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Australia flags denying U.S. whistleblower Chelsea Manning entry visa
Australia has signaled it is preparing to ban U.S. whistleblower Chelsea Manning from entering the country ahead of a scheduled speaking tour, the organizer of the engagements said. Manning, the transgender U.S. Army soldier who served seven years in military prison for leaking classified data, is scheduled to speak at the Sydney Opera House at the weekend.
However, Suzi Jamil, owner of the company organizing Manning's speaking tour in Australia, said late on Wednesday Manning had received a notice from the Australian government informing her Canberra was considering cancelling her visa. [...] Australian law allows the immigration minister to deny anyone a visa if they do not pass a character test, a broad criteria that affords the government sweeping powers.
Manning is scheduled to travel to New Zealand after finishing her three events in Australia but the center-right opposition National Party has also called for her to be denied entry.
Also at NYT.
Related: Chelsea Manning Released from Prison, Remains on Active Duty Pending Appeal
Chelsea Manning, Newly Freed from Military Prison, Speaks in San Francisco
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 31 2018, @08:56AM (2 children)
Australia, among many other countries, reserves the right to prevent people with a criminal record from entering their country. So does the US, Canada, UK, and others around the world. They have the right to refuse entry to anyone they choose. The Australian government don't have to justify their actions to anyone other than the Australian population for whom they are responsible for protecting. Manning has a criminal record. Whether you support what he did or not, whether you agree with his sex and gender choices, or whether you even just think he is an ass or a hero, is totally irrelevant.
Nobody gets upset if any government stops a convicted pedophile from entering the country, nor a terrorist, or mass murderer. But here it seems that some members of our community think that treason is perfectly acceptable. Manning knew the rules when he took on his job in the military, and he knew what he did was wrong. Now he can see the cost of that mistake.
If you are an Australian and don't like the actions of your government then you can do something about it. For the rest of us it is something of a moot point.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 31 2018, @11:18AM (1 child)
Manning wasn't charged with treason. She was charged with the less serious crime of aiding the enemy, but was acquitted of that charge.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday August 31 2018, @04:25PM
Actually, that's only partially true.:
1. she was convicted on 17 counts, 5 of which were related to espionage and theft [wikipedia.org]. Yes, she was acquitted of aiding the enemy.
2, nevertheless, she remains with a criminal record and yes the Australian regulation allows for a refusal of visa for people with criminal record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford