“This is the time to stand united, in solidarity with the government and officials”
Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 16, 2020
Cultural diversity has made New Zealand a colourful and vibrant society, which must be preserved and promoted, two community leaders have said.
New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) President Paul Patel and Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) former President and current Spokesperson Dr Anwar Ghani said that while social media has created new avenues for freedom of expression, these should not be allowed to be breeding grounds for hate speech.
Solidarity and Understanding
They were responding to the concerns expressed by the members of their respective organisations on the disparaging remarks made against some communities in recent times.
“We are a part of Team Five Million fighting to remove Covid-19 from our country. This is the time to stand united, in solidarity with the government and officials. This is also the time to show patience, understanding and kindness. There is no room for any kind of hate speech,” they said.
Dr Ghani said that Muslims in New Zealand understand the importance of halting hate speeches, and promoting peace, tolerance and social harmony.
Muslims in New Zealand
“There are about 63,000 Muslims, drawn from about 40 different nationalities, of which about 20% are of Indian origin. All of us are hard-working and law-abiding people and are true partners in the economic and social development of New Zealand. As victims of hate speech and the massacre in Christchurch on March 15, 2019 and its aftermath, our community welcomes all efforts to eliminate discriminatory and defamatory comments and actions and promote social and religious tolerance,” he said.
Strong Indian community
Mr Patel said that people of Indian origin have been in New Zealand for more than 100 years and have come a long way, having endured social and political discrimination.
“Established in 1926, NZICA has been representing the Indian community in New Zealand and has championed their cause. We encourage healthy and informed debate,” he said.
Dr Ghani and Mr Patel said that their respective organisations requests people to desist from making comments on social and other media or promote activities that may impact and disturb the peace and harmony in New Zealand.
Impact of offshore events
Although they did not mention, Indian Newslink is aware of the tensions among communities over the developments that occurred in India last year, especially abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that removed the special status accorded to Jammu & Kashmir and the developments that followed.
“We realise that overseas geopolitical situations may put pressure to support or oppose particular issues. NZICA and FIANZ stand together against discord and disharmony; we also stand together against hate speech. We encourage greater empathy and dialogue to strengthen the bonds of unity,” they said.
The New Zealand government is supportive of ethnic communities and has taken a number of measures in recent years to promote inclusion and religious and social harmony.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa worked closely with the Muslim community and various agencies to assure New Zealanders that acts of terrorism and hate speeches will not be tolerated in New Zealand.
Ms Salesa said that the government will continue to work with all communities to promote social cohesion.
Ethnic Communities Development Fund
“We have invested $7 million towards ‘Safer Communities’ and we have made available additional sum $4 million every year towards the Ethnic Communities Development Fund. New Zealand values all peoples, irrespective of their country of origin, religious or other beliefs, language and all other considerations. We value our Muslim people and I have engaged with Muslim women and Muslim youth to assure them that we as a government will not tolerate hatred or hate speeches,” she said speaking at a Conference earlier this year.
Ms Salesa had said that the government will host a Conference or Seminar involving four major religions and other groups this year, as a measure of fostering the spirit of unity and compassion.
However, the spread of Covid-19 has prevented the event from occurrence.
Social evils
Following is Indian Newslink commentary:
Social media may have brought millions of people together, but it has torn many others apart. Once, bullies taunted their victims in the playground; today they use smartphones to do so from afar. Media reports of “Facebook suicides” caused by cyberbullying are all too common.
Character assassination on Twitter is rife, as are malicious Emails, texts and other forms of e-torment. A recent review of the academic literature on cyberbullying suggests, conservatively that at least a quarter of school-age children are involved as either victim or perpetrator.
