David Hicks

Downer knew of Hicks's UK citizenship bid. :

"All nine British Guantanamo inmates were freed when their Government decided they would not receive a fair trial under the military justice system.

Hicks's military lawyer, Major Michael Mori, hopes his client will receive similar support.

'My understanding from the press releases is that the US and UK governments have an agreement that no British citizen will be processed through the military commission system and will be released from Guantanamo,' he said.

'Right now the main focus is making sure his British citizenship application is approved and then ensuring that the US complies with the agreement that they already have with the United Kingdom to not take any British citizens through the military commission.

'That's really going to be the upcoming issue: will the US honour its agreement with the UK regarding British citizens at Guantanamo Bay.'"

Britain has an agreement with the US that their detainees will not proceed to militiary trial and their detainees have been released. David Hicks has applied for British citizenship because his mother is British. This then is a case of will he be approved? Will he go to trial if he is approved? Will the charges already laid have to be answeered to if he is approved? Alexander Downer thinks not. We can only wait and wish that Australia had negotiated such a deal beforehand. The process of citizenship may take longer than the scheduled trial date. His lawyers have been very good. They have worked under very trying legal circumstances to try and protect him all along the way and do their best to have his rights upheld.