Bradley Manning isolated & abused

On Dec. 17 Bradley Manning turned 23 in a cell at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va. For him, it was just another day of isolation and abuse at the hands of the U.S. military. From the beginning of his detention in late April, Manning, a U.S. soldier suspected of releasing the thousands of documents published by WikiLeaks, has been held in intensive solitary confinement.

For eight straight months, Manning has sat alone in his cell for 23 out of 24 hours of every day. Even inside his cell, his activities are heavily restricted. He is barred from even exercising and is under constant surveillance, so that the restrictions are enforced. For reasons that appear wholly punitive, he’s being denied many basic necessities, including even a pillow or sheets for his bed. For the one hour per day when he is freed from this isolation, he is barred from accessing any news or current events programs. (www.armycourtmartialdefense.info)

Outside his cell, Manning is forced to wear shackles. His limited contacts with friends and family are from behind a thick glass screen. According to David House, a computer researcher from Boston who visits Manning twice a month, he is starting to deteriorate. “Over the last few weeks I have noticed a steady decline in his mental and physical wellbeing.” (The Guardian, Dec. 16)

House said many people are reluctant to talk about Manning’s condition because of government harassment, including surveillance, warrantless computer seizures and even bribes. “This has had such an intimidating effect that many are afraid to speak out on his behalf.”

Manning has not even been formally charged or convicted of anything. Yet the conditions under which he is being detained were once recognized in the United States — and are still recognized in most nations — as not only cruel and inhumane, but torture. This is true for many political prisoners, immigrants and other detainees, who have faced or are facing similar mistreatment and injustice in U.S. military and civilian prisons.

International treaty organizations and human rights experts, including the Human Rights Committee, the Committee against Torture and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, have concluded that solitary confinement amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. They have criticized supermax solitary confinement in the United States because of the mental suffering it inflicts.

According to some chat logs released by Wired.com of Manning’s online conversations with Adrian Lamo — who says he reported Manning to U.S. military authorities — Manning was very disturbed by evidence that he saw of crimes committed by the U.S. government and military. He was first arrested following the WikiLeaks release of a video showing the U.S. Apache gunship massacring Iraqi civilians. Later, his army captors also attributed to Manning the release of documents showing substantial U.S. government deceit, brutality, illegality and corruption.

Whether or not Manning is responsible for any or all of the WikiLeaks documents, he must be regarded as a hero and an example to all those who desire peace and justice around the world. All progressive forces should demand that the illegal confinement and torture of Bradley Manning stop immediately and that the real perpetrators of the brutal crimes revealed through WikiLeaks and elsewhere be brought to justice.