Photo supplied by Victoria Police

By our community reporter

The Victoria Police have denied that another arrest has been made in the Gurshan murder case. The PTI had yesterday reported that Gursewak Dhillon’s (charged with manslaughter of toddler Gursan) wife had been arrested for helping her husband dispose of the toddler. But how the toddler got ‘unconscious’ after which he was taken by Gursewak Dhillon remains a riddle.

Earlier, a person who lived in the same house of three-year-old Indian boy Gurshan Singh, whose body was found on a roadside in Melbourne on Thursday, has been charged over his death.Police allege that part-time taxi driver Gursewak Dhillon, 23, placed the boy unconscious in the boot of his car and drove him around for at least three hours before dumping him in a field north of Melbourne.

He face Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with manslaughter due to criminal negligence, reports Hearld Sun.

Earlier, The body of a young boy was found beside a north Melbourne road. Victoria police say the body fits the description of a three-year-old Indian boy reported missing earlier on Thursday. A local council worker driving along the road noticed the body lying in grassland near the intersection of Wildwood and St Johns roads in Oaklands Junction at about 6pm (AEDT), police said.

“A council worker driving past noticed a body on the side of the road,” a police spokesman told AAP

Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones says police are treating the death as a homicide.

“At this stage we have a bereaved, possibly bereaved, parents, because formal identification has yet to take place,” he said.

“But sadly I’m pretty certain that the little dead child we found is in fact missing Gurshun.”

Earlier, a three-year-old Indian toddler was missing from near David Street, Lalor (north Melbourne) since after 1 pm today. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a grey top and blue jeans. Police are searching the toddler who has dark skin and brown hair.
Anyone with information has been urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au

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The priest coming out of the Frankston Magistrate court

By our legal reporter

Melbourne, 3 March: A Frankston court, Magistrate today ordered the Sri Lankan passport of a Hindu priest to be impounded and barred him from going near any airport in Australia. He was asked to deposit his passport within 24 hours at the Frankston police station. Premakanthan Rajaratnasarma, a priest at Melbourne’s Sri Shiva Vishnu temple, Carrum Downs is facing alleged Indecent Sexual Assault charges in relation to a woman of Indian origin. The court also granted him bail till March 15 when the case will be heard again.

Earlier, the case came up for’ mentioning’ and the ‘prosecution’ produced a devotee of the temple who gave evidence that there was a chance of the Hindu priest fleeing the country.
Premakanthan Rajaratnamsarma, was arrested last year on May 23 from his residence in the temple complex after complaints by an Indian origin woman of alleged indecent sexual assault. The Sri Lankan priest is working in the temple run by the Hindu Society of Victoria on a work contract.

In Australia, indecent assault is defined by law as any unwanted sexual behaviour or touching which is forced upon people against their will. The meaning of indecency depends upon prevailing views of what is unacceptable behaviour. This might include behaviour such as forcing someone to watch pornography or masturbation.

Each State has provisions which describe the crime of indecent assault, which require proof of an assault. Assault is legally defined as unlawful contact or an apprehension of unlawful contact. Consent is not a defence if the child is under 16.

The charges if proved are punishable by imprisonment.

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By our reporter
Melbourne: Thousands of Indians, Australians and people of different communities today celebrated the festival of colours – Holi. The massive celebration and a big Holi Mela took place at the Sandown Racecourse, Nobel Park organised by the Australian Indian Innovations Inc. (AIII). The celebrations started off with the traditional ‘Holi Dahan’ where many families performed pujan. This was followed with people applying dry colours to each other and dancing to DJ music sponsored by Rhythm & Spice and Oorja Nights.

Thousands of youngsters and international students danced for hours with popular Hindi and Punjabi numbers. VIPs including the Victorian Premier’s representative and leader of opposition in Victoria Ted Baillieu were present during the occasion.

The AIII committee and many volunteers laboured many months to make the event a success. The festival of colours people felt gave the message of peace and prosperity for everyone.

