Govt working for Hicks guilty verdict: Fraser (former PM)

[cal04]

Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser says the United States and Australian governments are working to ensure Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks is found guilty.

Mr Fraser has addressed eminent Australians, academics and teachers at a human rights education conference at the University of Melbourne.

He says the Howard Government has done nothing to stop the delays and torturous conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

"After five years of quite inhumane and degrading treatment, a verdict of innocence would be extraordinarily embarrassing to both governments, perhaps enough to defeat a government as more and more Australians really come to understand the nature of government's betrayal of the rights of an Australian citizen," he said.

"On this analysis, the United States cannot and clearly will not allow a fair trial."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1849401.htm

[Matilda]

1. I'm sure Howard wishes Malcolm Fraser would just fade away.

It's hard to believe that this man, once so hated by Labor supporters, is now one of the good guys.

On Human Rights issues though, he is very much in the forefront, and puts Howard and his cohorts to
shame. Or he would if they had any.

[Bear down under]

2. You're right

but don't forget who Fraser's Treasurer was. And (with hindsight) much of what was wrong with the Fraser years was poor economic policy.

[Matilda]

3. I was thinking of The Dismissal.

It was a shabby affair - had Fraser waited just a little longer, Whitlam was going to be voted out
anyhow - there were just too many incompetents in his Cabinet.

But now he's closer to Whitlam than he is to Howard.