Posted by THE FACTS
The Indian community in Australia has voiced its outrage at an apparent recent increase in attacks on its members.
In the 2007-2008 financial year there were almost 1500 assaults and robberies on persons of Indian origin in Victoria.
The number of Indian students in Australia rose from 30,000 in 2004 to 97,000 in 2009.
Many of these students live in the more distant suburbs of Melbourne – where crime is higher – because of the lower living costs in those areas.
Police have said that although some of the attacks may be racially motivated, they think it is more likely a facet of escalating street violence in Australia.
The Federation of Indian Students in Australia organised a rally at Federation Square, Melbourne, on the 31st of May to protest what they viewed as a lack of concern and effort from the Australian government and Victoria Police to address the problem.
Prime Minister Rudd has declared a taskforce to examine the attacks on Indian students, to be led by National Security Adviser Duncan Lewis.
The Victorian Government is considering introducing ‘hate crime’ legislation to try to combat the assaults and robberies.
THE VIEWS
Guy Rundle has asserted in The Age that:
“…in a wider sense, Australia is racist — in the same way as all but the most blended, exceptional societies are. Currents of xenophobia, suspicion and ideas of skin-privilege float through every aspect of our society.”
Mr Rundle went on to say:
“You can marshal every excuse you like for what is happening. But excuses are simply ways of avoiding some self-reflection about where we are failing. The first and last thing is to stand in solidarity with the Indian students and their demand to be treated as full human beings. Anything else would be, in the face of evil, utter passivity.”
Indians passive by nature? Don’t add insult to injury
Melbourne writer Anson Cameron, also published in The Age, declared:
“India’s angry response to recent attacks is understandable, even if it glosses over the fact that violence is far more a part of life there than it is here. But perhaps that is because they had high expectations of us; they thought Melbourne was better than that.”
Indians an easy target for cowards lurking in shadows
And Foreign Editor of The Australian, Greg Sheridan, wrote that:
“These bashings also have developed into a foreign policy crisis. This is because of the blanket, at times hysterical, coverage in the Indian media. But before we get too high and mighty condemning the Indian media, just imagine our response if dozens of Australian tourists had been racially selected for bashing in, say, Fiji or Malaysia. Just think of the talkback radio and tabloid reaction we would create.”
Mr Sheridan continued:
“This column has always believed that racism is such a serious charge that it should be levelled very carefully and that a lot that is called racism is something else. But there is no doubt that Melbourne has witnessed serious, vicious, violent racism in recent months.”
BREAKING IT DOWN
A) The attacks on Indian students – and anyone else for that matter – clearly need to be stopped.
Every person has the right to avoid violence. A combined effort between Victoria Police, the Victorian Government (possibly the Federal Government) and community organizations could be the best approach here.
B) Australia needs to counteract the emerging overseas opinion that it is an inherently racist country.
Strong anti-racist leadership at all levels of government needs to be shown. A campaign to say no to racism – akin to the “If you drink, then drive, you’re a bloody idiot” and ‘To violence against women, Australia says no’ campaigns – could be useful.
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?
Many Australians take offence at the suggestion that we are racist. Do you think Australia is a racist country?
Some have suggested a campaign akin to the drink driving ‘bloody idiot’ campaign needs to be waged to stamp out racism in this country. Do you agree?
The Indian media has seized on the violent incidents in Melbourne in a hysterical fashion. Is this a problem? Does Australia need to be concerned about its image being tarnished overseas?
Indian students in Australia – particularly Melbourne – are clearly concerned for their safety and some are very angry. What can be done to allay this situation?