AFP have lifted all restrictions on David Hicks. He is a free man.

He is speaking of releasing a book soon.






FORMER Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks is considering writing a book after he is released from his control order this Christmas, but is content for now to continue his job of potting plants in a Sydney nursery.



David Hicks breaks silence
.After Australian Federal Police confirmed last night they would not apply for an extension of the control order on Mr Hicks, which includes a strict curfew and bans him from using the internet or a public telephone, he described the decision last night as "a great relief for my family and me".

"I owe the Australian people a lot," he said. "The decision not to renew my control order will allow me ... to move on with my life. Thank you."

The AFP confirmed late yesterday it would not renew the order, just hours after Mr Hicks launched a video appeal for it to be lifted.

Speaking of his years of solitary confinement in what he called the hell of Guantanamo Bay, Mr Hicks said: "Because I'm still recovering from that ordeal I'm not yet ready to fully explain what happened or why."

In the video, released by the political activist group Get Up, he said: "I don't know what the future holds for me. The only thing I do know is that until the control order is lifted I will not be able to get on with my life."

His father, Terry Hicks, said last night his son was still "pretty stressed" but looking forward to moving on and was considering writing a book with him.

State and federal law will prohibit him or his family profiting from any publishing deal.

"It will mean a lot to David," his father said.

"I think he will be a little lost for a while because he's so used to reporting to different people.

"Once these control orders are lifted, it depends where the opportunities lie with the treatments he's getting, but that's up to David. There's nothing to stop David Hicks writing a book, or for films being made; it's just he can't make any money out of it."

Mr Hicks's lawyer, David McLeod, said he believed his client had made a decision to tell his story, the only question being when and how.

"He's aware the public wants to know and has a right to know," Mr McLeod said. "I suspect he will, in the fullness of time, tell his story, but just how and when and in what circumstances remains to be seen."

Mr McLeod congratulated the AFP for making a rational decision on the control order.

Former attorney-general Philip Ruddock - the man many hold responsible for Mr Hicks's long incarceration at Guantanamo Bay - said he accepted the decision not to renew the control order.
"I'd have no problem with him living in my street," Mr Ruddock told Sky News.

The Australian has learned that Mr Hicks, who attended training camps run by al-Qa'ida and met Osama bin Laden, has been working as a gardener in a Sydney nursery and has a "good job and a steady relationship", according to supporters.

"In my mind, he's proved himself in the time he's been with us," said his boss, Patrick. "He genuinely wants to get a start and we want to give him a start. Some people may think poorly of us for giving him a start, but so be it.

"We didn't employ him to seek publicity, but the guy is agentleman and everyone in my company is happy to work withhim.

"He's genuinely interested in horticulture and he wants to go back and start his own business in Adelaide."

Another Hicks supporter, entrepreneur Dick Smith, yesterday urged him to write a book, and welcomed the decision not to extend the control order.

"It seems to be a waste of police resources to have the control order," Mr Smith said.

"He's trying to be a proper member of society. He's got a steady relationship and a good job. I understand he's been taking his kids out fishing."

---------------------------------------------


It seems phillip Ruddock has had a change of heart about just how dangerous the much maligned " terrorist", David Hicks is/was.

I kind of suspect this indicates Ruddock was merely mouthing Liberal party line on this all those years he [ Hicks ] was locked up .

Now he doesnt have to tow the party line..he is free to give a glimpse of his own feeling on Hicks..
If Hicks was truly ever considered dangerous ..why are they now lifting all restrictions ?

Good news. It's a bit strange for the police to demand that someone not give their side of the story to the media. He may be planning to get it 'all done at once', so that the cat is well and truly out of the bag.

Howard is reponsible for Dayoud Hicks' actions...  ROTFLMAO

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 11:34am:



Try reading for comprehension Rik.

History never happens in a vaccuum Grendel. Those who insist on a single cause interpretation are always trying to mislead.

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 12:07pm:


"Poor old ex PM? " He is poor and old but that didnt stop him trying to  pull the wool 11 months ago, just one more time huh?

C,mon..dont try that one.

Hicks was never proven guilty by way of a fair trial and the whole of Australia knows it..including the" poor old ex PM"..and yet he let him rot for 5 years enduring torture all for what in the end.?

The Aust pple fought to free him and he was on an election eve..how predicatable.

grendel - he was a traitor and should have been treated as such.

Rule .303

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 12:28pm:


Letters..probably fakes.


"I can just see Og throwing herself in the way of the bullets to save him"

whats this ..? jealous muffin?

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 12:55pm:


1-How do you know the letters aren't fakes?

and

2-So is that you are or are not jealous lambchop?    

