U.N. Torture Investigator Slams U.S. for Denying Him Access to Bradley Manning

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

A United Nations special rapporteur on torture claims U.S. authorities refused to give him access to Army Private Bradley Manning, 23, the lone soldier accused of leaking secret files to WikiLeaks.

Juan Mendez, the U.N. representative on torture, said he had visited numerous other nations where he'd been allowed unmonitored communications with prisoners. The U.S. Department of Defense on Friday, however, denied his request to visit with Manning, saying he may not speak with the soldier unless a government monitor is present.

The difference between those two is that "official" visits by a U.N. special rapporteur on torture must be unmonitored. In a monitored conversation, anything Manning says could be used against him before a military court.

" my part, a monitored conversation would not comply with the practices that my mandate applies in every country and detention center visited," Mendez said.

more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/12/u-n-torture-investigator-slams-u-s-for-denying-him-access-to-bradley-manning/

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Bradley Manning case sparks UN criticism of US government
Source: The Guardian

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 accused of being the WikiLeaks source and held in a military prison. It is the kind of censure 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 told the Guardian: "I am acting on a complaint that the regimen of this detainee amounts to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or torture … until I have all the evidence in front of me, I cannot say whether he has been treated inhumanely."

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

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[babydollhead]

2. kick

[gratuitous]

3. Oh, how utterly silly

The United States does NOT torture, so why would a torture investigator need access to a detainee of the United States? That's just the silliest thing ever! It would be like looking for some guy hiding out in the ladies' room. Duh! It's the ladies' room, therefore no guys are in there.

I'm so glad the popular domestic media didn't fall for this, and it's only the dirty fucking hippies at Raw Story and overseas outlets like the Guardian who are reporting this. Makes it so much easier for our citizens to keep their beautiful minds clear of such unpleasantness.

[democrank]

4. USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!!

[TheWraith]

5. He wasn't "denied access" at all. He was denied a private closed door meeting.

Which Manning is only allowed with his lawyer.

[EFerrari]

7. Wrong. He was denied an official meeting which he should get

because we are signors to the UN Convention against Torture.

[walldude]

10. Hey just cause we signed the damn thing

doesn't mean we follow it. Ever heard of signing statements? We're allowed to sign something and then put a note at the bottom to explain how signing it doesn't mean we are going to follow the rules. Rules are for suckers.

[EFerrari]

13. "Rules are for suckers".

We should print that on the money.

lol

[robinlynne]

15. Thanks EF!!!!!!

[robinlynne]

14. says who?

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. Just another reason to take a big bite...

out of the Defense budget.

Too big, too powerful. Who says NO to the UN? Mark my words, this is gonna come back to bite them.

I know there are actions going on over this issue, but we need to grow them. It's important to care. Because if they can shove him away, they can shove anyone away. Something's very wrong here.


Time to start taking names.

[malaise]

8. Good

K & R

[G_j]

9. K&R

[davidthegnome]

11. K & R

[Enthusiast]

12. The "good guys" don't torture.

We stopped being the good guys on January 20, 2001.