After two years, Amnesty explains why Bradley Manning has not been named a Prisoner of Conscience:

[Fire Walk With Me]

Michael ?@_cypherpunks_

After two years, @Amnesty explains why Bradley #Manning has not been named a Prisoner of Conscience: -
http://www.zcommunications.org/after-two-years-amnesty-explains-why-bradley-manning-has-not-been-named-a-prisoner-of-conscience-by-joe-emersberger# …

Over two years ago, in January of 2011, Amnesty USA told me they were “investigating” if Bradley Manning qualified as a “Prisoner of Conscience”. They told me they weren’t sure about his motivations and they’d have to look at his employment contract. I was then dismayed to see that the LA Times editorial board, hardly a revolutionary group, came out with a strong denunciation of Manning’s barbaric pre-trial detention before Amnesty had made any public statement in his defence.

Members of the Pussy Riot band in Russia were jailed on February 21, 2012. Less than 2 months later, Amnesty declared them to be "prisoners of conscience" (POC).

The blazing speed with which Amnesty declared them Prisoners of Conscience prompted me to renew my inquiries about Manning. Almost all my emails went unanswered except for one in which no explanation was given though it was “hoped” that somebody from their "research team" would soon answer me.

Today, I was finally told by an Amnesty USA employee (after she consulted with their “expert” on the case) that they have still not named Manning a Prisoner of Conscience (POC) but that Amnesty is “still investigating” if he qualifies. She added that Amnesty is not yet certain of two criteria that must be met

(Which are at the link.)

[Demeter]

1. He's a Prisoner; He acted for the good of the world

What other criteria could there possibly be?

Nobody was harmed...even the government admits that. Good did come of his whistleblowing, too.

The fix is in.

[antiquie]

2. Amnesty USA bows to the powers

Press Release February 27, 2013
Amnesty International Monitoring Bradley Manning Hearings
Contact: Sharon Singh, [e-mail], 202-675-8579, @AIUSAmedia

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Amnesty International issued the following statement regarding Bradley Manning:

"Bradley Manning was arrested in May 2010 while stationed with the U.S. army in Iraq. He has been charged with multiple counts of obtaining and distributing thousands of classified documents to unauthorized parties and 'aiding the enemy.'

"Manning has been in U.S. military custody since his arrest. In early 2011, Amnesty International called on the US Government to end the unnecessarily harsh conditions under which Manning was held in pre-trial detention at the Quantico facility in Virginia.

"Amnesty International continues to follow the Manning case and is sending an observer to the pre-trial hearings and Military Court Martial at Fort Meade in Maryland for the purpose of fair trial observation. Amnesty International needs to gather further information before being in a position to comment further on Manning’s detention or trial."

(This is the entire press release from
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/amnesty-international-monitong-bradley-manning-hearings-0 )