[Peakoil] RE: [Peakoil-announce] Fwd: URGENT ACTION: Peace activist to be deported

[Adrian Whitehead]

I was on my way to attend his workshop in Melbourne on Saturday, when I
heard he was arrested.

People met outside the Carlton police station and latter in the city in
support of Scott.

Very disturbing abuse of state powers when peace and corporate activities
get deported for being a threat to national security.

Adrian



-----Original Message-----
From: peakoil-announce-bounces+adrian=ecoaction.net.au at act-peakoil.org
[mailto:peakoil-announce-bounces+adrian=ecoaction.net.au at act-peakoil.org] On
Behalf Of Alex P
Sent: Monday, 12 September 2005 10:12 AM
To: peakoil-announce at act-peakoil.org
Subject: [Peakoil-announce] Fwd: URGENT ACTION: Peace activist to be
deported

Should be of interest to anyone who opposes some aspect of Government
policy.

Alex
O4O4873828

ACT Peak Oil discussion list
http://act-peakoil.org

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11 September 2005 3:42:26 PM

URGENT ACTION: Peace activist to be deported

*** please send widely ***

A US peace activist has been detained in Melbourne by Australian Federal=
=20 Police on his way to present at a public forum and workshop about the=20
progress and success of the peace movement in the US and companies=20=20
profiting from the Iraq war. Approximately thirty people who had been=20
intending to hear Scott speak at the forum gathered outside the Carlton=20
West police station in support and a large presence was again outside=20 the
Melbourne Custody Centre this morning (Sunday).

Scott Parkin, from Houston, Texas is an experienced global justice=20=20
activist and nonviolence trainer, working with Houston Global Awareness=20
(www.houstonglobalawareness.org ) which is campaigning against=20=20
Haliburtan - the main US corporation profiteering from the US occupation=
=20 in Iraq.  Scott is also a community college instructor who teaches=20
history in Houston.

He has been detained by Federal Police and DIMA and was held by Federal=20
Police at Carlton West police station before being moved to Melbourne=20
Custody Centre on Londsdale st. The reason given for his detention is=20=
=20 that he poses "a threat to national security." It is understood that
he=20 has=20 had his visa revoked at the Minister's discretion.  Scott was
wrongly=20= =20 reported in several media articles as an 'organisor' of the
recent=20 Forbes 500 protests in Sydney. It is likely that ASIO simply read
this=20 as fact.

Scott Parkin is high profile peace and global justice activist. He has=20
spoken at numerous large public forums and events whilst in Australia=20
including the Brisbane Social Forum and the Sydney Social Forum in=20=20
August. He was contacted by ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence=20
Organisation) earlier this week and had been asked to 'come in for an=20
interview' which Scott rightfully declined.  Scott participated in a=20
nonviolent street theatre action outside US corporation Halliburton's=20
headquarters in  Sydney during protests against the Forbes meeting on August
31st. He has=20=20 written widely for numerous magazines and spoken publicly
about=20 corporate globalisation and Haliburtons role in Iraq over many
years.=20 See:www.counterpunch.org/parkin05102005.html

Liz Thompson from the National Anti-Deportation Alliance (NADA) said=20=20
"This is a major attack on dissent, free speech and the anti-war=20
movement.  Scott's detention prevented him from sharing his experiences=20
of working for  peace in the US with other local activists. This appears=
=20 to be an attempt not  just to intimidate Scott, but all those working=20
for social justice and  progressive social change more broadly. "

Ms Thompson said "These actions seem to contradict Philip Ruddock's=20=20
denial that Australia is turning into a police state. The Federal=20
Government already has extraordinary powers to silence dissent. This=20
should be a warning to everyone about the greater powers that ASIO may=20
soon be  granted."

On Thursday John Howard announced control orders and preventative=20=20
detention measures giving the AFP and ASIO powers to control people who=20
have not  been convicted of any crime.

Scott Parkin has not been charged with any offense nor has he committed=20=
=20 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=20=20
protest. People are requested to contact the Federal Attorney-General=20
Phillip  Ruddock on:
Phone 02 6277 7300
Fax: 02 6273 4102 or
Email; Ag at Ag.gov.au

and ask why a peace activist has been detained because of his political=20
activities, prevented from speaking publicly and deported from=20=20
Australia.

Please also contact you local member of Parliment and Federal Senator to=
=20 express your concerns about this action as soon as possible.  Any=20
organisational, union and high-level protests is particulary important.

MEDIA: For media questions or comment, contact Dan Cass on 0408 468 488=20=
=20 or Liz Thompson (National Anti-Deportation Alliance (NADA)) on 0421
979=20
694 or Rory Gutterson on 0409 561 837


It is extremely concerning that a visiting peace activist has been=20=20
treated in this manner. Such a blatant and highly politcial act of=20
suppression  is in direct contravention of Australia's obligations under=
=20 article 9 of the International Declaration of Civil and Political
Rights= =20 (ICCPR).  In  this heightened climate of state fear-mongering it
is=20 frightening that state security forces would target a peaceful
global=20 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=20=20
threat to national security.

Liz Thompson from the Anti-Deportation Alliance says Scott Parkin, who=20=
=20 is a teacher by profession, was arrested in Melbourne yesterday.

Ms Thompson says Mr Parkin was told his visa was being revoked on the=20
grounds of character, after he allegedly received an adverse security=20
assessment.

Federal police have confirmed an American man was arrested on the=20=20
orders of the Immigration Department (DIMIA) and is in custody.

DIMIA has declined to comment on the case, but says anyone without a=20=20
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=20=20
resistance to state violence can be considered a threat to national=20
security is pretty concerning, particularly in the light of the new laws=
=20 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=
=20 said.

"We'd love to know what the secret stash of information on this guy is=20=
=20 that makes him a threat to national security because everything that=20
he's  been working with to put these workshops together is pretty=20 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=20
Immigration and that there may be legal proceedings surrounding it," he=20
said.

"I understand the decision was based upon a security assessment, and=20
security assessments are not something about which I can comment in any=20
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=
=20 competent agencies," he said.

"The only point I'd make is that in relation to those matters, there are=
=20 provisions by which the decisions can be challenged if people are=20=20
inclined to do that."

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ic 3053.=20 Phone 613 9659 3582 =95 info at vicpeace.org www.vicpeace.org

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