Manning has been two years and two months in prison, facing 22 charges. He was arrested by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command while he was serving in Iraq, accused of uploading confidential information to the Internet.
Among the archives that he managed to declassify there is a video showing a U.S. Army helicopter killing a group of civilians in Iraq, including two Iraqi journalists working for Reuters — which in turn caused worldwide outrage.
Presumably, Manning is also [accused] of being responsible for the leaking of secret documents about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, texts Diaries christened the Afghanistan War. And of course, he is also accused of spreading thousands of diplomatic cables sent from U.S. embassies.
Since May 2010, Manning was locked in a windowless cell; cut off from the outside world, and prevented of reading newspapers or receive emails; not allowed going outside to walk and forced to sleep naked every day, for seven hours, on the pretext of preventing an attempt to suicide.
“Manning’s trial is conducted in secret. The limited access by the press is controlled by the Military District of Washington, which means the coverage is superficial or non-existent,” says Alexa O’Brien, American journalist that has followed the trial-sessions of “United States versus Manning” since December 2011.
This is corroborated by one of the representatives of the General Council Human Rights Watch, Dinah PoKempner. The goal, she says, is to seek an indictment against Assange.
PoKempner says that U.S. still has no incriminating evidence against Assange. “The nasty calls for “pay-back” by U.S. public figures, including some members of government, certainly give Mr Assange reasons for to be concerned, as well as the abusive treatment that Bradley Manning has received while been under military custody until this moment” said the activist.
Currently, several movements have been formed to support the young soldier. One of them is “I am Manning” where one of its leading figures is Daniel Ellsberg. Back in the 70’s, he exposed the Pentagon’s classified files, and won the case in court, because it was discovered the infringements of the government of Richard Nixon by illegally wiretapping conversations, in what later became known as Watergate.
But what is the difference between what happened with Ellsberg and what happens with Manning and Assange?
O’Brien believes that the press during the 70’s was more independent than it is now, while Billy Navarrete – of the Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CHR) – considers that there is no difference.
“States cannot hide their dirty deeds when they affect people’s fundamental principles. The principle of “treason” is overcome when the action has meant the protection of human rights in all circumstances, including in armed conflicts,” said Navarrete.
According to Navarrete “U.S. extended-power means that countries like Sweden does not represent guarantee for Assange’s safety. He is currently the number one enemy of the greatest world power. “
[1] Text and links below, courtesy of Alexa O’Brien
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Good work! Keep asking about Guardian commentary policy. That must itch in the end.Kari Lantto