Howard's Democracy

An email I received today on an issue I hadn't gotten around to earlier, that demands attention regardless.

[Ed: Scott Parkin has since been deported.]

If you've seen the media recently you have probably heard about the US Peace Activist that has been arrested in Melbourne by ASIO and is awaiting deportation.

His name is Scott Parkin. A lady on an e-list I belong to is friends with him and attended one of his workshops on the Peace Movement and says he is an advocate of non-violent forms of protest. He comes from Texas, where he is a history teacher and is known for peacefully protesting against the companies that are profiteering from the invasion of Iraq, such as Halliburton.

Scott came to Australia in May and since he's been here has held workshops teaching non-violence and has done some street theatre protests in Sydney. On his way to a non-violence workshop last Saturday, Scott was arrested by the Federal Police and ASIO and taken into custody. He has been detained for several days now, has had his Visa revoked and is currently awaiting deportation. The 'reason' for arresting Scott was that he's "a risk to the national security."
(Who knew that dressing up in fluffy tiger suits would be so threatening...)

It's so important that people know this has happened because Scott is the first person to feel the brunt of the new 'anti terror'
legislation that's been passed, giving ASIO the power to arrest and deport anyone they believe to be a "risk". Scott did not breech any conditions of his Visa. He is a political prisoner, detained for no other reason than exercising his right to free speech. This is Howard's Democracy.

I just think it is important for Australians, and all other citizens to consider our rights as human beings. If all the information I am lead to believe is true, there should be mass outcry... This is Australia, we're not meant to be locking people up for saying what they think! Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has questioned the Government's actions and Bob Brown has done the same. Other prominent figures from the Democrats, NGOs and political bodies have condemned Scott's ordeal as an act of gross injustice.

If you are interested in reading Julian Burnside's (Scott's lawyer's) summary of the situation, go to
http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005?09/julian_burnside.html

Please talk about this with people and tell others what's going on.

Above all don't let ASIO and whoever else scare us into thinking that we should stop standing up for our beliefs and saying what we feel. This baffling and inexcusable offense should encourage us more than ever to speak out against injustice and protect our human rights.

See also:

ABC 15 Sept: Parkin escorted to airport ahead of deportation

SMH 15 Sept: Parkin deported to US: FBI says he's 'welcome'

Crikey 13 Sept: The Scott Parkin case: did ASIO act alone?

ABC Radio [transcript] 15 Sept: Detained US peace activist deported

Greens [media release] 11 Sept: Greens question US environmentalist’s arrest

Greens [media release] 15 Sept: Brown refused ASIO briefing

Technorati: Australia, civil liberties, civil rights