The Fifth Amendment says to the federal government that no one shall be "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law." But if a case might hurt the United States government, they will circumvent constitutional laws and any individual WILL BE "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law," as it happened with Private Chelsea Manning.
"The trial of military whistle-blower and democracy advocate Chelsea Manning (known as Bradley Manning until her Aug 22, 2013 announcement) finished on August 21st. After a prosecution which starkly showcased US government officials’ misplaced priorities when it comes to human rights, Army whistleblower PVT Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison. This case sets a dangerous precedent for the first amendment, opening whistle-blowers and those who help them to extreme prosecution. However, as we enter the appeals process, [Chelsea] Manning’s story is far from over.
The information that Manning gave to the public exposed the unjust detainment of innocent people at Guantanamo Bay, shown us the true human cost of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and changed journalism forever. There is no evidence that anyone died as a result of the leaked information. Through WikiLeaks Manning revealed:
-the Collateral Murder video that exposed the killing of unarmed civilians and two Reuters journalists by a US Apache helicopter crew in Iraq
-the Afghan War Diary that revealed uninvestigated civilian casualties and contractor abuse
-the Iraq War Logs that revealed civilian casualties, and uninvestigated reports of torture
-the US diplomatic cables that revealed the role that corporate interests and spying play in international diplomacy
Unlawful Pre-trial Punishment
Soldiers are promised fair treatment and a speedy trial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). However, PVT Manning was arrested in April of 2010, and waited in pre-trial confinement for over three years before her trial finally began.
Additionally, during the first 10 months of her incarceration she was subjected to solitary confinement at the Quantico, Virginia, Marine Corps brig. During this time, Manning was denied meaningful exercise, social interaction, sunlight, and on a number of occasions was forced to stay completely naked. Pre-trial punishment is clearly illegal under US military law, and these extreme conditions were unique to Manning. In March 2011, chief US State Department spokesperson PJ Crowley called Manning’s treatment “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” Following his immediate resignation, he has stated that the prosecution’s heavy-handed persecution of Manning has undermined the government’s credibility.
Manning’s treatment sparked a probe by the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez. Mr. Mendez stated that he has been “frustrated by the prevarication of the US government with regard to my attempts to visit Mr. Manning.” After having his requests to visit Manning repeatedly blocked, and after completing a fourteen month investigation, Mr. Mendez issued a statement saying that Manning’s treatment has been “cruel and inhuman.”
It only took one week in April 2011 to have over a half million people sign a petition calling on President Obama to end Manning’s isolation, stating that her treatment served as “a chilling deterrent to other potential whistleblowers committed to public integrity.” Additionally, over 300 top legal scholars declared her treatment a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, as well as a violation of the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee against punishment without trial. Among the signatories was professor Laurence Tribe, a Harvard professor who taught President Obama. Professor Tribe was, until recently, a senior advisor to the US Justice Department.
Partially in response to public outcry, on April 21, 2011, PVT Manning was moved from Quantico to Fort Leavenworth, KS, where she was immediately judged to be a low-risk prisoner and her conditions of confinement greatly improved. Military Judge Denise Lind later ruled that the conditions at Quantico had indeed constituted “Unlawful Pretrial Punishment,” but only granted Manning 112 days credit, effectively negligible in the face of her 35 year final sentence.
Going Forward
Manning’s supporters continue to demand her release. Among the supporters is the famous whistle-blower, Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971. Recognizing the valor required to tell the truth, Ellsberg calls PVT Chelsea Manning a hero and a patriot. You can see more significant organizations and people who have voiced support for Manning here and here. Immediately following the end of the trial, the Chelsea Manning Support Network along with Amnesty International launched a petition to President Obama and the White House demanding clemency for PVT Manning, and set up a “Pardon PVT Manning” campaign website where supporters can submit photos holding signs of support."
Taken from:
http://www.chelseamanning.org/learn-more/bradley-manning
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