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Council gives voice to Hicks and Habib
MELBOURNE — The Moreland City Council will push ahead with a controversial public meeting on July 11 titled "Aussies out of American cages". The forum will feature David Hicks' father Terry Hicks and Maha Habib, the wife Mamdouh Habib. David and Mamdouh are currently imprisoned at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay.
Some local residents have staunchly opposed the meeting and a debate has raged over the relevance of the illegal detention of Australian citizens to residents in the local area. Opponents of the meeting declared that the council should only focus on "rates, roads and rubbish".
After some councillors recoiled from funding the speakers, deputy mayor Steven Roach decided to personally cover the $1600 cost.
Roach told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that "the issue of David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib is clear evidence that Australian citizenship isn't worth a bumper. The fact that people can be banged-up without charge or access to legal process with the apparent cheerful blessing of the Australian government means that they could do it to any of us.
"This meeting is to generate a bit more honest debate than has been the case to date and I sincerely hope that people of conscience take the opportunity to attend and weigh-in whatever way they can to ensure that we have an ongoing campaign."
The meeting will be held at noon on July 11, at the Coburg Town Hall.
Marcus Pabian
'Treat East Timor with justice'
BRISBANE — "We have overcome many challenges, but the path ahead is still hard. East Timor is still far from achieving its economic independence", Alfonso Corte-Reale, representing the East Timorese community of Brisbane, told hundreds of East Timorese and their supporters on May 22. The event marked the second anniversary of the declaration of independence for Timor Leste.
"We hope that the Timor Gap negotiations with Australia will have a positive outcome for our country — described as one of the poorest nations on earth. We are proud of what we have achieved, but still have a long way to go", said Corte-Real.
Jorge Teme, the East Timorese ambassador to Australia, said that "In 1999, the East Timorese people proved to the world their determination and courage in taking a stand for independence. We acknowledge the support of the Australian people, and other countries, in our struggle for self-determination.
"We now appeal to the Australian community to support us again in our struggle for economic justice and development — a struggle which is harder than anything that has gone on before. We appeal to Australians in our negotiations over the Timor Gap, tell your government that the only way to treat East Timor is with justice and fairness."
Jim McIlroy
Forum addresses Indigenous issues
SYDNEY — On May 25, a forum called by local Aboriginal activists was held in Penrith to address state and federal Indigenous issues, including reconciliation and the dismantling of ATSIC.
Most of the invited speakers failed to attend, including Liberal MP Jackie Kelly and Labor MP Roger Price, however Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway addressed the forum. He outlined the problems facing Indigenous Australians and criticised both state and federal governments for their lack of cooperation and foresight in resolving the reconciliation process.
Gail Lord
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, June 2, 2004.
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