[Peace-discuss] Keep up complains re Manning's treatment

[C. G. Estabrook]

 From CBS News.

January 26, 2011 3:44 PM
Marines Replace Commander in Charge of Detention of Bradley Manning, Accused 
WikiLeaker
Posted by Joshua Norman 4 comments

One week ago, David Coombs, the main lawyer for accused WikiLeaks document 
leaker Bradley Manning, filed a complaint with military officials against 
Quantico Base Commander James Averhart.

Coombs accused Averhart of abusing his "discretion" by arbitrarily choosing 
harsh - some have said tortuous - confinement conditions for Manning, who is 
housed in the Quantico brig.

On Wednesday, the Marines replaced Averhart as Quantico's commander with Chief 
Warrant Officer Denise Barnes, CNN reports.

A base spokesman claims the complaint and Averhart's removal are not related, 
and that the decision to replace Averhart was made back in October, CNN reports.

Coombs said earlier that Averhart, against the recommendations of two 
psychiatrists, chose to place Manning under suicide watch last week, which 
allows guards to force Manning to "remain in his cell for 24 hours a day," be 
"stripped of all clothing with the exception of his underwear," and have "his 
prescription eyeglasses taken away."

The suicide watch was removed after about 48 hours when Coombs petitioned the 
Army Staff Judge Advocate's Office, which forced the Averhart to downgrade 
Manning's confinement to "Prevention of Injury" (POI) watch.

Coombs has been struggling with Manning's confinement and trial status for 
months now. Because Manning is being held under such harsh conditions without 
having been charged, Coombs has tried all manner of legal recourse, including 
filing a motion for Manning's release, a motion to dismiss the trial because of 
its slow start, and even a request for a speedy trial last week.

The office of Manfred Nowak, special rapporteur on torture in Geneva for the 
United Nations, received a complaint at the end of December from one of 
Manning's supporters alleging conditions in the brig amount to torture, said a 
UN spokesperson. At the time of the complaint, Manning was under POI watch, 
which is only slightly harsh than suicide watch.

Manning remains on POI watch to this day.

The U.N. has begun investigating and could ask the United States to stop any 
violations it finds.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20029688-503543.html