[Greens-Media] Senate committee leaves Habib's rendition unchallenged

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Senate committee leaves Habib's rendition unchallenged

11.09.07

Senator Kerry Nettle has expressed serious concern that the Senate Legal
and Constitutional Affairs Committee has decided not to hold a public
hearing into the inconsistencies of evidence about the government's
knowledge of Mamdouh Habib's rendition to Egypt.

"The Greens wanted the Senate committee to hold a public hearing into
the serious and credible concerns that Mamdouh Habib was rendered to and
tortured in Egypt with the full knowledge of the Australian Government
in November 2001," Senator Nettle said. 

"Credible evidence that an Australian citizen was rendered to Egypt to
be tortured with the knowledge and possible co-operation of Australian
authorities and Government need a full investigation if our adherence to
human rights is to be taken seriously.

"Australian diplomatic cables and Australian Federal police reports
indicate that the Government knew Mamdouh Habib was sent to Egypt from
Pakistan in November 2001. Yet correspondence from the Attorney
General's Department released today by the Senate Legal and
Constitutional Affairs Committee ignores these inconsistencies of
government evidence. 

"The Australian Federal Police are also attempting to spin their way out
of trouble by asserting they are yet to receive any official
confirmation that Mr Habib went to Egypt despite the AFP liaison officer
in Islamabad reporting Mr Habib had been sent to the country of his
birth prior to 19 November 2001 

"The Senate must not be fobbed off by the Australian Federal Police and
the Attorney General's Department when serious questions of the torture
and rendition of an Australian citizen remain unanswered," Senator
Nettle said. 

Correspondence from the Attorney General's Department, the AFP  and the
Committee is now available at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/estimates/habib/index
.htm

More information: Kristian Bolwell 0411638320