Indian High Commissioner, Mrs. Sujatha Singh addressing a media conference on attacks on Indian students in the Indian Consulate, Melbourne. PHOTO: Neeraj Nanda SOUTH ASIA TIMES
By our correspondent
Melbourne (30 May): The Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Mrs. Sujatha Sngh has said that “there is a racist element” in the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia. She also said some of the attacks were “opportunistic”. Mrs. Sujatha Singh was addressing a media conference at the Indian Consulate here. Mrs Singh also said that Victoria Police had sometimes displayed a “lack of
sensitivity” towards Indian students who had been victims of crime. This was in contrast to the Victorian police assertion that there were no racist connotations to the attacks.
Victorian Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said today he did not believe the attacks
were racially motivated, rather that offenders were focusing on “soft targets”.
“I don’t think they are in general. We think the majority of these things occur through opportunistic activity,” he said.
During her media conference Mrs. Singh said that Indian students should avoid difficult areas and move in groups of two or three. Though she disapproved them moving out of affected suburbs and move into relatively safer areas. A day before at a Indian community meeting called to discuss the issue , Mrs. Sujatha Singh, on a question, said “those who help themselves, god helps them”, according to Mr. Gautam Gupta of Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA).
Mrs. Singh also disclosed she had met thePremier of Victoria, Victorian Minister of Skills, Victorian Police Commissioner and the Assistant police commissioner of Victoria and discussed the attacks. She said, “ the Victorian Premier had assured her that many steps were being taken on the issue and this includes increased police patrolling at stations .”
Meanwhile, the Opposition leader in Victoria Mr. Ted Baillieu has said the assaults of young students had been going on for three years already, without any government intervention.
“Sadly, the issue is not new – we’ve been raising these concerns for nearly three years and the problem’s got worse, not better,” Mr Baillieu said.
A spokesman for Jacinta Allan, Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, said Mr Baillieu was “choosing to make political capital out of something he has not sought to research or understand”.
“Attacks on anyone, including Indian and other international students, will not be tolerated and the full force of the law will come down on those ignorant thugs who think this acceptable behaviour,” the spokesman said.
Earlier today five teenagers were charged – one with attempted murder – over separate suburban attacks on Indian students.
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I am an Indian living in Australia for the last 5 years. Australia is the racist capital of the world. Australia has always been a racist country. The Australian government earns billions of dollars from foreign students. The police and the authorites will go to any length to justify racial attacks on migrants. For more info on racism in Australia. Google:racism in Australia
Joe, I am British, living in Australia for 35 years. Your generalisation that Australia is “the racist capital of the world” affirms that you are not educated. Your comments are simply not true. How sad you make us here in Australia and how angry you make people here by your offensiveness and arrogance towards us all here. We are of 150 different nations! We are proud of our unofficial anthem. “We are young and we are many, and from all the lands on earth we come. We share a dream, and sing with one voice, I am, you are, we are Australian.” Australia is a safe haven, it is a tolerant and beautiful country with gentle people who do not deserve to have this vitriol directed against them. In all countries, in all cities there is violence, but how degrading you are towards the majority of decent Australians. Our indian doctors, teachers, educators, business people are many. You degrade them also in your statements. You are free to demonstrate in the streets without police attacks. Recent tv of Indian students spitting on police vests and insulting is not something Australians like. Ironically it is those people Joe, like yourself who are showing your racism. Indian people should never be afraid to travel to Australia. It is a safe and welcoming country. However, I will no longer feel safe in coming to India on business since this “event” so I will be visiting my suppliers in China for a while now until the hatred of Australia dies down. I know other business people here who have listened to these Indian “students” and no longer feel that we wish to do business in India… at least for a while. You scare us. I am sorry to all decent Indian people for this ‘event’. But please understand that it is not racist, it is simply violence by a few people for the sake of violence, and is not widespread. Australia welcomes you, but now we do not feel that we can travel to India without feeling fearful.
Graham! your concerns about not going to India for trade fearing attacks on Aussies makes me laugh. Things have taken ugly shape here in Australia but not in India. People like you are feeling that Indians may respond back by targetting Aussies in India. What a joke……. Have you ever heard about attacks on students of any other nation??? You mentioned about 150 nations then why we only hear about Indians being assaulted everywhere? The phrase ‘Curry Bashing’ is very common among the attackers. In last 12 months over 60 cases have been registered with Vic Police only regarding attacks on Indian community and you are still happy to state that the violence is not widespread.
