Hicks: Campaign Kits : Melbourne Indymedia

Dear all

A message from Rights Australia:

Like most Australians, we're not convinced that the latest steps by the
Australian and US governments on David Hicks mean that much, except that he's going to stay in Guantanamo Bay longer at this rate, without his
day in court.

View our call to action advertisement at

http://www.rightsaustralia.org.au/articles114.html

And forward it on widely to others who you know are concerned.

The advertisement calls on people to put pressure on Government MPs to bring Hicks home for trial - not just express their concern. (You can even re-mix the advertisement to personalise it for your friends or local MPs.)

Also in the Current Issues section of the website, read the UN's comments on Australia's counter terror laws.

More next week...

Howard Glenn for Rights Australia.

Guantanamo chief labels Hicks a dangerous terrorist

The head of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre has described Australian detainee David Hicks as a dangerous terrorist.

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Guantanamo detainees not abused, US military probe says

A US military investigation into abuse allegations at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba has found no evidence of improper treatment of detainees.

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Use of coerced evidence possible in Hicks trial: Ruddock

Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says it is possible that evidence obtained coercively could be used against Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

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Howard fails to ease MPs' concerns for Hicks

The Prime Minister is toughening his language on the detention of Australian David Hicks, but that has failed to ease the concerns of some Coalition backbenchers.

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PM acknowledges mood change on Hicks

Prime Minister John Howard has criticised the US handling of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks, who is facing terrorism-related charges.

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Hicks trial at least four months away

The US State Department has detailed the time frame for the military commission trial for Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

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Hicks defence team ready by September

The Australian lawyer for David Hicks says it will be September before the defence team is ready for trial

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Timing of Hicks charges 'an act of bastardry'

The Australian lawyer for David Hicks has accused the US military of an act of bastardry for waiting until the departure of his legal team to announce new charges.

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US prosecutor defends Hicks charges

The US military officer prosecuting Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks has rejected criticism of the charges that will be laid against him.

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Too early to speculate on Hicks plea, lawyer says

The US military lawyer for Australian David Hicks says it is too early to speculate about whether his client will plead not guilty to fresh charges.

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PM rejects call for retrospective Aust law for Hicks

Prime Minister John Howard says he does not believe the passage of retrospective laws in Australia is appropriate, despite Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks being charged under a retrospective law in the United States

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Govt challenged over Hicks 'retrospective' charge

The Federal Opposition has accused the Government of double-standards over the draft charges announced for David Hicks.

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PM welcomes new charges against Hicks

Prime Minister John Howard says he is glad the US military has drafted new charges against Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

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New Hicks charges announced

The US military has drafted new terrorism charges against Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hick

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Coalition shuns letter calling for David Hicks's return

The Democrats have expressed disappointment that only one federal Coalition parliamentarian signed a letter to the United States congress pushing for David Hicks to be returned to Australia for prosecut

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Length of Hicks's detention 'totally inappropriate'

Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison says Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks has been detained in Guantanamo Bay for too long.

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Labor MPs urge US Speaker to help Hicks

Canberra's three federal Labor politicians are sending a letter to the Speaker of the United States Congress asking her to assist Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

Last two days? Not David Hicks ABC!

Greens leader Bob Brown says he is outraged that the head of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre has described David Hicks as a dangerous terrorist.

Rear Admiral Harry Harris says Hicks is a dangerous terrorist and is only allowed out of his cell for two hours a day because he is a security threat.

Rear Admiral Harris says claims that Hicks is depressed are not true.

Senator Brown says the statements cannot be believed.

"The reports coming from other detainees who've come out of Guantanamo Bay - and they're verifiable - show that there's been inhumane treatment," he said.

"We know anyway that the rights of Hicks have been removed, he's had no legal rights - he's been judged guilty by Admiral Harris himself."

Rear Admiral Harry Harris said that Hicks poses a real security threat and there are no innocent detainees.

"We are detaining enemy combatants here in Guantanamo," he said.

"That's the right of any nation at war to do that and it's an internationally recognised right.

"There's no expectation that they be tried or charged, with exception of those that are alleged to have committed war crimes."

Hicks's lawyer, David McLeod, says the Rear Admiral's comments make it clear Hicks will not receive a fair trial in the United States.

"This suggestion that because detainees are there, that that is in itself evidence of terrorism, or their being a terrorist, simply puts the lie to any attempt to deal with them in a fair and open manner," he said.

"To suggest that a prisoner in the Australian criminal courts is guilty would in itself amount to a mistrial or an inability to proceed appropriately and fairly before a court."