Boy I hope the British govenment give David a British passport. Even if our own government is too lame to look after the interests of one of our citizens, at least a small chance remains of securing David’s release through the British nationalisation process. It staggers belief to think the US is willing to keep people imprisoned for years on end without charge, without rights, in a legal no mans land. It’s not the mark of a civilised democratic country, and the Australian government’s attitude has been little better.
Just for the record:
• David is an Australian citizen
• David has no criminal record
• David has not been charged with any crime
• David has now been incarcerated in a cage since early January 2002
• David has not been accorded his rights under the Geneva Convention
• David’s incarceration is illegal under the Geneva Convention
I think the words of the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd and Rt Hon John Sentamu says it quite nicely:
“The American Government is breaking international law. Whatever they may say about democracy, to hold someone for up to four years without charge clearly indicates a society that is heading towards George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
The main building block of a democratic society is that everyone is equal before the law, is innocent until proved otherwise and has the right to legal representation. If the guilt of the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay is beyond doubt, why are the Americans afraid to bring them to trial? Transparency and accountability are the other side of the coin of freedom and responsibility.
We are all accountable for our actions in spite of circumstances. The events of 9/11 cannot erase the rule of law and international obligations. I back the United Nations Human Rights Commission report, recommending that the US try all the detainees, or free them without further delay. If the US refuses to respond, maybe the Commission should seek a writ of Habeas Corpus in a United States Court, or at the Hague.”
I urge everyone interested in their basic democratic rights to write to their local MP’s asking them to seach their conscience about David Hicks’ unlawful incarceration. You can find out more information about David at www.fairgofordavid.org
