Australain Labor Party Supports War on Civil Liberties of Nonviolent Anti-War Activists

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Wednesday September 14, 2005 13:38

by OZ

Freedom Use it or Lose It-Defend those using it!

The Australian Labor Party's support of the Australian Government's detention in solitary confinement of U.S. nonviolent activist Scott Parkin is informative and a matter for concern for the movement globally. The trial of four Catholic Workers on four felony charges In Binghamton New York, this Monday, is part of the pattern. There is an offensive against nonviolent actvists remaining proactive against the war. Following is the story of Scott.....

Scott Parkin is to be deported tomorrow for teaching "techniques for
preventing police from taking protesters away for arrest". Labor Leader
Kim Beazley is satisfied with the reasons for deportation.

----------------------------------

Protest advice led to US activist's detention
By Andra Jackson, Michelle Grattan and Brendan Nicholson
September 14, 2005

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/protest-advice-led-to-us-activists-detention/2005/09/13/1126377315072.html?oneclick=true#

AMERICAN political activist Scott Parkin is to be deported tomorrow
morning, after being detained on Saturday as a security threat for
allegedly encouraging "spirited protest".

His consent to be deported followed new legal advice on what measures
would get him out of the country the quickest while preserving his
appeal rights. Mr Parkin's lawyer, Keren Adams, said "his main focus
has just been to get out of the custody and to get home".

"But he didn't want to do that in circumstances where he couldn't
challenge the whole basis of them revoking his visa."

A spokesman for Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock said yesterday that
while Mr Parkin insisted that he was engaged only in peaceful protests
against the US company Halliburton, he had encouraged "spirited" action
by protesters.

That statement follows a call by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks for a
public explanation of Mr Parkin's treatment.

The Government has refused to detail the advice from spy agency ASIO,
which prompted it to revoke the visa of the 35-year-old Texan teacher.

But sources told The Age Mr Parkin's visa was cancelled because of what
he was teaching in his workshops, including techniques for preventing
police from taking protesters away for arrest.

Mr Parkin maintains he is a non-violent protester. He has been involved
in a campaign against the American company Halliburton, which has huge
reconstruction contracts in Iraq. He had done workshops in Sydney and
Brisbane on the campaign, and one was planned for Melbourne when he was
apprehended and placed in the Melbourne Custody Centre. He had earlier
declined to attend an interview with ASIO.

The spokesman for Mr Ruddock said ASIO did not oppose Mr Parkin's
original visa application, but its understanding of his intentions
changed while he was in Australia.

ASIO was responsible for protecting the community from all forms of
politically motivated violence, including violent protest activity, the
spokesman said. The agency would take no action in regard to lawful
protest activity, he said.

A spokesman for Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he had been briefed
on the Government's reasons for Mr Parkin's detention and was satisfied
with the action taken.

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Early Report on detention of Scott Parkin

Wed Sep 14, 2005 13:41

Activist pressured to leave quietly: lawyer
By Jesse Hogan
September 13, 2005 - 2:21PM

Scott Parkin had been travelling in Australia on a 6 months visitors
visa but was detained 10 September.

US peace activist Scott Parkin wants to leave Australia but remains in
solitary confinement because the immigration department refuses to
deport him, his lawyer said today.

Julian Burnside, QC, told theage.com.au that Mr Parkin had been told by
immigration officers that his deportation would be brought forward if
he dropped his appeal to the Migration Review Tribunal to find out why
his visa was revoked.

Mr Burnside described this as "factually false and legally improper".

"What they're doing, in effect, is saying 'Alright, we'll hold you here
in solitary confinement until you dump your action', and that's
outrageous," he said.

The immigration department has not yet returned calls from
theage.com.au about the appeal claim or when Mr Parkin will be
deported.

Mr Burnside said the Migration Act allows appeal applicants to seek
information even after they have been deported. It also requires
visitors without visas to be deported as soon as practicable.

Mr Parkin as been in solitary confinement at the Melbourne Custody
Centre since being detained last Saturday.
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Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today rejected suggestions that
political pressure from Washington may have been behind the decision to
deport Mr Parkin, whose six-month visa was cancelled because he was
deemed to be a potential risk to national security.

But Victorian Premier Steve Bracks called on the Federal Government to
explain why Mr Parkin's visa was revoked.

Mr Burnside said Mr Parkin's detention set a "disturbing precedent" for
the government's planned anti-terror laws, which have been criticised
by civil libertarians.

"Here we've got a person locked up, at his own expense, and then
removed from the country without ever knowing what he's supposed to
have done," he said.

"Quite frankly, I'm beginning to feel more alarmed by our Government's
conduct than about the risk of a terrorist attack."

