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Media Release
26 February 2007Yarra calls for repatriation of David Hicks
Yarra City Council resolved at its February Council meeting to urge senior Federal and State politicians to take action on the case of David Hicks and to fight for his rights as an Australian citizen.
Council will write to Prime Minister John Howard, and the Federal Attorney General, Phillip Ruddock to request the immediate repatriation of David Hicks.
A letter will also be sent to the opposition leader Kevin Rudd and the Shadow Attorney General Kelvin Thompson urging them to make this a major issue in the forthcoming Federal election, as an issue demanding greater exposure.
Councillor Annabel Barbara raised the issue at the Council meeting on Tuesday 20 February where her fellow councillors supported the motion for Yarra to push for the immediate repatriation of David Hicks.
Cr Barbara said the incarceration of David Hicks, now in its sixth year, had gone on far too long.
“The case of David Hicks is appalling and we hope that Local Government action can affect the upper levels of government to act on this very important issue,” she said.
“Realistically, it is no longer enough for us to demand a ‘fair trial’ for David Hicks as the United States Military Justice System has demonstrated that it is incapable of effecting that result.
“His incarceration, without charges for more than five years, has ignored the important legal principle of habeus corpus – no imprisonment without trial.
“The City of Yarra is supporting a call from the Hicks family for David to be returned to Australia to face charges, if necessary, in Australia under the transparency of the Australian Legal system.
“David Hicks is an Australian citizen who should not be allowed to languish under horrific conditions in a foreign jail and without any criminal or other charges whatsoever.
“It is our responsibility as representatives in local government to demand his release airing the views of many of our constituents, demanding that his citizenship be respected just as we value the rights conferred on our residents who become citizens of Australia – a responsibility Councillors and Officers take seriously.
“It is important that we don’t forget that amidst the debate about citizenship and national security a citizen of Australia is languishing in jail. This person could be a resident of Yarra or another Victorian municipality.”
Yarra City Council will be calling on the MAV, VLGA and all other councils to put pressure on the Federal Government to bring David Hicks home.
Council plans to also hold a public meeting in the coming months to facilitate community discussion on this issue and to further publicly highlight the injustice of Mr Hicks’ incarceration.
Further information
For media enquiries about this issue, please contact:
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333 Bridge Road Richmond
Telephone 9205 5047, 0438 664 050
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