Bradley Manning Statement Audio from Ft. Meade Military Tribunal Leaked

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press Wednesday March 13, 2013 15:39 by Free Bradley Manning

Manning Statement Audio Leaked in Opposition to 'Extreme Secrecy in Our Courts'
First time the public has heard Manning's voice since his initial arrest in early 2010
- Jacob Chamberlain, staff writer
LEAKED AUDIO - http://tinyurl.com/cobahuv

Recording of Pfc. Bradley Manning's recent courtroom statement was leaked by transparency group Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), in an a bid to fight 'extreme secrecy' surrounding the Manning case.

In the recording, leaked in violation of court orders late Monday, Manning explains to a pre-trial military court in Fort Meade why he released the United States government files to WikiLeaks. The recording is the first time the public has heard Manning's voice since his arrest in May 2010.
(Credit: Reuters)

FPF stated that the audio leak surfaced despite "extreme secrecy in our courts," which, just as in government, "is an anathema to democracy."

The group continued: "Whether military or civilian, this type of closed-door legal process impairs the public's right-to-know and journalists' ability to report on matters of deep public concern."

Concerning the leak of the audio, Glenn Greenwald writes Tuesday:

The court-martial proceeding of Bradley Manning has, rather ironically, been shrouded in extreme secrecy, often exceeding even that which prevails at Guantanamo military commissions. [...]
Combined with the prohibition on all press interviews with him, this extraordinary secrecy regime has meant that, in the two-and-a-half years since his arrest, the world has been prevented, literally, from hearing Manning's voice. That changes today.
On March 11, 2013, a redacted version of Manning's statement was officially released (doc).

However, last week journalist Alexa O'Brien who has been covering Manning's case, published a full unofficial transcript. That transcript appeared also at Common Dreams and follows below.