Australia and the US have agreed that Australian detainees at Guantanamo Bay will be tried by US military tribunals. There are a number of points in the agreement, including a promise that the US will not seek the death penalty for any Australians. Also, the media will be allowed to observe the tribunal and the accused may have a cleared attorney as an advisor to his defense team.
The press release makes it really clear that these are case specific assurances which do not apply to Guantanamo Bay detainees in general. Pity.
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There’s a certain amount of irony in the fact that one of the things that really had American Revolutionaries’ panties in a twist was the law passed by Parliament that all crimes related to the “trade” acts that Parliament had passed would be tried in British Vice Admiralty courts.
Naval tribunals. No jury.
Things that make you go “hmmm”.