As the atricle below says the Government is claiming Hicks

"...trained to blow up Australian citizens and other citizens of the world"

by training with Al Qaeda.

I don't recall seeing any evidence that Hicks knew he was or would be fighting against Australia, the U.S. and the U.K..

Much like John Walker Lindt, who had no idea he was fighting against America, Hicks might have been trained by Al Qaeda to fight against the soviets in Afghanistan.

Looks like the Govt. is again fabricating a story that Hicks turned on us and has trained as an Al Qaeda soldier to wage war against us.

I hope his citizenship goes through and he goes to Britain and tells his story. I wouldn't come back here to live if I was him. At least for 5-10 years.



Don't let Hicks back in Australia: Hockey
December 16, 2005 - 11:32AM

Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks has found a "chink in the armour of the British law" but should not be allowed to return to Australia, federal Human Services Minister Joe Hockey says.

The Australian terrorist suspect was given a possible pathway to freedom this week when Britain's High Court directed the government to register his British citizenship.

Hicks' legal team believes that if he is registered as a citizen, the British government will seek his removal from US military detention, as it did with nine other Britons earlier held at Guantanamo Bay.

But the British Home Office yesterday said it intended to appeal against the court direction.

Even if Hicks is released, Canberra has raised questions about his return to Australia if he renounces his Australian citizenship.

When asked today if Hicks should be allowed to return home, Mr Hockey said: "No."

"He deserves his day in court and he hasn't had it, and justice delayed has been justice denied," Mr Hockey told the Seven Network today.

"I think he has found a little chink in the armour of the British law and he's got through.

"He might get British citizenship and he might go to Britain, but certainly the charges are sitting on the table in the United States.

"This guy trained to blow up Australian citizens and other citizens of the world, that's the allegation . . . and it's a pretty serious allegation."

- AAP

It's the most attention this Govt. has given Hicks and why? Because there's a chance he might be released and then they'd have egg all over their faces. Lil Johnny is waving his hands in the air screaming "don't release him, don't release him".

Britain giving an Australian citizen the support that we would not! Absolutely disgusting!


Try Hicks 'as soon as possible'
December 16, 2005 - 2:02PM

Prime Minister John Howard wants terror suspect David Hicks to appear before a US military commission as soon as possible, despite new prospects that he could be released as a British citizen.

Hicks' supporters hope a British High Court ruling, opening the way for him to become a British citizen, could also led to his release from US custody at Guantanamo Bay. Nine other Britons have already been freed.

However, Britain's Home Office has appealed the ruling and meanwhile Hicks' trial before a military commission has been delayed by other legal action in the US.

Mr Howard said it was up to Britain to decide on the issue of Hicks' citizenship.

But he said it was Hicks' own lawyers, and not the Australian or American governments, who were responsible for delays in dealing with his case.

"We would like to see him before the military commission as soon as possible," Mr Howard said.

Mr Howard rejected suggestions the Australian government had not done enough to help the terror suspect, saying he expected Hicks' lawyer to make such claims.

"I expect him to say that because he thinks that is in the interests of his client.

"That's his job."

Hicks, 30, formerly of Adelaide, has been locked up at Guantanamo for almost four years after being captured in Afghanistan in late 2001.

- AAP

Did you see the Four Corners story about Hicks a few weeks ago?

Quite fascinating indeed...showing how a young, stupid boy got caught up in the "war on terror"

for example....that photo they keep showing of him with some kind of missile launch weapon on his shoulder...was taken years before Afghanistan...when he was being trained by NATO for work in Kosovo (which he never actually took part it 'cos all the NATO work was over with by the time he finished his training)

check out http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1491717.htm if you want some more information.  The transcript of the whole show is available from there and it is amazing to see how an Australian who essentially went on a boys' own adventure has ended up being locked-up for four years, uncharged by Australia's supposed ally.  

Is this the freedom we're fighting for Mr Howard?  The freedom to be thrown in jail by our friends without charge and without any prospect of a fair trial?  

