Media Release: For Immediate Use
Author: Students for Justice in Palestine
12th September 2012

Students Have Called For A Censure Against AUSA President Arena Williams And A Public Apology To AUSA And Its Members.

In July, the AUSA President took a trip to visit Israel including illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine. The trip was Israeli funded and targeted two other prominent figures from New Zealand in youth political organisations; Young Labour and Young National.

“As both a member of AUSA and the recently elected AUSA National Affairs Officer for 2013, I am disgusted that our president went on a tiki tour of Zionist oppression in the West Bank of occupied Palestine.” says Shane Malva.

“She has soiled our good name and helped to legitimise the genocide, torture, land theft and military occupation being committed by Israel against the Palestinian people on a daily basis.” He continues.
“By visiting Israel on an Israeli funded trip our president, who is elected to represent us, has unfortunately associated the student body of the University of Auckland with apartheid Israel. This topic has always been one to generate heated discussion but this discussion needed to happen with the students. We must ensure that future AUSA presidents do not take a stance on such contentious issues without prior student consultation. We will not let this go down in our name.” says Hela Rahman, spokesperson for SJP.

Faisal Al-Asad, another current AUSA member and SJP activist continues “Student unions need to be held responsible and accountable, especially when their leadership attempt to normalise relations with an apartheid and terrorist state.”

AUSA students are encouraged to show up today, Wednesday 12th September, at 1pm in the Quad to vote.

--
They believe by uprooting our trees and destroying our buildings they will destroy our history, but our history is in our hearts and we will tell it to our children, and they will tell it to their children, they cannot cut off our tongues.

Join Auckland University SJP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=78628231271

ENDS

© Scoop Media