Call to save Bradley Manning, whistleblower, from life imprisonment
Save human rights whistleblower Bradley Manning! Why this is important http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_human_rights_whistleblower_Bradley_Manning/?wnQTQbb 17 Aug 12 Accused WikiLeaks whistleblower and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Bradley Manning will spend the rest of his life in prison for telling the
public the truth, if US officials get their way.
Government conduct, apparently aimed at discouraging whistleblowers, has ignored due process and made a fair trial impossible. But, in the past, outrageous government conduct has led judges to dismiss the charges against whistleblowers. Tell the judge in Bradley’s military Court Martial to do the same!
– Bradley was held in pre-trial solitary confinement for 11 months, in conditions condemned by the UN Rapporteur on Torture as “cruel, inhuman and degrading,” including being stripped and made to stand naked at roll call. This was a clear violation of the US military’s Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ: Article 13). Yet, only worldwide outrage–including over 500,000 Avaaz members signing a petition–ended this illegal treatment.
– Both President Obama and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Dempsey have declared publicly, prior to trial, that Bradley
“broke the law.” Their statements make a mockery of presumption of
innocence and have prejudiced the proceedings with Unlawful Command
Influence (UCMJ: Article 37).
– Article 10 of the UCMJ promises defendants a speedy trial. However,
Bradley was imprisoned for nearly two years before his pretrial
proceedings even began, and his court-martial trial has yet to start.
– The prosecution has withheld key evidence which the defense believes
will show that Bradley’s alleged actions have not damaged US national
security. And there is clear evidence that the leaks were motivated
entirely by conscience. Yet the military says that Bradley’s intention
should not even be considered by the court, and that he should be
convicted of ‘Aiding the Enemy’ and sentenced to life in prison,
regardless of any moral motive, lack of harm, or overwhelmingly
positive results of the disclosures. Against all Justice, this would
make any kind of whistleblower defense impossible.
Call on Judge Lind to acknowledge the outrageous government conduct in
Bradley’s case, and dismiss the charges against him, and tell
President Obama to pardon him in the event of any conviction!
The information released has helped inform public understanding of the
realities of the War on Terror, and revealed governmental and
corporate corruption and collusion. It has contributed to the ending
of the Iraq War and to positive people-power movements such as the
Tunisian Revolution and the Occupy Movement. Tens of thousands of
regular citizens worldwide have supported Bradley and funded his legal
defense (See: www.bradleymanning.org). It is time for US officials to
stop obstructing democracy and free Bradley Manning!
Sincerely,
Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower
Center for Constitutional Rights
Bradley Manning Support Network
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