Even Blair had the decency to realise his citizens would not get anything fair out of a US Military Commission.

agree fully with BSquared here !

no trial what so ever ( let alone a fair one ) ! ... these consistant & overused single image's of him " conveniently displayed to be the most visually incrimitating " .

our so called "Allies"  America ( re: user's when majorly convenient then go 2 faced ) , in my opinion have been nothing but completely hypocrital in every sense of the word with everything they do/say.
American's themselves might buy their own self promoting /biased propaganda - but i think the rest of the world is a little more sceptical - and i'd say ( going by their record ) justifyably as well .

to be stuck in a place like that , and complete with biased cover up's & bullsh*t when it comes to conditions and the like , is beyond me and 100% totally inhuman ( and this includes the rediculous amount of time in custody ) .
? ... where does the united nations stand in this particular position - i can't remember    


also , ( i personally don't think the Aust government have voiced their right to protest hard enough - at all !  ( or is this because Aust is possibly seen as a rather pissy nation compared to the U.K  in terms of "useability" )    ..i think Johnny's highly intimidated big time, by the U.S Government to be honest !   ( how high should i jump George ! )
something that mostly - i believe ..does'nt sit too well with the majority of Australians, incl myself .

Here Here BSquared!
I didn't see the Four Corners show but will read the transcript. I have always believed that David Hicks has been portrayed falsely and that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His only crime is being a little stupid and very naive.

Quoted from SuziH

His only crime is being a little stupid and very naive.

I suspect he is also guilty of being white Suzi...it seems the yanks want very much to show that their war on terror is not a racist attack on people who look different.  As far as I can tell Hicks is the only white inhabitant of Guantanemo Bay (or one of very few at best)...all the Brits were "of middle eastern origins" as the PC-speak would say...if they keep him there they can put their hands over their hearts and say "this is a war on all terrorists..not just the odd-looking ones...white guys too...see we are the good guys"

makes me wanna puke

Quoted from Mal_Function

? ... where does the united nations stand in this particular position - i can't remember    

Well doesn't that say a lot?  Don't worry Mal...you can't remember 'cos they don't stand anywhere...the UN is about as useful as a wet tissue and, as usual, too afraid to stand up to the bullies of the world playground.

Don't worry though...I'm sure they'll have some lovely meetings and make some really mean-sounding resolutions...which the entire world will then ignore because the UN and it's petty resolutions are about as scary as a 90-year old with no teeth

The British govt. is appealing his right to be granted UK citizenship.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1538471.htm

Quoted from Paula

The British govt. is appealing his right to be granted UK citizenship.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1538471.htm

They have to go through the motions. . but he will be allowed to have a Brit passport. . his mother was born there . . they can't really stop him . . and as yet he has no conviction.

Thought I would start a thread on David Hicks in light of the latest revelations that have come out of the Jack Thomas trial.

Others can debate the right and wrong of what is happening to David, but the number one reason given time and time again for David Hick's guilt by Ruddock and his predecesor, along with Howard and the US government, is that David trained with Al Queda in Afghanistan.

The indisputable proof given for this assertion is his supposed time in an Al Queda training camp within Afghanistan. Now David is a known mercenary and fought in Bosnia as one. Nobody is saying he is the smartest man in the world but his contention has always been that he was fighting with the Taliban first against the Russians and then against the Northern Aliance and the warlords, not with Al Queda against the Americans. David was captured with two Taliban soldiers whilst fighting the Northern Aliance.

Well it has just come to light that the much vaunted supposed Al Queda training camp that proves David Hick's guilt as a confirmed terrorist was a Taliban training camp, and the DPP (thus Howard, Ruddock, Williams etc.) knew this all along but have deliberately kept the information from any legal defence as it would have substantially weakened the prosecution's arguments against all Westerners caught in Afghanistan, most who have been convicted purely on their time at this camp.

The Taliban were a legitimate army, not an outlawed terrorist group, so it is not illegal under any laws, domestic or international to fight with them.

Yes Al Queda at times used that camp and at various times there were individuals from Al Queda there, but it was never an Al Queda training camp as asserted , but was always a legitimate military camp used for training a country's defence force.

