By Ashok Kumar
Meeting called by NSW Premier Nathan Rees with the Idian Ccommunity leaders
Even as New South W ales Premier Nathan Rees was telling media persons yesterday about some practical steps having been agreed upon at a meeting between Ministers, agencies and Australian Indian leaders to address any safety concerns held by overseas students, a correspondent flashed a flyer being reportedly distributed in a university asking “overseas students to go back” and “Aussie Unis for Aussies.” Mr. Rees promptly assured the media that the “we will investigate and bring offenders to book.
The Premier, who along with NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, President of the United Indian Association Mrs. Aruna Chandrala broke from the meeting to address the media, urged members of the Indian Community to report all incidents of violence because it helps the Government and Police to identify patterns of behaviour and target resources where they are needed.
“To combat crime, we need to work together in a meaningful partnership, “said Mr. Rees. “Getting the right advice and information out to international students through the right channels at the right time was an important theme throughout today’s discussions. “Information must flow both ways between Government, Police and the community.
“We have a number of mechanisms to ensure this dialogue with the community is successful.
The Premier announced the establishment of a working group headed by Chairman of the Community Relations Commission Stephan Kerkyasharian. The working group will put together a practical package for international students containing advice and assistance on studying, working and living in NSW.
Indian community leaders at the meeting
Other practical steps include:
- Reporting on the progress of the Ministerial Taskforce on International Education.
- Responding to ideas raised at the meeting including Police liaison points and establishing a special helpline.
- Working with academic institutions to link international students into support networks.
“I am pleased it was such a constructive opportunity and I welcome many of the ideas and suggestions put by community leaders.
“Similar gatherings will be convened quarterly to report back on progress.
“International students, and indeed all Australians, should be able to study, work and enjoy our state’s rich cultural life in a safe and secure environment,” said Mr. Rees.
Dr Yadu Singh, Coordinator of the Indian Consul General’s Committee on Indian
Student Issues welcomed the outcomes of Friday’s meeting.
“We look forward to the ongoing dialogue with the NSW Government.
“We will work closely with the Premier and Ministers because we all want to uphold the good reputation and lifestyle we enjoy here in Australia,” said Dr Singh.
“The Indian community is fully behind the initiatives of the Premier and will offer all co-operation and assistance to ensure their success,” said Mrs. Aruna Chandrala, President of the United Indian Associations
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said there was no intelligence suggesting Indian students were being targeted in particular, despite an Indian hospitality graduate receiving burns to 30 per cent of his body when a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of his Harris Park home in Sydney’s west last month. “It was a horrific attack,” he said of that incident.
“It highlights the importance of making sure the community understands that we want to hear, that every event, no matter how small it is, we want to be told, so we can take some action.”"We can’t act if we don’t know.”
To question by this correspondent that the complaints already made were either ignored or there was a delayed action, the Police Commissioner assured that all complaints will be looked into seriously. Regarding the progress in the petrol bomb case, he said the investigation were on. However, The IST has learnt from various sources that the flatmates of petrol bomb victim Rajesh Kumar have been evicted to fecilitate free conduct of investigation of the crime.
Dr Yadu Singh said, “We have to have undercover policing to catch hold of these criminals who are exploiting the naivety and niceness of these students who have come from India.”
His colleague Vish Viswanathan said Indian students did not usually go to police.”The Indians generally are not in the habit of going to the police because they are frightened to go to the police in India.”So when they come here they feel that if they go to the police something wrong will happen to them and they are afraid of that.”They are also not aware of their rights. They feel reporting to police will affect their immigration status and a few other long-term planning, so that is why the students have to be educated.”
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