From The Boston Bradley Manning Support Committee Archives (November 7, 2013)

 

 

Markin comment:

As three former Nobel Peace Prize winners speak out for freedom for Private Bradley Manning no one should miss the irony that Private Manning, currently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize himself, is being held in the jails of a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, U.S. President Barack Obama. President Obama pardon Private Manning now.     

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November 7, 2012

A message from Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mairead Maguire & Adolfo Perez Esquivel

International peace demands honoring whistle-blowers like Bradley Manning.

As people who have worked for decades against the increased militarization of societies and for international cooperation to end war, we are deeply dismayed by the treatment of PFC Bradley Manning.

We have dedicated our lives to working for peace because we have seen many faces of armed conflict and violence and we understand that no matter the cause of war, civilians always bear the brunt of the cost.  With today's advanced military technology and the continued ability of business and political elites to filter what information is made public, there exists a great barrier to many citizens being fully aware of the realities and consequences of conflicts in which their country is engaged.

Responsible governance requires fully informed citizens who can question their leadership.  For those citizens worldwide who do not have direct, intimate knowledge of war, yet are still affected by rising international tensions and failing economies, WikiLeaks releases attributed to Bradley Manning have provided unparalleled access to important facts.

Revealing covert crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and corporations' pervasive influence in governance, this window into the realities of modern international relations has changed the world for the better.  While some of these documents may demonstrate how much work lies ahead in terms of securing international peace and justice, they also highlight the potential of the internet as a forum for citizens to participate more directly in civic discussion and creative government accountability projects.

Questioning authority, as a soldier, is not easy.  But it can at times "be honorable.  Words attributed to Bradley Manning reveal that he went through-a profound moral struggle between the time he enlisted and when he became a whistle-blower.  Through his experience in Iraq, witnessing suffering of innocent civilians and soldiers alike, he became disturbed by top-level policy that undervalued human life.  Like other courageous whistle-blowers, he was driven foremost by a desire to reveal the truth.

PFC Bradley Manning said in chat logs he hoped the releases would bring "debates, discussions and reform," and condemned the ways in which the "first world exploits the third." Much of the world regards PFC Manning as a hero for these efforts toward peace and transparency, and he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as a result. Much like when high-ranking officials in the United States and Britain misled the publicin 2003 by saying there was an imminent need to invade Iraq to stop them from using Weaponsof Mass Destruction, however, the world's most powerful elites have again insulted internationalopinion and the intelligence of many citizens by withholding facts regarding Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks.

The military prosecution has not presented evidence that by releasing secret documents PFC Manning injured anyone, and they have asserted in court that the charge of, "aiding the enemy through indirect means," does not require them to. Nor have they denied that his motivations were conscientious; they have simply argued they are irrelevant. In ignoring this context, and recommending a much more severe punishment for Bradley Manning than is given to U.S. soldiers guilty of murdering civilians, military leadership is sending a chilling warning to other soldiers who would feel compelled by conscience to reveal misdeeds. It is our belief that leaders who use fear to govern, rather than sharing wisdom born from facts, cannot be just.

We Nobel Peace Prize laureates condemn the persecution Bradley Manning has suffered, including imprisonment in conditions declared "cruel, inhuman and degrading" by the United Nations, and call upon U.S. citizens to stand up in support of this whistle-blower who defended their democratic rights. In the conflict in Iraq alone, more than 110,000 people have died since 2003, millions have been displaced, and nearly 4,500 American soldiers have been killed. If someone needs to be held accountable for endangering Americans and civilians, let's first take the time to examine the evidence regarding high-level crimes already committed, and what lessons can be learned. If Bradley Manning released the documents attributed to him, we should express to him our gratitude for his efforts toward accountability in government, informed democracy, and peace.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize, 1984

Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize, 1977
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize, 1980

Courage to Resist hosts the Bradley

Manning Defense Fund in collaboration with the Bradley Manning Support Network.

We're responsible for 100% of Bradley's legal expenses—nearly $250,000 so far, with a projected additional $50,000 needed through court martial.

If you'd like your tax-deductible donation to go towards Bradley's defense only, just note that with your donation today. You can also make a contribution to the Rivera Family Support Fund—see "The dire situation of Kimberly Rivera and her family" in our December 2012 newsletter enclosed. Otherwise, we'll use your contribution to support both Bradley and Kimberly, along with other military GI resisters.