AUSTRALIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL LOBBIES USA FOR ACCESS TO SUSPECTED TALEBAN FIGHTERS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06719029
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• 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: May 2, 2002

Approved for Release: 2018/05/01 C06719029
PREC: R DTG: 020721ZMAY02
FROM: FBIS RESTON VA
UNCLAS
WARNING: TOPIC: INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, TERRORISM
SERIAL: 5EP20020502000051
COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES, AFGHANISTAN
SUBJ: AUSTRALIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL LOBBIES USA FOR ACCESS TO
SUSPECTED TALEBAN FIGHTERS
SOURCE: MELBOURNE RADIO AUSTRALIA IN ENGLISH 0600 GMT 2 MAY 02
TEXT:
[FBIS TRANSCRIBED TEXT] AUSTRALIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL LOBBIES
USA FOR ACCESS TO SUSPECTED TALEBAN FIGHTERS
TEXT OF REPORT BY RADIO AUSTRALIA ON 2 MAY
AUSTRALIA'S ATTORNEY-GENERAL HAS ASKED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
TO GRANT LAWYERS AND FAMILY ACCESS TO AUSTRALIANS CAUGHT FIGHTING
WITH THE TALEBAN. FROM WASHINGTON, (?JOHN SHOVELEN) REPORTS DARYL
WILLIAMS TODAY MET WITH SENIOR US GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
[SHOVELEN] DAVID HICKS AND MAMDOUH HABIB ARE IN US CUSTODY.
DAVID HICKS IS IMPRISONED AT GUANTANAMO BAY, HABIB IS EXPECTED
THERE SOON. MR WILLIAMS SAYS HE HAS YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY TO HIS
REQUEST THAT FAMILY AND LAWYERS BE GRANTED ACCESS.
[WILLIAMS] IT'S UNLIKELY AT THIS JUNCTURE THAT ACCESS WILL BE
GIVEN BY THE UNITED STATES FOR ACCESS BY LAWYERS. [END OF
RECORDING]
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL SAYS IT COULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE IT IS
,KNOWN IF THE MEN ARE TO BE CHARGED UNDER AUSTRALIAN LAW.
[WILLIAMS] I CANNOT PREDICT AT THIS TIME AND I SUSPECT THE
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE (AFP) CAN'T EITHER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE,
BUT IT'S LIKELY TO TAKE QUITE A TIME. [END OF RECORDING]
IN TWO WEEKS ASIO [AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE
ORGANIZATION] AND THE FEDERAL POLICE WILL TRAVEL TO GUANTANAMO BAY
TO INTERVIEW MR HICKS.
[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)
BT
#4779
9IEF
FOIA-06111
Approved for Release: 2018/05/01 C06719029