 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Parkin refutes ASIO smear
Houston, Texas, 22 September 2005: Scott Parkin today spoke from Texas to clear his name and refute the media claims of an alleged ASIO leak that he was planning to teach violence in his peace workshop in Melbourne.
Mr Parkin said, "These are false, unfounded and personally damaging allegations.
"ASIO put me in solitary detention for 5 days and not once made these allegations to me nor have they provided these stories to my lawyer, Julian Burnside QC.
"If I am such a threat why have the FBI not even phoned me since my return from Australia, to follow up ASIO's silly allegations?
"If ASIO wants the public to trust this process is fair they should have made these allegations in the proper way and not via some exclusive supposed leak.
"The Government has a public responsiblity to provide facts and not make smears.
"Osama bin Laden is free, meanwhile Australia's peak intelligence agency is running around fretting about peace protestors.
"As I always say and sincerely believe, it is unprincipled to do anything violent at any time, including in a protest situation.
"During my time in Australia I spoke publically against techniques to de-arrest a person who has been lawfully detained by the Police because it is against my principles.
"ASIO should know this if they are doing their job properly.
"Horses suffer from being used as riot control machines and I completely oppose anything that abuses them.
"The media and public are welcome to come to nonviolent protest training by me or my colleages, but we can assume ASIO were there anyway and know these claims are unbelievable," said Mr Parkin.