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| UPDATE:Indian students hold rally in Sydney despite Rudd's warning |
| Natasha Chaku/PTI / Melbourne Jun 11, 2009, 12:44 IST |
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Unfazed by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's warning against "vigilante action", Indian students took to the streets for the third consecutive night in Sydney to protest against continued racial attacks on them even as community leaders sought an end to such rallies.
Indian students last night took to the streets of Harris Park in Sydney for the third consecutive night to protest at what they claim are racially motivated attacks. The protesters alleged that police were ignoring their pleas for protection.
Meanwhile, Parramatta city council held a meeting with police, India's Consul General and members of Sydney's Indian community, with organisers saying students had agreed to stop protest rallies.
Yadu Singh, coordinator of the Indian Consul General's community committee on Indian students' issues, said the meeting ended with calls for an end to the protests.
"One thing is clear - the rallies have served their purpose and we don't want any more rallies in Harris Park, that is the community's view," Singh said, adding "They are disrupting the normal life of the people in the suburbs."
Singh said students present at the meeting had agreed to pass on the request to other protesters.
Rudd had yesterday said while violence in all Australian cities was "a regrettable part" of urban life, vigilante action was equally unwelcome.
Earlier on Tuesday night, over 70 Indian men had gathered at same place after rumours of a man being killed in an attack and assault on an Indian cleaner in Warwick Farm.
Police arrested two men during the protest. One was charged with carrying a weapon, a metal pole, while the other was released without charge, a police statement said.
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard today said that violent attacks on Indian students in the country were extremely concerning.
"Whatever their cause, the crimes against students were extremely concerning," Gillard said.
"I think it would break the heart of any Australian to see an Indian student who has come to this country to get a good education the subject of a violent attack," she was quoted as saying by media reports here.
Welcoming the Victorian government's move to increase sentencing for perpetrators of hate crimes, Gillard said, "the advice from the police is that this is a more generalised problem with lawful conduct."
On Universities Australia, an association of Australian universities, demand that all international students be given travel concession cards to help improve their safety following the spate of attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, Gillard said "she would consider their proposal."
"We are going to be considering the matter of what more we can do for Indian students and international students generally when ministers from around the country meet in Hobart tomorrow," she added.
Earlier on Tuesday night, over 70 Indian men had gathered at same place after rumours of a man being killed in an attack and assault on an Indian cleaner in Warwick Farm.
Police arrested two men during the protest. One was charged with carrying a weapon, a metal pole, while the other was released without charge, a police statement said.
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard today said that violent attacks on Indian students in the country were extremely concerning.
"Whatever their cause, the crimes against students were extremely concerning," Gillard said.
"I think it would break the heart of any Australian to see an Indian student who has come to this country to get a good education the subject of a violent attack," she was quoted as saying by media reports here.
Welcoming the Victorian government's move to increase sentencing for perpetrators of hate crimes, Gillard said, "the advice from the police is that this is a more generalised problem with lawful conduct."
On Universities Australia, an association of Australian universities, demand that all international students be given travel concession cards to help improve their safety following the spate of attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, Gillard said "she would consider their proposal." "We are going to be considering the matter of what more we can do for Indian students and international students generally when ministers from around the country meet in Hobart tomorrow," she added.
Meanwhile, appealing to Indians in Australia to be more pro-active the Federation of Indian Student Association has asked the community to adopt neighbourhood police stations for better vigilance against hate crimes.
"Local established Indian groups could adopt a station to provide community or neighbourhood watch committees," FISA said in a statement.
FISA has suggested that the Indian community should come forward and provide at least two weeks free boarding to new students to help them adjust in the country.
The student federation today presented a 10-point action plan to support vulnerable newcomers in the country.
"If the established Indian community adopts the plan, it will send a strong message to the Australian government. It will ask them to take action," Tim Singh, a Councillor in Victoria, said in a statement issued by FISA.
According to a ABC report, Lebanese community members, who are apparently involved in the assault on an Indian student, looked unfazed by the recent protests.
Lebanese man Allan who has lived in Sydney's west for 30 years said: "the Lebanese community in Harris Park or Parramatta doesn't exist... Truly, they're peaceful people, same as the Indian people."
"Just because there's one bad person, like that might have done something wrong to them, doesn't give them the right to cause all this riot for everyone else," 23-year-old John, a Harris Park local of Lebanese descent, said.
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