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By News Bureau

The recent suicide attack in Kabul which killed 17 people included 6 Indians. Two officers of the Indian Army were among those killed. Five other Army officers were also injured in the attack.Indian Ambassador in Kabul Jayant Prasad told IBN-CNN that it looked like a 26/11 type attack specifically targeting Indians.

“Six Indians died in yesterday’s (Friday) attack. It was a 26/11 type of attack. The attackers searched each and every room and killed people,” said Prasad.

According to IBN-CNN “Indians killed in the attack have been identified as Major Dr Laishram Jyotin Singh of Army Medical Corps, Major Deepak Yadav of Army Education Corps, engineer Bhola Ram, tabla player Nawab Khan, staffer of Kandahar Consulate Nitish Chibber and Indo Tibetan Border Police constable Roshan Lal.

The target of the attack, Park Residence, has been rented out by the Indian Embassy for its staffers and those linked to India’s developmental work in Afghanistan.

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By News Bureau

The Pakistan Taliban has beheaded three Sikhs in Pakistan’s FATA area. The three Sikhs were beheaded because they refused to convert to Islam. Later the heads were sent to Bhai Joga Singh Gurudwara in Peshawar, reports Indian Express.

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The issue of attacks on Indian overseas students has been making headlines for the last four years. Many Federal and State Ministers from Australia and India have visited each other’s countries. Charges of racism and its denials are part of daily war of words. Excellent relations between the two countries have been tainted by the attacks. Many support the government response while others feel it is in a state of denial. Also, there has been uproar and support in Australia, India and other countries condemning the attacks. The complex issue has thrown up a young leadership which has stood up for the Indian students.
The eye of the storm is Gautam Gupta of the Federation Indian Students of Australia (FISA) -the most known Indian in Australia. Some consider him as the most dangerous man Down Under. Is he a true fighter for social justice or an unfettered radical? South Asia Times Editor NEERAJ NANDA talked to this brash young leader, a former Swinburne University student leader,often heard on radio and seen on TV in Australia, India and other countries.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: An article about you in a Sydney paper has the heading – “Is he the most hated man in Australia”? What do you say to that?

A: Hatred is a strong word and emotion. I believe that populist politics sometimes encourage corruption and it is better to be honest even if the risk is hatred by some. Even Mahatma Gandhi had experienced hatred and he acknowledged it.
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” he said.
I am probably a step or two away from winning.

Q: It also calls you the “Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala of Indian students in Australia”. Does that disturb you?

A: Many people have compared me with many personalities and I think it is only natural that we always benchmark people and actions with what we know. I have been accused of imitating a range of people from Gandhi to Malcolm X and everything in between.

Q: There is a feeling that your statements in the media are responsible for more and more attacks on Indian students in Australia. Who are these people and what is your reply?

A: I have personally experienced the discrimination and resulting humiliation that one has to endure. The choice for me was clear that I accept it as part of life or try my best to do something to improve the system. I have read a lot of books and one of my most inspiring words for action came from this little poem written by German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin Niemöller:
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

These people who are accusing me – probably are the people who would have supported the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela for fighting and speaking against apartheid. Because by the same logic, according to their view, he would have increased apartheid by speaking against it.

Q: You describe any attack or violence on Indian students as racist. How do you reach that conclusion?

A: Well, people can take and interpret anything I say to suit their convenience and own convictions. I do believe some attacks were racist and some were not. The only thing I suggest is that the Police must not be tainted by political interference. And not rule out anything including racism. I am glad that after years of campaigning we not only achieved the introduction of hate crimes act but also an admission from the Chief Commissioner of police that some attacks were definitely racist and they erred in ruling out race as a motive a little too early.

Q: The cops and the Victorian government have ruled out racism in most attacks. But you continue to harp on the issue of racism. Why?

A: Well, if they rule out racism then how will the hate crimes act be applied? Isn’t it a failure of the justice system then? Let us not forget that the Chief Commissioner admitted knowledge of the problem of violence against Indians for the past two years. It is clear that what they have done since that time has clearly not worked. The Police and the State Government has failed in its duty of care. They clearly need new ideas and new people and till now they have chosen to ignore any meaningful solution provided by us.

