The Hindu : New Delhi News : “Australia taking steps to check attacks”

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Wednesday, Jun 10, 2009
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“Australia taking steps to check attacks”

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Preventive arrests made, hate crime legislation on the cards: Envoy reassures BJP delegation

- PHOTO: Sandeep Saxena

Saying it with flowers: BJP leaders Arti Mehra,Vijay Jolly and Akali Councillor M.S. Sirsa outside the Australian High Commission before submitting a memorandum expressing concern over attacks on Indian students in Australia.

NEW DELHI: In view of the attacks on Indian students in Australia, the Government of the State of Victoria is considering a hate crime legislation and the State Premier would be undertaking a harmony walk later this week, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Sarah Hooper told a group of young BJP leaders who met her here on Tuesday to express their “pain, anguish and anger” over the attacks on Indian students.

Ms. Hooper also told the delegation -- comprising former Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra, former MLA Vijay Jolly and Akali councillor M. S. Sirsa, who visited the High Commission wearing black clothes and carrying white flowers -- that seven to eight preventive arrests had also been made in Melbourne to prevent such attacks.

“Various other initiatives are also on the way,” she added. The Australian Government is about to open a helpline for students in Australia so that victims of assault could report freely without having to fear for their visa status.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Indian students in Australia. From 27,000 students in 2007, the number went up to 63,000 in 2008 and now stands at over 90,000.

For the safety of the students, a 10-point action plan for student safety has been recommended by the University of Australia. This has been done in consultation with the Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Sujata Singh.

The 10-point plan calls for collaboration with the local law enforcement authority for student safety. It also talks about cooperation with local government and authority for making an affordable and secure accommodation available to all international students, including Indians, on arrival in Australia.

Further it has taken up the issue of providing travel concessions for enhancing student safety and security when they are moving between campuses. Also, it seeks to assure safe travel conditions for student workers.

Seeking to place greater responsibility on the university recruitment agents, it talks of making them accurately represent all aspects of Australian society. There is also emphasis on promoting a greater understanding of international culture and language in Australia now to prevent hate crimes.

Earlier, the Indian delegation submitted a memorandum, also signed by Member of Parliament Kirti Azad, noting that nearly 1,450 people of Indian origin had been assaulted in Melbourne during the past 12 months.

Stating that there are over 90,000 Indian students in Australia, the delegation urged the Australian Government to immediately act and stop this mindless violence. “The promise of the Australian Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd that his government would not tolerate racial violence has not been honoured,” it recalled.

Since the Australian education industry makes about 2 billion Australian dollars from Indian students, the delegation said, “if the Australian Government cannot guarantee the security of Indian students, then it does not have the moral right to attract Indian youth with false promises”.

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