AUS-COSGROVE 2

AUS-COSGROVE 2
"I sense in relation to the spate of attacks on largely
Indian people, in Melbourne and elsewhere, Australians are
very concerned and disinclined to downplay, much less dismiss,
the potential 'racist' elements in what is becoming a litany
of criminality," he said.

Dismayed that there might be some kind of warped campaign
in progress, he said "the vast majority of Australians who
totally rejected any such despicable behaviour would welcome
the rigorous prosecution of those "preying on these visitors".
"Only that outcome will satisfy our determination to be,
and to be known as, a just and equitable society.
"General Cosgrove said he had lived in India for a year
in 1994 and "I love the place".
Cosgrove in his address said that Australia's history
back to early colonial days showed that periodically there had
been "episodes of bad blood between sections of the community
based on ethnicity, or very occasionally on religion".
"Yet they have almost invariably been quite limited in
scope and duration," he said.
By the time of September 11, 2001, some of Australia's
Islamic community already felt alienated and isolated from the
mainstream.
"It is a volatile mix when especially younger people are
told that they are surrounded by corrupt and impious behaviour
at every hand. (MORE) PTI NC
AHM


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.