Q: Do you think Australia is a racist country?

A: Racism is present in every country including Australia. The question we have to ask is ‘Is Australia doing enough to stem out racism?’ I think there is a lot more that Australia can do. Let us start by confronting racism wherever we see it, as advised by Former defence Chief Gen. Peter Cosgrove. We have raised with the government and authorities the existence of online gangs targeting ethnic groups including Indians. Till date not even one person from any of them has been charged. Are we not giving tacit approval for such illegal activities by our silence? Verbal and mental attack can sometimes be more threatening and brutal than physical violence. Every time some Indian is attacked, they are made to feel responsible – when are we going to make the criminal feel guilty?

Q: Established Indians in Australia do not see eye to eye with you on the issue. For example, the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV) and other Indian organisations.

A: Well, generally I don’t participate in pitching one community group against another as it promotes divide and rule. However, as it is our community issue, I must say that it is annoying and deeply offending when some established Indians accuse young migrants for all problems. I can understand that some of them have lost quite a lot due to the cut in their income they made from cheap labour and money they gain from student recruitment. However, my focus in their welfare. I believe that every migrant deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and these associations have failed them by accusing them.
What surprised me, and continues to do so is when bodies like the FIAV support statements asking Indians to keep a low profile and refuse to condemn racist attacks and fail to acknowledge the excellent work done by young Indians.

Q: What is your opinion about the role of India and the Indian diplomats in Australia on the issue?

A: I think the diplomats are in a difficult situation. On one hand they have to follow their government and they also have to maintain good diplomatic relations with the host nation. In our situation, they now have to deal with a unique situation where there is a third front – young Indians, who are not happy with status quo and want changes.

Our sustained campaign has forced the introduction of Student Officer at the Indian Consulate. From their initial response suggesting that ‘we can’t help as we are not designed to assist students’ they have changed to ‘we will do everything that we can’.
There is a lot more that they can do, by starting to be straight and supportive for the leadership that has emerged. By refusing to acknowledge the youth power, they have confused the State and Federal Government and maybe unknowingly harmed Indians and Indian cause in the process.

Q: Often the government and established Indians also blame the Indian media for over-hyping the issue and making it race related. What would you say to it?

A: Historically, it is the might of the pen and not the sword that has changed people’s opinion and bought in revolutions. How do we silence free speech? Even successful dictatorships have failed to curtail expressive creativity of people. Journalists have been executed in many countries for speaking their minds; fortunately India and Australia are not those countries. Both believe in freedom of speech and I have always urged people to keep that perspective.

We must also not forget that if the Indian media was not active in highlighting the injustices and systemic rort that existed in the education sector in Australia, we will still have the situation where thousands of victims would have suffered in silence, lost their money to dubious college operators and migration agents and thousands would have just lived their life without hope or redress.

Q9: You work full time for the FISA. How do you and FISA make your ends meet?
A: It is a problem area for me and indeed all representatives in FISA. I have done what every battler does, i.e. live on credit cards. However I must also acknowledge the support provided, in cash and kind, by a couple of philanthropists from Melbourne and Sydney. These gentlemen have paid some of my bills and now they are planning to institutionalise this support.

Q: You are so much visible in the Australian and Indian media. Do you have a political motive?
A: My political motive at this stage is limited to getting all parties to acknowledge and appreciate Indians as more than curry, cricket and Bollywood. It surprises me that every time and Indian is attacked, Police comes out and plays cricket and the politicians cheer them.
I want our politicians to take Indians seriously. Maybe it will happen once we have a politician who will champion our cause.

Q: Which political party or people in Australia have taken a correct stand on the student attacks?

A: As of now no political party has demonstrated any real interest or policy to socially and economically include Indians. However, this is a big election year and I hope to see major policy initiatives directed at improving the quality of life for all Indians.

Q: Do you belong to a political family or what does your family think about your activity?

