Tuesday, July 15, 1997

Activist faces fresh attempt to deport him 

By JODIE BROUGH

The former United States black rights activist and aircraft hijacker 
Mr Lorenzo Ervin was served yesterday with a list of questions by the 
Department of Immigration, which could lead to a second cancellation 
of his visa.

His lawyers, Terry Fisher and Co, said last night that the department 
had directed that the questions must be answered by tomorrow. They 
related to the reasons for the ex-Black Panther's lecture tour, on 
behalf of the anarchist group Angry People, and his criminal 
background.

A spokesman said the firm did not know for certain where Mr Ervin was 
but said he was believed to be in northern NSW.

Last week, the Federal Government was forced to back away from its 
attempt to eject Mr Ervin from the country on the grounds that he was 
not of good character.

The Acting Minister for Immigration, Senator Vanstone, cited his 1969 
conviction for hijacking a DC-8 from the United States to Cuba as 
evidence of his bad character, incarcerating him in a Brisbane jail.

But his lawyers appealed to the High Court, saying he had been denied 
natural justice because he had not been allowed to answer the 
Government's allegations against him. The court ordered, with the 
Government's consent, that his visa be restored.

Senator Vanstone warned on Friday that the Government had not given 
up its efforts to deport Mr Ervin but did not reveal how it would do 
so.