This was one of the reasons Jack Thomas was acquitted (which still has the government miffed) yet they still refuse to release or charge David Hicks one way or another.

The average braindead conservative's response to David Hicks (and those like him) is he was caught fighting against America/Britain/Australia so he deserves whatever injustices come his way, when we know this is not true. As you stated he was fighting with the Taliban against the Russians.

It is not illegal to enlist in the army of a Government which is what David Hicks did.

At the end of the day the law must judge David Hicks, not our own personal opinions or those of politicians. David Hicks has not committed a crime under Australian or international law.

He has a family that loves him, he was not in combat against Australia or the COW, he is not a terrorist, he should be set free.

Here, Here. I get so sad when I see stories with his Dad and the circumstances David is in. He was just a dumb bunny who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let him come home and enjoy freedom. It is wrong, wrong, wrong. I think there is no better man to be his Lawyer than the US one he has who has made a visit to Australia just last week. How damned frustrating must it be for his 'team' and family?

Grrrrrrr this  fella  really gets up my goat, he was Caught - proven to be "in training" although he was out of probation when he picked up a rifle.

Crys foul about his treatment ( granted he should of been before the court by now)

Crys foul again then jumps ship and becomes English  in the hope of getting out  and now expects for aussie to bail him out.

Reminds me of Dokich!

  

Our government's treatment of David Hicks brings our country down to the level of every totalitarian regime that imprisons people without due process. He is the first human face of our slide into totalitarianism.

I am old enough to remember the Cold War. There were attempts, but at no time did our nation succumb to the injustice of imprisoning suspected Communists.

Thing is with 'terrorism', who is more terrifying, an 18 year old kid that's going to blow himself up tonight at my local supermarket, or the helicopter gun ship hovering above my roof shelling the guys next door?

Quoted from ALLEYCAT

Grrrrrrr this  fella  really gets up my goat, he was Caught - proven to be "in training" although he was out of probation when he picked up a rifle.

Crys foul about his treatment ( granted he should of been before the court by now)

Crys foul again then jumps ship and becomes English  in the hope of getting out  and now expects for aussie to bail him out.

Reminds me of Dokich!

First he has not been proven to be "in training". Where did you get that from. He is not even being charged for training with a proscribed terrorist group because there was not one milligram of evidence to sustain that conviction. He trained with the Taliban to fight warlords and the Nortern Alliance, an enemy of the Afghanistani state.

These are his made up charges because they couldn't find anything else:

Quoted Text

Conspiracy to commit war crimes, attempted murder by an unprivileged belligerent, and aiding the enemy.

That's it and it took over two years to come up with those charges.

Quoted Text

David Hicks, an Adelaide man, was captured by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in early December 2001 while travelling with Taliban soldiers who were defending their territory from the Northern Alliance.

David's was handed over to the Americans who moved him to Cuba and the infamous Camp X-ray. He remained there uncharged after numerous interrogations by both American and Australian government military officers and/or officials until 2003. He was detained in a small cage for more than five months, and was transferred to a small "shed type" prison cell about the middle of 2002. There is a bed, no chair and no window. The lights are on twenty four hours a day. He has only two fifteen minute exercise periods a week where he is walked shackled between two guards. He is forced to wear an overall type uniform whether it is forty-three degrees Centigrade (over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit) or less.

Captured in 2001 by the Northern Alliance fighting with the Taliban he was not charged with anything until 2003. From the Americans own records he was not attacking Americans yet they charged him with attempted murder of Americans.

Like hundreds of others who have been falsely accused and wrongly arrested David Hicks has done nothing illegal, but unlike the hundreds of others who have all been released David remains in imprisonment. Why?

Because our gutless and spineless government will not admit they got it wrong. Rather than say sorry we stuffed up and here's some comepensation and welcome home, they are willing to do anything to find Hicks guilty, including deceit and usurp democracy, the thing they say they are upholding.

The most ironic thing about all this is that according to international law Hicks is innocent but Howard is guilty of aiding and abetting kidnapping and torture, and if Howard had to face an international court they could do nothing but find him guilty.