"International Student Movement"

Press Release To The National And International Community

“They can cut all the flowers,

But they will never stop the spring.”

 

A
deep sadness has fallen upon the entire student community of Colombia.
On March 12th, José Andrés Isaza Velásquez, a 28 year-old law student,
was killed within the walls of the Antioquia University. This killing
occurs only six days after the student council and its representatives
received death threats. Once again, death walks the hallways of the
University, once again darkness reigns on campus. The enemies of
knowledge continuously bring mourning upon the Colombian student
movement. In fact, three days earlier, it was the Guajira University
that saw one of its comrades, Éder Enrique Sierra, be killed.

 

To
be against the government’s democratic security policy makes us,
students, enemies of the Colombian State and we are threatened at the
Industrial University of Santander, at the Technological University of
Pereira and at the University of Quindio. In these moments when the
schizophrenia of the conflict poisons the dreams of our youth, we must
raise our fist higher. We, sons and daughters of Colombia, dream of a
country for everyone, a dignified land, free, and built upon the
principles of social justice.

 

The
task is not easy. To this humanitarian crisis, that has already left
over one hundred people threatened, displaced or killed, we must add
the financial asphyxia that the government has brought upon the public
universities, the threats of closing some establishments, or
privatizing them, as well as the victimization of student leaders,
teachers and union activists. Video cameras film all students, seeing
in everyone a potential terrorist. Faced with this situation, we must
answer with the power of words, strong arguments and conscious
mobilizing.

 

The
Colombian government, just like a serpent charmer, attempts to give the
idea that the solution to this humanitarian, financial and educational
crisis lies in the militarization of university life and in the weight
of the military boot on each university in the country and in the
political assemblies.

 

Students,
let us assert our selves! May our NO to militarization of university
life be heard! No to universities under the military boot. No to
universities where violence reigns, whichever it may be. We call upon
all mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and family members to come
together around our universities and our students, to surround
ourselves with hope.

 

Colombian University Students Union – ACEU

National Executive Committee

Bogotá D.C., March 16th 2009

--
Asociación Colombiana de Estudiantes Universitarios.

Universidad de Antioquia

"Por una Universidad crítica, creadora y transformadora".

www.aceucolombia.org