Manning is awaiting trial for releasing secret military documents to Wikileaks – including a video of US soldiers massacring Iraqi civilians. And his brutal treatment appears to be part of an intimidation campaign to silence whistleblowers and crack down on Wikileaks. The US government is split on this issue, with diplomats publicly criticizing the military for Manning's treatment, but President Obama has stood aside so far.
Obama cares about the US's global reputation - we need to show him that it's at stake here. Let's build a massive global call to the US government to stop torturing Manning and uphold the law.
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But Obama promised Americans and the world that he would protect, not persecute, whistleblowers:
"Often the best source of information about waste, fraud, and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out.
Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled."
Sources:
Check out Obama's statement on the importance of whistleblowing released on his official website
PJ Crowley resigns over Bradley Manning remarks, The Guardian
Soldier's inhumane imprisonment, LA Times
US: Explain Conditions of Bradley Manning’s Confinement, Human Rights Watch
Stripped naked every night, Bradley Manning tells of prison ordeal, The Guardian
WikiLeakers and Whistle-Blowers: Obama's Hard Line, Time
The Implications of the Inhumane Treatment of Bradley Manning, Huffington Post
U.S. Pledges Rights Improvements, New York Times
Bradley Manning: charge sheet
On paper, the United States opposes torture. The US Constitution forbids “cruel and unusual punishment". And, along with almost a hundred other countries, the US has signed an international convention promising to treat all prisoners “with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person”. But today, Bradley Manning is utterly isolated in a cell without sheets, not allowed to exercise and is being subjected to brutal humiliation that is causing serious mental harm. This violates US and international law.
Bradley is being held under 'prevention of injury' status despite 16 reports from military mental health professionals that he should be removed from these severe conditions. His lawyers are trying to enforce his basic constitutional and international human rights in court, but so far the military tribunal responsible for Bradley’s fate has ignored his suffering.
There has been a crack down on Wikileaks since the explosive revelations of US military crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many speculate that this brutal pressure on Bradley is intended to force him to implicate WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
But Obama promised Americans and the world that he would protect, not persecute, whistleblowers:
Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled."
Bradley's cruel treatment does the opposite and sends a chilling message to others who may want to expose important information. Let's act quickly to put massive international pressure on the United States government to honor its commitment to human rights, the protection of whistleblowers and end the shockingly cruel treatment of their own citizen.
Bradley Manning claims he is a patriot and has admitted to releasing information that he felt the world had a right to know. While reasonable people can disagree about the approach of Wikileaks and the the rights or wrongs of those who delivered information to them, the illegal torture of Bradley Manning, who has yet to receive a fair trial or be convicted of any crime, is a shameful violation of human rights and human dignity.
With hope and determination,
Emma, Ricken, Pascal, Janet and the rest of the Avaaz team
Check out Obama's statement on the importance of whistleblowing released on his official website
PJ Crowley resigns over Bradley Manning remarks, The Guardian
Soldier's inhumane imprisonment, LA Times
US: Explain Conditions of Bradley Manning’s Confinement, Human Rights Watch
Stripped naked every night, Bradley Manning tells of prison ordeal, The Guardian
WikiLeakers and Whistle-Blowers: Obama's Hard Line, Time
The Implications of the Inhumane Treatment of Bradley Manning, Huffington Post
U.S. Pledges Rights Improvements, New York Times
Bradley Manning: charge sheet
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