Mr Burnside said he would consider taking the matter to court if the
immigration department continued to hold Mr Parkin in detention.

"You would hope that you wouldn't have to go to a court to tell a
government department to obey their own laws."

Mr Parkin is an activist with the Houston Global Awareness Collective,
which aims to end the US-led war in Iraq.

Since February 2003, the collective has targeted US-based multinational
company Halliburton, which is a prime recipient of US Government
contracts in Iraq and formerly had US Vice President Dick Cheney as its
chief executive officer.

Mr Parkin has described Halliburton as a "poster child of war
profiteering".

The American arrived in Australia in early June and on August 31, took
part in a non-violent protest outside US corporation Halliburton's
Sydney headquarters.

When he was detained on Saturday, he had been due to give a workshop in
Melbourne discussing emerging trends in grassroots direct actionActivist pressured to leave quietly: lawyer
By Jesse Hogan
September 13, 2005 - 2:21PM

Scott Parkin had been travelling in Australia on a 6 months visitors
visa but was detained 10 September.

US peace activist Scott Parkin wants to leave Australia but remains in
solitary confinement because the immigration department refuses to
deport him, his lawyer said today.

Julian Burnside, QC, told theage.com.au that Mr Parkin had been told by
immigration officers that his deportation would be brought forward if
he dropped his appeal to the Migration Review Tribunal to find out why
his visa was revoked.

Mr Burnside described this as "factually false and legally improper".

"What they're doing, in effect, is saying 'Alright, we'll hold you here
in solitary confinement until you dump your action', and that's
outrageous," he said.

The immigration department has not yet returned calls from
theage.com.au about the appeal claim or when Mr Parkin will be
deported.

Mr Burnside said the Migration Act allows appeal applicants to seek
information even after they have been deported. It also requires
visitors without visas to be deported as soon as practicable.

Mr Parkin as been in solitary confinement at the Melbourne Custody
Centre since being detained last Saturday.
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Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today rejected suggestions that
political pressure from Washington may have been behind the decision to
deport Mr Parkin, whose six-month visa was cancelled because he was
deemed to be a potential risk to national security.

But Victorian Premier Steve Bracks called on the Federal Government to
explain why Mr Parkin's visa was revoked.

Mr Burnside said Mr Parkin's detention set a "disturbing precedent" for
the government's planned anti-terror laws, which have been criticised
by civil libertarians.

"Here we've got a person locked up, at his own expense, and then
removed from the country without ever knowing what he's supposed to
have done," he said.

"Quite frankly, I'm beginning to feel more alarmed by our Government's
conduct than about the risk of a terrorist attack."

Mr Burnside said he would consider taking the matter to court if the
immigration department continued to hold Mr Parkin in detention.

"You would hope that you wouldn't have to go to a court to tell a
government department to obey their own laws."

Mr Parkin is an activist with the Houston Global Awareness Collective,
which aims to end the US-led war in Iraq.

Since February 2003, the collective has targeted US-based multinational
company Halliburton, which is a prime recipient of US Government
contracts in Iraq and formerly had US Vice President Dick Cheney as its
chief executive officer.

Mr Parkin has described Halliburton as a "poster child of war
profiteering".

The American arrived in Australia in early June and on August 31, took
part in a non-violent protest outside US corporation Halliburton's
Sydney headquarters.

When he was detained on Saturday, he had been due to give a workshop in
Melbourne discussing emerging trends in grassroots direct action
campaigns.

Greens leader Bob Brown has said Mr Parkin may have been arrested for
political reasons on orders from Washington, because of the American's
history of activism against Halliburton.

- theage.com.au, with AAP

http://theage.com.au/news/national/activist-pressured-to-leave-quietly-lawyer/2005/09/13/1126377300426.html?oneclick=true

_______________________________________________________

Earlier Report on Detnetion of Scott Parkin

Wed Sep 14, 2005 13:43

A US peace activist has been detained in Melbourne by Australian Federal
Police on his way to present at a public forum and workshop about the
progress and success of the peace movement in the US and companies profiting
from the Iraq war. Approximately thirty people who had been intending to
hear Scott speak at the forum gathered outside the Carlton West police
station in support and a large presence was again outside the Melbourne
Custody Centre this morning (Sunday).

Scott Parkin, from Houston, Texas is an experienced global justice activist
and nonviolence trainer, working with Houston Global Awareness
(www.houstonglobalawareness.org ) which is campaigning against Haliburtan -
the main US corporation profiteering from the US occupation in Iraq. Scott
is also a community college instructor who teaches history in Houston.

