body when compared to other
groups.

4) *Fundraising day*
The LSE administration should facilitate a 'fundraising day' where buckets
will be in every lecture and seminar to collect money for the charity
Medical Aid for Palestinians

5) *Books and Computers*
The LSE has a £26 million surplus and is lucky enough to be able to
regularly invest in new equipment. Any computers or books due to be got rid
of at the end of Lent and Summer terms should be donated to the University
and to schools that have been bombed in Gaza.

6) *Amnesty*
LSE has a proud history of student activism. Students united to campaign
against apartheid, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and more recently around
divestment from the arms trade. All students have a democratic right to
peaceful protest and students should not be prevented from expressing their
opinions by fear of reprisals.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Updates will be available at: LSE Solidarity with Gaza!
2. It is the official policy of the LSE Students' Union to demand a
statement from LSE and demand divestment from arms companies
3. Contact Estelle Cooch: s.e.cooch@lse.ac.uk or phone: 07748874987

---

The motion "Defend Gaza: Condemn Israeli Massacre" *passed in todays UGM*.

The Students Union supports the creation of an emergency fund to waive
tuition/application fees for Palestinians students affected; support links
between LSE faculty and Palestinians universities ; the call to recall our
Ambassador, end preferential trade.

With over 1,000 Palestinians killed - 300 of them children - and over 5,000
injured, the Students' Union condemns the Israeli massacre in Gaza.
Understanding the sanctity of human beings, students have voted in support
of the Palestine Society's declaration that we will not sit by as Israel
continues its persecution of 1.5 million Palestinian.

*
Latest Bombings
*


Even by the Israeli Forces' depraved standards, today's bombings reached new
lows for the grotesque. Three acts in the last 24 hours show their total
lack of humanity and total disregard for the dignity of the dead.

Late yesterday, news reports reached the world of how the Israeli Army had
shelled the holy burial grounds at the main Gaza cemetery in northern Gaza
City's Sheik Radwan neighbourhood. Even the dead are denied peace.

Witnesses: Israeli army destroys main Gaza cemetery

Then the Israeli Air force attacked yet another UN building sheltering 700
refugees. The air strike injured three UN workers and from eyewitness
accounts, they used illegal phosphorus bombs. The building hit by the
Israeli Air Force also contained tonnes of much needed medical supplies,
which now as a direct result of their attack has destroyed these vital
supplies.

Hamas interior minister reported dead in Gaza attack

And finally, if the Israeli army doesn't kill you the first time, and you
manage to make your way to one of the few remaining medical centres, you'll
still not be safe. Today Israeli forces shelled Al Quds hospital making the
medical treatment of the innocent victims of Israel's slaughter even
tougher. According to the head of emergency services at the hospital, Dr
Bashar Mur ad, two of the Israeli missiles used also included white
phosphorus.

---

*Please come join the occupation of the Old Theatre!*

In solidarity

LSESU Palestine Society
(from the Old Theatre)

Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic
communications disclaimer:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/secretariat/legal/disclaimer.htm