9-13-05, 9:56 am

The weekend arrest in Melbourne of US peace activist Scott Parkin exposes the potential for abuse inherent in the Howard Government's anti-terrorist laws.

'At a time when Australians are already deeply concerned about the Howard Government's attacks on free speech and the right to protest in the name of fighting terrorism, the silencing of a peace activist for the `crime' of satirising US policy will only confirm many people's worst fears.' said Greenpeace Australia Pacific spokesperson Dan Cass.

Scott Parkin arrived in Australia six weeks ago on a six-month visa. He was arrested on Saturday morning as he left a caf?Scott was on his way to run a workshop on non-violent protesting sponsored by the Pt'chang Non-violence Community Safety Group.

Mr Parkin had been contacted by ASIO last Wednesday by phone and requested to attend an interview.

'He asked if it would affect his stay in Australia and (ASIO) wouldn't tell him. He also asked if he was required to attend an interview and they said no, he wasn't. So he decided not to (be interviewed)', said Iain Murray, spokesperson for Pt'chang.

Scott Parkin's lawyers are working with Julian Burnside, QC, and Greenpeace to mount an administrative law challenge to his detention and planned deportation.

Mr Burnside said 'If all Mr Parkin has done to be assesseda security risk is to peacefully protest his opinions, then we are in serious trouble.

'The Government must answer, why is peaceful protesting in Australia enough to justify deporting Mr Parkin?

'No Australian government should deport a person merely for their political beliefs.' On Monday Scott Parkin instructed his lawyers to lodge an appeal with the Migration Review Tribunal to review the basis on which his visa was withdrawn. The legal is team is hoping that this will force the Government to reveal the security assessment they made on Mr Parkin.

'If the government does not reveal the factual basis of the security assessment, this demonstrates that they are able to interfere with people's liberties without ever having to justify their actions', said Mr Burnside.

Greenpeace campaigns director Danny Kennedy said, 'The burden of proof in the Scott Parker expulsion case lies morally with the Commonwealth, to prove that he is a danger.

'When the government brought in anti-terror legislation they promised the public that these laws would only be used to confront a real and present risk of a terrorist attack, not a sweep-all approach against citizens.

'Peace is not terrorism. Peace is not a threat to national security. No democratic government should expel a foreign citizen because they oppose his political opinions.

'Australians cannot afford to let the government get away with setting a draconian precedent like this.'

From The Guardian