Bradley Manning case sparks UN criticism of US government

[EFerrari]

Bradley Manning case sparks UN criticism of US government

UN torture representative suggests White House stalling his private meeting with American soldier

Ewen MacAskill in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Monday 11 April 2011 20.42 BST

A senior United Nations representative on torture, Juan Mendez, issued a rare reprimand to the US government on Monday for failing to allow him to meet in private Bradley Manning, the American soldier held in a military prison accused of being the WikiLeaks source. It is the kind of censure that the UN normally reserves for authoritarian regimes around the world.

Mendez, the UN special rapporteur on torture, said: "I am deeply disappointed and frustrated by the prevarication of the US government with regard to my attempts to visit Mr Manning."

Manning's supporters claim that the US is being vindictive in its treatment of Manning, who is held at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, in conditions they describe as inhumane.

Mendez, who has been investigating complaints about his treatment since before Christmas, said the US department of defence would not allow him to make an "official" visit, only a "private" one. An "official" visit would mean he meets Manning without a guard present. A "private" visit means with a guard and anything the prisoner says could be used in the planned court-martial.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/11/bradley-manning-juan-mendez-torture

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. The UN doesn't understand the threat of "embarrassment" that Manning poses to the country.

It's not like he's doing noble, humanitarian, deeds like the heroic CIA murdering people..er..making unfortunate mistakes which are regretted..and payoffs made.

[EFerrari]

2. I thought this administration was going to look forward, not back.

Maybe that's only for torturers and banksters and theives?

[_ed_]

3. Didn't you hear Pres. Obama?

He said he was going to go above and beyond to protect whistleblowers...until he got into office and revealed another campaign lie.

[leftstreet]

4. K&R

[EFerrari]

5. WaHo: U.N. diplomat is denied private meeting with WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning

By Ellen Nakashima, Monday, April 11, 3:46 PM

A United Nations diplomat charged with investigating claims of torture said Monday that he is “deeply disappointed and frustrated” that U.S. defense officials have refused his request for an unmonitored visit with Pfc. Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst accused of passing classified material to WikiLeaks.

Juan E. Mendez, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture, said his request for a private interview with Manning was denied by the Defense Department on Friday. Instead, he has been told that any visit must be supervised.

Mendez has been seeking to determine whether Manning’s confinement at a military brig at Quantico amounts to torture, following complaints about his treatment and an incident in which the private was forced to strip in his cell at night and sleep without clothing.

“My request . . . is not onerous: for my part, a monitored conversation would not comply with the practices that my mandate applies in every country and detention center visited,” Mendez said in a statement Monday, noting that at least 18 countries have allowed unmonitored interviews.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-diplomat-is-denied-unmonitored-meeting-with-wikileaks-suspect/2011/04/11/AFgfAzLD_story.html

[KoKo]

6. Kick...!