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Azira Aziz
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Australian Riots
December 14, 2005 - 08:14 AM
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It has actually occured to me on how Australians are probably more 'excitable' when it comes to any Arabs or Muslims who happens to be in the vicinity. Taking into consderation their 'convict country' history and all of course. I thought myself a bit prejudiced and unIslamic to think so at the time, but now I believe I may have a case.
How many times in the news have we read on the World section on the riots and deliberate attacks on Muslims living in Australia? When I was in Australia for the Austral-Asians Debating Championship representing my country, a mosque was attacked, vandalised, and my Muslim friends who wore the tudung (hijab) plus me (he looked startled for some reason, maybe I shattered his illusion of a typical Muslim woman?) received harassment from a preacher down at the shopping complex avenue the day after the London bombing. To be fair, we were fortunate enough to have met friendly and open minded folks as well but then again maybe we were just lucky.
So I have fond holiday memories of Australia, my Arab brethren who lives there do not.
Riots in Sydney over at the beach because an Arab man allegedly harassed a white woman which escallated to violence when the right thing to do was to turn him over to the court of law or warn him.
"Arab Australians have had to cope for some time with vilification, racism and abuse after numerous international and domestic events," he said.
"We are more than anybody aware of the fringe elements of society that have racist agendas and prejudicial propensities.
"This reality must now be recognised by political leaders and government agencies as a significant impingement on the rights of Arab and Muslim citizens."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17575443-1242,00.html
As the crowd marched along the beach and foreshore area, waving Australian flags, the crowd chanted racist slogans, with many wearing clothes bearing racist sentiment.
Middle Eastern men were openly targetted and assaulted. A young Muslim woman wearing a veil was chased into a kiosk on Cronulla beach. Police tried to move her away from the chanting crowd but were unable to reach the security of the command post. While the woman and police officers hid in the kiosk, a crowd surrounded the kiosk and shouted "Kill the Lebs", while others climbed on top of the kiosk
http://www.theworldforum.org/story/2005/12/14/122611/43
Seriously, this is Ku Klux Klan's idea of fun.
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Luke Lieberman
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Re: Australian Riots
December 14, 2005 - 09:01 AM
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I agree that things are getting out of hand - but perhaps this was very predictable.
Indonesia in particular has been very harsh on the Australians.
They gave that girl Corbey a circus trial - she was convicted before ever stepping foot in the court - they threw out all her witnesses - AND denied her request to have the bags checked for Fingerprints in case of tampering.
That is a blatent miscarriage of justice - just denying the fingerprint anylisis is enough to get the case thrown out in most courts.
I am not saying she is innocent necissarily - but that the trial was a joke.
Then wiegh that against the fact that the Bali bomber - who killed 200+ people - got off with 1/10th the sentance Corbey got.
I know ALOT of Australians who were furious that this little girl was getting a MUCH harsher sentence then a murderous lunatic - many of whose victims were Australian.
It was almost callous - when I saw the respective sentences - relative to the CRIMES - It looked to me as almost a SLAP in the FACE of the Australians.
I have been watching how Australians have been treated - particularly in Bali - and I assumed it was only a matter of time before frustrations started to boil over.
they are reacting.
I think there is plenty of room on both sides here for critisism and growth.
I don't think calling them "convicts" will help diffuse the situation - I think both societies - Australians, and the Muslims in the region - need to look at how they are treating one another before this gets out of hand.
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Azira Aziz
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Re: Australian Riots
December 14, 2005 - 09:38 AM
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They gave that girl Corbey a circus trial - she was convicted before ever stepping foot in the court - they threw out all her witnesses - AND denied her request to have the bags checked for Fingerprints in case of tampering.
That is a blatent miscarriage of justice - just denying the fingerprint anylisis is enough to get the case thrown out in most courts.
Whatever happened to respect of another nation's jurisdiction? The principle applies. If the act is done on a particular territory where a single nation's (in this case Indonesia) jurisdiction has outlined the act as a crime (in this case drug trafficking) then it will be punished as the nation of which the offense was done laws has outlined.
Corby got 20 years instead of the death sentence, which means that the theory of tampering was taken in account. Yea, you don't expect 5-star hotel treatment there, but last I check when she has served half her sentence the governments has made arrangements to transfer her to a home prison in Australia. Such arrangements has been done before, and have been honoured. She's lucky as she is. Singapore didn't budge from their decision to put the other girl to death.
These people should've kept their boongs and marijuana at home when travelling. That's traveller's common sense. Plus, use the internet to research the do's and don'ts before travelling. A lock for your bags, as a precautionary measure. It's not really that hard. Sheesh.
I have been watching how Australians have been treated - particularly in Bali - and I assumed it was only a matter of time before frustrations started to boil over.
Let's see. a) Bali bombers ain't Arabs, they're locals or Malays (shameful, yes, they are). b) what on earth does that has anything to do with hate crimes against Arab Australians? They're just living there peacefully.
