Senators will try to visit Hicks
A CROSS-party group of federal politicians will appeal to the US Government to visit Australian David Hicks at the Guantanamo Bay military detention camp in Cuba.
South Australian senators Natasha Stott Despoja and Linda Kirk are leading the appeal as the fifth anniversary of Hicks' detention approaches.
Senator Stott Despoja said she and Senator Kirk would lead the delegation because Hicks was from Adelaide.
"We have a duty to visit the constituent," Senator Stott Despoja said.
Senator Kirk has already applied for and been refused access to the US camp.
"Now that the UK parliamentarians have visited Guantanamo Bay, the precedent has been set for other MPs to visit the facility and inspect the living conditions of detainees," Senator Kirk said.
"This is not being partisan, this is ensuring that South Australian MPs - and other representatives - can visit their constituent in Guantanamo Bay."
Hicks has previously 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.
Hicks' military appointed lawyer Major Michael Mori has indicated his client will again plead not guilty when charges are relaid.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said yesterday that Hicks was likely to be charged soon and that the US had promised he would be one fo the first to face trial.
"Subtleties in language are not good enough," Senator Stott Despoja said.
"The ongoing detention of David Hicks is a breach of the rule of law, yet no minister has challenged this deplorable set of circumstances."