International Students Day is an international observance of student activism, held annually on the 17th of November. The date commemorates the anniversary of the 1939 Nazi storming of University of Prague after demonstrations against the killing of Jan Opletal and the occupation of Czechoslovakia, as well as the execution of nine student leaders, more than 1200 students sent to concentration camps, and the closing of all Czech universities and colleges. The nine students and professors executed on the 17th of November in Prague: • Josef Matoušek • Jaroslav Klíma • Jan Weinert • Josef Adamec • Jan Černý • Marek Frauwirt • Bedřich Koukala • Vaclav Šafránek • Frantisek Skorkovský The November 17th 1939 students’ resistance in the streets of Prague against Nazi occupation inspired the establishment of an anti-Nazistudents’ coalition. In 1941, November 17 was declared International Students Day by the International Students Council in London becoming the starting point of the founding of the International Union of Students – IUS The students’ struggles of the 1930s and that of the 1940s, which united and organized them with unmatched courage and determination in resisting Nazism and fascism, continue to inspire our struggles today as we fight for democracy , good governance and sustainable development. Students throughout their history have consistently fought against all forms of discrimination, oppression and intolerance, defending the students and young people rights the world over. Students have placed the struggle for the right to education for all at the centre of their struggles for democracy, the restoration of the rule of law, the eradication of poverty, respect of human rights, sustainable development and peaceful coexistence. As we commemorate 17th November today, we should bear in mind the existing repressive laws that undermine the right to freedom of association, assembly and expression. Protecting academic freedom is not just important in times of conflict, but also in times of peace. If there is not a strong notion of the principles of independent, critical and non-violent educational spaces in peaceful times, these principles tend to collapse in times of crisis. The very importance of education is proved by the number of attacks on it, and the ferocity of these attacks. Scholars, students and teachers are often attacked because they are questioning and being critical of society, politics, authorities and the presentation of history, and therefore perceived as threats to power. They are also pressured by various dominant or opposing groups to present and promote specific historical and political ways of seeing and explaining the world. An education setting out to enable and encourage free thought will therefore often be opposed by many. Students and Youths shall forever fight for their rights to: 1. Freedom of discussion on philosophical, cultural, and scientific questions and to express a critical viewpoint. 2. Freedom of discussion pertaining to historical issues. 3. Freedom of discussion on current political issues. 4. Abolish censorship in all its forms and manifestations 5. To organise and demonstrate on and off campuses. 6. Eliminate self-perpetuation, social inequalities and the special privileges of the bureaucracy. I would like to take a special mention to SAIH(Studenes og Akademikrnes Internasjornale Hjelpfond) NORWAY for taking the rightful step in protecting students at risk for their political involvement for they shall forever be prisoners of conscience: I hope these shall become an international program. I therefore urge the Libertas Support Fund (NEDERLANDS) to re-engage most of their previous programs for they shall forever be Students at Risk the world over. HAPPY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT’S DAY
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:39:35 +0000
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