Racist attacks hurt Australia's image: Victoria's premierSeptember 16th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The string of racist attacks against Indians has damaged Australia's image, Victoria province's Premier John Brumby admitted Wednesday, adding "some of the events of the past few months have damaged our brand and the Australian brand in India". The latest assault took place Saturday when four Indian men were brutally assaulted outside a bar in Epping, a suburb of this Victoria capital.
Don't break the law, Australian PM warns Indian studentsSeptember 16th, 2009 SYDNEY - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday warned students from India not to take the law into their own hands after writer and activist Farrukh Dhondy reportedly urged Indians in the country for "some form of retaliation" following the brutal assault on four Indians in Melbourne. Dhondy has urged Indians in Australia to take matters into their own hands, The Age reported Thursday.
3 Indians attacked by racist mob in AustraliaSeptember 15th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Three Indians were brutally assaulted in a suburb in this Australian city by a group of youths who allegedly made racist remarks. Omkar Singh, a relative of the victims, told IBN news channel Tuesday that the attack took place when his relatives were playing pool in Epping.
'Australia to compensate students facing racist attacks'August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Australian government would ensure that student victims of racist attacks either get a seat in a different college or are refunded the entire college fee, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said here Monday. Gillard, who is on a five-day visit to India, was interacting with students of the Lady Shri Ram College.
1 out of 2 Indian students unwilling to go to Australia for higher studies nowAugust 30th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The racist violence targeting Indian students in Australia is going to have a big impact on its economy, with enrolment of Indians at Victoria's universities expected to plunge by up to 50 per cent in 2010. The shortfall, comprising existing students who plan to abandon their courses here and hundreds more who intended to enroll, but are now seeking positions at universities in other countries, will cost the Victorian economy tens of millions of dollars.
Another Indian student bashed, racially abused in MelbourneJune 15th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Another Indian student has been bashed and racially abused, this time in Melbourne's east. According to a report in The Age, Sunny Bajaj, 20, said he was taunted and punched by two men as he was about to get into his car in Boronia on Friday night.
Attacks on students 'clearly racist': Victoria police chiefJune 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Victoria's police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has admitted that some of the attacks on Indian students were "clearly racist in motivation". Announcing a crackdown on crime at trouble spot train stations, Overland said it was clear Indian and international students had been targeted.
China concerned over attacks on Indian students in AustraliaJune 4th, 2009 CANBERRA - China has joined India in asking Australia to provide improved protection for foreign students after a series of violent racist assaults on Indian students Down Under. "There are over 130,000 Chinese students in Australia.
Attacks overblown as racist, says India's first student to OzJune 2nd, 2009 TORONTO - The recent attacks on Indian students have been overblown as racist, says the papa of the Indian student community in Australia. Eighty-two-year-old Gurcharn Sidhu, who in 1951 was one of independent India's first students to come here under the Colombo Plan, says these attacks are not "overly blatant acts of racism" by Australians.
Outrage in Oxford at attacks in AustraliaJune 1st, 2009 LONDON - Indian students at Oxford University Monday joined in the growing protests over racist attacks on their counterparts in Australia, saying they are baffled by the failure of Australian authorities to take stern measures. Indian students at the University of Oxford strongly deplore the violent attacks on students in Australia.
Indian students should have own ombudsman: expat groupJune 1st, 2009 SYDNEY - Indian students in Australia should have their own ombudsman to whom they can go in times of trouble and the universities that admit them should arrange their accommodation for the first six months, says a committee formed after a spate of attacks on Indian students here and in Melbourne. Asserting that "Australia is not a racist country", committee coordinator Yadu Singh held: "Most of the attacks are what we call `opportunistic attacks' and due to the impression of the criminal elements about our students being the easy target for various reasons".
Arrange housing for Indian students, expat group tells varsities (Lead)June 1st, 2009 SYDNEY - Authorities in various Australian universities should arrange housing Indian students in safe areas, at least for the first six months, an expat group formed in the wake of a spate of attacks on Indian students here and in Melbourne said Monday. Yadu Singh, coordinator of the newly formed Community Committee on Indian Students' Issues, also asked the students to have health and emergency insurance.
Indian students take out peace rally in Australia against racist attacksMay 31st, 2009 MELBOURNE - Hundreds of Indian students in Australia have embarked on a peace rally aimed at curbing racist violence. The march comes in response to a recent spate of violent attacks on Indian students.
Attack on Indian students: Australian official to visit IndiaMay 28th, 2009 MELBOURNE - In the wake of the attacks on Indian students in the country, an Australian police officer is to travel to India to brief prospective students on avoiding street violence in Australia, media reports said. Police community liaison officer Senior Constable Victor Robb said that his advice would mainly cover "safety strategy tips", Radio Australia reported Thursday.
Australia to open help line for Indian victims of racist attacksMay 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The Australian and Victorian governments have decided to open a help line to assist Indian students who are victims of crime. The help line will begin operating from Friday amid mounting alarm over violent racist attacks in Melbourne's western suburbs, reports The Age.