In the lead-up to Australia's federal election on October 9, the government has been feeling some heat on the Guantanamo detainees issue, and is frantically taking baby steps to entreat the USA to give Hicks and Habib something resembling a fair trial.
It goes to show that public pressure can have an effect sometimes, though in this case the government reveals itself as quixotic as it is cynical, for the US government has long shown it has absolutely no interest in the human rights of these Australian citizens whom it held without charge and in solitary confinement in 6 X 8 foot concrete cells for years.
*Ø* Tinkering won't help Hicks: ALP
"Tinkering with the US military commission process would not ensure Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks received a fair trial, Labor said.
"The federal government said it would seek changes to the process used to try Hicks to ensure he received procedural fairness.
"Hicks last month pleaded not guilty at a preliminary military commission hearing to charges of conspiracy to commit war crimes, aiding the enemy, and attempted murder.
"Another Australian, Mamdouh Habib, is also likely to face charges before a military commission.
"Opposition attorney general's spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said it had been known for months that the military commission process was unfair, but the Australian government had only chosen to act now.
"'We should demand ... where trials are held that people have a fair process and that if they have done something wrong and committed a crime they'll be convicted,' Ms Roxon told ABC radio.
"'But not using this trumped-up military commission process where really none of the normal rules apply and tinkering at the edges probably won't improve that.'"
Source: Yahoo! News
Downer, Ruddock admit failure on Guantanamo Bay
"The announcement that the Howard government will 'discuss' with the Bush Administration such matters as the presumption of innocence, the right to silence, the right to defence counsel and assurances against the death penalty at the Guantanamo Bay Military Commission is an admission of failure by ministers Downer and Ruddock, Greens Senator Bob Brown said in Canberra today.
"'The military commission is all but a kangaroo court. It cannot be made fair. Otherwise, why have it rather than have David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib brought before an Australian court?' Senator Brown said.
"'The government's compliance with this process is outrageous. Even Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry says he will disband the commission,' Senator Brown said."
Source: Australian Greens
It goes to show that public pressure can have an effect sometimes, though in this case the government reveals itself as quixotic as it is cynical, for the US government has long shown it has absolutely no interest in the human rights of these Australian citizens whom it held without charge and in solitary confinement in 6 X 8 foot concrete cells for years.
*Ø* Tinkering won't help Hicks: ALP
"Tinkering with the US military commission process would not ensure Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks received a fair trial, Labor said.
"The federal government said it would seek changes to the process used to try Hicks to ensure he received procedural fairness.
"Hicks last month pleaded not guilty at a preliminary military commission hearing to charges of conspiracy to commit war crimes, aiding the enemy, and attempted murder.
"Another Australian, Mamdouh Habib, is also likely to face charges before a military commission.
"Opposition attorney general's spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said it had been known for months that the military commission process was unfair, but the Australian government had only chosen to act now.
"'We should demand ... where trials are held that people have a fair process and that if they have done something wrong and committed a crime they'll be convicted,' Ms Roxon told ABC radio.
"'But not using this trumped-up military commission process where really none of the normal rules apply and tinkering at the edges probably won't improve that.'"
Source: Yahoo! News
Downer, Ruddock admit failure on Guantanamo Bay
"The announcement that the Howard government will 'discuss' with the Bush Administration such matters as the presumption of innocence, the right to silence, the right to defence counsel and assurances against the death penalty at the Guantanamo Bay Military Commission is an admission of failure by ministers Downer and Ruddock, Greens Senator Bob Brown said in Canberra today.
"'The military commission is all but a kangaroo court. It cannot be made fair. Otherwise, why have it rather than have David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib brought before an Australian court?' Senator Brown said.
"'The government's compliance with this process is outrageous. Even Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry says he will disband the commission,' Senator Brown said."
Source: Australian Greens
Pip Wilson posted item above at 10:16 AM | Permalink
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