DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225685
TITLE=U-S / PERU / BERENSON (L-O)
BYLINE=RICK NUNEZ
DATELINE=WASHINGTON, DC
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE PARENTS OF A 28-YEAR-OLD U-S CITIZEN SERVING A LIFE
SENTENCE IN A PERUVIAN PRISON FOR ALLEGED COMPLICITY WITH LEFTIST
REBELS ARE STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO WIN HER RELEASE. RHODA AND
MARK BERENSON FILED A COMPLAINT IN WASHINGTON TODAY (THURSDAY)
WITH THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. THE
GRIEVANCE IS AGAINST PERU ON BEHALF OF THEIR JAILED DAUGHTER,
LORI. V-O-A'S RICK NUNEZ HAS THE STORY:
TEXT: THE COMPLAINT SEEKS THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF LORI BERENSON
ON GROUNDS SHE WAS TRIED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. SHE HAS REPEATEDLY
DECLARED HER INNOCENCE.
MS. BERENSON WAS ARRESTED IN 1995 FOR ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRING WITH
TUPAC AMARU REBELS TO ATTACK THE PERUVIAN CONGRESS. A SO-CALLED
"FACELESS" MILITARY TRIBUNAL SENTENCED HER TO LIFE IN PRISON.
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING MS. BERENSON AND HER PARENTS SAY THE
MILITARY COURT DID NOT ALLOW HER TO DEFEND HERSELF OR CHALLENGE
THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AGAINST HER. THEY ALSO CHARGE THAT NO
VERIFIABLE RECORDS OF THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS EXIST.
FORMER U-S ATTORNEY GENERAL RAMSEY CLARK, WHO IS REPRESENTING THE
BERENSONS, SAYS THE U-S CONGRESS HAS BEEN EAGER TO INTERVENE IN
THE CASE:
// CLARK ACT //
"WE NOW HAVE 55 U-S SENATORS WHO HAVE WRITTEN SECRETARY
OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ASKING HER TO HELP THIS U-S
CITIZEN WHO IS WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED IN PERU. 175
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ALSO
WRITTEN LETTERS. BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE WHITE
HOUSE HAVE NOT ACTED VIGOROUSLY. OTHERWISE, LORI
WOULD HAVE BEEN FREE A LONG TIME AGO."
// END ACT //
MS. BERENSON'S FATHER, MARK, ALSO JOINED MR. CLARK IN CRITICIZING
THE RESPONSE OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO THE CASE. U-S OFFICIALS
HAVE CALLED ON PERU TO GRANT MS. BERENSON A FAIR TRIAL. BUT HER
FATHER SAYS THE UNITED STATES COULD DO MUCH MORE:
// BERENSON //
"SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT HUMAN
RIGHTS IS THE CENTERPIECE OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY. I SAY
TO THE SECRETARY, PROVE IT TO ME. WHY NOT TELL PERU:
'COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW OR FACE THE
CONSEQUENCES?'"
// END ACT //
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE U-S EMBASSY IN
LIMA CONTINUES PROVIDING CONSULAR SERVICES TO MS. BERENSON AND
HAS SENT DIPLOMATS TO VISIT HER SEVERAL TIMES. MR. RUBIN SAYS
HER MILITARY TRIAL FAILED TO MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF DUE
PROCESS.
A PRESS ATTACHE AT THE PERUVIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON (JUAN PABLO
VEGAS) SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS NOT AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT BEING
FILED BY LORI BERENSON'S FAMILY.
MARK BERENSON SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION
ON HUMAN RIGHTS WILL VINDICATE HIS DAUGHTER WHEN IT SEES WHAT HE
CALLS THE FLIMSINESS OF THE EVIDENCE THE PERUVIAN COURT PRESENTED
AGAINST HER. MR. BERENSON AND HIS WIFE, RHODA, PLAN TO LEAVE FOR
PERU LATE THURSDAY TO VISIT WITH LORI.
// REST OPT //
THE FAMILY'S COMPLAINT ALSO DEMANDS BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS AT
THE YANAMAYO PRISON, WHERE LORI BERENSON IS SERVING HER TERM.
THE ANDEAN JAIL SITS AT AN ALTITUDE SOME FOUR-THOUSAND METERS.
ITS CELLS HAVE NO RUNNING WATER OR HEAT, AND THE SANITARY
CONDITIONS THERE ARE DESCRIBED AS "PRIMITIVE." (SIGNED)
NEB/RAN/PT
22-Jan-98 4:01 PM EST (2101 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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