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 4:39pm:


Ahhh-what dont you understand about the words "patsy " "scapegoat" and" fabricating evidence"? Its what Goverments do when they frame pple... do you also understand "gullible"Beo..?

Remember Haneef?

Good fd...  at least you got something right today.

Ah Og...  we went over this years ago...  the letters are his, his Dad says the letters are his, he sent the letters to his dad... 

He wasn't necessarily a traitor. We don't know him, or what he was thinking.

As far as I know, he was first in Kosovo, fighting for freedom. From there he became ideologically motivated to the Islamic cause, maybe because of the things he saw in Kosovo and because the Islamic cause was fighting against an adversary he had already been up against, seen first hand, and understood their methods and aims.

We just don't know. Let him say what he has to say.

After all, people who know him describe him as a gentleman. Therefore he was probably morally guided rather than guided by bloodlust.

Grendel wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2008 at 6:45am:

Grendel wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2008 at 11:09am:

Leave out the personal attacks please Grendel.

Just leave out the personal attacks.

You want me to edit your posts for you? I prefer not to waste my time, and to just ban people if they don't follow the rules.

Just leave out the personal attacks and you will be fine.

I didn't accuse you of calling someone a name. I do warn others. Are you going to carry on like this every time I ask you not to post personal attacks?

Its just a bit of fun FD..grendel doesnt mean anything by it..neither do I.. we flame each other sometimes.

No dramas here.

Quote:

Ill be happy to prove you wrong just as soon as Hicks' book comes out Beo..

I wonder then if the Libs eerrr Govt ,will extend compensation and an apology to Hicks on behalf of Howard and co.-  hhmm?

Thats if  he is allowed to release the book...it could look very embarrassing.

Grendel wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2008 at 3:36pm:


If your so sure then it will be hard for you to accept there may actually be another side to this story that may actually throw another P.O.V on this nasty episode and blight in Australia's history of human rights in this country..not to mention the emergence of "concentration camps " as well under Howards watch...These camps opppressed many whos only crime was to ask for help and refuge from war and misery.

David Hicks has  not had his day yet. It will come.

hey ogly..

Quote:


Quote:

Well I think that you have chosen a poor candidate to be a poster boy for human rights here Oceanz.

There is little argument from unbiased people, that Hicks did have his human rights massively abused, but the fact that he was not an "innocent" victim, does mitigate his personal appeal as an advocate for rights, when he was so willing to kill, (the ultimate abuse of rights, the right to live), in the name of Allah, for a named terrorist organisation.

So I know that two wrongs, do not make a right, but we must keep in mind the state of the world, when these abuses occurred, it was post 9/11, we were at war, and we were witnessing Islamic terror on a broad scale.

So while I always supported Hicks' right to a fair trial, I never considered him an innocent victim, or anything but a mixed up(crazy?) individual, who deserved to spend at least some time behind bars, for his mercenary behaviour.

Mozzoak -

Quote:


You say on the one hand he had his human rights" massivley abused" - why because he was roughed up a bit in prison for 5 years without charge?

Without charge for what reason tho?
Because they could find nothing to charge him with do you think? Oh well you've convinced me Mozz..he was a mercenary killer and we should believe the whole propaganda media beat up against him as fact hey?...
Dont ever question sources or motive for anything politicians or media say..and that must be because they are beyond reproach and have the rights of all their citizens as the number one priority in mind at all times [yeah right]!!!..I feels so much better now.

IF he was guilty he would still be locked up. If the Govt couldnt pin anything on him and make it stick..why do you still believe he is gulity ? They have much more evidence at their disposal than you or boof.

Quote:


Yes mostly drummed up by Bush to justify his war plans..and who could say definitively that thats not true?

And? How does this explain away the rights of ONE man..?How does this explain anything at all?
Quote:

Well as he didnt get his right to a fair trial..So what do we know with any certainty..that hasnt been tainted by Howards twisted agenda to lick Bushs' butt with religious fervor. That was the problem right there.
Anyone who is so publicly condemned and have all of their human right trampled on so cruelly will inevitably become a martyr..

Hicks has nothing to do with it. He is a very shy and traumatised man now..he shuns spotlight.
It was mainly the people who set him free in a crucial election year for Howard..

He asked for very little..mainly because he found himself without a voice..beaten and chained in Guantanomo , kept under very oppresive conditions in ..his every human exchange [with the outside world] controlled and scrutinised for fear he would betray the truth about the place.

"the age" is such a lefty green dreamy everyoneisok rag it should be excluded from any quoting.

may as well use the "mullimbimby monthly"

muso wrote on Jan 6^th, 2009 at 8:11am:






For someone who was allegedly tortured, he looked remarkably chubby and healthy, when he emerged.

David Hicks, DICK HEAD, David Hicks dad, bigger DICKHEAD.