The Rectorate of the University of Athens remains occupied by anarchists for the past 15 days, in relation to the hunger strike launched by prison inmates, with university authorities appealing to the Prime Minister and political leaders, so that the occupation may end.
A statement was released on Monday, with the university authorities argued that lives are at risk, claiming that drug abuse is taking place on university grounds. They also note that the institution is unable to function on a basic level, since essential services are housed in the occupied buildings, such as finances, administration, student welfare, graduation ceremonies and cooperation with foreign universities.
Concluding their statement, the university authorities called the Prime Minister and political leaders to assume their responsibilities and find a solution to end the hostage situation of the Rectorate.
A number of solidarity actions and protests have been planned outside the Rectorate on Tuesday. At 9am a solidarity demonstration has been called, followed by a solidarity march towards the Courts at 11am. Finally, a motorcycle demo will take place at 5pm.
The anarchists who have occupied the Rectorate responded with a statement of their own, stressing their solidarity to the ongoing hunger strike and accusing the university authorities of generating a climate of fear, by surrounding the buildings with police forces.
According to the anarchists, the accusations of drug use are a “product of morbid imagination and malice”. They also released a video of the interior, to demonstrate that no damages have been caused to university property during the occupation.
