US URGED TO END ILL-TREATMENT OF WIKILEAKS SUSPECT
The Celtic League has urged the US government to rethink its treatment of Pte Bradley Manning, currently detained by the US military following the Wikileaks revelations.
Letters of protest (see below) have been sent to the US embassies in Dublin, Paris and London.
The US treatment of Pte Manning has been criticised by a broad range of US and International bodies and has drawn specific comment from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture (see YouTube interview link):
Bradley Manning has joint US/British nationality and his mother is Welsh. He spent part of his youth in Haverfordwest in Wales and attended school there. His case has been raised in the UK parliament by Welsh MP and human rights advocate Ann Clwyd.
Text of Embassy letters below:
The Ambassador
Daniel M Rooney
U S Embassy
42 Elgin Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Ireland
30/04/11
Dear Mr Ambassador,
I write to express our concern about the treatment of US Military detainee Private Bradley Manning. I understand that recently conditions for Pte Manning have been somewhat improved in that his detention in solitary confinement which has lasted almost a year has now been lifted and his access to communication has improved. However we note with concern the detailed criticisms of his detention voiced by a broad range of opinion from American legal academics to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture.
It is also disturbing that the United States has refused unmonitored access by the UN Special Rapporteur to Pte Manning and we would urge that this decision by the US government is reversed.
The United States is seen as a champion of democracy, freedom and human rights globally. Reference to our own web site and the comments that we make about human rights issues world wide will show that we draw heavily on and set great store by the statistics that the US State Department (Bureau of Democracy Labour and Human rights) compiles annually.
The US government demeans itself and undermines its status in the areas of human rights and freedom by its treatment of Pte Manning. We urge your government to ameliorate its mean spirited stance towards Pte Manning and base the conduct of his case on principle not prejudice.
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
30/04/11
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses onm socio-economic issues.
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