I am ashamed that my country is prepared to sit on its hands as the justice we claim to crave and fight for is trampled and human rights are ignored.
I don’t know what David Hicks did, if anything. I do know that he has been held prisoner and denied justice for more than five years. I also know that our Federal Government has seemed disinterested in pursuing justice for one of its citizens. The government’s inaction and ignorance on David Hicks’ situation appalls me.
We know from the prosecution that Hicks never shot or threatened anyone yet we there cases in Australia where someone is convicted of far worse and released from jail after two or three years. Our politicians have become paralysed by American insecurities. We have been caught in the web of fear which has, of itself, made America weaker.
It is time for Australia to stand up for itself and for one of its own.
I hope that this blog entry in some small way adds to the voice online about the injustice meted out against David Hicks at Guantanamo Bay every day. It joins 680,000 Google references to David Hicks.
Bring him home.
Resources:
Wikipedia
Fair Go For David
The President Versus David Hicks
David Hicks campaign site
Latest coverage from The Age newspaper
Michelle Grattan commentary
What was david hicks doing in Afganistan at the time of his arrest, sight seeing? Was the picture of him holding a rocket launcher doctored in any way or is there a holiday resort offering lessons in the sport of target shooting like archery? I too do not know if he is quilty or not but if an australian places themselves in the middle of a conflict then why should Australian taxpayers get him out of trouble. He traveled to the conflict area on his own, knowing that what he was doing was against what most australians believe, and lets face it most Australians believe that solving problems with guns and voilence is not the way. But off he went and now he is in trouble his dad wants a fair go. I would hope that my tax dollars are better spent, maybe stopping Australia posts inroads into our industry. If so many people want a fair go for David hicks then lets see the money, everyone who wants him home pay for the legal defence, the plane home, the prison costs if he is found guity and sent back to australia, leave the taxpayers out of it. I support the government on this matter.