Racist violence

The racist violence in Australia against Australians of Middle Eastern origin is really disgusting.

Lebanese people are found across the globe from Amsterdam to the United States. These people fled their war-torn country to make a peaceful living elsewhere, and they are usually very successful businessmen.

The former Australian ambassador to Indonesia in 2001, Smith, named Australia one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world (The Jakarta Post , Nov. 17, 2001). Judging from what recently happened on Cronulla beach near Sydney, and elsewhere in Australia, this racist violence surely contradicts his statement.

I respect the action taken by Australia's political and community leaders to avoid further conflict, but is this enough? Heat and alcohol are blamed but these are sorry and pathetic excuses. It takes a lot more to change racist attitudes. Racist violence will happen again and I hope it will not be against Asians next time.

LYNNA VAN DER ZEE-OEHMKE, Bogor, West Java