Pfc. Manning to be transferred to Army prison - US news - WikiLeaks in Security - msnbc.com
source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42668883/ns/us_news-wikileaks_in_security/
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Under increasing public pressure and facing accusations of prisoner abuse, the Pentagon will transfer Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, suspected of leaking secret U.S. government documents to the WikiLeaks website, from the Marine Corps brig at Quantico, Va., to the Army prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as early as Wednesday. It’s not only a change in venue, but a dramatic shift in the conditions of his confinement.
Manning was held in maximum security at Quantico, where he spent 23 hours a day and ate all his meals in an isolated cell, was permitted no contact with other prisoners and was forced to wear chains and leg irons any time he was moved. He also was often forced to strip naked at night and stand nude in his cell for early morning inspection.
The Marines claim they took his clothes to prevent him from injuring himself. Military and Pentagon officials insist the action was punishment for what the Marines considered disrespect from Manning. Such tactics for disciplinary reasons are against military regulations.
Once at Leavenworth, he’ll be placed in a new medium-security facility. Although locked in a cell at night, he’ll have some freedom of movement in an open day room, have contact and take meals with fellow prisoners, shower when he wants and have access to books and TV.
This will make visits with his civilian attorney, family and some friends more difficult, but it’s the nearest such facility for pre-trial confinement the Army has. Manning will have to return to Fort Belvoir in Virginia for any court appearances. Putting him back into Quantico is “out of the question,” according to Pentagon and military officials, so the Army may make arrangements with a civilian detention facility to hold him temporarily as needed.
U.S. military officials, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity, deny Manning was tortured, but one said "the Marines blew it” in terms of how they treated him.
Both White House and Pentagon officials grew increasingly concerned by the human rights drumbeat of public accusations and criticism of Manning’s treatment and wanted to put an end to it, they said.
The announcement, which is expected tomorrow morning, will be spun to say the Army requested the move, they said.
Manning was held in maximum security at Quantico, where he spent 23 hours a day and ate all his meals in an isolated cell, was permitted no contact with other prisoners and was forced to wear chains and leg irons any time he was moved. He also was often forced to strip naked at night and stand nude in his cell for early morning inspection.
The Marines claim they took his clothes to prevent him from injuring himself. Military and Pentagon officials insist the action was punishment for what the Marines considered disrespect from Manning. Such tactics for disciplinary reasons are against military regulations.
Once at Leavenworth, he’ll be placed in a new medium-security facility. Although locked in a cell at night, he’ll have some freedom of movement in an open day room, have contact and take meals with fellow prisoners, shower when he wants and have access to books and TV.
This will make visits with his civilian attorney, family and some friends more difficult, but it’s the nearest such facility for pre-trial confinement the Army has. Manning will have to return to Fort Belvoir in Virginia for any court appearances. Putting him back into Quantico is “out of the question,” according to Pentagon and military officials, so the Army may make arrangements with a civilian detention facility to hold him temporarily as needed.
U.S. military officials, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity, deny Manning was tortured, but one said "the Marines blew it” in terms of how they treated him.
Both White House and Pentagon officials grew increasingly concerned by the human rights drumbeat of public accusations and criticism of Manning’s treatment and wanted to put an end to it, they said.
The announcement, which is expected tomorrow morning, will be spun to say the Army requested the move, they said.
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