Category: Australia

Finally, David Hicks’ plight is hitting the US media with more prominence, helping to ratchet up the shame on the presidential chimp and his brownshirt zookeepers. And the ALP have petitioned Nancy Pelosi for his release – excellent move!

“As members of the Australian Parliament, we ask that members of the US Congress take steps to bring about to the return to Australia of Australian citizen David Hicks, – a detainee held at Guantanamo Bay for more than five years – for prosecution here,” the letter says.”We believe that the denial of justice in David Hicks’ case erodes values and principals shared by Australia and the US.

“We are also concerned that the ongoing absence of justice in David Hicks’ case is serving to undermine international efforts to combat terrorism.”

Mr Hicks’ lawyers claimed today that the Australian was shown a photo of Saddam Hussein hanging from a rope after his execution.

Photos of the former Iraqi leader’s trial also were shown to Mr Hicks and other inmates held at the US military’s Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Showing the photos and articles breached the Geneva Conventions designed to protect prisoners of war, his lawyers said.

Greens leader Bob Brown said the showing of the pictures was “premeditated torture”.

“The Hicks saga goes from bad to worse,” Senator Brown said.

“The Guantanamo Bay horror is based on unlawful behaviour and sadistic practice by the jailers.”

Senator Brown said US Vice-President Dick Cheney would have a lot to answer for when he visited Australia this month.

“The Howard government is not an innocent bystander, it is equally responsible,” Senator Brown said.”

Little Johnny, the chimp’s biggest fan, is now facing an electorate wherein “62 percent of Australians oppose the way the Iraq war has been handled.” I think that’s an underestimate.

The ludicrous antics of Howard lackey, Alexander Downer in response to the unfortunate Kafkesque plight of Hicks, are etched with acid by Barry Everingham:

Continue reading “An Upper and a Downer”

Good one, Elton. Should have mentioned Howard’s elevation to GG of the pedo priest protector Hollingworth while he was at it.

Pop star Sir Elton John has criticised Australian Prime Minister John Howard’s position on gay marriage.

The musician, on an Australian tour, was asked if he had a message for Howard, whose government overruled a local law allowing gay unions in June.

“Up yours!” replied the outspoken star, who “married” his partner David Furnish in a civil ceremony last year.

The issue of gay marriage has been high on the political agenda in Australia in recent months.

The Australian Capital Territory – the area around Canberra – became the first part of the country to legally recognise gay relationships when it voted on the issue in May this year.

But many members of Mr Howard’s conservative government opposed the change, and the law was invalidated.

‘Not homophobic’

Attorney General Philip Ruddock said that federal law clearly defined marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

Mr Howard denied the move was homophobic. “It is not a question of discriminating against them,” he said.

“It is a question of preserving as an institution in our society marriage as having a special character.

“If you look at the legislation, what it effectively says, a civil union is not a marriage, but it will be treated for all purposes as being equivalent to a marriage,” he added.

Sir Elton has long been an advocate of gay rights, and caused an outcry earlier this month when he called for organised religion to be banned, and accused it of trying to “turn hatred towards gay people”.

Organised religion lacked compassion and turned people into “hateful lemmings”, he told the Observer Music Monthly magazine.

But the musician said he loved the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and said there were many gays he knew who loved their religion.

He added he would continue to fight for gay rights, “whether I do it silently behind the scenes or so vocally that I get locked up”.