Had this happened with Chinese community, severe actions would have been taken by now. I am sure you would have never said of not going to China for your business. You are trying to spread a word among other traders by stating about ‘No Business Deals with India’. Great solution Mr. Whittaker or i should say, “What a woos you are”. We should all stop dealing with people who raise their voice against crime and injustice..am i right? Australia is not racist country and you called it a safe heaven. I am sure the Cronulla riots in 2005 happened while you were back in England or you have a memory loss. India is a self- reliant country and by few people banning trade with that country will have zero effect on it. Remember!!! it was your choice to deal with Indian suppliers (for your own profits). Keep on changing suppliers and you will run out choices except …shutting down. Put a thinking cap on and try to see the whole picture rather than show how selfish you are thinking about your own security without codemning the attackers even once. Do not use the word ‘we’ as you have no right to comment on any other person’s behalf. Rather than wating time on replying me, i suggest spend sometime on searching articles about racism in Australia. Not mentioning just Indians…its against everyone and among Autralians themselves.
Hi Joe and Graham,
I am an Indian living in Australia. I can not agree with what Joe says. I think Joe’s is a gorss over generalisation in very bad taste.
Graham, you know that Joe’s statement does not represent the opinion of all the Indians living in Australia or elsewhere. All educated persons know that violence is used by people of selfish interests and they find communalism, racism, religion and several other issues to cover it with. It is there in every country/communities but the degrees vary.
Your decision to travel to China or not to travel to India is yours to make. However when you say that it is because of comments of people like Joe and events that you saw on the tv….you are indirectly becoming a player in this vicious cycle, conscioulsy or unconscioulsy. The Australia that I have known is far more courageous that what you represent.
Graham whittaker, to be honest with ya, you ain’t makin’ no Sense here. You’re from Englang and also white (I guess). so you know nothin’ about recism here in Australia. Because people here in Australia not gonna show thier recism or Animal instinct with you or any other white people. Mark my world. Don’t get me wrong I’ve no compain about black and white or any nation. I was just tellin’ you what exactly happening here in Australia. Most of the people from India, Bangladesh, Nepal or any other Asian countries facing recims everyday.
To suggest that I ‘know nothing about racism here in Australia’is ludicrous. I have been in this country now for over 35 years and during many years saw the policies become more multicultural and level than ever before. I remember when my friends from Cambodia and Vietnam were being attacked by vicious thugs. Of course there is racism, but NOT endemic. There will always be racists in all countries. You see, the comments show a form of ‘racism’ in themselves without you even being aware of it. Indians are NOT being especially targetted. Mention of the “Cronulla Riots” shows that the writer does not know what happened because I was there at that time and the media made an issue of something that did not really exist. I was there, and the cameras did not represent the truth at all. I deplore the ‘students’ (of whatever race) showing their hypocricy by violent attacks on police and property just yesterday. This is NOT what we want in Australia. I have written on racism and multiculturalism for many years and my views are widely disseminated. Yes of course I have heard of attacks on people of other races in Australia. Attacks on average Australians too. This is not racist, just thuggery and should also be deplored. I stand with my Indian friends who feel that they are being degraded by this unfortunate situation. Why is it that my Indian friends and fellow business people, also my mates who are doctors and nurses are angry at the coverage that has become so widespread outside of Australia? I will answer my own question. Because this is no more than agitation by a small group of students who are trying to whip up trouble. To see Indian parents on tv saying that they will not send their children to study in Australia because it is a racist country is very upsetting for all Australians including those of Indian extraction. I will say again, racism is not part of our culture. Racism is individualised and to those who say that I am wrong to not travel to India to do business at this time, then why are Indian students claiming that Indian students bring $15 billion dollars into Australia etc and threaten to withdraw it. Is sauce for the goose not sauce for the gander? The sadness I feel at this situation is not just mine, it belongs to my Indian friends and collegues too. They are just as upset by the misinformation and disinformation regarding this matter. Australia is a welcoming country, no more or less safe than India or USA or China. We are a small player on the world stage with our hands and arms open to the world. One of my businesses is next door to an Indian shop and my friends in that business are very upset also, knowing that the coverage given to this is way out of proportion to the truth. Incidentally the term “curry munchers” was not of Australian origin. It comes out of Britain in the early 60′s when Britain absorbed a great many Indian and Pakistani people. We rarely hear that term here. In fact, until this past week, and uttered by Indian people I had NEVER heard it here in Australia. It’s time to put the matter aside and help one another, not sling brickbats.
