Activists will descend on parliament house in Canberra on February 6 to demand that politicians do more to secure David Hicks' release from the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.
"We're demanding that Australian MPs reject the kangaroo military commission set up by the Pentagon, and seek David Hicks' immediate release and repatriation", Marlene Obeid from the Justice for Hicks and Habib campaign told Green Left Weekly. "We aim to make justice for Hicks the number one issue on the national political agenda."
The protest, which is being supported by Sydney Stop the War Coalition and the ACT Network Opposing War, will begin at 11am. Members of parliament will be will invited to address the crowd and afterwards the protesters will take their demands to the US embassy.
"Foreign minister Alexander Downer and PM John Howard may prefer to believe reports from 'anonymous' sources on David's well-being and the legality of the US military commissions, but most Australians do not", Obeid said.
"Most know that David, an Australian citizen, has been abandoned by this government. He is a victim of its slavish following of the Bush administration."
[For more information phone Marlene on 0401 758 871 or Raul on 0403 037 376 or visit <www.stopwarcoalition.org.au> or <www.fairgoforhicks.com>.]