E&OE
27 November 2008
Interview with Tony Jones, ABC Lateline
Subjects: Mumbai
JONES: Joining us now from London is the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith.
Stephen Smith, I think you actually heard earlier there, the interview we did with Garrick Harvison who's bailed up, barricaded inside his hotel, the Oberoi, waiting to be rescued. Is there anything that you know, that you can pass on to his family and friends?
SMITH: Well, unfortunately, Tony, whilst it's always a pleasure to speak to you I wish tonight it was in different circumstances and all I can say is that we are desperately concerned because we can't at this stage account for a number of Australians either in the Oberoi Hotel or, indeed, in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
As has been made clear, our officials, our High Commissioner is on the ground in Mumbai. Our officials have been in contact with a number of Australians actually in both those hotels but unfortunately we can't confirm the safety and security and welfare of those Australians and a number remain unaccounted for.
So this is a very desperately worrying situation and some of those reports that we've heard show Australians under enormous pressure, showing great stoicism and bravery but it's a difficult and desperate situation and we continue to monitor it together with the Indian government and the Indian officials, as best we can.
JONES: How many Australians are unaccounted for in those two hotels which are the scene of basically joint hostage-taking scenarios?
SMITH: If I go to the worst statistics first, Tony, firstly we can confirm that one Australian has been killed. I can confirm that. For family and privacy reasons I'm not in a position to confirm the identity but one Australian has been killed.
Secondly, there are reports of a second Australian being killed. I can't confirm that but we are gravely concerned on the basis of information that we have.
We also know that a small number, two, possibly three Australians have been injured, not life-threatening injuries but have been injured, and then, on the best of our estimates, anywhere up to 26 Australians in the hotel, as best we can judge, and I don't want that figure to be regarded as definitive.
We've made contact, on my advice, with anywhere up to a dozen or so of those so a number potentially remaining in one or both hotels who, at this stage, we cannot t vouch for their safety or security.
JONES: Let's stick with the case of the man that we know was killed. I know you can't name him although he has actually been named. His name's out on the wires now. We won't go over that. There's no point. But what happened to him? I mean, there must be now some information coming to Australian authorities as to how he was killed.
SMITH: Well, Tony, for the same reason that I'm not proposing to identify or name the individual concerned, I'm not proposing to go through any of that detail. The reason we're not confirming the identity is for family and privacy reasons and we very much want to respect that.
Wire services or media outlets may be seeking to identify, but we regard the death of any Australian as being tragic and we do our best in these circumstances to not just respect the wishes of family concerned, as we extend to them our deepest sympathy and condolences, but also to respect other requirements that we have so far as privacy is concerned.
So, other than to say generally, we've had a terrible terrorist attack in Mumbai. We condemn that absolutely. There are very grave concerns which come from the sophisticated and orchestrated nature of the attack, and the fact that it has targeted westerners or foreigners, that's very worrying for a range of reasons.
But I'm just not proposing, Tony, to go into any of the detail which goes to the terrible death of an individual Australian. And, as I say, we are very gravely concerned about reports of a second Australian death.
JONES: Okay, the situation could get vastly more serious, if that is possible, because of something the Indian Prime Minister has just said. It's now out on the wires, that he's saying that these attacks were orchestrated or came from outside of India.
Now, the implications of that are clearly quite - well, could be extraordinarily damaging.
SMITH: Well, firstly, as you and I are working from the same disadvantage, I haven't actually seen the words that he's used.
The report I have it, albeit, like you, a bit on the run, is that he's indicated that there may be external influences. So I don't put it any higher than that.
But what do we know is that a group describing itself as Deccan Mujahideen, or Indian Mujahideen, have claimed responsibility for the terrible attacks.
This is not a group that is well know, or known at all, to the various agencies, either Indian or international. So, I think there's a fair amount of water to flow under the bridge before anyone comes to a concluded view about who is behind these terrible terrorist extremist attacks.
But what we do know is - we've seen in the past in India, even this year, whilst it's very regrettable, nonetheless we've seen it, inter-communal violence or terrorist attack. But this seems to be qualitatively different given the sophistication and the range of targets. But also, for the first occasion, we're seeing what is either substantially in part, or, indeed, wholly, an attack upon western or foreign targets. Whether that is aimed at the United States or United Kingdom nationals, as has been suggested, or more generally, is of equal concern. But this is a qualitative shift in what we've seen in India. And from an international community's perspective, it's gravely, gravely worrying.
JONES: Okay, we know you have to go, you're off to another appointment very soon. But very briefly, this is going to change a lot in terms of how Australians view India, but also what happens when Australians visit India. And, indeed, we've just had a cricket tour to India, among other things. There are Australian cricket teams meant to be going over there for Twenty20 matches in Mumbai. I mean, a lot is going to change as a result of this, isn't that so?
SMITH: Well Tony, my next appointment is actually a phone hook up with Indian External Affairs Minister Mukherjee where I'll, obviously, relay our deepest sympathies and our concern.
But secondly, today we have changed or upgraded the travel advisory to India. We've essentially increased the level and said to Australians, in light of what has occurred, that they should reconsider their need to travel to India. So this is as a result of this terrorist extremist attack, putting our travel advice to Australians at a higher level.
People who are in India should exercise very grave caution. But for the reasons that I've outlined, the qualitative different nature of this attack, the fact that we have increased to the next level, the second highest level our travel advisory, it does have the implications that you have referred to. This will require now very considerable thought about Australians and their intentions of going to India.
At the same time, Tony, this was - this is a relationship that we want to take to the frontline of our international relationships. We've seen a very successful visit to Australia by Minister Mukherjee. I had a very successful trip to India half way through this year.
We are enhancing our engagement with India. We've made it clear to India, as I will to Minister Mukherjee in a few moments time, that we are ready, willing and able to assist. We've indicated we're prepared to assist with Australian Federal Police and their technical expertise.
So we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with India, as they face this terrible moment, and I'll also, of course, make it clear to Minister Mukherjee about our very grave concern about the Australians who continue to be, we think, in a precarious or difficult situation.
JONES: All right, Stephen Smith, we'll let you get off and make that call. Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us tonight.
SMITH: Thanks Tony, thanks very much.
[Ends]
Media Inquiries: Foreign Minister's office (02) 6277 7500