Hicks's legal papers seized (Guantanamo)

[Judi Lynn]

Hicks's legal papers seized
Email Print Normal font Large font Phillip Coorey Political Correspondent
August 21, 2006

THE US Government has seized privileged legal material from the Australian Guantanamo Bay prisoner David Hicks and fellow inmates.

Lawyers have labelled it the latest abuse of legal process concerning the prisoners. The material was seized with all other possessions, including blankets and books, as part of an investigation into the suicides of three inmates in June.

After the raid by US Navy investigators, lawyers for the prisoners lodged a complaint demanding to know what had been taken.

Documents filed in the US Federal Court last week show the US Justice Department admitted it seized from Hicks and others "attorney-client communications".
(snip)

Major Mori was baffled as to why Hicks had his material seized, given he was being held in isolation in a different part of the camp to that where a Yemeni and two Saudis killed themselves.
(snip/...)

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/hickss-legal-papers-seized/2006/08/20/1156012411107.html

[acmavm]

1. OK, anyone who has the faintest idea in their minds that there is a

snowball's chance in hell that these guys have any civil/human rights whatsoever is an absolute moran. The US government stripped them of all that the second they took them into custody.

How could anyone be shocked by this? It is to be expected.

[Gman]

2. Saddam Hussein would have done the very same thing

and he would be proud of the US for doing it.

[screembloodymurder]

3. The military does not believe in Democracy.

That is not surprising. No military could exist as a democracy. That's why our founding fathers were careful to confine the military's role to defense against foreign enemies.

[IndianaGreen]

4. What can you expect from our Nazi concentration camp at Guantanamo?

The guards and commanders at Guantanamo should all be tried for their crimes by the International Crimes Court at The Hague. They have brought shame to the uniform they wear, and they are no better than Nazi concentration camp guards.

[damntexdem]

6. Forget the guards. Charge the commanders and ...

their superiors all the way up the chain of command, through Rummy to Dubya.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. The guards are just as guilty and MUST be prosecuted, too

Thanks to the Nuremburg precedents, "just following orders" is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.

[damntexdem]

5. Baffled? It's simple:

the U.S. is trampling all over civil rights and wants to deny the prisoners access to adequate legal help. The "investigation" of the suicides is a smoke screen.

[cal04]

7. Ruddock, PM 'concerned about Hicks'

what a bunch of crap)
ATTORNEY-General Philip Ruddock says he and Prime Minister John Howard share concerns over the length of time terror suspect David Hicks has been in detention.

But Mr Ruddock said today there was little the Australian Government could do to press United States institutions to speed up the process.

(snip)
Mr Ruddock said he had not met Hicks' US military lawyer Major Michael Mori who visited Australia last week.

But he said there was concern at the length of his detention.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20197603-1702,00.html

[AusGail]

8. Was Ruddock wearing his "Human Rights" badge when he made that statement?

From the day Hicks was arrested Howard and his hoons could have insisted on Hicks being returned home. Apparently Hicks was waiting for a cab when he was grabbed and sold to the Americans. There is no proof that he fired a shot in anger, let alone killed anyone. I'm not saying he's an angel, but would you say he was any worse than the US soldiers that have raped and murdered innocent civilians in Iraq?

Even Sadam Hussain gets to have his day in court (be it not a fair one).

I think he should be released immediately. Even if he is guilty of any trumped up charges found against him, he has well and truly served his sentence.

[cal04]

9. thank you AusGail

for that information. I always wonder what's missing from this story and why they aren't trying
to get him out. Seems like every other country got their people out
I never heard that part of the story. Thanks again

[AusGail]

10. The part about Hicks waiting for a cab

was relayed by Major Mori in a radio interview.

There is only one reason why my weak-livered government didn't demand Hicks' release and that is, they didn't want to upset Bush.

He has apparently served most of his time in solitary confinement. He is allowed to get letters from home, but words such as "love" are censored from his mail.

His father is unrelenting in his effort to free his son. I feel so sorry for him.