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“Dear all,

With great sorrow, we must announce that after nearly 200 days of resistance at Gazaplatsen – Europe’s last tent camp – we have been forced to leave the site in our fight against the University of Gothenburg’s veto and the ongoing genocide.”

– GU Students For Palestine

 

Last week, on Thursday the 21st of November, “Gazaplatsen” (the last remaining encampment in Europe) was “officially” shut down by Swedish police, ironically (and comically) in the name of “freedom of expression.”

 

“Who has ever even seen a liberal demonstrate?”

– Ulrika Stahre, Aftonbladet

 

The camp has come to an end because the Liberal Party in Gothenburg applied for and received a demonstration permit for the same location on Friday the 22nd of November, and as Gazaplatsen didn’t have a permit, the notion was trumped by one which did.

The Liberal Party, most notably Axel Darvik, has grown tired of the camp and claims it has been supported politically by the red-green majority in Gothenburg – who in turn counter by saying it’s been the police’s judgment that has applied.

 

“The demonstration will be about the importance of standing up for freedom of expression, laws and regulations.”

– Axel Darvik, municipal council, Liberal Party Gothenburg

 

Dagens Nyheter (DN) asked Darvik whether the demonstration was registered precisely because the camp will have to move? To which he replied – “Yes, it has been a purpose, to show that this place should be for all Gothenburg citizens. The same rules must apply to this group as to all others.”

Additionally, DN went on to ask – isn’t allowing Gazaplatsen to continue representing and valuing freedom of speech? To which he emphasised only if it’s “not breaking laws and regulations.”

 

“The gossip is that Liberalerna used the opportunity for publicity … not the proudest moment. Unfortunately … many people want them gone so I guess that’s why.”

– Anonymous source, Liberal Party Gothenburg

 

An inside source at the Liberal Party first informed me that “It’s a difficult situation. I don’t know if the intention from Liberalerna is to get rid of them … I hope not.” However, later that same day he followed up with – “the gossip is that Liberalerna used the opportunity for publicity… not the proudest moment. Unfortunately .. many people want them gone so I guess that’s why.”

It’s true, many people have voiced their contempt for the camp, as can be seen from one petition “Shut Down Gazaplatsen” and currently has over 1000 signatures. However, on the very same site (Mitt Skifte) a counter-petition can be found named “Let Gazaplatsen Remain!” Which currently has over 2200 signatures, double the amount for – than against.

 

“When did it become extreme to protest against war?”

– Cecilia Verdinelli, Göteborgs-Posten

 

Verdinelli at Göteborgs-Posten (GP) states clearly that the real purpose of Darvik’s actions is to “delegitimise and make suspect all solidarity with Gaza.” Shifting the focus from the horror and evil that is happening in Gaza and shining the light “on an old man with the wrong flag in Gustaf Adolfs Square.”

 

“One almost wonders if he has ever heard of freedom of demonstration. Or if he knows what an occupation really means?”

– Valdemar Moller, Tidningen Syre (TS)

 

The comical side of this all is seen by Moller at TS, who in reply to Darvik and the Liberal Party mentioning the “occupation” of Vasaplatsen, states – “it also becomes a bit involuntarily comical considering that it is precisely Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza that the students are partly protesting against.” But, a vital difference being that “no one has been murdered, beaten or driven away from Vasaplatsen – the only thing that the ‘occupation’ in this case meant was that a few tents were pitched in front of the university building.”

Moller further goes on to say that it’s not so strange that the demonstrators had to move in order for the Liberals to have a demonstration – “the freedom of demonstration and expression must of course apply equally to everyone.” But what is, however, is that the pro-Palestinian protesters have not been allowed back to continue their demonstration afterwards (which they were during a similar situation during an election cycle a few months ago). TS writes, “it is difficult to interpret it as anything other than that the police have finally decided to give way to the loud demands of some politicians and residents in the area.”

Axel Darvik has accused the government in Gothenburg of “thumbing through laws and regulations when it suits their political views.” But, to re-iterate Moller once again – one almost wonders if he has ever heard of freedom of demonstration – or if he even knows what an “occupation” means at all.

 

“The Gaza site does not remain physically, but it remains in us.”

– Zlati Gigovic, Gazaplatsen resident (GP interview)

 

 

 

References:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCrmNIIuMVx/

https://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/a/alaOwE/studentprotester-i-goteborg-mot-gazakriget

https://www.mittskifte.org/petitions/stang-ner-gazaplatsen

https://www.mittskifte.org/petitions/lat-gazaplatsen-sta-kvar?source=rawlink&utm_source=rawlink&share=9f498e24-a3dd-45d3-83aa-101c4f55a810

https://www.gp.se/nyheter/goteborg/besvikelse-bland-studenterna-nar-taltlagret-pa-vasaplatsen-ar-borta-.ff002703-dd2c-4fb0-b329-d8a1876391e2

https://www.gp.se/kultur/kommentar/nar-blev-det-extremt-att-protestera-mot-krig-.9f0bbd47-9b3f-467e-b0ac-40f7db1e1236

https://www.dn.se/sverige/liberalerna-anmaler-egen-demonstration-palestinaaktivister-maste-lamna-platsen/

https://tidningensyre.se/2024/22-november-2024/dubbelmoral-pa-gazaplatsen/