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Australian Peace trainer Iain Murray, a friend of Scott's said:
"There's about as much evidence of Scott representing a threat as
there's been evidence found of weapons of mass destruction."
Scott was held in solitary confinement at the Melbourne Custody Centre from Saturday until early this morning. Greenpeace Political Liaison Officer, Helen Oakey finally managed to speak with him directly yesterday, and pass on news of all the media coverage around his case and well wishes from family and friends.
UPDATE
Scott arrived in Los Angeles on September 16 with an escort of two Australian immigration officials.
After his five day detention in Australia and his trip back to LA he was handed a bill for almost $11,700.
This included a $4,235 airfare back to LA and $6,675 for the return airfares of the two officials, and their accommodation in LA. The five day stay at the Melbourne Custody Centre will cost another $777.
He has also been banned from entering Australia for three years. Scott was on a six month holiday to Australia, New Zealand and Asia when he was arrested.
"I'm just completely baffled by all of this," said Parkin soon after his arrival at Los Angeles international airport.
“I'd love to know the assessment in which the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation made of me to lock me up for five days in solitary confinement and then remove me from the country essentially forcibly."
Scott plans to fight his removal from Australia and is desperate to find out why authorities were concerned about him.
read about Scott's arrest.
Mr Parkin told Helen: "I find this entire experience incomprehensible and am still baffled as to why my visa has been cancelled. I hope that when Australians visit the US that they are allowed to voice their criticism of government and corporate policy without fear of reprisal, and that they are freely allowed to participate in peaceful protest."
Mr Parkin was to deliver a workshop on non-violent protest when he was contacted by the Australian National Intelligence Agency and detained by Australian Federal Police on September 10th. His visa was revoked, he was put in solitary confinement, and was asked to sign a waiver of his right to appeal his deportation.
Greenpeace lawyers, Julian Burnside, QC, and Scott's lawyers mounted an administrative law to challenge the deportation. This resulted in the government retracting its request for the rights waiver and scaled back its threat of 'deportation' to the less serious 'removal'.
Greenpeace Political Liaison Officer, Helen Oakey said, "This is a sad day for our democracy and all Australians should be concerned. Scott's detention and removal will damage our reputation internationally."
As Mr Parkin arrived at Melbourne airport at about 6am today, around 30 people demonstrated their support for Scott and his commitment to peaceful protest. One supporter was dressed up as John Howard, holding up a sign that said, "Scott, send my love to George (W Bush)", others had placards saying: "Thanks for your non-violence Scott", "Free Speech", and “Peace is the word”.
Scott is expected to be met by US supporters when he arrives at Houston, Texas, including the human rights organisation Global Exchange.
Scott gratefully acknowledged the surge of public support he has received on the ground and through the Internet, "To my family and friends, everyone who is supporting me, both in Australia and in the US, I'd like to thank you for the overwhelming support that I have received."
"I am a student of mass social movements in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr and I think that these movements have shown us the way to achieve positive social change," he said.
Scott was held in solitary confinement at the Melbourne Custody Centre from Saturday until early this morning. Greenpeace Political Liaison Officer, Helen Oakey finally managed to speak with him directly yesterday, and pass on news of all the media coverage around his case and well wishes from family and friends.
UPDATE
Scott arrived in Los Angeles on September 16 with an escort of two Australian immigration officials.
After his five day detention in Australia and his trip back to LA he was handed a bill for almost $11,700.
This included a $4,235 airfare back to LA and $6,675 for the return airfares of the two officials, and their accommodation in LA. The five day stay at the Melbourne Custody Centre will cost another $777.
He has also been banned from entering Australia for three years. Scott was on a six month holiday to Australia, New Zealand and Asia when he was arrested.
"I'm just completely baffled by all of this," said Parkin soon after his arrival at Los Angeles international airport.
“I'd love to know the assessment in which the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation made of me to lock me up for five days in solitary confinement and then remove me from the country essentially forcibly."
Scott plans to fight his removal from Australia and is desperate to find out why authorities were concerned about him.
read about Scott's arrest.
Mr Parkin told Helen: "I find this entire experience incomprehensible and am still baffled as to why my visa has been cancelled. I hope that when Australians visit the US that they are allowed to voice their criticism of government and corporate policy without fear of reprisal, and that they are freely allowed to participate in peaceful protest."
Mr Parkin was to deliver a workshop on non-violent protest when he was contacted by the Australian National Intelligence Agency and detained by Australian Federal Police on September 10th. His visa was revoked, he was put in solitary confinement, and was asked to sign a waiver of his right to appeal his deportation.
Greenpeace lawyers, Julian Burnside, QC, and Scott's lawyers mounted an administrative law to challenge the deportation. This resulted in the government retracting its request for the rights waiver and scaled back its threat of 'deportation' to the less serious 'removal'.
Greenpeace Political Liaison Officer, Helen Oakey said, "This is a sad day for our democracy and all Australians should be concerned. Scott's detention and removal will damage our reputation internationally."
As Mr Parkin arrived at Melbourne airport at about 6am today, around 30 people demonstrated their support for Scott and his commitment to peaceful protest. One supporter was dressed up as John Howard, holding up a sign that said, "Scott, send my love to George (W Bush)", others had placards saying: "Thanks for your non-violence Scott", "Free Speech", and “Peace is the word”.
Scott is expected to be met by US supporters when he arrives at Houston, Texas, including the human rights organisation Global Exchange.
Scott gratefully acknowledged the surge of public support he has received on the ground and through the Internet, "To my family and friends, everyone who is supporting me, both in Australia and in the US, I'd like to thank you for the overwhelming support that I have received."
"I am a student of mass social movements in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr and I think that these movements have shown us the way to achieve positive social change," he said.