I don't think calling them "convicts" will help diffuse the situation - I think both societies - Australians, and the Muslims in the region - need to look at how they are treating one another before this gets out of hand.
A) I was referring to its history. B) I was also referring to below statistics. I kinda thought that they're common knowledge;
The International Crime Victims Survey revealed that Australia leads the world in violent crime with more than 30 percent of its population victimized by criminals. England was second with 26 percent of its citizens violated. Wales was included in the English figure.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_153_25/ai_75211996
=)
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Luke Lieberman
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Re: Australian Riots
December 14, 2005 - 11:44 AM
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"Whatever happened to respect of another nation's jurisdiction? The principle applies. If the act is done on a particular territory" - Chibi
If they had given her a fair trial I would not be saying anything.
Checking for fingerprints is a matter of basic Justice - and a simple matter of proceedure in most places.
I assume Muslims would like be treated FAIRLY in Australia - so does it not follow that they should treat Australians fairly in their countries.
Fair trial is a fair trial - I am from a long line of lawyers - my father is one of the best in the country - he thought the Corby trial was a joke.
"Corby got 20 years instead of the death sentence, which means that the theory of tampering was taken in account." - Chibi
what are you talking about - this is 20 years of someones life - there should be no "theories" - you test for EVIDENCE and find the truth of the matter - if there is a chance it was tampering then their guilt has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt - ie they are not guilty.
this is basic stuff here - not some finer point of legalese.
Innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
"She's lucky as she is." - Chibi
I would love you to say that to this girl wasting the best years of her life in a 3rd world prison - tell her how lucky she is.
"A lock for your bags, as a precautionary measure. It's not really that hard." - Chibi
I assume Corbey has learned her lesson - but it is a bit callous to say "well she should have locked her bags" - I never do.
"Let's see. a) Bali bombers ain't Arabs, they're locals or Malays (shameful, yes, they are)" - Chibi
yes but they are Muslim - a Muslim cleric - it makes it look plainly as though they have ONE system of justice for for their own (Muslims) and another for whites - basically looks like racism.
"b) what on earth does that has anything to do with hate crimes against Arab Australians? They're just living there peacefully. " - Chibi
never suggested the Australians were justified in targeting innocent Muslims - I am simply pointing to where some of this anger and frustraition is coming from.
"A) I was referring to its history." - Chibi
sure - but its insulting - if I was to call a Germans a "Nazis" it would be insulting - even though at some point in history they had been so.
As for the violent crime stastics - I think Iraq would certainly lead the world in that catagory right now - I think there are issues with how many are REPORTED so I might question the stats.
But the Aussies like to fight - no question.
I am in no way suggesting violent race rioting is ever justified - but when the Arabs and Africaners were rioting in France I both condemned the violence and pointed to problems with the French economy that were driving the frustriation.
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James Dagger
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Re: Australian Riots
December 22, 2005 - 09:21 AM
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Look, I am Australian, I've seen the rioting first hand.
The problem isnt Corbey or the Bali bombers. The media hasn't mentioned them at all, but replay a bunch of drunken morons running around the streets.
The problem is the media and the angle they have taken to cover and inflame the story. Instead of addressing the issues with truth and finding the core problems they have shown a repetition of violent images and texts. Including last night when they played a Nazi youth recruitment video on the news that used footage that news networks had taken the previous night. You could see the logo and everything.
Now, Australia is not a perfect society, we have minorities who are violent and racist and as long as they abid by the laws that govern them they are free to express themselves. But i can assure you the full force of the law has been applied.
The roiters themselves for the most part have no international agenda, they are gangs of people who are engaging in drunken and disorderly behaviour at the will of a minority. The solution lyes between the local council and the resident.The rest is between the state police and the minority of people like the "patriotic youth legaue" who are spreading vilification and are acting violently, because they suddenly have there chance.
But the LAST thing we need, the very last thing, is for these minority groups in a stand off against the rest of the world, or an outlet for their abuse, or the consolidation of their voice and power by people who wish to make this issue larger then it already is.
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Olexi
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Re: Australian Riots
December 22, 2005 - 09:30 AM
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resepct to brave Australians
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Udara
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Re: Australian Riots
December 24, 2005 - 09:27 AM
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Originally posted by netdude12
Look, I am Australian, I've seen the rioting first hand.
The problem isnt Corbey or the Bali bombers. The media hasn't mentioned them at all, but replay a bunch of drunken morons running around the streets.
The problem is the media and the angle they have taken to cover and inflame the story. Instead of addressing the issues with truth and finding the core problems they have shown a repetition of violent images and texts. Including last night when they played a Nazi youth recruitment video on the news that used footage that news networks had taken the previous night. You could see the logo and everything.
Now, Australia is not a perfect society, we have minorities who are violent and racist and as long as they abid by the laws that govern them they are free to express themselves. But i can assure you the full force of the law has been applied.
The roiters themselves for the most part have no international agenda, they are gangs of people who are engaging in drunken and disorderly behaviour at the will of a minority. The solution lyes between the local council and the resident.The rest is between the state police and the minority of people like the "patriotic youth legaue" who are spreading vilification and are acting violently, because they suddenly have there chance.
