29 August, 2000

LORI BERENSON -- Day 1734 of her wrongful incarceration in Peru: Supreme military council of Peru nullifies Lori's life sentence

Intro
Letter
Press release

Intro

Dear friends,

A step in the right direction has finally occurred!

Rights Action is pleased to send this memo from Rhoda and Mark Berenson, parents of Lori Berenson, a US citizen held political prisoner in Peru. Please read and distribute the information below. We encourage you to contact the Committee to Free Lori Berenson [information below] to get more information and to find out how you can help achieve her freedom.

Letter

Monday, August 28, 2000

To Friends and Supporters of Lori Berenson, this is day 1734 of Lori's wrongful incarceration in Peru.

Supreme military council of Peru nullifies Lori's life sentence - determines she was not guilty of "aggravated terrorism and treason against the fatherland."

Thanks to all your help over these four years and nine months -- we have reached a milestone!

The government of Peru has admitted that Lori Berenson was never a leader of the MRTA rebel group, that she should not have been tried by a military tribunal, and that she was not guilty of treason to the fatherland.

As a result, her life sentence has been nullified.

But we have a lot of work ahead. As you will read in our press statement below, it is not possible for Lori to get a fair trial in Peru, even though she is innocent. We need your help NOW to pressure the US government to bring Lori home in freedom.

Press Statement by Rhoda and Mark Berenson New York City Press Conference -- August 28, 2000

Dismissal of Lori Berenson's Case From Peruvian Military Courts

Peru has now admitted that Lori Berenson was not a leader of MRTA. It knows she was not even a member. She has been imprisoned in Peru for four years and nine months under cruel, inhumane, and degrading conditions without justification. Her health is impaired, ... permanently we fear.

There is no basis in truth, or law, for holding Lori another day.

For years, the government of Peru has ignored the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American States, President Clinton, President Carter, the US State Department, the House, the Senate, major international human rights institutions and organizations, and Lori Berenson herself, protesting the denial of due process of law in the proceedings against Lori.

In this past session, 293 members of the US Congress --250 members of the House and 43 Senators-- demanded Lori Berenson's release. Due process requires that after four years and nine months without a proper trial Lori must be released.

It is not possible for Lori Berenson to have a fair trial in Peru under present conditions. Leading international human rights institutions, organizations, and authorities, and many concerned parties have recognized that the Peruvian political leadership and governmental infrastructure preclude the capability of a fair trial.

According to the US State Department Human Rights Report (February 25, 2000), "Proceedings ... for terrorism in civilian courts do not meet internationally accepted standards of openness, fairness and due process."

During the Presidential elections in Peru earlier this year, prejudicial statements were made by the President of the National Penal Superior Court for Terrorism, the President of the Superior Court of Lima, the official Ombudsman of Peru, a former Peruvian Minister of Justice, jurists, Peruvian Congresspersons and other government officials as well.

When such high-ranking members of the Peruvian government gratuitously declare Lori Berenson guilty, it is obvious that a fair trial is impossible in Peru. It is time for Lori Berenson to be freed and returned home.

Rhoda and Mark Berenson.

Committee to Free Lori Berenson
110 Maryland Avenue, NE
Suite 102
Washington DC 20002
T: 202-548-8480
F: 202-544-9613
E: gtaylor@freelori.org
W: www.freelori.org

Rights Action raises funds for rights-based community development and human rights projects in Southern Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean, and educates and advocates in the US & Canada about international development and human rights issues.

General information
info@rightsaction.org
www.rightsaction.org

Guatemala
T: [502] 251-9803
T/f: [502] 232-1437
partners@guate.net

Canada Rights Action (Canada)
Box 73527
509 St. Clair Ave W.
Toronto ON,
Canada, M6C-1C0

T: 416-654-2074
grussell@rightsaction.org

United States
Rights Action (US)
1830 Connecticut Av, NW
Washington DC 20009, USA
T: 202-783-1123
F: 202-483-6730
emorales@rightsaction.org