Train security guards mistake Indian boy for aboriginal
by Martin Zygote
Transperth rail security today apologised to an Indian student, Raj Seth, 17, after they mistakenly persecuted him in the belief he was an aboriginal. Seth said that shortly after getting on the train he was approached by five guards who demanded his ticket, seeming to ignore several white passengers who had also just got on. When Seth said that he did not have a ticket he was subjected to twenty minutes of being ridiculed and patronised as the guards apparently tried to get his details.
"They kept saying things like, "That's not really your name, come on, give us your real name," like they thought I was lying.
"They kept asking me if I was drunk. They seemed to enjoy talking down to me, like they were showing off in front of all the white passengers, most of whom seemed really uncomfortable. They used loud, mocking, condescending tones. They basically treated me like I wasn't a human being. "Then I suddenly realised, they thought I was an aboriginal! So I quickly pointed out I was in fact a dark-skinned asian, and they apologised immediately and went about their business elsewhere.
"I am very disgusted by the whole thing. I don't think it's right that I should get on a train and be treated like an aboriginal. I will be taking Transperth to court." A spokesman for Transperth rail, Abe Iggit, said, "We apologise for any harm that was done to Mr. Seth. This has happened before, some guards who are new to the job sometimes mistake Africans or dark-skinned asians for aboriginals and start picking on them.
"We see now it is necessary to train our guards in how to tell different kinds of black or dark-skinned people apart. We have to let our staff know that it's simply not good enough, in this day and age, to racially harass people who are not aboriginal."
Transperth Rail: racial abuse of non-aboriginals no longer tolerated
Oh man! I really feel sorry for Raj Seth. I know exactly how he feels.
Despite the fact that i have a home in the hills, and lots of money i still get frequently mistaken for a homeles person. The guards harrass me for hours before I explain to them that i am not actually homeless.
That i wear no shoes and go to sleep on the carriage probably doesn't help my cause very much.
Nor does my habit of not buying a ticket.
Comment posted by: Wangst McPants at September 10, 2003 06:53 PMi think the persecution of any person, because of their skin colour, is completely unjustified. i do not have any sympathy for those without tikets however, as i am a frequent user of the trains and always buy one.
Comment posted by: marto, davis at March 10, 2004 01:04 PMi find it absurd that this stupid train passanger can complain about the gaurds being racist, when in his statement he implies aboriginals should be treated in a manner other than him. that is racism in its most obvious form, and throws his whole pathetic argument out of the window!!
I dont think its right the way people judges others by colour. no matter how light or dark you are, you are still a human being and you should not be treated in a rude way. being an aborginal is not a bad thing, the land belongs to them and if they are being unfaithful then its not just their fault. the transit guards should not pick on them just becuase of the way they are part aboriginal. i dont know why people are feeling sorry for Raj Seth because he is the one who didnt pay for the ticket!
i am not aboriginal but i have grown up with them and i know about the racism that has been going on around them. the more they get treated different, the more they do the wrong thing.
people should open their eyes and start seeing the good side of them.
Comment posted by: MELINA at May 16, 2004 02:56 PMYes i concur entirely with Melina and Marto and move a motion that PerthRockCity no longer be thought of as a total pisstake (HINT MOTHERFUCKERS. BIG HINT.) but rather a very serious place to very seriously discuss very serious issues in society. Serious serious.
Comment posted by: Wangst McPants at May 16, 2004 04:49 PMwhat a load of crap, I dont believe a word that guy has said. Is this site a joke or is he for real.
Transit guards would not care if he was an ABO or black or white or whatever, if thats stupid boi has some identification on him and showed this to the Officers he would not needed to be spoken to for as long as he said.
It is an offence not to be able to verify your name and address.
And if this boi brought a ticket to start with this situation of him being rightfully questioned would not have happened.
Comment posted by: brett at June 29, 2004 11:07 PMi've grown up around abo's too, melina. I see what they do, they don't realise they are the ones holding themselves back. they deserve all they get (lottery wins excepted). Ethnics will ruin this country and everything australia means. They complain about this place then bring their troubles here. If they don't like it, go home. Its obviously better here, so they should put up or shut up. And buy tickets. I'm sick of my tax dollars paying for scum who abuse our society
Comment posted by: Aaron at July 17, 2004 11:19 PMI agree. Aboriginals shold go back to their own country. Thanks for your helpful comments. Martin
Comment posted by: Martin Z. at July 22, 2004 04:24 PMwhat a load of rubbish
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Comment posted by: keno at October 5, 2004 11:48 PMHi, I'm actually also Raj Seth. However I stumbled upon this site through google. What's up with you people!? The 17 year old Raj Seth needs a kick in the behind for putting down australian (aboriginal) people. The transperth attendants are just stupid little small town shits, who cares about them.
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