A: I do not belong to any party. People have attributed my actions to be supportive of one faction or another but I can assure you and your readers that that is false. My intention has always been single-minded to champion the cause of Indians.

Q: How can the attacks be stopped? I mean steps that will stop them.

A: The issue of stopping attacks is very complex. It is not possible that there will be no crime. When politicians say ‘zero’ tolerance they really don’t mean it and nor should we believe them. There will always be a level of violence that we will have to live with. What is unacceptable is the over-representation of Indians as victims of crime by at least 3 times more than the State (Victoria) average.

I believe it must be done at three levels:
Government, Business and Social. At a Government level, we need a straight acknowledgement of the existence of a problem like provided by the Chief Commissioner and the Archbishop. This should be followed by allocation of resources to stem this issue. For example, redesigning taxis, legislating extra security at late-nights etc. Increased diversity in Police, Ambulance and other services will be helpful too.
Businesses have known to be innovative when it comes to problems. We must encourage businesses to take greater ownership to innovate solutions to improve safety for their staff. They may start by issuing cab-vouchers for late-night staff or wait for such safety measures are legislated for them.
At the social level, we must encourage greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures and this can happen by us partnering with AFL, having social events around BBQ and understanding the role of Church as a pillar of this society. Government can assist by funding education campaigns highlighting the contribution of migrants in the society and by launching an anti-violence campaign.

Q: Do you blame the education providers/universities for the current state of affairs?

A: I don’t think that anyone should be singled out as the cause of the problem. They are all part of system which is obviously broken. We cannot blame providers for being greedy when they are designed to earn money. We should blame the system that has failed to keep them under check.

Q: What is your greatest strength?

A: My will power, dedication and a never say die attitude. This when coupled with the support of my partner and parents make it easy for me to survive.

Q: Your message to Indian and other overseas students in Australia?

A: We must continue to work hard to ensure that Australia does not become Fiji for us. This is one of the finest countries that has a lot to offer. Hard-work, persistence and patience will help us to achieve the quality of life that we came here to find. It is important for us to be a brand of India in Australia and of Australia in India. Both countries have a lot in common and a lot that they can learn from each other. We are in a unique position to help with that transition.

- From the February 2010 issue of South Asia Times

No related posts.

By Neeraj Nanda

Melbourne: What else can one expect from the Hindu Right Shiv Sena in Mumbai? A boycott or disruption of Australian players or matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) against attacks on Indian students in Australia. Don’t be surprised. This is just one of the issues on its extremist agenda. Their actions and threats against Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tandulkar, Hindi speaking people, attacking Valentine Day celebrations and past role in communal riots is well known. Its extra constitutional role on any issue that fits its extremist agenda is not new.

Yes, there have been attacks on Indian students in Australia (most in Melbourne) and they have been condemned by a wide variety of people and organisations. The Victorian government sees them more as ordinary crime while many others (including the students) either see them as racist or opportunistic or a mix of racism and opportunism. It depends how you see these attacks. But the Shiv Sena’s sympathy for Indian students in Australia is suspect and its call to boycott Australian players shameful and a disgrace. Coming from an organisation (in decline now) which is famous as a bully and instigator of violence, exposes the difficult and violent times we live in.

The Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA),wrote a letter to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thakare not to boycott or harm Australian players as “Now is the time for those Indians who have bravely stood up for the rights of Indians in Australia to also recognise that Australian Cricketers were the first Australians to voice their condemnation of the attacks on Indians in Melbourne. Great cricket players such as Mr Shane Warne had termed the attacks against Indians as ‘atrocious and unacceptable’ way back in May/June 2009.” And

“It is the Indian student’s strong desire that there should be no violence or protests against Australian cricketers and instead the Australian Cricketers should be invited to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Indian students and become FAIR GO Ambassadors for all Indians especially when they return to Australia.”

This stand has been appreciated and supported by Cricket Australia. During a recent media conference at the MCG its spokesman said, “Cricket Australia says that there is no place for racism in the field or off field.”

