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Rudd says vigilante action unacceptable

Kevin Rudd

SINGAPORE: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday warned the protesting Indian students, supported action against their tormentors and spoke about his compatriots who were targeted in India over time.

Mr. Rudd was answering questions in a radio interview in the context of some vigilante action by the Indian students, who continued to protest against a series of attacks on them in Melbourne and Sydney in recent weeks.

Mr. Rudd said: “It is unacceptable for any acts of violence to be committed against Indian students. It is [also] unacceptable for any student group to believe they can take the law into their own hands and engage in so-called retribution attacks or vigilante action.”

At the same time, he would “fully support hard-line measures” by the security agencies “in response to any act of violence towards any student anywhere, Indian or otherwise.”

Without spelling out how vigilante action by the Indian students would be put down, he said “we need to render it completely unacceptable.”

Calling for “a bit of balance in this debate” sparked by the issues concerning the Indian students in his country, he made a veiled reference to some politicians in India.

“The balancing statistic is [Australia] is one of the safest countries in the world for international students. Let us put all of this into perspective. And, let us also put it into perspective in terms of politicians elsewhere perhaps seeking to inflame this debate as well.” In a more forthright comment, he said “Australians in India, at any time, run a risk also of some violence.” In the last decade, Mr. Rudd said, “we had, I think, up to 20 Australians who had either been murdered or had various forms of assault committed against them.”

PTI reports from New Delhi:

Worried at the prospect of losing foreign students in the wake of racist attacks on Indians, Australian universities have come up with a 10-point action plan for safety of students from outside.

Universities Australia, an association of Australian universities, met in Canberra on June 4 and 5 to discuss the safety measures for Indian students and came up with the action plan, says a statement issued by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.

As per the plan, the universities will collaborate with local law enforcement authorities to increase the level of security for Indians.

The institutions will enhance campus-based student support programmes in health, counselling and employment services and expand specific safety programmes. They will encourage campus and national student leadership to take pro-active role in representing and supporting international students, the statement says.

— PHOTO: AFP

On the boil: Indian students confront Lebanese youths near Harris Park in Sydney on Wednesday. They were demonstrating against an attack earlier in the week on an Indian, allegedly by Lebanese men.

They will develop fully integrated communication processes to advice and support students on living and studying in Australia.

The universities will cooperate with government and local authorities and housing industry representatives to ensure availability of affordable and secure accommodation for all students.

The universities advocate that the state and territory authorities should make available travel concessions for all students to help enhance their safety and security when moving between campuses, accommodation and workplaces and improve transport safety, says the statement.

These institutions will expand the provision of information by all education providers on student security and safety. They will reinforce strategies for integration of students of all nationalities and backgrounds on the campuses and promote greater understanding of international cultures and languages in Australia.

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