and we waited…

Since the start of the occupation on Wednesday a negotiation commission has been in session composed of representatives of students, teachers, the church, civic authorities, university workers trade union, local government, the university administration and the Defensoria del Pueblo. The idea being to pressure the authorities into constructive dialogue about the demands being made.

Of course, authorities being as they are they refused to enter into dialogue until the students disoccupied the church. As such Thursday was a waiting game with talks deadlocked. As we sat around in the hot sun cheering the occassional supportive passing motorist support grew. It was clear that the students were not for moving without some sort of agreement.

We waited...

The problem seemed to be that the students had to some extent demanded the impossible – the resignation or sacking of people who’s hire and fire is up to national, not local authorities when it is the local authorities they are pressurising. By Thursday evening it was announced that President Uribe was comming the next day and the threat of military eviction was hinted – this would mean mass detention and violent recriminations by authorities once those inside were registered. This was not be an option - if it was decided by the national government that they would evict militarily the students would have to leave as the potential risk is too great.

The pressure was now on.