He has been detained by Federal Police and DIMA and was held by Federal
Police at Carlton West police station before being moved to Melbourne
Custody Centre on Londsdale st. The reason given for his detention is that
he poses "a threat to national security." It is understood that he has had
his visa revoked at the Minister's discretion. Scott was wrongly reported
in several media articles as an 'organisor' of the recent Forbes 500
protests in Sydney. It is likely that ASIO simply read this as fact.

Scott Parkin is high profile peace and global justice activist. He has
spoken at numerous large public forums and events whilst in Australia
including the Brisbane Social Forum and the Sydney Social Forum in August.
He was contacted by ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation)
earlier this week and had been asked to 'come in for an interview' which
Scott rightfully declined. Scott participated in a nonviolent street
theatre action outside US corporation Halliburton's headquarters in Sydney
during protests against the Forbes meeting on August 31st. He has written
widely for numerous magazines and spoken publicly about corporate
globalisation and Haliburtons role in Iraq over many years. See:
www.counterpunch.org/parkin05102005.html

Liz Thompson from the National Anti-Deportation Alliance (NADA) said "This
is a major attack on dissent, free speech and the anti-war movement. Scott's
detention prevented him from sharing his experiences of working for peace in
the US with other local activists. This appears to be an attempt not just to
intimidate Scott, but all those working for social justice and progressive
social change more broadly. "

Ms Thompson said "These actions seem to contradict Philip Ruddock's denial
that Australia is turning into a police state. The Federal Government
already has extraordinary powers to silence dissent. This should be a
warning to everyone about the greater powers that ASIO may soon be granted."

On Thursday John Howard announced control orders and preventative detention
measures giving the AFP and ASIO powers to control people who have not been
convicted of any crime.

Scott Parkin has not been charged with any offense nor has he committed any
crimes whilst in Australia.

It is understood Scott will be forcibly deported on Monday.

ACTION: It is important that this does not happen without strong protest.
People are requested to contact the Federal Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock
on:

Phone 02 6277 7300
Fax: 02 6273 4102 or
Email; [email protected]

and ask why a peace activist has been detained because of his political
activities, prevented from speaking publicly and deported from Australia.

Please also contact you local member of Parliment and Federal Senator to
express your concerns about this action as soon as possible. Any
organisational, union and high-level protests is particulary important.

MEDIA: For media questions or comment, contact Dan Cass on 0408 468 488 or
Liz Thompson (National Anti-Deportation Alliance (NADA)) on 0421 979 694 or
Rory Gutterson on 0409 561 837

It is extremely concerning that a visiting peace activist has been treated
in this manner. Such a blatant and highly politcial act of suppression is in
direct contravention of Australia's obligations under article 9 of the
International Declaration of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In this
heightened climate of state fear-mongering it is frightening that state
security forces would target a peaceful global justice activist.

Anthony Kelly
Pt'chang Nonviolent Community Safety Group
www.nonviolence.org.au
+61 03 9415 6642

ABC Media Article: Sunday, September 11, 2005. 1:02pm (AEST)

US activist arrested after visa revoked

An American peace activist may be deported because he is allegedly a threat
to national security.

Liz Thompson from the Anti-Deportation Alliance says Scott Parkin, who is a
teacher by profession, was arrested in Melbourne yesterday.

Ms Thompson says Mr Parkin was told his visa was being revoked on the
grounds of character, after he allegedly received an adverse security
assessment.

Federal police have confirmed an American man was arrested on the orders of
the Immigration Department (DIMIA) and is in custody.

DIMIA has declined to comment on the case, but says anyone without a lawful
right to remain in Australia must be removed as soon as possible.

Ms Thompson says she is baffled by his arrest.

"He's here you know, speaking about the US peace movement," she said.

"The idea that someone who talks about non-violent methods of resistance to
state violence can be considered a threat to national security is pretty
concerning, particularly in the light of the new laws that are being
proposed."

She says Mr Parkin has done nothing wrong.

"He's a hippy giving workshops on peace, non-violent direct action," she
said.

"We'd love to know what the secret stash of information on this guy is that
makes him a threat to national security because everything that he's been
working with to put these workshops together is pretty baffled by it."

Challenge possible

Federal Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock says he is aware of the case.

"I understand it's a decision that's been taken by the Minister for
Immigration and that there may be legal proceedings surrounding it," he
said.

"I understand the decision was based upon a security assessment, and
security assessments are not something about which I can comment in any
detail."

Mr Ruddock says visas can be revoked for a number of reasons.

"I'm not going to comment on matters about which assessments are made by
competent agencies," he said.

"The only point I'd make is that in relation to those matters, there are
provisions by which the decisions can be challenged if people are inclined
to do that."

--

http://www.nonviolence.org.au

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Australain Labor Party Supports War on Civil Liberties of Nonviolent Anti-War Activists

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