Graham, I’ve lived here fore 18 of my 22 years. And trust me, I’ve heard the term “curry munchers” often used in a derogatory manner. Its best for you not to comment on things you clearly would not have been a victim to.
HI Graham,
i totally agree with you that Australia is not a racist country although there are few racist elements but we cannot generalize the whole society.I am living in Sydney from last few years and i have experienced all sorts of behavior but when someone was being racist towards me,i just felt sorry for his/her ignorance and lack of education.I have shared the flat with an aussie guy and believe me we lived like best mates for 6 months.Now i feel embarrassed of myself and other indians of making this incident as a racist attack,whatever happened was sad and we should all come together to put an end to this.
Cheers
Pratab,
Thank you so much for a voice of reason. Quite by coincidence I was taken home by a young Indian taxi driver last night. We discussed the ‘situation’ and the prevailing view seems to be that the Indian community here in this city seems to be a little upset by the behaviour of some ‘students’. Like you Pratab, there are many people of Indian extraction, (certainly here in this city, and many of them ‘older’ people) who feel shamed by the behaviour of a few rabble rousers. Of course it is not to say there are not regular episodes of violence on the streets, as in most cities, but like you, most people believe that it is not simply directed at a singular race of people. Anyone who walks home at night whether they be nurses from the hospital, or workers from a shift job must take care. Thank you so much for your post. Yes, we should all work together to stop this, and begin to understand that we should stand against all violence against all people. Thanks.
“Yes, we should all work together to stop this, and begin to understand that we should stand against all violence against all people” Graham Whittaker.
So that means your are going to Indian suppliers??? ……..’few rabble rousers’ can’t make the whole India dangerous.
From my own research, I gather that so-called “curry bashing” (a term imported from the UK), is more opportunistic than based on racism. I have played host to many Indian students, and I have had to advise them of the reality of crime in Australian cities. And while everyone who travels abroad experiences racism at some stage (I have been racially abused in various Asian countries, and I have to say the most racist abuse I have ever heard was directed against tribal minorities in India), most students of my acquaintance find Australians welcoming. The hysteria that results in burning Australian flags and effigies of our PM (we had the same hysteria after India lost the cricket series here in Australia)does little to resolve the problem. (By the way why don’t these same people – these rent-a-crowd goons – protest about the real, systemic and often violent discrimination against Indians in places like Malaysia, Burma and Fiji which has been going on for years?) During a recent trip to Malaysia, my wife was mugged by a particular ethnic gang – the Malaysian police told us that this was because it was assumed all “whites” were soft targets and rich. Am I going out to burn Malaysian flags and say that all Malaysians are racist? I wouldn’t be so immature…I have many Malaysian friends and I know how hospitable and kind they are, and how shocked they were about this attack. (As many Australians are about these incidents, which are part of a wider crime wave in this country – which incidentally effects elderly white Australians more than any other group.)By all means lets work to solve this problem, and lets combat racism wherever it raises its ugly head, but let’s not lose sight of the greater strengths of this country. Like Indians (or people of any nation in the world) Australians can be racist, but (like Indians or people of any other nation in the world) the vast majority are not.
Speaking from the perspective of an indian school student attending an australian school, i have to say that racisim is rife in this country. Everyday i am subject to racist taunts about the colour of my skin or my name for example from a multiple number of white students.
This isnt good natured aussie humour but but malicious and spiteful disgusting behaviour. I find that the majority of white australians are under indeed racist, many of them openly so.
We need but look at statments from foreign buisness men working in australia, the cronulla riots, the widespread support for the racist policies of one nation in the 90s.
The fact is white australia is afraid of the way australia is changing, they fear immigrants who are able to rapidly move up socio-economic ranks, from shop worker to banker, doctor and engineer in one generation, immigrants who supposedly take the jobs of white people. The fact is, the vast majority of white teens today, as seen in my school have no ambition, no drive to suceed. That is why they are rapidly fall from leafy green suburbs into the slums previously occupied by the very immigrants who today are the leading group of people in australia.
As the world sets in for the down turn and australia gets poorer, the situation will only worsen, and the true nature of the white australian will surface.
