2005 Cronulla Riots

 

Australians are a diverse people with a majority who are tolerant and welcoming of the broad benefits brought to modern Australia by its diversity. Social harmony is too precious to be taken for granted. What position should the Chinese Australian Forum take on the recent attacks on Indian students, and extreme right wing groups positioning for the next Federal election?
Is Cronulla Behind Us?

Politicians of major parties have provided leadership by condemning the Cronulla racial violence by intoxicated local youths stirring racial hatred and violence in the streets. The incidents including the inflammatory reporting by radio announcers received world wide publicity for Australia as an intolerant and violent nation.

Governments, police and NGO recognised the incident as a wake up call and embarked on broadly based initiatives to build bridges between the young residents of Cronulla and Moslem youths from neighbouring areas. CAF recruited 2 young Australian Chinese students to participate in the production of a video DVD by Lifesaver Australia intended to introduce lifesaver recruits to cultures of Moslem, Chinese and African communities in Australia. Continued effort is required to improve understanding and mutual respect between communities to continue the mending of Australia’s damaged international reputation. Recent attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney is unhelpful.

Related Stories:

2005 Cronulla Riots

Attack on Indian Students

 Attack on Indian Students especially in Melbourne may, according to Victorian Police, be simple acts of opportunistic crime who view Indian students with cash, fleshy mobiles and iPods as easy targets. “Curry bashing” is a derogatory term and the use of term by the media unfortunately gives the violent action an air of respectability like “window shopping”. Education is Australia’s third largest export. News of the Melbourne incidents have flushed across the World and can potentially jeopardise Australia’s stake in the competitive education market. The Indian communities are rightly concerned and have contacted the Chinese Australian Forum (CAF) for support. CAF wrote to the Victorian Community Relations Commissioner and have received assurance from it and Victorian Police that authorities are taken the attacks seriously.

Related Stories:
Student Attacks Stoke India-Australia Tensions
Fresh Attack: Indian Student Slashed in Frankston

Proposed CAF Questionnaire

CAF intends to contact any students who experienced racially motivated attacks to come forward and help CAF to develop strategies to prevent further such occurrences. In seeking the cooperation from the student community a questionnaire has been developed and will be promoted in the Chinese media.
 

Right Wing Genie Out of the Bottle?

The cynical manipulation of racial suspicion and fear within some section of the Australian community by the former government was punished by voter backlash in the 2007 Federal Election which saw John Howard losing the seat of Bennelong. During that 2007 Election, the Chinese Australian Forum closely monitor the distribution of preferences of political parties across Australia and have met Senator Fielding who acknowledged that giving preference to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party in Queensland was a mistake. Far right ring elements are now said to be regrouping for the next Federal Election which must be held by November 2010. Heading up the infamous groups are Australia First Party and the Australian Protectionist Party which have superseded the defunct One Nation and Australians Against Further Immigration parties. A far right leader is quoted as saying “With the crashing of the economy, the “tribes will start to consolidate”; “We will see not only defence of identity but also defence of jobs”; “We want to mobilise small-t troublemakers”. The Chinese Australian Forum will closely monitor and take appropriate action on the distribution of preferences of political parties to extreme right wing groups across Australia.

Right Wing Genie Out of the Bottle