[JURIST] The Australian government said Wednesday it was pleased with the US decision [JURIST report] to resume military commission proceedings against Australian Guantanamo detainee David Hicks [Wikipedia profile; advocacy website] in light of a US federal appeals court ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld [PDF text]. In a radio interview, Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock [official website] said it was appropriate that the trial should proceed [ABC recorded audio]. However, Tim Bugg of the Law Council of Australia [profession website] said Wednesday that it is concerned [press release] that the trial would be a "true travesty of justice" arguing that

Mr Hicks could be months away from being placed at the mercy of a system that has been described by many as unfair, rigged and flawed. The constantly changing military commission process has been heavily criticised by legal experts from both Australia and abroad. Even the United States' own military lawyers have been scathing in their opinion of the system's ability to deliver justice.

The council's comments echo concerns expressed by Maj. Michael Mori, Hicks' US military lawyer, who has worried that Hicks is being used as a "guinea pig" for the military commission process [ABC recorded audio] would not be given a full and fair trial. AP has more.