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May 6, 2009<br><br>
To Friends and Supporters of Lori Berenson:<br><br>
Lori Has Baby Boy<br>
<br>
Despite the odds she faced owing to compromised health after 13.5 years
of incarceration in harsh Peruvian prison environments, Lori gave birth
Wednesday morning May 6th in Lima. Salvador Anesporí Apari
Berenson was delivered via Caesarian-section due to Lori’s precarious
back condition that will require delicate spinal surgery to prevent
permanent nerve damage. Surgery will be scheduled after she
recovers from childbirth. <br><br>
Salvador’s father, Aníbal Apari Sanchez is a lawyer in Lima.
Lori and Aníbal were married in October 2003. <br><br>
Salvador will enjoy dual US and Peruvian citizenship. Peruvian law
permits a child to be raised in a prison by the mother until age
three. Lori is eligible for conditional liberty (“parole”) in
November 2010, when Salvador will be 18 months old. <br><br>
Although the prison cell is small and stark, Lori and Salvador have
everything they need. Lori would very much welcome your kind
thoughts in cards or letters, but asks PLEASE, NO GIFTS she simply
has no room. <br><br>
Former Peru President Fujimori Found Guilty of Crimes Against
Humanity<br><br>
Last month, former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, the man who
arrested and used Lori for his own political gains, was convicted of
crimes against humanity and given a 25-year sentence. Isn’t it
ironic that a man who was convicted for at least 25 murders and two
kidnappings was sentenced to 25 years when Lori was found guilty of minor
involvement with a subversive group and acquitted of charges relating to
militancy or violence and was given a 20-year sentence? <br><br>
CALL TO ACTION:<br>
Urge President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to Free Lori<br><br>
Now that Salvador has arrived, Lori’s next hurdle will be delicate back
surgery. There is extreme concern over the prospects for Lori
having successful spinal surgery in Peru when post-surgical
rehabilitation and physical therapy are so limited in the confines of
stark prison facilities. <br>
President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton must be reminded of Lori’s
situation. Surely, in the interests of fairness and justice, the
Obama administration must urge Peruvian President Alan Garcia to commute
Lori’s sentence on humanitarian grounds for medical reasons and return
her and her baby to the U.S.A.<br>
The White House “Hot-line” is 202-456-1111 or the White House fax number
is 202-456-2461. The brief message should be: “Enough is enough,
President Obama should do all he can to bring Lori Berenson and her baby
boy Salvador home.”<br>
A similar short note can be sent to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton by mail (address: Department of State, 2201 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20510). The
<a href="http://www.freelori.org/" eudora="autourl">www.freelori.org</a>
website link
<a href="http://www.freelori.org/sampleletters/statedept/index.html%A0" eudora="autourl">
http://www.freelori.org/sampleletters/statedept/index.html </a> lists
other talking points.<br>
Thank you for your help.<br><br>
Mark and Rhoda B. <br><br>
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