Just a few weeks ago Montreal-based activist Jaggi Singh was arrested anddeported from Israel. Yesterday, Singh was arrested and banned from campus during an interview at Concordia University following a demonstration.

On January 20, 2003, about an hour after giving a speech in support of Concordia Palestinian human rights activists who are facing disciplinary hearings, Singh wasarrested by Montreal police sergeant Donald Lemieux and removed from the communications office of the Concordia StudentUnion.

According to Singh’s lawyer, Singh is being charged with assault, disturbing the peace and illegal assembly. All three charges stem from the September 9, 2002, demonstration at Concordia University that forced the cancellation of a speech by former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The arrest interrupted an interview this writer was doing with Singh and fellow activists Dexter X and Gabriel Babineau about their experiences with policebrutality during the April 2001 Summit of the Americas in Quebec City. Singh gained notoriety during that mobilization for allegedly possessing a teddybear catapult that may have been used to assaultpolice. Those charges were later dropped, but he is still facing charges of participating in a riot. His trial by jury begins May 20.

The arrest of Montreal’s most famous anarchist is just the latest in a series of Middle-East-related events at the downtown campus of the Montreal university nowknown as “Gaza U.”

“Why is ‘Gaza U’ a derogatory term?” Singh askedduring yesterday’s speech. “Concordia should beproud to be compared to Gaza.” He praised theresistance of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and otheroccupied territories, and said that the struggle ofConcordia students in the face of repression isimportant, but it cannot be compared to the heroicefforts of the Palestinian people.

The afternoon protest was held outside in bitter-coldtemperatures because organizers were threatened withdisciplinary and legal action from the university ifthe event were to occur on university property asoriginally planned.

One of the ten students being brought to theuniversity’s disciplinary panel was conspicuous by hisabsence at the rally. Samer Elatrash is banned fromparticipating in Concordia-related politicalactivities as part of his conditions of release inrelation to criminal charges stemming from theanti-Netanyahu protests. Elatrash said he does notexpect a fair hearing at the university panel. “Wedon’t have access to video tapes that wouldcontextualize the video montage being presented by thecomplainant. To get the security tapes we needfor evidence, we have to ask the security investigatorJaques Lechance. He is the one making the complaintagainst us, so there is a conflict of interest.”

Elatrash said that the security tapes would show thepolice brutality that occurred before students took amore confrontational approach.

It’s a not-so-strange coincidence that Singh wasarrested on the day that disciplinary hearings for students were to begin. Singh, who is not a Concordia student, will not be allowed to set foot on Concordia property for any reason whatsoever

Police had a chance to arrest Singh last week atanother Concordia protest. Although very few Concordiastudents attended the action against Defence MinisterJohn McCallum (reportedly for fear of tough newdisciplinary regulations), Singh, along with studentsfrom other Montreal universities, made their presencefelt. They chanted slogans like “No blood for oil.” Atthe time, a Montreal police officer on the scene toldSingh, “We will deal with you later.”

Was Singh’s arrest timed by police in consultationwith the Concordia administration for maximumpolitical impact? University Public Relations officer Chris Mota said that police cameto arrest Singh “because they saw him on TV [at theprotest earlier in the day].”

University legal counsel Bram Freedman said thatsecurity personnel helped police locate Mr. Singh inthe student union offices when they were told thatthere was an outstanding warrant for hisarrest. Freedman also explained that the university had beentrying without success to deliver a letter to Mr.Singh banning him from campus. “I understand that hewill be personally receiving the letter thisafternoon,” said Freedman. It is no doubt easier toserve papers on someone who is in police custody.

Singh was released yesterday evening with apromise to appear in court.