By Arul John

INDIAN Singaporean students and workers The New Paper spoke to in Melbourne say they have not been hit by racist violence.

They said the attackers have targeted mainly Indian nationals.

Several cases of violence against Indians in Melbourne have made the news recently and it has now become a political issue between India and Australia.

The Australian police have acknowledged the increase in attacks but said they were not racially motivated.

Machine operator Bernard Daniel Nicholas, 28, a recent engineering graduate from Adelaide, now lives and works in Melbourne.

He has lived in Australia for 31/2 years and his workplace is a 15-minute drive away from his home.

He said: "Many Indian nationals walk out to phone booths at 2am or 3am to make phone calls. At that time, many drunks or troublemakers are out on the streets."

Ms Elizabeth Anju, 24, a student at the Melbourne University, said she has lived in Australia for four years and has many Australian friends.

She said: "Not once have I been abused by Australians. But unlike Singapore and Malaysian Indians, Indian nationals sometimes do not speak English clearly or understand the Australian fast twang, and this has led to some communication problems.

"Some of them also carry lots of cash, making them targets for thieves."

Ms Kasthuri Ramachandran, 22, a second-year student in La Trobe University, has lived in Australia since she was 4. She lives with her family and her home is just 30 to 45 minutes' drive away from university.

High risk

She said: "Many Indians nationals are very hard-working and are prepared to work long hours as taxi drivers or attendants at 24-hour petrol stations. These jobs put them at high risk of being robbed or attacked by drunks or drug addicts."

Many of the Indian nationals are not as Western-oriented in their outlook and thinking unlike the Malaysian and Singaporean Indians, Ms Kasthuri said.

Their accent may also be another factor, she felt. All these factors may have made it hard for them to assimilate themselves into Australian society.

While she is concerned about the spate of attacks, Ms Kasthuri, who drives, is not unduly worried.

She said: "I often stay in campus and study until as late as 9pm (6pm Singapore time), but I am not afraid as the university staff and security guards are around."

Since last July, Ms Kasthuri said there have been more police patrols around Melbourne University and the Melbourne Central Business District between 8pm and the early hours of the morning, Thursday to Sunday.

She also felt that most of the attacks were not racially motivated and thought the victims were mostly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She maintained that Australia is a good place to live in.

She said: "The attacks occurred in Melbourne largely because the city and its suburbs are home to one of the largest numbers of Indian students in Australia. But the attacks are a small part of all that is Australia."

Ms Kasthuri was also proud of the fact that many of her Australian friends stood up for the victims of the attacks.

She said: "There can be people who turn against you, just as in any other country. But when you see the people who stand up for you, that is a great feeling."

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