GUANTANAMO AUSTRALIANS STILL DENIED LEGAL REPRESENTATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06716931
• 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: February 10, 2003

Approved for Release: 2018/05/01 C06716931
(b)(3) Message 1 of 432 for query
PREC: R DTG: 101512ZFEB03
FROM: FBIS RESTON VA
UNCLAS
WARNING: TOPIC: HUMAN RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, TERRORISM
SERIAL: SEP20030210000091
COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES
SUBJ: GUANTANAMO AUSTRALIANS STILL DENIED LEGAL REPRESENTATION
SOURCE: MELBOURNE RADIO AUSTRALIA IN ENGLISH 0300 GMT 10 FEB 03
TEXT:
[FBIS TRANSCRIBED TEXT] GUANTANAMO AUSTRALIANS STILL DENIED
LEGAL REPRESENTATION
TEXT OF REPORT BY RADIO AUSTRALIA ON 10 FEBRUARY
THE TWO AUSTRALIANS BEING HELD AT THE US MILITARY PRISON AT
GUANTANAMO BAY IN CUBA CONTINUE TO BE REFUSED LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
KEN WILSON REPORTS DAVID HICKS AND MAMDOUH HABIB ARE ACCUSED OF
HAVING LINKS TO AL-QA'IDAH.
[WILSON] THE TWO MEN HAVE BEEN HELD WITHOUT CHARGE FOR MORE THAN
A YEAR. DAVID HICKS WAS CAPTURED IN AFGHANISTAN, WHILE MAMDOUH
HABIB WAS DETAINED IN PAKISTAN. OFFICIALS FOR THE
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT HAVE TOLD A SENATE ESTIMATES HEARING
IN CANBERRA US AUTHORITIES HAVE REFUSED ACCESS TO THE PRISONERS TO
ALL BUT THE RED CROSS AND AUSTRALIAN SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE
OFFICERS. LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS BEING DENIED ON THE GROUNDS THE
TWO MEN HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY CRIMINAL OFFENCE.
THE FEDERAL JUSTICE MINISTER, CHRIS ELLISON, SAYS INVESTIGATIONS
INTO WHETHER HICKS OR HABIB HAVE BREACHED ANY AUSTRALIAN LAW ARE
CONTINUING, BUT ARE BEING HAMPERED BY A LACK OF EVIDENCE.
[ELLISON] CERTAINLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THIS IS A MATTER FOR
THE AMERICANS AND NOT ONE [IN] WHICH WE HAVE JURISDICTION.
[WILSON] HE HAS NO OFFICIAL VIEW ON THE LEGITIMACY OF THE MEN'S
ONGOING DETENTION.
[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
FOIA-06095
Approved for Release: 2018/05/01 C06716931