Tuesday, October 7, 2003

Australia: Justice for Hicks & Habib

The public forum Justice for Hicks & Habib was quite a success. Approximately 130 people attended the event, a big number for a Saturday eve!

Speakers for the evening were: Terry Hicks, Jeremy Styles (representing Cameron Murphy) Secretary of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties; Dr Tim Anderson, Academic and civil rights campaigner; Stephen Hopper, Mamdouh Habib's solicitor; and Maha Habib, Mamdouh's wife.

The forum started at 6.30pm and was chaired by Marlene Obeid. A number of State parliamentarians attended and contributed to the event, among them:

Peter Breen, Ian Cohen, and Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans. Lee Rhiannon also attended the forum, unfortunately she left early due to other commitments.Other contributors for the evening were Raul Bassi and Richard Phillip.

Actively Radical TV filmed the event, and hopefully a video will be made available to the CBPeace group, hence those unable to attend can access the information given on the evening, and those present can once more listen to the inspiring guest speakers.

There are a number of people who ought to be thanked - without their invaluable contribution the organising process would have been much more difficult.

Thanks to the Forum Steering Committee; friends who lent a hand on the evening; and Actively Radical TV for filming the event and realising Mr & Mrs Habib's Sydney visit.

Special thanks go to our guest speakers and Brett Collins from Justice Action who unconditionally provided his time and access to Breakout to carry out Terry Hicks Press Conference. Thanks to Brett the PC was a successful event with 23 journalists attending. Thanks to Dominic Fitzsimmons, Tim O'Connell, Paul Sheridan and Brett for helping draft Media Releases. Furthermore, thanks to Brett and Lee Rhiannon's office for sending out the Media Releases.

A big thank you must go to Daryl Melham, Federal Member for Banks, who has supported us throughout with printing and advice.

Thanks to everyone who supported and provided their invaluable time to promote Justice for Hicks and Habib.

It must be said, that many people have added their support to the campaign Justice for Hicks & Habib. At present, we are in the process of contacting them with the aim of organising information forums and galvanising community support, thus we can have the impact required to achieve our main objective - release or repatriate David and Mamdouh.

Finally, we urge everyone to write to the recent appointed Attorney General, Philip Ruddock, the PM, John Howard, and leaders of the various political parties, requesting the Hicks & Habib's matter be raised with George W Bush when he addresses Parliament next 23 October.

Yours for Peace and Justice,
Marlene Obeid
Forum Coordinator
Contact No. 0401 758 871

By Marlene Obeid posted 7 October 03


Justice Action

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