[News] Lori Berenson Update -- May 4

Wed May 5 08:50:01 EDT 2004

Tuesday, May 4, 2004

To All Friends and Supporters of Lori Berenson:

INTERNATIONAL COURT TO HOLD HEARINGS ON LORI'S CASE MAY 7 - 8

On Thursday morning Rhoda and Mark will be leaving for San Jose, Costa
Rica to attend the hearings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
on Lori's case.  Lori will be represented by her legal team led by the
former Attorney General of the United States Ramsey Clark, criminal and
international lawyer Thomas H. Nooter, and Peruvian lawyer Jose Luis
Sandoval Quesada.  The Inter-American Court is the highest legal
authority in the western hemisphere and part of the Organization of
American States (OAS).  As a member state, Peru is bound by the findings
of this legal body and the administration of President Toledo has
publicly stated it will abide by the Court's rulings.  In April 2002,
when the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the OAS
unanimously ruled on Lori's behalf following four years of study and
hearings, Peru refused to abide because Commission decisions are not
binding.  In July 2002, the Commission took the case to the Court and in
September 2002 the Court agreed to hear the case.  Owing to a backlog of
other cases, finally, after 20 months, Lori's case will now be heard in
a public forum in San Jose.

On Friday, May 7, Rhoda will be a witness and provide testimony on
behalf of Lori.  Former Peruvian Justice Minister Fausto Alvarado Dodero
will be giving testimony on behalf of the government of Peru.  Each of
the seven international judges can ask questions of the witnesses, as
can the opposing parties.  Closing arguments will take place on
Saturday, May 8.  Lori provided a written affidavit to the Court,
answering 120 questions as witness for the Inter-American Commission.
Her oral responses were filmed and the videotape was given to the Court.

Final written arguments to the Court must be submitted by June 7.  The
Court can then issue its decision at any time, although this is
typically done during its quarterly meetings in San Jose and most
decisions take between six months and a year.

We expect the Inter-American Court to rule as it did in several other
cases regarding Peru and as the Inter-American Commission has urged.
Peru has wronged Lori through two illegal trials, the first in a
military court and the second in a civilian court - both of which failed
to meet international standards of fairness and due process as specified
by the American Convention on Human Rights.  For over a decade, Peru has
been told this time and again by the Inter-American Court and by many
other human rights organizations and yet it has continued to avoid
making the necessary changes that will bring it into compliance with
international law.

We are hoping for complete vindication.  We seek justice from this
highest international legal authority in the western hemisphere and we
hope for a quick decision and for Lori's release.

ARTICLE ON LORI'S CASE APPEARS IN "VILLAGE VOICE"

Today the Village Voice ran article "Last Best Chance" written by Nicole
Karsin.  To view this article, click on
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0418/karsin.php

PETER YARROW AND TERRE ROCHE PERFORM IN FUNDRAISING EVENT

Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) and Terre Roche (of the Roche
Sisters) donated their time and talent to an extraordinary fundraising
event in Upper Montclair, New Jersey on Saturday afternoon, April 24.
Over 250 people attended the event held at St. James Episcopal Church.
We are very grateful to Peter and Terre for their love and support for
Lori and for us.  They are extraordinary human beings and their
compassion will be remembered by us for the rest of our lives.

Rhoda and Mark Berenson
English Website:  www.freelori.org
Spanish Website:  www.lorilibre.org

PS    If you no longer wish to receive the Lori Updates and want to
unsubscribe, please send email to
announcements-list-request at freelori.org  with a subject line of
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