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 sjprash...@gmail.com
To: Prashant sjprash...@gmail.com
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
