Pacifist tourists, the big new threat
By Brian Walters
September 13, 2005
Moves to deport a US anti-war activist are a serious abuse of power.
"Last weekend our nation crossed a line. On Saturday, a visiting tourist was arrested in Melbourne by the Australian Federal Police, on instructions from the Department of Immigration and ASIO.
His visa has been cancelled and he is to be deported on security grounds.
Who is this threat to our security?
He is not a person with any history of violence. He is not a person who has been known to associate with terrorists. He has not advocated violence against anyone.
Scott Parkin is a peace activist from the United States.
While in Australia on a holiday he has participated in workshops against the Iraq war. He performed some anti-war street theatre outside the Halliburton office when he was in Sydney. Here in Melbourne, he was on his way to conduct a publicly advertised workshop on the Iraq war when he was picked up by our nation's finest."
Brian Walters, SC, is president of Liberty Victoria.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/pacifist-tourists-the-big-new-threat/2005/09/12/1126377253303.html