SA: Government has abandoned David Hicks - father

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2005
SA: Government has abandoned David Hicks - father

By Steve Larkin

ADELAIDE, Feb 14 AAP - David Hicks' father today accused the federal government of
abandoning his son, after it said the terror suspect was unlikely to face trial before
next year.

Meanwhile Hicks, 29, is studying for his Australian high school certificate while being
detained at a US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the government revealed today.

The Adelaide-born Hicks has been held by the US at Guantanamo Bay since January 2002,
following his capture among Taliban forces in Afghanistan the previous month.

Attorney-General's Department secretary Robert Cornall today told a parliamentary committee
in Canberra it was unknown when Hicks would be tried by a US military commission.

"I don't think anyone can answer that question," Mr Cornall told a Senate estimates hearing.

"The Hicks trial is due to come back before the commission in March, but there is an
expectation ... that the matter may be delayed beyond March to late this year or possibly
early next year."

Hicks has pleaded not guilty to US-laid charges of conspiracy, attempted murder and
aiding the enemy.

Mr Cornall said the government had made every effort to ensure the trial was completed
as fairly and as quickly as possible, a statement which drew the ire of Hicks' father.

"The government has decided that it's not in its best interests to bring him back,"

Terry Hicks said today in Adelaide.

"The more they can have time extended (before Hicks is tried), the better for them,
particularly with all this business with Mamdouh Habib and what he's been saying.

"When he (Hicks) comes back, he's going to have a lot of things to say as well."

Mr Habib, freed last month by US authorities after spending more than three years in
custody as a terror suspect, alleged in a paid interview aired on the Nine Network's 60
Minutes yesterday, that he had been physically and mentally abused while in US detention.

Hicks has also claimed he has been abused.

Mr Cornall said government officials who had visited Guantanamo Bay had been assured
Hicks was being well treated.

"He has had, for example, quite a lot of reading material provided to him," Mr Cornall
told a Senate estimates hearing.

"He is, as I understand, pursuing studies through some open access college too, I think,
now study Year 11 to improve his education.

"We've received numerous assurances from the US that he is being treated humanely."

Terry Hicks said his son was studying for his high school certificate.

"He has been trying to do his year 11 and 12 (studies) ... on and off, I think, for
the past eight months," Mr Hicks said.

"He has had some difficulties with it and I'm not sure how far he's got. I shouldn't
think he would have access to everything he needs."

The government also today said it could not rule out Hicks being charged under Australian
law if he returned.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison told the Senate committee hearing he was unaware of
any evidence that Hicks had breached Australian law.

AAP sl/sp/evt/de h

KEYWORD: HICKS NIGHTLEAD

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