The truth is that for a few years now, since 1999 when State govt changed from Liberal (conservative-equivalent) to Labor (they removed the U from Labour in more ways than one), discipline and policing went down the drain in Victoria (for those who don't know, Melbourne is the capital of the State of Victoria). We had a Police chief, an import from New South Wales, who followed a "softly, softly" approach, which, IMHO, led to this degeneration.
It just happens that a few of the attacked, in recent days, happened to be Indians. A couple of years ago the AMA (Australian Medical Association) ex-president, Dr Mukherjea, was attacked at late hours of the night as he was returning to his car after withdrawing money from an ATM - he was one of the six attacked that night by the same gang. Other people attacked were of different backgrounds (http://www.theage.com.au/national/bashed-doctors-prognosis-positive-20080930-4qrl.html ). There were no racial overtones to the attack - just senseless, opportunistic sadism or persons high on drugs IMHO. Recent attacks were similar. In fact the attackers in a case that took place recently in a train were not Anglo-saxons, but appear to be of Pacific-Islander origin (short, broad-shouldered). There are notorious areas around Melbourne, and a number of attackers in certain parts have African origins, others have anglo-saxon roots, and yet others, Middle-eastern. And anyone can get attacked. Proliferation of mobile phones and the ease with which one can group-SMS has made "piranha" attacks easy and unsettlingly common-place (Brazilians know what "piranha" attacks are - in Rio, I understand that all of a sudden a person can get surrounded and robbed of everything - not even sparing underwear - hence the term). Recollecting the past, a colleague of mine who was studying architecture at JJ College in Bombay, also suffered a piranha attack in Bombay way back in 1982. AFAIK, the attacks in Melbourne are not racial - just opportunistic. The idiots see a lone guy - most often oblivious to his surroundings as usually he's listening to his iPod, an then pounce on him. My advice, after being mugged in London by persons of different origins way back in 1980, is to be aware of what is happening around you. PS A few months back, a young Indian student just a couple of months in Melbourne, was run-over by a tram, as she crossed the tracks and didn't hear the tram approaching despite the dings of the tram-bell - she was busy listening to her iPod. ----- Original Message ---- From: Prashant <[email protected]> To: Prashant <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 2 June, 2009 10:07:09 PM Subject: [Goanet] "RACISTS!" - WHO? by Fr. Cedric Prakash, sj - “RACISTS!” – WHO? *Fr. Cedric Prakash, sj The cry could not have been shriller! “You are racist!” was the message loud and clear, as thousands of Indians (mainly students) gathered in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday, 31st May, to protest the wave of attacks on Indian students in various parts of Australia. The protest was legitimate. The growing feeling of insecurity was palpable and the genuine desire to live in a peaceful and integrated manner, in a multi-cultural society, can be denied by none. At home, the media is definitely up in arms repeatedly highlighting the plight of Indian students in Australia. There are heart rending visuals of those brutally bashed up. The media are on the offensive and for good measure, yet another reality is made very emotive. Xenophobia, racism, segregation, apartheid, discrimination, in any form is non acceptable. Civil society, all over the world needs to take a bold stand on this malaise and to nip it in the bud whenever its ugly head rears itself. A case in point, is the way Raj Thackeray and his MNS have decided that those from UP and Bihar do not “belong” to Bombay. In Gujarat, the lines of division are even more pronounced where the Muslims are concerned. In several parts of the State, there are huge billboards erected which loudly proclaim a “Hindu Rashtra”. In several cities and villages, across the State, Muslims have been confined to ghettoes or have to live in the peripheral areas. Juhapura, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad is home to over four hundred thousand Muslims, which makes it one of the biggest Muslim ghettoes in the country. Inspite of the people’s demands, there are hardly any public facilities and utilities for the citizens there. Muslims in Gujarat are still treated as second class citizens with little or no access to quality education and employment opportunities. Christians too in many parts of Gujarat are subject to the same fate. However, in the latter case, the intimidations and harassments are in more subtle forms. Dalits in Gujarat still continue to live in a very marginalized situation. It is an open secret that the practice of untouchability has become an accepted norm in several sections of society today. What is happening in Australia has to be condemned in no uncertain terms! However, what we desperately need at this juncture are louder voices and shriller protests at home to set our own house in order. We have to protest when our rights are trampled upon when we are abroad; however we have a greater responsibility to protest when our own fellow-citizens are denied the rights and freedom which are legitimately theirs! (* Fr. Cedric Prakash sj is the Director of “Prashant”, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) PRASHANT (A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) Street Address : Hill Nagar, Near Kamdhenu Hall, Drive-in Road, Ahmedabad - 380052, Gujarat, India Postal Address : P B 4050, Navrangpura PO, Ahmedabad - 380 009, Gujarat, India Phone : 91 79 27455913, 66522333 Fax : 91 79 27489018 Email: [email protected] www.humanrightsindia.in 2nd June, 2009 Need a Holiday? Win a $10,000 Holiday of your choice. 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