Yusuf, I am sorry for the fact that you have suffered taunts and malicious insults. I too suffered this when I was at school in the 50s, (because of my German mother and despite the fact that my father spent 5 years during World War II in the Australian Army) and I was bullied as well. And I agree that many white Australian youths lack any drive or ambition (which is why I sent my children to private schools). But I disagree absolutely that “white” Australians fear migrant success. Greek and Italian migrants, who suffered real discrimination in the 50s (far worse than that experienced by Asians today), have produced a second generation noted for its professional success, and without resentment, and most Indians who come here have achieved success without encountering open discrimination. In my state (SA) the Lieutenant Governor arrived here as a Vietnam boat person, and my own son-in-law’s family fled the Cultural Revolution in China and have established successful careers in this country. The Cronulla riots were wrong but had a definite (now tacitly admitted)cause. One Nation was more likely to be the result of economic structural change as racism (a large percentage of its membership were people displaced by economic reform). I note that all the Indians of my acquaintance still tend to apply for PR in this “racist” country, simply because they know that with all its faults this country basically functions on perceived merit (and not ethnicity, caste, religious background etc.) If you are correct, and white Australians do become a dispossessed group, it will be because of that fact(but there are still many successful “white” Australians, including younger Australians, Take a look around you).
According to me it may not be a racism it may be struggle for existance,which is showing its violent faces as all jobs are snached by immigrants and the natives are facing the problems of unemployment.I was staying in Melbourne for arround one year my kids were studing in public schools but never experienced any bitter events.
I believe racism is in every country. If we look deep into racism in every country it arises from rich and well off people in certain society looking down on people not upto their social standards. A child grows up to be a man and a man action, behaviour resembles how well he was brought up as a child and how well he was educated.Background or race has very very little to do with it.
IT ALL COME TO INDIVIDUALS PERSONALITY AT THE END. A GOOD EXAMPLE:
You are standing in a queue inside a petrol station , where the counter girl happens to become an Aussie and if u ask her something and she doesnt pay attention but keeps on serving the other customer who happens to be australian OR SAME SKIN COLOUR AS HER , then some people with a PROBLEMATIC personality may take it as RACIST thinking “this lady didnt listened to me cz i m dark and i look indian” and a person with a POSITIVE personality will think ” oh shit! may be I have to speak a bit louder cz most probably she didnt heard me,or she forgot her hearing aid at home this morning lol ”
The only thing is media and some people with bad experiences have engraved in every international students mind that AUSTRALIANS ARE RACIST, so every thing that they do , if it somehow ofends a non australian it comes across as RACIST, but hey! Cmon’ every internatioanl students from all nationalities not only India, lets change our attitude towards Australians and Australia first and we’ll see the difference pretty soon.
i believe racism is the worst possible thing that ever happened to us. as if we chose to be born a certain colour.. its disgusting the way people form opinions just by th colour we might be..
Graham, I don’t agree with you one bit. After living in Sydney for many years, I have faced racism in the NSW Public Service, where it was supported right from the Regional Executive Officer, the Regional Director & the Director General. I will expose racism in Australia to the world, because I have faced it first hand all my life in the Public Service. I was a pro white, but after what I faced in Australia? the less said the better-You caucasian are two (crooked)faced. India is self sufficient and can do with racist Australia, Australia depends on the world for survival Graham. You may not be aware that all the cacuasian enter the Public Service through the back door, I have seen more corruption in Australia than India. The only difference is you deny it or call it HUSH money
How do you respond to an email like Joe’s which contains generalizations so sweeping as to defy description. I have met people before who attribute their own failures to other factors. To paraphrase a well known aphorism, race might well be the last refuge of the scoundrel. Joe, if the Public Service is so dreadfully racist, then you have a whole raft of remedies close at hand…Equal Opportunity legislation, union representation, members of parliament, the press, media etc. And as for the comment that caucasians are two faced…who is being racist now? The truth is that caucasians are the same as any other group of people, and just as varied. There are some racist caucasians, just as there are some racist Indians (Though I don’t recollect white Australians burning effigies of the Indian cricket captain, or Australian cricket commentators condemning a West Indian cricket umpire simply because he was black. Or an Australian cricket team childishly taking to its hotel because it was angered by a decision taken by an ICC official.) India is NOT self sufficient…this is why it introduced its “Look East” policy, why is is eager to secure reliable energy supplies, and why it is anxious to secure investments from NRIs. (and why it is quite prepared to allow many Indian labourers to work in appalling conditions in the Middle East so they can send home remittances). And in a recently conducted international audit Australia was seen as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, far ahead of India. And Joe should perhaps remember that even in the darkest days of British colonialism, there were “whites” who helped form the Indian National Congress, and there were “whites” who supported Mahatma Gandhi. Sweeping statements about two faced caucasians are silly and reductive.It is the duty of every decent and ethical person to expose racism wherever it appears. A couple of years ago when I worked with a NSW Government Commission I noted the presence of many capable and well placed ethnic Indians; people who have succeeded by dint of their obvious abilities. And my son works in a firm where a young Indian immigrant, in Australia for less than 3 years, has become a Deputy Manager. Is this racism?
