U2 Starts Tour With Political Plea
Published Wednesday, 8th November, 2006 at 2:53 PM
Irish rockers U2 opened their tour by asking for the release of the only Australian prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.
The political plea came from Bono as he performed Sunday Bloody Sunday at the Brisbane concert. He asked that Australian David Hicks be sent home where he could have a fair trial.
The 31-year-old has been held at the USA's Guantanamo Bay military prison without trial for the last 5 years on charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit war crimes and aiding the enemy, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Despite the charges being overturned in June by the US Supreme Court - who ruled that the military tribunals were illegal - David Hicks is still being held.
Australian prime minister, John Howard, has previously refused to intervene. Following Bono's plea, he has now agreed to meet with the singer but refuses to commit to any agreements.
"I don't commit in advance to businessmen in this country, and I certainly don't do it to high grade Irish entertainers," he said.
The Pentagon has said that David Hicks will be tried soon by new military tribunals. Amnesty International has labelled the tribunals as unfair.
