POLICE DEALING WITH STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY, TAKING DOWN BARRICADES.




Initials RGM/V/CR/ES



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Background: SOME 2,500 RIOT POLICE YESTERDAY (MONDAY) MOVED IN TO DISPERSE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS STAGING A MONTH-LONG SIT-IN PROTEST BEHIND BARRICADES AT WASEDA UNIVERSITY, IN TOKYO. THE STUDENTS ARE PROTESTING AGAINST A UNIVERSITY PLAN TO RAISE FEES BY AS MUCH AS SIXTY PER CENT AT THE START OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR NEXT MONTH.

THE STUDENTS HAD BEEN ON STRIKE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, NOT ONLY AGAINST THE PROPOSED FEE RISE, BUT ALSO FOR MORE FREEDOM AND AGAINST OVERCROWDING AT THEIR WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS.

APART FROM LIMITED SCUFFLING, THE 1,500 STUDENTS INVOLVED OFFERED LITTLE RESISTANCE AS POLICE DISMANTLED THEIR BARRICADES AND HERDED THEM INTO ANOTHER PART OF THE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS. THEY WERE PENNED IN BY 2,000 POLICEMEN IN CASE THEY TRIED TO RE-OCCUPY THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATION BLOCK.

THEY BARRICADED THEMSELVES IN AFTER THEIR LEADERS HAD TURNED DOWN A COMPROMISE PLAN TO SETTLE THEIR GRIEVANCES. UNIVERSITY AUTHORITIES CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE THE BARRICADED BUILDING WAS NEEDED FOR THE HOLDING OF EXAMINATIONS THIS WEEK.

LAST NIGHT (MONDAY) STUDENTS CLASHED WITH THE POLICE AGAIN NINETEEN OF THEM WERE ARRESTED.