Bradley Manning: Found guilty for exposing war crimes
Trial verdict a “travesty of justice” says Tatchell
London - 30 July 2013
“Bradley Manning has been found guilty of espionage and theft after a biased, unfair trial in which he was not allowed
to provide evidence of his motives and intentions when he released US files. These files included evidence of US war
crimes, lies and cover-ups. The verdict is a travesty of justice. It mocks the honesty and idealism of a good soldier
who sought to expose human rights abuses and defend international humanitarian law,” said Peter Tatchell, Director of
the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which has campaigned in support of Manning’s right to
expose wrong-doing.
“Bradley Manning is an honourable whistle-blower - not a thief, spy or enemy agent. He exposed the truth about US war
crimes in Iraq.
“Manning is a true patriot, not a traitor. He reveres the founding ideals of the US: the notion of an open, honest
government that is accountable to the people and that pursues its policies by lawful means with respect for human
rights. At great personal sacrifice, he exposed grave crimes that were perpetrated and then hidden by the US government
and military. These are the characteristics of a man of conscience, motivated by altruism. Thanks to Manning, the US
people now know the truth.
“One of the war crimes he exposed was a US Apache helicopter attack that gunned down 11 Iraqi civilians in 2007,
including two Reuters journalists and men who had gone to the aid of the wounded. Two children were also gravely injured
when the US helicopter opened fire on their van. The video records US soldiers laughing and joking at the killings, and
also insulting the victims.
“The video of the massacre can be seen at: www.collateralmurder.com
“This slaughter had previously been the subject of a cover-up by the US armed forces, which claimed dishonestly that the
helicopter had been engaged in combat operations against armed enemy forces.
“It is only thanks to Bradley Manning that we now know the truth about this massacre of innocent civilians – and about
the killings of hundreds of other civilians in unreported and undocumented incidents,” said Mr Tatchell.
ends