Intro: "The United Nations chief torture investigator said the United States was violating UN rules, after the country denied him unmonitored access to Bradley Manning, the Army private charged with leaking among other things classified diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks."

Pfc. Bradley Manning, 08/01/10. (photo: Bradley Manning)

UN Official Says US Is Breaking Rules in Torture Investigation

By Eyder Peralta, NPR

14 July 11

he United Nations chief torture investigator said the United States was violating U.N. rules, after the country denied him unmonitored access to Bradley Manning, the Army private charged with leaking among other things classified diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks.

Last April, as we reported, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendéz expressed similar concerns, saying the United States would only allow a "private" visit rather than an "official" visit and also denied him the chance to visit Manning unsupervised.

Méndez, who is investigating complaints about Manning's treatment, made those comments in April to The Guardian. This time, as the UN's news service reports, he's making them officially and saying the US is breaking long-held UN rules when it comes to the investigation of torture. The UN reports:

At the request of Mr. Méndez and after several meetings, the US Department of Defense allowed him to visit Mr. Manning, but warned him that the conversation would be monitored.

He said such a condition violated long-standing rules that the UN applies for prison visits and for interviews with inmates everywhere in the world. On humanitarian grounds and under protest, Mr. Méndez, through Mr. Manning's counsel, offered to visit him under these restrictive conditions, an offer the detainee declined.

Mr. Méndez has, since the beginning of this year, been in negotiations with the US Government over unrestricted access to Mr. Manning, but he was last month informed that the Government was not in a position to accede to the request for a private and unmonitored meeting.

The United States moved Manning to a Kansas military prison in April, after the country held him in solitary confinement for 23-hours a day in a Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Virgina.

Méndez said the US had assured him Manning's treatment is "markedly better" in Kansas. But, Méndez said, he needs to talk to Manning under conditions "where I can be assured that he is being absolutely candid."

"The United States, as a world leader, is a strong supporter of the international human rights system," he added. "Therefore, its actions must seek to set the pace in good practices that enhance the role of human rights mechanisms, ensuring and maintaining unfettered access to detainees during enquiries."

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+28 # Coffeewriter 2011-07-14 16:55

"The United States, as a world leader, is a strong supporter of the international human rights system," he added.

Where??? The only rights the US has ever been interested in is the right to do as it pleases. For decades America has supported despotic regimes and torturers - from Latin and Central America to Saddam Hussein.

This is merely proof that they are no different to their friends and former friends. And Americans around the world look with absolute innocent wonder as to why people in most other countries simply detest the US and its war mongering and hypocrisy. Shame on you.

+6 # nboehm 2011-07-15 00:48

coffeewriter, I agree with your opinion. One thing though, many Americans do not support what is going on. Americans do not get to decide if we go to war, Congress does. Congress only cares about making money, not the citizens of America or other countries. We fully understand (at least I do) why the rest of the world hates America. The government is full of hypocrites. I just hope my generation wakes up and does something before it gets worse.

+3 # John Lewis 2011-07-15 11:02

Perhaps a rectification is to be made here. First of all the United States is NOT AMERICA! America is a continent which USA is just a portion of. So, it would be more accurate to say "The world hates the USA, not necessarily America as the latter represents many countries who also hate USA. I live in America and I hate the USA, Not it's people because there are many good people who live in that country, but it's government which is responsible for so many crimes and atrocities.

+8 # Uranus 2011-07-14 22:39

If Bradley Manning is still alive, let's see him.

+5 # Capn Canard 2011-07-15 04:22

Manning is that political football they keep kicking into the ground. This is what happens when the rich and powerful rule the world.

+6 # John Lewis 2011-07-15 11:11

Bradley Manning should not be behind bars. I can name an awful lot of people who should be in prison instead of him. In my book he is a hero. Within the last administration I can name you a long list of former high level crack-pots who are now in total liberty, regardless of how many deaths they are responsible for.

+5 # Carolyn 2011-07-15 07:04

It's up to us. JUst voting for people because he or she is a Democrat or Republican -- that's just the same-old, same-old dualistic consciousness of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. We "thought" Obama was an updated FDR who cared about his people.
How would our fomer president George Bush and Dick Cheney view waterboarding after they had been waterboarded. there would be no discussion
Obama supports torture.

It's the consciousness level of the people we elected to be our presidents and representatives .

+3 # Hirmana 2011-07-15 12:37

What's new, the US government is always fighting to protect their "wrong doing secrets" while they make up new laws and policies as they go along, changing the rules like childish little brats. I can't wait to see Bush, Cheney and the rest of the wrong doer's go down, that is if there really is justice within the government??? An eye for an eye, would be great for in their cases!

+1 # lark3650 2011-07-16 07:48

The treatment of Bradley Manning is outrageous. As Henry David Thoreau said: "There are thousands hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." All Bradley Manning is guilty of is trying to get to the truth.

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