ID :
105714
Wed, 02/10/2010 - 09:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/105714
The shortlink copeid
Attacks on Indians: Aus vows to punish culprits
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Feb 9 (PTI) Under mounting pressure over
attacks on Indians, Australia on Tuesday acknowledged that
some of the recent violence against them had clearly been
"racially motivated" and vowed to "punish the culprits with
the full force of law".
Stating that the attacks had "considerably damaged"
the nation's reputation, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen
Smith told the Parliament that "if any of these attacks have
been racist in nature -- and it seems clear that some of them
have -- they will be punished with the full force of law".
Smith said the attacks which have included robberies
and beatings are "inexcusable" and were being taken very
seriously by the government.
The foreign minister intervened on the matter after
the government came in for a sharp attack from the opposition
which accused the Victorian government of failing to tackle
the racist attacks on Indians.
Even Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that he was
worried over the narration by his Asian-origin son-in-law of
racisms in Australia. Rudd said that his government's efforts
were aimed at improving safety of foreign students who worked
late at night.
Leaders and officials in Australian had earlier down
played racism as a motive for attacks on Indians which have
triggered outrage in India.
Smith's remarks came just ahead of Indian High
Commissioner Sujatha Singh's visit to New Delhi to brief the
government on the steps taken by Australia to prevent attacks
on Indians. Singh is excepted to be in New Delhi this week.
Describing the attacks as "contemptible", Smith said
these had cast a long shadow over relationship and ties with
India and said these were an "affront to our values and are
anathema to a view of modern Australia."
Giving an update on the issue, the minister said, "we
need to accept that it has considerably damaged Australia's
reputation in India and among the Indian people. Indeed, it
has widely been noticed beyond India and South Asia."
Offering condolences to the families of Indians
attacked in Australia, Smith told the lawmakers that repairing
the damage to the country's image was an "essential priority."
The foreign minister assured that India "was in the
front rank" of nations in Australia's international
partnership and was fast emerging as nation's third biggest
export market behind China and Japan.
The two way trade between the two countries was nearly
22 billion Australian dollars last year, registering a quantum
jump of 55 per cent. And a number of Indian companies were
showing great interest in investing in Australia not only in
mineral resources but agriculture and IT.
Addressing the Indian nationals in his country, Smith
said, "we will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the
children, Indian parents have entrusted to our care, remain
safe and go back home with first class education."
According to local estimates, there are 450,000
Indians living in Australia out of which 120,000 are students.
Referring to these figures, Smith said the government
had "zero-tolerance" for racism and pointed out that 45 people
had so far been arrested for crime against Indians.
He said it was regrettable that many Indian students
in Australia, in particular Melbourne, found themselves in a
higher risk profile for crime because they work in late night
shifts in occupations like taxi driving and live near high
crime neighbourhoods.
"While Australia is one of the world's most tolerant
countries, and the safest, what we are promising is to make a
whole-of-a-nation and whole-of-government to address their
problems and minimise them."
Outlining the new security measures taken for the
safety of the students, Smith said that the Prime Minister had
established a special task force to deal with these attacks.
He also said that high-level consultative mechanism
had been set up between the central and Victorian government
and a 24-hour international student care service started in
Victoria where half the Indian students in Australia studying.
Smith informed that Prime Minister Rudd had discussed
the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he himself
discussed it with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in
person and by telephone. PTI NC
AHM
Melbourne, Feb 9 (PTI) Under mounting pressure over
attacks on Indians, Australia on Tuesday acknowledged that
some of the recent violence against them had clearly been
"racially motivated" and vowed to "punish the culprits with
the full force of law".
Stating that the attacks had "considerably damaged"
the nation's reputation, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen
Smith told the Parliament that "if any of these attacks have
been racist in nature -- and it seems clear that some of them
have -- they will be punished with the full force of law".
Smith said the attacks which have included robberies
and beatings are "inexcusable" and were being taken very
seriously by the government.
The foreign minister intervened on the matter after
the government came in for a sharp attack from the opposition
which accused the Victorian government of failing to tackle
the racist attacks on Indians.
Even Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that he was
worried over the narration by his Asian-origin son-in-law of
racisms in Australia. Rudd said that his government's efforts
were aimed at improving safety of foreign students who worked
late at night.
Leaders and officials in Australian had earlier down
played racism as a motive for attacks on Indians which have
triggered outrage in India.
Smith's remarks came just ahead of Indian High
Commissioner Sujatha Singh's visit to New Delhi to brief the
government on the steps taken by Australia to prevent attacks
on Indians. Singh is excepted to be in New Delhi this week.
Describing the attacks as "contemptible", Smith said
these had cast a long shadow over relationship and ties with
India and said these were an "affront to our values and are
anathema to a view of modern Australia."
Giving an update on the issue, the minister said, "we
need to accept that it has considerably damaged Australia's
reputation in India and among the Indian people. Indeed, it
has widely been noticed beyond India and South Asia."
Offering condolences to the families of Indians
attacked in Australia, Smith told the lawmakers that repairing
the damage to the country's image was an "essential priority."
The foreign minister assured that India "was in the
front rank" of nations in Australia's international
partnership and was fast emerging as nation's third biggest
export market behind China and Japan.
The two way trade between the two countries was nearly
22 billion Australian dollars last year, registering a quantum
jump of 55 per cent. And a number of Indian companies were
showing great interest in investing in Australia not only in
mineral resources but agriculture and IT.
Addressing the Indian nationals in his country, Smith
said, "we will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the
children, Indian parents have entrusted to our care, remain
safe and go back home with first class education."
According to local estimates, there are 450,000
Indians living in Australia out of which 120,000 are students.
Referring to these figures, Smith said the government
had "zero-tolerance" for racism and pointed out that 45 people
had so far been arrested for crime against Indians.
He said it was regrettable that many Indian students
in Australia, in particular Melbourne, found themselves in a
higher risk profile for crime because they work in late night
shifts in occupations like taxi driving and live near high
crime neighbourhoods.
"While Australia is one of the world's most tolerant
countries, and the safest, what we are promising is to make a
whole-of-a-nation and whole-of-government to address their
problems and minimise them."
Outlining the new security measures taken for the
safety of the students, Smith said that the Prime Minister had
established a special task force to deal with these attacks.
He also said that high-level consultative mechanism
had been set up between the central and Victorian government
and a 24-hour international student care service started in
Victoria where half the Indian students in Australia studying.
Smith informed that Prime Minister Rudd had discussed
the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he himself
discussed it with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in
person and by telephone. PTI NC
AHM
