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July 1, 2009<br><br>
To Friends and Supporters of Lori Berenson:<br><br>
Lori and Salvador
are Doing Well Considering the Circumstances<br><br>
Today Salvador is 8 weeks old. Lori says he has a very
round face with several chins and is very, very cute and kissable.
We have been to Peru to see him and we agree!!!! The stark prison
surroundings in which Lori and Salvador live are mitigated by the
closeness that they share and the relationship they are forming.
The smile on Lori’s face and the utter joy in her voice at what she
describes as her “blessing” more than compensate for lack of heat, light
and ambiance in the small cell in which they live. <br><br>
The Riverdale
Press Editorial Calls for Lori’s Release<br><br>
Riverdale is a New York City community bordering the neighborhood in
which Lori was born. On May 28th, The Riverdale Press editorial
“Prisoner of Conscience” argued for Lori’s immediate release and urged
readers to contact President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton on this
matter. <br><br>
The Riverdale Press editorial commented on the diplomatic efforts of the
Obama administration that contributed to the recent release of a U.S.
citizen from trumped up charges in Iran but lamented that the Obama
administration has not made the same efforts on Lori’s
behalf. As the local Riverdale Congressman Eliot Engel (the
Chair of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House of
Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee) was quoted in the
editorial: “It’s enough already.” <br><br>
Lori has been wrongfully imprisoned in Peru for 13 years and 7 months
and, as in the case in Iran and in a current case of two U.S. citizen
journalists imprisoned in North Korea, she also has been used as a
“political football.” Perhaps the big difference is that Iran and
North Korea are countries considered antagonistic to the U.S. while Peru
is a country that even under the Fujimori dictatorship was considered an
ally.<br><br>
To read the full editorial please click on:
<a href="http://www.riverdalepress.com/full.php?sid=8772¤t_edition=2009-05-28" eudora="autourl">
http://www.riverdalepress.com/full.php?sid=8772¤t_edition=2009-05-28</a>
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CONTINUED CALL TO
ACTION:<br><br>
Now that Lori has recovered from her Caesarian-section delivery she will
be consulting with neurosurgeons about spinal surgery. There is much
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><br>
President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton must be reminded of Lori’s
medical need and Peruvian President Alan Garcia must be urged to return
Lori and her baby to the U.S.<br><br>
Actions: Call the White House and State Department
<br><br>
Please call the White House and the State Department and leave the
following brief message: “Lori Berenson has been wrongfully
imprisoned in Peru for nearly 14 years. She has serious health
issues. The U.S. Government must act to bring Lori and her baby
home.”<br><br>
The White House switchboard “hot-line” telephone number is 202-456-1111
or the White House “comment line” telephone number is
202-456-1111.<br><br>
The State Department telephone number is 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339.
<br><br>
Thank you for your help.<br><br>
June 2009: A
Sad Period for Peruvian Democracy and Hopefully a Better
Tomorrow<br><br>
On a totally separate issue, development in emerging democracies like
Peru, which has been in transition since 2001 from a decade of the
corrupt Fujimori dictatorship, is sometimes stifled by over-ambitious
endeavors coupled with inherent centuries-old prejudices. On June
5th, horrific acts of violence broke out in Peru’s northern jungles,
tragically resulting in numerous brutal killings and severe injuries to
Peruvian soldiers and police and members of the indigenous
community. The violence erupted after protest by members of
the indigenous community who argued that they did not have enough say in
decisions involving the use of the land on which they live.
Fortunately, calmness has returned and negotiations have commenced that
hopefully will result in an equitable solution to the dispute between the
Peruvian government and the citizens of the community. <br><br>
Mark and Rhoda B. <br><br>
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English Website:
<a href="http://www.freelori.org/" eudora="autourl">www.freelori.org<br>
</a>Spanish Website:
<a href="http://www.lorilibre.org/" eudora="autourl">www.lorilibre.org</a>
<br><br>
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