Manning’s jail term a strong message to whistleblowers
UNITED STATES
BRADLEY MANNING was on his way to a military jail last night to begin a 35-year sentence for leaking secret documents to WikiLeaks but human rights organisations say the case is far from over.
The 25-year-old army private will be eligible for parole in seven years, having been given credit for 1294 days of pre-trial confinement.
Human rights groups criticised the sentence, which was at the lower end of expectations, but said it should be the basis of an important public debate on the costs of war and whistleblowers determined to reveal abuses of government power.
Amnesty International called on President Barack Obama to commute the sentence to time already served, on the ground that Manning’s motives were pure.
‘‘Bradley Manning acted on the belief that he could spark a meaningful public debate on the costs of war, and specifically on the conduct of the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan,’’ said Widney Brown, a senior director.
Kirsty Hughes, the chief executive of Index on Censorship, said that making an example of Manning would ‘‘tell all whistle-
Bradley Manning is escorted into court to receive his sentence at Fort Meade in Maryland. blowers that they will not be protected for exposing the worst abuses of power’’.
Daniel Ellsberg, the defence analyst who in 1971 leaked the secret history of US involvement in Vietnam to newspapers, described Manning as ‘‘one more casualty of a horrible, wrongful war’’.
WikiLeaks, however, said on Twitter that the sentence represented a strategic victory because it meant Manning could be released in seven years.
The Obama Administration has charged seven people with leaking information to the media, including Edward Snowden, who re- cently revealed the extent of mass surveillance by the US Government.
Only three people were prosecuted on such charges in all previous administrations combined.
The prosecution in the Manning trial called for 60 years in jail, from a possible maximum of 90, to deter future leakers.
The sentence, delivered by the military judge, Colonel Denise Lind, who sat without a jury, was greeted with dismay by Manning’s supporters.
A gasp was heard in the small military court at Fort Meade, Maryland, when it was read out.
Wearing full military uniform and looking pale but calm, Manning remained impassive throughout the hearing, although his aunt, Debra Van Alstyne, sitting in the public gallery, choked back tears.
He was taken to military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Manning, who has admitted responsibility and apologised for the biggest leak of classified information in his country’s history, was convicted last month of 20 offences, including espionage, theft and computer fraud. He was acquitted of aiding the enemy.
The verdict and sentence will be sent to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.