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Demands grow for release of Australian Guantánamo prisoner, David Hicks
Popular opposition continues to mount against the Australian government over its refusal to demand the immediate release of David Hicks from Guantánamo Bay. Hicks was captured in Afghanistan by the Northern Alliance in late December 2001 and then sold to the US military. He has been incarcerated in Guantánamo Bay for more than five years.
Two weeks ago, hundreds demonstrated outside the federal parliament and a national television and radio advertising campaign was launched demanding Hicks’s immediate repatriation.
The growing movement is being animated not only by the almost daily revelations about the sadistic treatment of Guantánamo prisoners, but by deep-seated hostility to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and concerns about the escalating assault on democratic rights at home. Tens of thousands of ordinary Australians now recognise that the soul-destroying incarceration of Hicks is the real face of the so-called “war on terror” and that long-held and hard-won legal principles are under serious threat.
In face of this sentiment, which threatens to unseat the Liberal-National coalition government in federal elections later this year, Prime Minister Howard and other senior government officials have attempted to feign concern about the length of Hicks’s imprisonment. The cynical play-acting has descended to new lows during the past two weeks.
Last November Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock told the local media that he expected terrorism charges to be laid against Hicks before the end of December. When none had been announced by late January, Howard sent a letter to the White House requesting a mid-February deadline.
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http://wsws.org/articles/2007/feb2007/hick-f19.shtml
The growing movement is being animated not only by the almost daily revelations about the sadistic treatment of Guantánamo prisoners, but by deep-seated hostility to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and concerns about the escalating assault on democratic rights at home. Tens of thousands of ordinary Australians now recognise that the soul-destroying incarceration of Hicks is the real face of the so-called “war on terror” and that long-held and hard-won legal principles are under serious threat.
In face of this sentiment, which threatens to unseat the Liberal-National coalition government in federal elections later this year, Prime Minister Howard and other senior government officials have attempted to feign concern about the length of Hicks’s imprisonment. The cynical play-acting has descended to new lows during the past two weeks.
Last November Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock told the local media that he expected terrorism charges to be laid against Hicks before the end of December. When none had been announced by late January, Howard sent a letter to the White House requesting a mid-February deadline.
More
http://wsws.org/articles/2007/feb2007/hick-f19.shtml
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When does a mercenary soldier become a terrorist? Appaerently, at the precise moment one chooses to enter into the wrong war.
David Hicks may have trained in a TERRORIST camp,(military training in specific technique) He may have gone to Pakistan, or where ever else. Then, alot of people travel these same countries on a regular basis, without the same condemnation.
The United States of America lay many accusations against this man but are yet to come to trial or even lay a date for trial to begin. Is he going to be the only man to be held up for our country as reasoning for this pathetic cause of following the USA, in their push for east Asian foot holds?
How many Mercenaries are held like this because they supported a cause for cash? Surely, the worlds governments can find many mercenaries who are supporting a cause they dont support, yet these soldiers of fortune are not rounded up and imprisoned indefinately without charge because of their choice of war?
It is well past time Mr. Howard that you grew some balls and told the US. to let him come home, and come home now!
If our government can find reason to have this man tried for something then do so but do so here in our courts, a court that represents our people, not some whim of Mr. G.Bush.
Perhaps Mr. Howard would be willing to stand by his such high moral ground and be willing to stand trial for his part in the many deaths of civillians in Afgahnistan/Iraq, Afterall, I'm sure that these people in these places may very well consider us to be TERRORISTS, for the pain and suffering we have been responsible for, in the name of Freedom and Peace.
BRING HIM HOME MR.HOWARD or you will find your party out of office(voters matey), so as some one else can!
David Hicks may have trained in a TERRORIST camp,(military training in specific technique) He may have gone to Pakistan, or where ever else. Then, alot of people travel these same countries on a regular basis, without the same condemnation.
The United States of America lay many accusations against this man but are yet to come to trial or even lay a date for trial to begin. Is he going to be the only man to be held up for our country as reasoning for this pathetic cause of following the USA, in their push for east Asian foot holds?
How many Mercenaries are held like this because they supported a cause for cash? Surely, the worlds governments can find many mercenaries who are supporting a cause they dont support, yet these soldiers of fortune are not rounded up and imprisoned indefinately without charge because of their choice of war?
It is well past time Mr. Howard that you grew some balls and told the US. to let him come home, and come home now!
If our government can find reason to have this man tried for something then do so but do so here in our courts, a court that represents our people, not some whim of Mr. G.Bush.
Perhaps Mr. Howard would be willing to stand by his such high moral ground and be willing to stand trial for his part in the many deaths of civillians in Afgahnistan/Iraq, Afterall, I'm sure that these people in these places may very well consider us to be TERRORISTS, for the pain and suffering we have been responsible for, in the name of Freedom and Peace.
BRING HIM HOME MR.HOWARD or you will find your party out of office(voters matey), so as some one else can!
Is this how the US govt reminds Australia that they believe are the controllers of our nations destiny. That is, if one questions the neo conservative right, freedom will be removed at the expense of justice.
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