But the LAST thing we need, the very last thing, is for these minority groups in a stand off against the rest of the world, or an outlet for their abuse, or the consolidation of their voice and power by people who wish to make this issue larger then it already is.
Very well said.
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Udara
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Re: Australian Riots
December 24, 2005 - 09:37 AM
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net dude, this is the exact thing the western media had been doing to developing countries. Trying to highlight developing countries as areas which needs to be invaded and civilized.
I have been in the media for sometime now and i know how it works. Its the best way to market the media products,
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James Dagger
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Re: Australian Riots
December 24, 2005 - 10:14 AM
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Thank you, if more people can keep an open mind then prehaps we can find peace between communities and minorities.
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Lewis Best
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Re: Australian Riots
December 29, 2005 - 09:03 AM
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Netdude, well said! I still stick by my view that the media and its take on the riots fuelled more violence and intolerance, but i refuse to accept that Australia is inheritantly a racist society.
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Azira Aziz
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Re: Australian Riots
December 29, 2005 - 09:29 AM
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I may have been mistaken in my judgement then. Still, there are places where this kind of thing is acceptable and very real.
CNN has been doing it for years.
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nina
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Re: Australian Riots
December 29, 2005 - 12:39 PM
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We all must condemne violent acts regardless of who is doing it. Being defensive and one sided views will not get us anywhere. "CNN has been doing it for years" chibi. What about Aljezeera Network?. Until we learn to see these things for what they are, then we will continue to perpertuate these ugly behaviors. No one's country and countrymen are innocent of racial prejudice. It is a fact that Racism even exits among people from the same country. A minority today can become a majority tomorrow, it has seen throughout history. Racism affects each and every one of us one way or the other. If you think oh! it does not affect me, well your children might not be so lucky tomorrow. All I am saying is that we all have to do a lot better than defending our people's racial behaviors.
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Raja
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Re: Australian Riots
January 29, 2006 - 11:34 AM
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Thanks to Chibi, Luke, Udara and others for this discussion.
Luke, while the Australian girl trial was DEFINITELY a joke, wonder what that has to do with an anti-ARAB sentiment and slogans like "Kills the Lebs"!!
Chibi, if you have met both friendly people and rough people in Australia, and still you think that your "Arab Brethern" are living in constant threat, then you are being biased against an entire nation. Some Australian hooligans doesn't make Australia a rogue-land! The riots were made under control within a very short time. That indicates that the authority didn't let it run lose. Had it been in, say, Pakistan, the authority would look at it for a week, discuss about it for a week, and then 'take action'. The political will in Australia to keep peace in the land is very much there.
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Marco
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Re: Australian Riots
January 31, 2006 - 02:01 AM
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MEDIA and more
seems like a kind of consensus about the internationallity of racism and prejudices grows in this thread. thanx especially at netdude, who introduced this warm breeze of global sisterhood ...
>>udara2004: net dude, this is the exact thing the western media had been doing to developing countries. Trying to highlight developing countries as areas which needs to be invaded and civilized. I have been in the media for sometime now and i know how it works. Its the best way to market the media products,<<
concerning the role of the media i want to explify: its not really a matter of guilt of the media. sure, responsibility is an issue the australian media has to face in the analyses on the causes of the racist riots. but responsibility is something to share as usual and also points to causes of causes ... why mediaproducts must be marketed as it usually appears contradictory to journalisms self demands (like independent, revealing, usefull, sensefull, critical and so on)? why? u dont have to know me to know my answer...
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student bromfield
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Re: Australian Riots
March 25, 2007 - 11:22 AM
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Well, personally I don’t think that not all Australians wish that all of these riots are happening. I talked with one of my Australian friends the other day, and when I questioned her about the riots in Australia she said it makes her ashamed of the fact she’s Australian. I do believe that riots are pretty disgusting to be fighting over racism and what not. Not all Australians wish that all of this crazy stuff was happening, but there’s not that much they can do since it’s hard to stop riots once they are started.
The riots themselves are not helping racial tensions either. To quote an article on one of the riots that happened in 2005. “After two Anglo-Australian lifeguards were assaulted by a group of Lebanese-Australian men on Sydney's Cronulla Beach earlier this month, some 5,000 young Anglo-Australians descended on the sands, attacking anybody who looked Middle Eastern. Revenge followed: Convoys of Lebanese men rampaged through Cronulla with baseball bats, smashing windshields and storefronts. Lebanese-looking men were set upon in other Australian cities. Politicians shut down the beaches and enacted a series of strict laws to quell the unrest. Amazingly, no one was killed, but police were still seizing weapons caches this week.” The tensions during that riot were so high, that it didin’t just stop with one side attacking the other. There was revenge, and this revenge escalated. I think this is the reason for all the tension. Each side can look back and say, “remember what those dirty (pick one: lebs, aussies) did a while ago?” the tension builds on itself, and these riots are only precedents for new riots.
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