Brad Manning’s treatment inhuman and illegal
US psychologists concerned about the treatment of alleged Wikileaker 23 year-old Bradley Manning have written an open letter to the US Secretary of Defense. They describe the conditions in which he has been held since July 2010:"in solitary confinement … in his cell for approximately 23 hours a day, a cell approximately 6 feet wide and 12 feet in length, with a bed, a drinking fountain and a toilet. For no discernible reason other than punishment, he is forbidden from exercising in his cell and is provided minimal access to exercise outside his cell. Further, despite having virtually nothing to do, he is forbidden to sleep during the day and often has his sleep at night disrupted."
A further 23 civil society organisations have added their protest addressed to those responsible for Manning's imprisonment:
January 12, 2011Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
9999 Joint Staff Pentagon
Washington, DC 20318-9999Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Army Chief of Staff
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington DC 20301-1400Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps
3000 Marine Corps Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-3000Colonel Daniel J. Choike, Base Commander
Marine Corps Base Quantico
3250 Catlin Avenue
Quantico, VA 22134-5000Dear Adm. Mullen, Gen. Casey, Gen. Amos, Col. Choike,The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned about the inhumane treatment of Pfc Bradley Manning, who has not been convicted of any crime, and yet has been subjected to six months of solitary confinement with no known end date. It has been reported by his attorney and a visitor that Manning's mental health is suffering from this cruelty, which serves no known judicial purpose and could result in Manning being found unfit to stand trial.
Your conduct, as judged by the information available to the public, appears to be in clear violation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, a treaty to which the United States is a party and which is therefore, under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land. The treaty is also enforced by US Code Title 18, Part I, CHAPTER 113C.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) states that,
"No person, while being held for trial, may be subjected to punishment or penalty other than arrest or confinement upon the charges pending against him, nor shall the arrest or confinement imposed upon him be any more rigorous than the circumstances required to insure his presence."
The same UCMJ bans cruel and unusual punishments following convictions.
We urge you to come into immediate compliance with the law. As a U.S. citizen and as a member of the U.S. military, Bradley Manning has legal rights that are being grossly violated. If you have reclassified Manning as an enemy in some sort of war, the same is true. The US Code bans war crimes, defined as a grave breach in any of the international conventions signed at Geneva 12 August 1949, or any protocol to such convention to which the United States is a party. The following are a few examples of the rights you are bound by the Supreme Law of the Land to respect for prisoners of war:
- Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated.
- The Power detaining prisoners of war shall be bound to provide free of charge for their maintenance and for the medical attention required by their state of health.
- Prisoners shall have opportunities for taking physical exercise, including sports and games, and for being out of doors. Sufficient open spaces shall be provided for this purpose in all camps.
This is not to suggest that Bradley Manning could rightly be considered some kind of Prisoner of War, but under international treaties which the U.S. has signed, even POWs are guaranteed certain rights now being ignored in the case of Manning, a citizen of the United States. Manning is, in fact, being subjected to treatment almost certain to cause permanent psychological damage. Please see the enclosed letter from Psychologists for Social Responsibility to Robert Gates re. Bradley Manning on January 3, 2011. The following steps should, at a minimum, be taken immediately to mitigate the damage and increase the likelihood of Manning being capable of assisting in his own defense. He should be permitted:
- Lifting of the baseless POI (prevention of injury) status that allows guards to harass him with inquiries
- Extensive daily interaction with other accused but not convicted prisoners
- His meals in a common area with other accused but not convicted prisoners
- Nightly sleep undisturbed by light, noise or interruption
- Sleep during daytime as desired
- Normal blankets
- Sight at all times of daylight or night's darkness
- Exercise in his cell anytime he wants
- At least three hours outside each day, and access to basic exercise and sports equipment
- Whatever reading material he wants
Sincerely,
Backbone Campaign
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
CodePink
Courage to Resist
DC Bill of Rights Coalition
DC National Lawyers' Guild
Defending Dissent Foundation
Democrats.com
Friends of Human Rights
Jobs for Afghans
Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition
National Accountability Action Network
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Peace Action
Peace of the Action
Progressive Democrats of America
Tackling Torture at the Top – subcommittee of Women Against Military Madness
United for Peace and Justice
Voters for Peace
WarIsALie.org
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
Witness Against Torture
The World Can’t Wait
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[…] conditions of his detention have been widely criticised as violating human rights, especially the period July 2010 to April 2011 which he spent in a maximum security military prison […]