.Manning’s health deteriorates in US military brig
WASHINGTON Months of “inhumane” solitary confinement are taking a toll on the US Army private suspected of passing secret government files to WikiLeaks, one of his supporters said late on Thursday after paying him a visit.
“It has become obvious to me that (Bradley) Manning’s physical and mental well-being are deteriorating,” David House wrote on the blog Firedoglake, recounting a visit to the military brig where the accused soldier is being held.
“It’s become increasingly clear that the severe, inhumane conditions of his detention are wearing on Manning,” he wrote.
Held at a military brig in Virginia at the Quantico Marine base since July, Manning, 23, has been placed under a maximum security regimen because authorities say his escape would pose a risk to national security.
Under the strict rules, Manning is allowed out of his cell for only one hour a day for exercise outside or at an indoor gym, military officers say. But House said the Pentagon’s description of conditions was contradicted by what he learned from Manning.
“He has not been outside or into the brig yard for neither recreation nor exercises in four full weeks,” House said.
“When told of the Pentagon’s statement that he indeed receives exercise, Manning’s reply was that he is able to exercise insofar as walking in chains is a form of exercise,” he wrote.
As a “precaution,” prison authorities have decided not to issue Manning cotton sheets and instead have provided two blankets and a pillow made of material that cannot be torn into pieces.
Manning told his visitor that “his blankets are similar in weight and heft to lead aprons used in X-ray laboratories,” House said.
The army soldier was under a “Prevention of Injury” order that was the cause of some of the more strict conditions, House said, even though Manning allegedly had been cleared by a military psychologist.
“What Manning needs, and what his attorney has already urged, is to have the unnecessary ‘Prevention of Injury’ order lifted that severely restricts his ability to exercise, communicate, and sleep,” he wrote. The Pentagon has rejected allegations Manning is suffering from any abuse and insists he is being treated in the same way as other inmates under the “maximum custody” regime.
Oman Tribune
“It has become obvious to me that (Bradley) Manning’s physical and mental well-being are deteriorating,” David House wrote on the blog Firedoglake, recounting a visit to the military brig where the accused soldier is being held.
“It’s become increasingly clear that the severe, inhumane conditions of his detention are wearing on Manning,” he wrote.
Held at a military brig in Virginia at the Quantico Marine base since July, Manning, 23, has been placed under a maximum security regimen because authorities say his escape would pose a risk to national security.
Under the strict rules, Manning is allowed out of his cell for only one hour a day for exercise outside or at an indoor gym, military officers say. But House said the Pentagon’s description of conditions was contradicted by what he learned from Manning.
“He has not been outside or into the brig yard for neither recreation nor exercises in four full weeks,” House said.
“When told of the Pentagon’s statement that he indeed receives exercise, Manning’s reply was that he is able to exercise insofar as walking in chains is a form of exercise,” he wrote.
As a “precaution,” prison authorities have decided not to issue Manning cotton sheets and instead have provided two blankets and a pillow made of material that cannot be torn into pieces.
Manning told his visitor that “his blankets are similar in weight and heft to lead aprons used in X-ray laboratories,” House said.
The army soldier was under a “Prevention of Injury” order that was the cause of some of the more strict conditions, House said, even though Manning allegedly had been cleared by a military psychologist.
“What Manning needs, and what his attorney has already urged, is to have the unnecessary ‘Prevention of Injury’ order lifted that severely restricts his ability to exercise, communicate, and sleep,” he wrote. The Pentagon has rejected allegations Manning is suffering from any abuse and insists he is being treated in the same way as other inmates under the “maximum custody” regime.
Oman Tribune
posted by madtom at 10:36 AM
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