Achi news desk-
Quebec Premier Francois Lego is facing criticism from opposition parties for asking police to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill University’s campus.
Despite the prime minister’s words and a recent closed-door meeting between the protesters and the school administration, the group says it has no plans to leave their encampment.
The protesters are starting to call it a “tiny city”. Tents are still erected, there is a library and wooden sidewalks. Entering its second week, Prime Minister Francois Lego’s talks seem to have been ignored.
Last Thursday, the Prime Minister asked the Montreal Police (SPVM) to close the camp and on Tuesday he stood by his words.
“I have said what I want to say. Now, it is up to the McGill administration and the SPVM to choose the appropriate means and times to ensure that the law is respected,” he told reporters in Quebec City.
But the opposition parties claim that Gott should not have said anything at all.
“The separation of powers is important. It’s not a decoration. The right to protest is important in a democratic society and it’s very troubling to see Mr. Legault meddling in this situation,” said Gabriel Ndeau-Dubois, spokesman for Solidaire Quebec partner.
“The law must respect the rule of law”
Others say the fact that there was no police intervention shows that the county’s institutions are functioning properly, especially after a judge denied an order to remove the encampment.
“Francois Lego was irrelevant in trying to give orders to the SPVM. Francois Lego should respect the rule of law,” said the interim leader of the Liberal Party in Quebec, Marc Tanguay.
“It is not for the prime minister to simply tell the police what to do while there is a verdict,” said Quebec Party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. “And you can agree or disagree with the verdict, but it’s a verdict.”
Protesters say there has been no progress after a private meeting with the university on Monday, but Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says it’s important to continue having those discussions.
“The SPVM will continue to monitor, of course, because we want to make sure it’s peaceful,” the mayor said on Tuesday.
