Terry Hicks attended a vigil outside the Commonwealth Government Offices (including the Department of Foreign Affairs) by Civil Rights Defence in Melbourne. He told the media "David Hicks has only seen the sunlight on 3 occasions is correct."

Terry Hicks has had recent contact with David's defence lawyer, Major Michael Mori. Terry Hicks said "David's mental and physical side isn't good. David's mental side is actually showing of a person that has had long periods in solitude. It took them a while to get David to trust them, to trust who they are. So the last couple of days they have had lengthy conversations with David. So we hoping some good will come out of the defence team to fight the prosecution."

Conditions in Guantanamo Bay have been likened to a concentration camp with limited exercise and poor conditions and mistreatment of prisoners. Terry Hicks alleged "They do not give David a comb or hair brush to do his hair. His hair is matted and down to his shoulders. He has a rather straggly beard at this stage. His eyes are very hollow and sunken, and he is a very pallid colour, which once again shows he hasn't seen much sunlight at all."

Terry Hicks lambasted the Federal Government for its lack of diplomatic support given to his son, and the lack of will to demand his immediate repatriation to Australia. "This to me is disgraceful from a so called allied country to be treated in the manner that they are treating David Hicks. And we have a Government that is right up the backside of that bloody Bush Administration." he said.

On a final note Terry Hicks made a political appeal for the next federal election: "There is only one way we can get rid of this administration and that is when we vote in the next election."

Civil Rights Defence organised the vigil outside the Commonwealth Government Offices in Melbourne and have pledged to hold a vigil each Friday at 12 noon until David Hicks is brought home. Next week Yarra City Councillor Steve Jolley will be speaking at the Vigil. Civil Rights Defence Meets 6.30pm each Tuesday at the New International Bookshop at Trades Hall. The group also works around domestic anti-terror laws, including Jack Thomas and the Barwon 13.

On Saturday night a Solidarity fundraiser dinner for the Bring David Home campaign will be held at the Coburg Town Hall. Terry Hicks, Brian Walters from Liberty Victoria, and others will be speaking at the dinner.

A spokeperson for Civil Rights Defence urged people to attend an upcoming related event: a weekend of global protests on the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The protest in Melbourne will be on Saturday March 17 at noon organised by Stop the war Coalition outside the State Library, Demanding troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan and Repeal of the anti-terror laws.

Related:

Habib to campaign on human rights

The citizens of Australia and other democracies enjoy the liberty they do because of the inherited wisdom of centuries that the rule of law must govern the relationship between the state and individual.

 http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/02/138520.php

Hicks: Canberra Convergence

Thanks to supporters in Canberra an add will be appearing in the Canberra media Thursday 1/2 & Saturday 3/2. Looking forward to see you all.

 http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/138271.php

 http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=45145