An appendage to my previous Christmas Message:

Its NOT for NOTHING that the U.N. has ordered 'special

rapporteur on torture' to start an immediate probe to find

whether the brutal solitary confinement of Bradley Manning

amounts to torture. Manning stated on December 19th that

his blankets are similar in weight and heft to lead aprons used

in X-ray laboratories and similar in texture to coarse and stiff

carpet. He stated explicitly that the blankets are not soft in the

least and expressed concern that he had to lie very still at night

to avoid receiving carpet burns. The problem of carpet burns

was exacerbated, he related, by the stipulation that he must sleep

only in his boxer shorts as part of the longstanding POI

(Prevention of Injury) order. Manning added that hallway-mounted

lights shine through his window at night. This constant illumination

is consistent with reports from attorney David Coombs’ blog that

marines must visually inspect Manning as he sleeps.

Manning has also said hat he is able to exercise only if walking in

chains is a form of exercise... He is suffering Extreme Isolation

Prison Torture- is suffering inhumane isolation in prison-

that numerous experts say is real torture...

This is the reason why I clamored for his immediate release along

with many other champions of human freedom. I'm not sure what

America feels about itself.. but America is known in Asia, Europe

and Africa for its torture and inhuman activities, its very symbol

being Guantánamo Bay- the military prison that has time and again

drawn criticism from human rights organizations.

Amnesty International has called the situation 'a human rights scandal'

in a series of reports.

And if Manning leaked the atrocities of American soldiers for the world

to know, to be a corrective force against American helicopters bombing

Iraqi civilians and again bombing rescuers attempting to save the injured,

then he is a hero by all means and not just a leaker.. he ranks with high

prophets and world leaders who have stood against authoritarianism

tyranny and oligarchy, putting their own lives at stake.

And not yet time to heave in comfort.. Wikileaks has more in store,

for it has given out only about 0.5% of the total documents amounting

to more than 250,000 in its custody, including the documents on

America's financial powerhouse, Bank Of America which will hit

news in early January, they say...

Manning needs to be considered for Nobel Prize along with Julian Assange,

for being the Courageous Whistleblower he is...

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your week-end

Love,

Prof. Dr. Alex Abraham Odikandathil

( The foregoing is the text of my contention in an ongoing dialogue in Facebook...

Thought to share it with you since freedom from bondage is a very strong Christmas message to me.)