India Asks Students In Australia: “Calm Down”

Alarmed at the retaliatory steps being taken by Indian students under attack in Australia, India’s foreign minister SM Krishna has appealed to them to “exercise restraint and be patient”. And the Universities Australia called for a “national response” and close cooperation between all education providers and the Commonwealth and state governments.

Krishna (photo above) said the Australian government has given “fullest assurance” that steps will be taken to ensure the safety of Indian students.

The Age of Australia reports: “Indian groups standing guard at railway stations in Melbourne’s west – in a bid to protect students from racial attacks – have been asked to move by police.

“The groups have been gathering at St Albans and Thomastown railway stations after a spate of assaults on Indians in the area, the latest on Kamal Jit, 23, who was bashed unconscious while walking home from the St Albans railway station on the weekend.

“A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police had already boosted patrols on the Sydenham train line, the railway stations and at a St Albans shopping centre. She said Indians conducting their own security patrols should ‘leave and let police do their jobs’.

“She refused to confirm whether two men who stabbed a 20-year-old man in St Albans yesterday were Indians lashing out after being racially abused by the victim. No one has yet been charged over the incident.

“The attack on the 20-year-old is the first time Indian students appear to have retaliated against violent attacks against them as they walk home late at night from St Albans station.

“One man, who did not want his name published, said they took the action ‘in self-defence’ after police failed to respond to their call for protection in the wake of attacks on fellow Indian students.

“He disputed claims police were liaising with the Indian community group that gathers at the station each night to protect late travellers from attacks as they walk home.” More here…

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Tuesday told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “We’re doing everything we can to make sure that Indian students can come to Australia and not have to worry about their safety and security. We want very much to bring the perpetrators to justice, whatever their motivation…” More here…

Universities Australia has adopted a ten point action plan for student safety from recommendations developed by the Deputy and Pro Vice-Chancellors (International) from Australian universities, as part of a meeting convened by Universities Australia in Canberra on June 4 and 5.

The plan emphasises strong law enforcement plus necessary complementary actions.

University leaders met with members of the Canberra diplomatic community during the meeting, and guests included the Indian High Commissioner to Australia Mrs Sujatha Singh, as well as Commonwealth officials.

“To implement this plan, the University sector is ready to be involved in working with national and state/territory authorities and other stakeholders such as other education providers, community representatives and those who employ student workers.” More here…

An earlier report in Time magazine stated that Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd “had stopped short of criticizing law enforcement authorities.”

Rudd said: “Any decent human being just responds with horror at the sorts of attack which have occurred recently. But the key thing is to make sure our law enforcement authorities are doing the best they can. I am confident they are,” he told Melbourne’s 3AW radio. More here…