ID :
65590
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 13:51
Auther :

Racial assault on Indians spreads to south Australia

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Jun 12 (PTI) Racial attacks on Indian
students spread to South Australia with a 22-year-old being
allegedly assaulted by a teenager in Adelaide after making
"rude" comments about his turban, even as the state premier
warned he will not tolerate any form of racism.

Police said the Indian student suffered a broken nose
and sore jaw in the incident in Adelaide's busy market area of
Rundle Mall yesterday and that they have arrested a
17-year-old youth in this connection.

The attacker has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide
Youth Court.

A bystander said he saw the Indian student punching
first, but the student claimed that his attacker started the
spat when he hit him on his turban and asked "what's that on
your head?".

The student, whose requested anonymity, was walking
through a local mall with friends when he heard a commotion
behind him, local media reported.

The spate of racial attacks against Indians spread to
Adelaide, capital city of South Australia, after members of
the community were targeted in Melbourne and Sydney.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann described the
attack as a "disgrace" and said the state has been welcoming
migrants and students from around the world for many years.

"We are seen internationally as one of the safest and
most supportive multicultural communities. We will not
tolerate any form of racism," Rann said.

The Indian student said the attacker started a
confrontation by making "rude comments" about his turban.

Asked if he thought the attack was racially motivated,
the student said he had never felt it was a problem in
Adelaide. "But what would you call this?".

However, he said it "would not change his attitude to
Adelaide as a good place to live and study."

In another incident in Adelaide, Pakistani student
Yasir Raja, 26, believes his Holden Commodore was torched
because of its "Raja" numberplate.

Raja said friends living in the Enfield area had
increased security around their homes in fear of racist
attacks.

Raja said he had felt safe since he moved to Adelaide
four years ago, he was worried recent racist attacks
interstate could encourage similar incidents here.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has decided to
convene a round table to discuss the attacks on June 28. State
Further Education Minister Michael O'Brien said the Government
had established a task force to investigate ways to improve
the experience of foreign students.

South Australia's student population is more than
27,700 and by 2014 the Government plans to increase the number
to 62,000. International education is worth more than USD 740
million annually to the state and is the fourth largest
export industry. PTI NC
SKT
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