Lovers Electricperforming live at Guiseppe Conlon Hall, London N4, England, UK
This event was put on by local people to raise awareness to the plight of one Bradley Manning who has been held in the brig at Quantico, Virginia USA under dehumanised conditions.
Being a UK citizen does not mean that Bradley Manning should be able expect a different standard of care to any other individual in his position. Bradley is entitled to receive due process. He should not be subjected to "severe pain and suffering, whether physical or mental." This is the bare minimum that any prisoner in pre-trial detention should be able to expect.
"There have been consistent abuses of discretion in the case of Bradley Manning," said Kevin Zeese, a Washington DC attorney and steering committee member of the Bradley Manning Support Network. "The previous commander abused his discretion so that Manning was punished rather than being treated like a typical pre-trial detainee. We have seen consistent cruel and unusual punishment of Manning."
Bradley Manning's attorney, David Coombs of Rhode Island, filed a complaint last week asserting that CWO4 James Averhart abused his discretion by placing Manning on an unjustified, punitive suicide watch regime for two days immediately after 150 supporters of Manning's rallied at Quantico's main entrance on Martin Luther King, Jr. day.
Coombs yesterday catalogued in detail the fact that Manning's conditions of pre-trial confinement have been radically different than what has been described by military spokespersons.
"Despite the assertion of Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, PFC Bradley Manning is not being treated like every other detainee at the Quantico brig. Morrell stated during today's Pentagon briefing that PFC Manning's 'confinement is not in the least different from the manner in which anyone else at the brig is being held.' This statement is patently false," notes Coombs on his blog. Coombs also explained that his client was the only detainee at Quantico held under the maximum custody regime or the highly-restrictive "prevention of injury watch" order.
Concerns for Manning's human rights have been rising this week. Amnesty International wrote Defense Secretary Gates urging a review of Manning's pre-trial confinement conditions, a former commander at Quantico raised questions about the unusual conditions, and Manning's confinement was addressed in a White House press briefing. Meanwhile, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture continues to investigate the situation.
Over 50,000 people from around the world have already helped pay $110,000 toward Manning's legal defense, signed the public "We Stand with Bradley Manning" statement that will become a full-page New York Times newspaper ad, and/or have signed an online petition in support of Manning's human rights.
"If we're to believe the charges against Bradley Manning, it's clear that this is a textbook example of a whistle-blower acting in the interests of an informed democracy. He certainly deserves support," added supporter Jeff Paterson.
Read more: http://www.bradleymanning.org/16078/r...
References
Bradley Manning Support Network website
http://www.bradleymanning.org
"We stand with Bradley Manning" statement
http://www.standwithbrad.org
"PFC Bradley Manning Is Not Being Treated Like Every Other Detainee"
By Manning's attorney David Coombs, 26 January 2011
http://www.armycourtmartialdefense.info
DoD Transcript regarding Bradley Manning, 26 January 2011
http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/tr...
Amnesty International to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, 19 January 2011
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/ass...
Read more: http://www.bradleymanning.org/16078/r...
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'Could this be' official video - Lovers Electricby loverselectric102,730 views
Great song. Free Bradley!
cortomobile 11 months ago