Green Party backs Military Court director on shameful legal process for Hicks
Mood:  sad
Topic: human rights
Howard shoud listen to Brigadier McDade on Hicks
 
2 January 2007
 
Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today called on John Howard to
listen to Brigadier McDade, director of the Australian Military Court,
on the treatment of David Hicks, and called on all parliamentarians to
back the Greens Bill to remove recognition of the US Military
Commissions.
 
"John Howard should listen to the advice of our top military prosecutor
rather than the prolonged excuses of the increasingly troubled Bush
Administration," said Senator Nettle.
 
"David Hicks has been held for over five years now, in terrible
conditions and with no prospect of a fair trial.  The Brigadier is spot
on in labelling his treatment 'abominable'.
 
"It is not good enough for the Prime Minister to shift his rhetoric
slightly. He can and should act by picking up the phone and calling
George Bush to ensure David Hicks is brought home.
 
"The Greens have introduced a Private Members Bill that would remove
recognition of the flawed US Military Commissions from Australian law.
Government backbenchers have an opportunity to signal their discontent
about inaction on Hicks by voting for this bill when Parliament
resumes".
 
Contact: Max Phillips 0414 ...........