AUSTRALIAN PM DEFENDS "CORRECT" US DETENTION OF ALLEGED TALEBAN FIGHTER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06716947
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: May 15, 2018
• Case Number: F-2018-00242
• Publication Date: August 7, 2002

Approved for Release: 2018/05/01 C06716947
Message 64 of 137 for que
P 071041Z AUG 02
FM FBIS RESTON VA
BT
UNCLAS
WARNING: TOPIC: DOMESTIC POLITICAL, INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, HUMAN
RIGHTS, LEADER
SERIAL: 5EP20020807000078
COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES, AFGHANISTAN
SUBJ: AUSTRALIAN PM DEFENDS "CORRECT" US DETENTION OF ALLEGED
TALEBAN FIGHTER
SOURCE: MELBOURNE RADIO AUSTRALIA IN ENGLISH 0300 GMT 7 AUG 02
TEXT:
[FBIS TRANSCRIBED TEXT] AUSTRALIAN PM DEFENDS "CORRECT" US
DETENTION OF ALLEGED TALEBAN FIGHTER
TEXT OF REPORT BY RADIO AUSTRALIA ON 7 AUGUST
AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD, HAS TOLD THE FATHER OF
A SUSPECTED AUSTRALIAN TALEBAN FIGHTER THE UNITED STATES IS
JUSTIFIED IN DETAINING HIS SON.
DAVID HICKS WAS CAPTURED IN AFGHANISTAN SEVEN MONTHS AGO. HE
REMAINS AT GUANTANAMO BAY IN CUBA AFTER LOSING A LEGAL BATTLE TO BE
TRIED IN THE US. TODAY TERRY HICKS RAISED HIS SON'S SITUATION WITH MR HOWARD
ON RADIO IN THE CITY OF ADELAIDE BUT THE PRIME MINISTER HAS DEFENDED
AMERICA'S HANDLING OF THE CASE.
[HOWARD] YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
DURING A MILITARY OPERATION, AND A MILITARY OPERATION WHICH WE
SUPPORTED, A MILITARY OPERATION THAT WE BELIEVE WAS TOTALLY
JUSTIFIED, AND WE ARE SATISFIED THAT ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF WAR
WHAT THE AMERICANS DID WAS CORRECT.
[DESCRIPTION OF SOURCE: MELBOURNE RADIO AUSTRALIA IN ENGLISH --
GOVERNMENT-FUNDED OVERSEAS SERVICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING
CORPORATION]
THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND
DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT
OWNERS.
(ENDALL)
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Approved for Release: 2018/05/01 C06716947