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.

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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.