UN Denied Private Access to Bradley Manning
Pentagon Also Denies 'Unmonitored Visits' to Amnesty, Rep. Kucinich
United National Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Mendez expressed deep disappointment Monday following the news that the Pentagon has refused to allow him unrestricted access to Pfc. Bradley Manning. The UN had sought to investigate repeated claims of Manning’s mistreatment in custody.
“My request is not onerous,” Mendez insisted, saying that his mandate requires him to have unmonitored access to detainees in such cases. The Pentagon insisted Mendez would be allowed to meet Manning, but only if the meeting could be monitored by US officials.
Criticism of the abuse of Manning has been growing for months, and even led to the ouster of State Dept. Spokesman P.J. Crowley, who called the military‘s treatment of Manning “counterproductive and stupid.”
Manning has detailed much of his own abuse in a memorandum, and his lawyer insists that some of it rises to the level of unlawful pretrial punishment. The Obama Administration has denied the charges of abuse, but with officials playing the game of denying access to international monitors (including Amnesty International) and even domestic officials (Rep. Dennis Kucinich was likewise denied access), the stance seems less than credible.
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MoT
April 11th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
I thought it was only "loony" countries like North Korea who had "monitors" everywhere to make sure no prole would babble anything but the party line. Silly me.
curmudgeonvt
April 12th, 2011 at 6:33 am
And in the background chatter one can hear Orwell whispering from the afterlife, "I told you so…I told you so!!!"
Jamie
April 12th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Abuse of power and illegal treatment of someone how did what was right.Tax payers should no what there government is doing considering its there money that pays for everything.It just shows again how evil and corrupt the US government is.
John_Muhammad
April 12th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
When the Feds wanted to tap our phone lines without restriction, they used the argument, "If you've got nothing to hide, what's the problem? Are you a terrorist?"
When the Feds wanted to sift through our personal emails without restriction, they used the argument, "If you've got nothing to hide, what's the problem? Are you a terrorist?"
When the Feds deny access to high-profile prisoners who are most certainly being abused in a cold,systematic manner, they use the argument, "We've got nothing to hide, but you can't see the prisoner in accordance with the law. Are you a terrorist?"
As for myself, I have to take comfort in the knowledge that Allah(swt) judges all fairly; insha'Allah I hope I am right when I say Manning will be rewarded for his bravery in the face of such hardship, and those who are responsible for his treatment will surely be judged harshly for their evil deeds.