Good enough! But we have yet to see what actually happens. Named after Shivaji, the King who had people of many religions in his army, the Shiv Sena’s intolerance and hate against minorities, Hindi speaking North Indians or anyone non Maharashtrian speaks for itself. Only recently it was pitted against master blaster and cricket legand Sachin Tandulkar for saying that “Mumbai belongs to all Indians.” It is also (as we go to Press) violently opposing Bollywood Badhshah Shah Rukh Khan’s movie ‘My Name is Khan’, for saying that Pakistani players should have been taken in IPL teams.

The organisation’s many supporters were implicated for the violent riots in 1993 after the demolition of Babri Masjid by Hindu hardliners. Only recently many North Indians (mainly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) faced physical violence emanating from the Sena’s ideology of hate and exclusion.It has been desperate to regain lost politrical ground after in the last Assembly elections the Sena split and faced a setback at the hands of the Congress and its ally the NCP (composed of Ex-Congressmen). In the early seventies and eighties the Sena targeted the Left trade unions with all the intimidation and violence. Their threat to Australian players in the IPL should be seen in the context of its extreme Right wing regional-national and political agenda.

The Indian people in Australia who love both the Indian and Australian players cannot but condemn the call to boycott Australian cricket players in the IPL. It is as bad as launching a tirade against the movie ‘My Name is Khan’ or attacking innocent people in Mumbai for being non Maharashtrians.Or, as bad as an Indian student being attacked in Melbourne.Violence in any form needs to be condemned whether it is against Indian students in Victoria or in the form of a boycott or disruption of a cricket match in Mumbai or elsewhere.

Gautam Gupta of FISA says: “We are with anyone who believes in ‘Fair Go’ in India or Australia and against anyone who promotes violence anywhere”. It remains to be seen what course events will take.

While it is the duty of the Indian government to provide safety to Australian and other players during IPL matches, it is also the duty of all cricket lovers in India and Australia (including Indian and South Asians in Australia) to condemn violence and protect the gentleman’s game from extremist forces that have nothing but to go by their unfair agendas.
The New York Times in a recent article quotes Mahesh Bhatt, Bollywood filmmaker who has many times clashed with the Shiv Sena as saying, “The tipping has come. You have to call the bluff of these people”.
- From South Asia Times, February 2010 issue

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A report in The Hindustan Times:

In a snub to Union minister Sharad Pawar, Bal Thackeray on Monday said the Shiv Sena would not allow Australian cricketers to play in the IPL which starts next month, a threat that the NCP supremo had wanted the Sena chief to withdraw. “Indians are being attacked in Australia. Therefore, I have said that we would not allow Australian cricketers to play in our country,” Thackeray said.

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By News Bureau

Sydney: A Sydney hairdressing college closed yesterday (15 Feb.) without notice after charging international students $ 7000 each for fees and equipment three weeks ago. Staff and students were locked out of The Edge Academy, whose registration renewal was under consideration of the state government, reports Sydney Morning Herald.

The Edge Academy has been a registered training organisation with the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB).It currently has 66 students studying with 95 pending enrolments.

A media report says overseas students are entitled to a full refund of their fees from the Education Services for Overseas Students Assurance Fund.

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By our correspondent
Melbourne: The Indian students in Australia has asked the Shiv Sena to withdraw its plan to stop Aussie players from playing in Mumbai during IPL matches.

In a letter to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thakeray, Gautam Gupta of the Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) says: “It is the Indian student’s strong desire that there should be no violence or protests against Australian cricketers and instead the Australian Cricketers should be invited to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Indian students and become FAIR GO Ambassadors for all Indians especially when they return to Australia.”

Earlier, the Shiv Sena had announced not to let Aussie players play in IPL matches protesting against attacks on Indian students in Australia.

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1. Threat against Oz IPL players is a shame By Neeraj Nanda Melbourne: What else can one expect...
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3. Thackery: Won’t allow Oz players playing in IPL A report in The Hindustan Times: In a snub...