This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6410587.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hicks charge 'took too much time' | Hicks charge 'took too much time' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Australian PM John Howard has welcomed a US move to file charges against an Australian man held at Guantanamo Bay for five years without trial. | Australian PM John Howard has welcomed a US move to file charges against an Australian man held at Guantanamo Bay for five years without trial. |
But he said he was "very unhappy" that the process to charge 31-year-old David Hicks had taken so long. | But he said he was "very unhappy" that the process to charge 31-year-old David Hicks had taken so long. |
A US military judge finally charged Mr Hicks on Thursday with "providing material support for terrorism". | A US military judge finally charged Mr Hicks on Thursday with "providing material support for terrorism". |
There has been growing domestic unease over Mr Hicks' treatment, and Mr Howard had been under pressure to intervene. | There has been growing domestic unease over Mr Hicks' treatment, and Mr Howard had been under pressure to intervene. |
Mr Hicks was detained in Afghanistan, where he allegedly fought alongside the ruling Taleban against US-led forces. | Mr Hicks was detained in Afghanistan, where he allegedly fought alongside the ruling Taleban against US-led forces. |
He has been at Guantanamo since January 2002, a month after his capture. | He has been at Guantanamo since January 2002, a month after his capture. |
Details emerged on Friday of claims that Mr Hicks has been abused during his time in the detention camp. | Details emerged on Friday of claims that Mr Hicks has been abused during his time in the detention camp. |
In documents due to be presented in May to a British court, as part of his application for UK citizenship, Mr Hicks said he had been shown a photo of a battered fellow inmate, and was told he would be subject to similar treatment if he did not co-operate. | In documents due to be presented in May to a British court, as part of his application for UK citizenship, Mr Hicks said he had been shown a photo of a battered fellow inmate, and was told he would be subject to similar treatment if he did not co-operate. |
In the documents, obtained by Australian media, Mr Hicks said the anxiety caused by months of abuse had forced him to "say anything" to military interrogators. | In the documents, obtained by Australian media, Mr Hicks said the anxiety caused by months of abuse had forced him to "say anything" to military interrogators. |
'Enemy combatant' | 'Enemy combatant' |
Mr Hicks is set to be the first suspect tried under a new US law authorising special military trials of "enemy combatants", passed by Congress last year. | Mr Hicks is set to be the first suspect tried under a new US law authorising special military trials of "enemy combatants", passed by Congress last year. |
The US military claims Mr Hicks supported terrorism by attending al-Qaeda training courses, and conducted surveillance on the US embassy in Kabul. | The US military claims Mr Hicks supported terrorism by attending al-Qaeda training courses, and conducted surveillance on the US embassy in Kabul. |
His American lawyer, Maj Michael Mori, said the charge of material support for terrorism brought against his client was fabricated. He wants the Australian government to mount a formal challenge against the charge, claiming it has no legal foundation. | |
With the trial due to start before July, Terry Hicks - David Hicks' father - said the timetable was being dictated by politics - a deal between the Bush administration and the Howard government to get his son back to Australia before federal elections due later this year. | |
Both Mr Hicks' lawyers and family have been pushing for a resolution to the situation for a long time, saying they feared for his mental health after such a long period in detention without trial. | Both Mr Hicks' lawyers and family have been pushing for a resolution to the situation for a long time, saying they feared for his mental health after such a long period in detention without trial. |
The Australian public, too, has been increasingly angry about the length of time he has been in detention. | The Australian public, too, has been increasingly angry about the length of time he has been in detention. |
Mr Howard made a direct demand for a quick resolution of the case to US Vice President Dick Cheney, when he visited Sydney last weekend. | Mr Howard made a direct demand for a quick resolution of the case to US Vice President Dick Cheney, when he visited Sydney last weekend. |
"The Americans have certainly speeded up the process, whether that is the result of representations I've made to both President Bush and Vice President Cheney I don't know," Mr Howard told Australian media on Friday. | "The Americans have certainly speeded up the process, whether that is the result of representations I've made to both President Bush and Vice President Cheney I don't know," Mr Howard told Australian media on Friday. |
"We remain unhappy that it has taken so long," he said. "I can't defend the length of time it's taken." | "We remain unhappy that it has taken so long," he said. "I can't defend the length of time it's taken." |
Mr Howard is also under pressure for not doing enough to try to have Mr Hicks repatriated to face trail in Australa, as fellow US ally Britain has done. | Mr Howard is also under pressure for not doing enough to try to have Mr Hicks repatriated to face trail in Australa, as fellow US ally Britain has done. |
But the Australian leader told reporters on Friday: "I thought, on balance, justice was better served by an improved military commission in the United States.". | But the Australian leader told reporters on Friday: "I thought, on balance, justice was better served by an improved military commission in the United States.". |
Mr Mori said Mr Hicks had "no hope of facing a fair trial, which would have been provided to an American a long time ago." | Mr Mori said Mr Hicks had "no hope of facing a fair trial, which would have been provided to an American a long time ago." |
A preliminary hearing for Mr Hicks is expected to be held within 30 days, and a jury trial will start within 120 days, in accordance with the Military Commissions Act of 2006. | A preliminary hearing for Mr Hicks is expected to be held within 30 days, and a jury trial will start within 120 days, in accordance with the Military Commissions Act of 2006. |
The Bush administration has said that Mr Hicks can serve his sentence in Australia if convicted. | The Bush administration has said that Mr Hicks can serve his sentence in Australia if convicted. |
Previous version
1
Next version