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Senator Natasha Stott Despoja Democrats Senator for South Australia Australian Democrats spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Australian Democrats spokesperson for Attorney Generals
Dated: 16 June 2006
Press Release Number: vljqakaz Portfolio: Attorney Generals Related: Attorney General & Justice Related: Foreign Affairs
Guantanamo: Howard out on a limb
The Howard Government is increasingly isolated internationally in its continued defence of the Guantanamo Bay military facility, according to the Australian Democrats.
"Guantanamo Bay is finally receiving the international condemnation it deserves as a facility that operates outside the protection of any national or international laws," Democrats Attorney-Generals Spokesperson, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"Disturbingly, the Australian Government is not only one of the few countries to abandon its citizen to the military commission process, it also continues to defend the commission process.
"This week, it was reported that Afghanistan would join a growing list of countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Saudi Arabia, which have repatriated their citizens."
Senator Stott Despoja, a long time campaigner against Guantanamo Bay, today will address a vigil for David Hicks, organised by Fair Go for David, in Adelaide.
Senator Stott Despoja will draw attention to the injustice David Hicks continues to face at Guantanamo Bay, and again call for the Federal Government to join international calls for the facility to be shut down.
"The United Nations and human rights groups such as Amnesty International have called for the Guantanamo Bay military facility to be closed, and even US President George Bush has acknowledged it should be shut down will our Prime Minister be the last man standing?" Senator Stott Despoja said.