Scott Parkin, a US peace activist from Houston, got a warm welcome from friends like 'Dick Cheney' upon arrival, but faces a bill of up to $11,700 for his unprecedented detention and tickets back to the U.S. for himself and 2 escorts.

His detention and deportation have been controversial, sparking significant debate (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5)and numerous protests (1 | 2 | 3). Australian Iraq-war-whistleblower Andrew Wilkie said his detention is proof of an out-of-control national security agenda. The FBI has stated that he is welcome to return to the U.S.

Scott was detained by police in Australia and held in solitary confinement without being charged with any crime. The reasons were ambiguous but his legal advisor has confirmed that among the reasons given for his detainment is that Scott has been identified as a terror threat to Australian national security. Scott is in no way a terrorist threat; he is a political activist, plain and simple, and was detained because of his political activism.

Scott has been an essential component in organizing anti-war profiteering protests against Halliburton in Houston, Texas. He was a key organizer of the two large protests during Halliburton¹s 2004 and 2005 shareholders meetings that garnered negative publicity for Halliburton, and he has co-organized numerous teach-ins, rallies and other nonviolent actions about war profiteering. Scott is also an environmental activist and worked with Greenpeace on an action during Exxon Mobil¹s shareholder meeting in 2003.

Scott has been traveling in Australia since June, camping and hiking, and recently began doing some work with Australia Greenpeace. He has also recently has been participating in some anti-corporate protests in Australia, and has given presentations to Australian activists about strategic organizing, street theater, and nonviolent direct action. He has broken no known law or violated his visa requirements. According to his legal advisor in Australia, Marika Dias, "Scott has complied with that visa completely while he's been here. There's been no wrongdoing on his part."

Background | Sydney protest | Melbourne protest | Latest updates on case | Agrees to deportation | Aus A-G pretends deportation not political | Worldwide Coverage | Returns to US
Case sparks Australian commentary:
On Scott Parkin | Why Deport Parkin? | Debate in Australian Senate | The new terrorism: Working for peace! | ASIO used against green & anti-corporate activists