Well Graham, I’m definitely not a Phd, but can smell racism in Australia from a mile. The people involved were very very powerful cacuasian Australians in the NSW Public Service. It will be worth your while if you research racism in Australia through google. You wouldn’t like to know the clan you come from.
We heard em all, all I suggest google:racism in Australia or anti-discrimination australia, every state is full of it, it has been going on for decades, probably before Graham and Vardi were born. Google:Australian Human Rights, and you will read it all.
hey im from india graham dont be scared come to india we r waiting for u and for all the aussies .its now our turn to show u indian hospitality.to my indian friends in australia dont be scared friends fight back show them who u are……… sapriper….
Hey Graham Whittaker, I hope you have your ears to the ground, its a long time since this issue was discussed, You dont seem to relinquish your title as ‘AUSTRALIA IS THE RACIST CAPITAL OF THE WORLD’ you seem to aspire to claim and own the crown you and your caucasian brothers so well deserve. Good Luck Graham
Note that “Joe” is unable to respond in any constructive or logical way to the arguments advanced, nor can he contribute to the general thrust of the discussion. All he can do is add meaningless taunts. Comments that Australia is the racist capital of the world are childish nonsense. I don’t think we can take Joe too seriously.
We should not forget at this time when some seek to tar all Australians with the same brush, that people have been hurt. Every day, in cities around the world people are attacked, mugged, murdered. Should the actions of a few reflect on a nation? Of course it should not. Racism exists within the individual. Neither Australia, nor India are racist nations, though there are many in both countries who espouse racist policies. In the UK there is the National Front, in USA the Klu Klux Klan, and in many countries there are racist elements. In Australia people of all backgrounds have raised their voices in support of the people who have been attacked and in some cases killed. We do not know WHO perpetrated many of these attacks. It is ASSUMED by those who want it to be so, that WHITE people have attacked BLACK people. (Or yellow people or any other colour for that matter.) One of the saddest things to see is the rabble rousers who are setting normally moderate minds against one race or another. Let us consider those who have been hurt, rather than blaming one race or another for these crimes. The fact is that we don’t know who perpetrated the majority of these crimes. Please put aside the assumptions and raise your voices TOGETHER to condemn those who would act against society as a whole. Australia declares that it is not a racist country. Australian people represent more than 150 ethnic backgrounds. We are Australian first, but we also are representative of many nations, many societies, many social, political, and religious backgrounds.
Its strange that the Indian community are screaming racism is the basis of attacks and we should ask why? Having lived in Delhi and Mumbai for a year, one thing I learnt was that Indians are amongst the most racist groups in the world and they see this as the cause of any problems against them, never being able to see fault with themselves. I could give numerous examples but one only has to read the plaque inside the entrance to the Taj Mahal. It is racism engraved in granite for all to see.
I am currently studying Multiculturalism among the Australian community. Searching in areas such as media, schooling, racist groups etc and after digging through piles of notes, websites and videos it is true that Australia is racist. I stand by a strong belief that it is the people that are racist not the country.
Graham whittaker said something about being 150 nations and how we are many. That is such a true statement in considering unless you are descendent from the Aboriginals you have either migrated from a country with your parents or yourself or your ancestors were infact either English or Irish. I still fail to comprehend why so MANY Australians are racist when none of us truly are what you would call ‘Australian blood’.
I feel ashamed by the past treatment on immigrants (cronulla riots etc) and unless something is done about this, the future doesn’t look so bright for them either.
To the people that say Australia isn’t racist, maybe you should go searching through books, internet and videos and then tell people that it isn’t. I am not implying that you as a person are racist but as a whole we are seen that way.
A multicultural country is what is needed if we want peace among everybody.
That Graham Whittaker rice queen is a psycho
to C..t, thank you for your erudite response. This really shows just how mature you are, and how wonderfully you advance a reasoned debate. I cannot imagine that Graham will lose much sleep reflecting on a person like you.