News from Lori's Parents
22 January 1999
In this update:Lori's Solitary Confinement Reaches 108 Days:
Amnesty International Issues New Urgent Action Appeal Blasting Perú
Lori has remained in total isolation for over 15 weeks as the Peruvian government has defied all human rights efforts from clerical, secular, and governmental groups to end this cruel and inhuman treatment.
Based on the evidence, AI "believes that the Peruvian authorities have singled her out for punishment." In addition, AI cites recent Peruvian law which calls for the imprisonment of any Peruvian official "who inflicts pain or suffering to others, be they physical or mental, or who subjects a person to conditions or methods which deny their personality or diminish their physical or mental capacity."
AI "believes that the conditions under which Lori Berenson is imprisoned contravene this law and the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Perú is a state party. If the Peruvian authorities are serious about following both the spirit and the letter of international as well as domestic law then Lori Berenson's isolation has to end immediately."
For the full text of the AI Urgent Action Appeal, and names and addresses for sending faxes, telegrams, or letters, please refer to Lori's web site.
Other Calls to Action
Attend Vigils at Peruvian Embassy to Mark Visit By President Fujimori
Dates:
Thursday, February 4th
Friday, February 5th
Place:
The Embassy of the Republic of Perú
1700 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
Time:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (tentative)
President Alberto Fujimori of Perú is expected to visit Washington, DC on Thursday and Friday, February 4th and 5th and will take this opportunity to hold meetings with President Clinton, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, members of Congress, and other sources to raise money for his collapsing economy. Daily vigils will be held at the Peruvian Embassy to remind President Fujimori that his government must meet its obligations under Peruvian and international law, show respect for human rights, and release Lori Berenson who has been wrongfully incarcerated for over three years without due process, without a trial, under cruel, inhuman, and degrading conditions.
Please join us in these vigils-- even if it is for only a short period of time! Please notify friends and relatives in the DC area to join as well.
Future Event
Rhoda Berenson will speak at The Reform Temple of Forest Hills on Friday evening, January 29th, at 8:15 p.m. The address is 71-11 112 Street in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. (Tel: 718-261-2900)