NSW: Sydney rally for David Hicks ends in march on US consulate

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2006
NSW: Sydney rally for David Hicks ends in march on US consulate

More than one thousand protesters have marched on the US Consulate in Sydney .. to
mark the five-year anniversary of the arrest of Australian terror suspect DAVID HICKS.

The rally began at Sydney's Town Hall with some protesters wearing orange prison jumpsuits
to resemble the treatment HICKS has endured at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.

Human rights groups .. cultural organisations and politicians from New South Wales
joined the rally to protest issues ranging from DAVID HICKS' imprisonment to the federal
government's new IR laws.

Greens Senator KERRY NETTLE has called on the prime minister to personally take action
and get HICKS home before Christmas.

Australian MAMDOUH HABIB .. who was released from Guantanamo Bay in January 2005 without
charge .. also spoke to the crowd .. wearing a t-shirt saying `Prisoner Exchange Program
.. Imprison Howard .. Free Hicks'.

Mr HABIB says the PM doesn't want to bring back HICKS because he's a good witness against
the crime of the government overseas.

ANDREW FERGUSON from the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union criticised the
HOWARD government .. drawing connections to HICKS' imprisonment and the onset of WorkChoices.

He says they're fundamental issues of democratic rights.

Following the rally at Town Hall .. protesters marched up George Street to rally outside
the US Consulate in Sydney's Martin Place.

HICKS was arrested in Afghanistan in 2001 and later pleaded not guilty to charges of
conspiracy .. attempted murder and aiding the enemy.

But following a US Supreme Court ruling in June .. declaring illegal the military tribunals
set up to try HICKS and other Guantanamo Bay inmates .. those charges were dropped.

AAP RTV vpm/els/cp

KEYWORD: HICKS RALLY NSW (SYDNEY)

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