Australia: violence overshadows Sudanese beauty pageant
* Article
* Comments (11)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
*
*
*
*
By Julius N. Uma
April 29, 2011 (JUBA) - This year’s Miss South Sudan Australia (MSSA)
beauty pageant ended in chaos as over 2000 youths gathered to witness
the annually-held event in Melbourne, reportedly saw aggressive
brawls.
JPEG - 7.1 kb
Miss South Sudan Australia contestants (photo misssouthsudan.com.au)
The Australia-based International Business Times reported that
Sudanese youths from across the country, gathered at Springvale hall
over the long Easter break and instead resorted to fights,
after-parties, and the excessive drinking of alcohol that marred the
contest. These waves of anti-social acts reportedly spread in the
neighbourhoods across Melbourne.
An annual event that brings together a community of Sudanese and
non-Sudanese, young and old, to witness the unique talents and beauty
of South Sudanese women, MSSA is inspired by the desire for education,
identity, and inclusion in the South Sudanese community in Australia.
A lady, who preferred anonymity was quoted saying, "Sudanese boys are
coming drunk and starting a brawl,” citing areas like Clayton,
Braybrook and Ringwood which were reportedly awash with violence.
There was also a reported incident of a man allegedly attacked with a
machete, while several residents injured in the various scuffles were
reportedly rushed to nearby hospitals.
The annually-held Australian event is no stranger to controversy; last
year violence rocked the occasion when those in attendance questioned
the decision of the judges presiding over the pageant.
“These young drunken boys should consider the impact of their actions
on the reputation of Sudanese people,” Akech Yangdit, a Sudanese
journalist was quoted saying.
Yangdit mainly attributed the fracas to the after-party organisers,
accused of having sold more tickets than what earmarked venues could
accommodate. "They rented a hall that probably fits 200 people and yet
they issued tickets to over 2000 people,” Yangdit recounted, adding
that, “This ignited anger among the waiting crowd who insisted on
entering to the venues since they have bought tickets.”
Ken Jones, the area deputy police commissioner told the International
Business Times that adopting new laws and lifestyles in a different
country has always been a major problem among young refugees who flee
their respective war-stricken countries.
First held in January 2007, MSSA is annually organised by BIGG 3RE ENT
production company.
(ST)
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD
info" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected].
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
