David Hicks vs The Commonwealth: Back in Court : Melbourne Indymedia

On Monday 26 February Lawyers for David Hicks will front the Federal Court once more in the ongoing case against the Commonwealth for failing to protect an Australian citizen abroad.

Supporters for David Hicks' repatriation will gather from 9am outside the Federal Court building in Phillip Street, Sydney.

The case had been adjourned after the presiding Justice Brian Tamberlin determined on 16 December 2006 that before proceeding with the case, he first needed to decide whether or not he had the power to hear the matter.

At the same time, the Howard government is going into damage control with the latest polls indicating that the majority of Australians support the repatriation of David Hicks.

"The three unwise monkeys are working overtime," said Raul Bassi, spokesperson for the Bring David Home campaign.

"John Howard set deadlines that the US Administration has not complied with; Phillip Ruddock is flipping a thousand somersaults to prove that military commissions are 'legal'; while Alexander Downer recently announced that, if everything goes according to the US' promises, David will be home 'before Christmas' - guilty or otherwise."

"It seems that the Australian government is working overtime to get David to plead guilty so everything can go according to their plan. David's unjust imprisonment is now clearly an election liability," added Bassi.

Rally organisers are calling for everyone wanting to see David brought home immediately to join them to support David's lawyers outside the Federal Court on Monday 26 February.

For more information contact Raul Bassi on 0403 037 376 or Marlene Obeid on 0401 758 871

Issued by Stop the War Coalition - Sydney - Bring David Home Campaign

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Demands grow for release of Australian Guantánamo prisoner, David Hicks

But such is the mountain of lies from Canberra that government officials are losing track. On Monday, February 5, the government’s threadbare claims were suddenly cast aside when Howard told a meeting of government MPs that all he had to do was ask for Hicks’s release and the Australian would be repatriated.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/02/140352.php

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Latest Comments:

Hicks will serve sentence in Aust if found guilty: Cheney
by Parrot Press Saturday February 24, 2007 at 04:16 PM

United States Vice-President, Dick Cheney, says it has already agreed that if found guilty, Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks will serve his sentence in Australia and time he has already served in Guantanamo Bay would be taken into account.

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What is that the consolation prize? Or a John Howard concession for the election! He's not going to be found not guilty by the authorities and the powers that be, so why the if? Cheney needs to be locked up right away the man is insane. He's offered nothing. If David was tried in a criminal court of law with the proper standards then Cheney may incur yet another serious charge. If he's not tried in an Australian court or cannot be then he's not guilty therefore they owe him 5 years! What right have they got to lower the standards of the courts to find a person guilty?

Only the powers that be! If only the powers that be are the law then we are all doomed! Demand Justice!

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Pub brawl
by Donk Saturday February 24, 2007 at 07:15 PM

I had a beaut argument in the pub last night. Yeah this guy reconds that David Hicks couldn't have been taken to court for 5 years because they have problems with the courts in the US vis a vis Gitmo.

I said bullshit if the authorities want you in court you'll there the very next day if not the same day.

No he said there was a problem. Sure I said a 5 year problem, when has it ever been the case that the authorites couldn't get a person to court for 5 years?

If it were based on evidence then it has so far taken 5 years to lower the standards of the courts to suit no evidence!