![]() |
Committee for Equality for All Peruvians Post Office Box 330 Rochelle Park, New Jersey 07662 201-883-1531 (Phone/ FAX) 201-487-3748 |
Lori Berenson, a 30 year old human rights activist and freelance journalist from New York City, is currently serving a life sentence in Peru. Convicted by a secret military tribunal and charged with being a leader of the MRTA (Movimento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru), she maintains her innocence and wants a chance to clear her name in an open civilian court. Lori is only one of the thousands convicted by Peru’s secret military tribunals which have been repeatedly condemned by human rights groups-- and even the US State Department. Lori’s treatment illustrates why Peruvian military tribunals do not meet international standards of due process.
She, a civilian, was convicted
by a secret military court and sentenced by a faceless judge while a gun
was held to her head. Lori received no written notice of charges
against her or meaningful access to her counsel.
-
She had no opportunity to
know the evidence or refute it. Nor was there an opportunity to present
evidence on her own behalf or to cross-examine witnesses for the Peruvian
Army.
-
The prosecutor and judge
worked on the case with the military police from the beginning and were
not independent recipients of evidence.
-
Prosecutors and judges--
members of the military-- are not always lawyers or even familiar with
Peruvian law.
-
With a 97% conviction rate
and totally secret proceedings, arrest by military police is
tantamount to conviction
-
We, seek an open and fair trial for Lori and the ending of the exploitation
of Peru by foreign imperial powers through their hand picked satraps, Alberto
Fujimori. Such a situation causes massive economic inequality, immeasurable
suffering, and tremendous devastation upon the natural ecology of Peru.
For further information please contact:
Friends of Lori in New Jersey
North Jersey Independent Alliance
Links to Related Sites(These links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization, but are for information purposes only.)
Offical
Lori Berenson Page
Official Lori
Berenson Page
Committee to Support the Revolution in
Peru
Movimiento Revolucionario
Tupac Amaru Solidarity Page (MRTA)